RoadVitals

2002 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
213
Latest Nov 30, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 3,294 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
20
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 213 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 213, in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Nov 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to coast off the freeway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called an independent mechanic, but the mechanic declined to service the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified about the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

NHTSA ID
11557714
Incident
Nov 23, 2023
Mileage
88,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the steering wheel intermittently seized while driving at various speeds without warning. After finding a replacement part at a salvage yard, the contact had the steering wheel replaced by an independent mechanic; however, the failure persisted. The contact also stated that an abnormal ticking noise was coming from the engine with the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the same independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11483635
Incident
Mar 1, 2022
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 20, 2020

WAS DRIVING ON HWY AND MY VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN AS I WAS TURNING OFF THE MAIN ROAD, LOST ALL CONTROL OF STEERING. WHEN I RAISED THE HOOD I SAW MY RADIATOR SMOKING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT POPPED. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR HAD EXPLODED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? I NEVER EVEN HAD IT TO OVER HEAT OR THE LIGHT NEVER EVEN ALERTED ME. JUST BLEW UP AND LEFT ME STRANDED. I WAS TOLD AFTER THE FACT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE RADIATOR! *TR

NHTSA ID
11300581
Incident
May 28, 2019
Mileage
20,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 6, 2019

THE RADIATOR STARTED GOING OUT ON ME. I HAD TO FIX IT TWICE. THE BREAKES I KEEP HAVING THE CONTINUED FIXING THEM EVERY 4 MONTHS. RECENTLY OCTOBER 25, 2019 IT STARTED SMELLING LIKE BURNT RUBBER CAME THRU THE AIR VENTS. THINGS WITH THE ELECTRICITY OE A SHORTAGE. WITH THE TIRES THEY PUT WRONG TIRE SIZE. THEY TOLD ME TO SIGN AND GO BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE MY ACTUAL TIRE SIZE. ITS ALWAYS ON THE SMALLS STREETS AND ON FREEWAY OR. HIGHWAY IT SMELLS LIKE BURNT RUBBER. THE OWNER DIDN'T NOTIFY ME OR BOTHER TO TELL ME IT WAS ON RECALL ALREADY.

NHTSA ID
11278383
Incident
Oct 25, 2018
Mileage
205,890 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 27, 2019

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE GRILL, SO I PULLED OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD, SMOKE STARTED BOILING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD

NHTSA ID
11271276
Incident
Jan 22, 2019
Mileage
200,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 3, 2019

MOTOR IS OVER HEATING AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINS ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID
11229277
Incident
May 1, 2019
Mileage
212,349 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 12, 2017

THE TIMING BELTS BROKE AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE. TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
11022952
Incident
Sep 10, 2017
Mileage
25 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AS WELL AS DRIVE, WHICH WAS WHEN THE INTERMITTENT STALL FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10991130
Incident
Oct 24, 2016
Mileage
200,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 4, 2017

TRANSMISSION OUT FOR 3RD TIME

NHTSA ID
10983600
Incident
May 4, 2017
Mileage
163,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSeat belts
Filed Dec 28, 2016

DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND ALARM GOES OFF CONSTANTLY FROM IT. SEAT BELT LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON EVEN WHEN SEAT BELTS ARE IN USE. ABS LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND OFF. ALWAYS ISSUES WITH HEAT AND COOLANT.

NHTSA ID
10937883
Incident
Dec 28, 2016
Mileage
126,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 6, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10863607
Incident
May 2, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 12, 2016

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10855181
Incident
Apr 11, 2016
Mileage
108,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 30, 2016

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WENT TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS GIVEN OEM CODE P0442 (EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM). THE SCENT OF GAS WAS PRESENT. I CHANGED THE FUEL CAP AND ISSUE STILL REMAINS. GAS FUEL TANK VAPOR VENT CHECK VALVE IS DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10852382
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Engine
Filed Mar 18, 2016

TURNED CAR ON TO DRIVE IT WOULD NOT START AFTER SEVER RAINFALLS UNTIL FINALLY WHEN I DID THE LAST TIME AFTER A JUMP, BATTERY NEW. IT STARTED TO MAKE THIS AWFUL NOISE LIKE A CLANKING SOUND LIKE A CHAIN SOUND. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, CALLED A MOBILE MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE SAME THING SAID IT COULD BE A VALVE OR PISTON PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I HEAR SOUNDS LIKE A CHAIN. BEFORE THIS HAPPENING THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS FOR THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES BROKE. HAD LEFT SIDE FIXED RIGHT SIDE NOT FIXED, GLASS STILL HELD WITH A BOARD INSIDE DOOR.

NHTSA ID
10850487
Incident
Mar 11, 2016
Mileage
123,076 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 19, 2016
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING MY FORD ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW MY FEET WERE REALLY HOT AND BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING UP. THEN THE BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND I NEARLY CRASHED TRYING TO GET TO THE EDGE OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THE FIRE TOOK OVER THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR. LUCKILY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS RIGHT THERE FOR ANOTHER ACCIDENT. IT WAS INCREDIBLY DISTURBING EXPERIENCE. LUCKILY MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10837161
Incident
Feb 11, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Dec 28, 2015
Fire reported

CAR STALLED ON BUSY STREET, THEN WAS RESTARTED AND LOST POWER. THEN FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. TOTAL LOSS WAS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE

NHTSA ID
10816411
Incident
Dec 16, 2015
Mileage
215,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 14, 2015

MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE WHEN I STOP AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OUT. I GOT A CODE READING, THERE WERE MANY FUEL EJECTION ISSUES. I GOT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TODAY, AND WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE FUEL PUMP. WHEN I PUT GAS IN, THE GAS PUMP GETS STUCK INSIDE SOMETIMES. DOES NOT COME OUT SMOOTHLY. WHAT IS GOING ON? *TR

NHTSA ID
10705713
Incident
Apr 14, 2015
Mileage
119,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 27, 2015

IN 2009 ON THE WAY TO OUR FAMILY VACATION OUR TRANSMISSION FAILED. WE HAD IT TOWED AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A FORD REBUILT TRANSMISSION WITH A WARRANTY PURCHASE. IN 2012 THIS REBUILT TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WE HAD IT TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. THIS CURRENT TRANSMISSION IS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE LAST TWO DID PRIOR TO FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10702092
Incident
Jul 11, 2009
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 23, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED SIGNS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RESTARTED IT BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 191,000.

NHTSA ID
10678581
Incident
Jan 20, 2015
Mileage
191,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2015

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, SINCE 2013 HAVE BLEW OUT SPARKS PLUGS THREE TIMES. THE THREATS OF THE HEAD ARE DAMAGE . *TR

NHTSA ID
10676143
Incident
Dec 18, 2013
Mileage
105,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 27, 2014

BOUGHT AN EXPLORER WE THOUGHT WAS A PRIVATE OWNER ON CRAIGLIST IN CHICAGO, AND FOUND OUT HE WAS A DEALER FROM INDIANA. HE SIGNED THE TITLE AS FIRST AUTO INC. 2620 165TH IN HAMMOND IN 46323. THE NAME OF SELLER IS [XXX] . THE DMV FILE A COMPLAINT ON OUR BEHALF AND STATED WHAT HE DID WAS ILLEGAL. WE DID NOT KNOW HE WAS A DEALER TIL WHEN WE TRIED TO TRANSFER OUR PLATES THE NEXT DAY. WE TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE AND MY MECHANIC STATED THAT CARFAX HAS THE MILES ALMOST 80,000 MORE THAN WHAT IS ON THE ODOMETER. THE ODOMETER LISTED 110,000 AND CARFAX WAS FAR PAST THAT AMOUNT. THE DEALER ROLLED BACK THE MILES OF EXPLORER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10668513
Incident
Dec 21, 2014
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 17, 2014

OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON. CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STARTED SCREECHING LOUDLY, NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHILE GOING TO THE AIRPORT ON AN EXPRESSWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10664913
Incident
Nov 16, 2014
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 24, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP AND HEATING CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000. UPDATED 1/16/15*CN UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10660508
Incident
Oct 29, 2014
Mileage
183,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 11, 2014

TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS; BACK CHAIN 'PLASTIC' TENSOR BROKE AND AFFECTED CRITICALLY ENTIRE ENGINE. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PROBLEMS; SHIFT ROUGH FROM 1ST TO 2ND. PUT NEW SOLENOID BLOCK, PROBLEM STILL THERE. FORD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597782
Incident
Jun 11, 2014
Mileage
134,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 24, 2014

" CHECK ENGINE SOON" SIGN IS ON. " O/D" SIGN IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593924
Incident
Mar 8, 2014

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .