2002 Ford Explorer Interior & seats Problems

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the hood latch independently released, causing the hood to strike the windshield. The contact was able to get to the side of the roadway and closed the hood. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.

NHTSA ID

11472938

Incident

Jul 6, 2022

Mileage

137,000 mi

MAKES A RATTLING NOISE WHEN A BUMP IS HIT DRIVER SIDE SEAT STOP WORKING

NHTSA ID

11320858

Incident

Mar 12, 2020

Mileage

189,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR AJAR AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE DOORS WERE CLOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT NHTSA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL RECALLS. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSFERRED TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. *JS

NHTSA ID

11102649

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

THE DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL BY THEMSELVES DOZENS OF TIMES IN A ROW WHILE I AM DRIVING. WITH THIS THE DOME LIGHT FLASHES OFF AND ON AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT FLASHES AND THE INTERIOR CHIME GOES OFF CONSTANTLY. ALL OF THIS HAPPENS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS IS A HUGE AND COMMON ISSUE WITH THOUSANDS OF FORUM POSTS BY OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE SPEND COUNTLESS $$ AT MECHANIC'S TO NO AVAIL. THIS CAN CAUSE WRECKS AT NIGHT IT IS VERY DISTRACTING. ESPECIALLY THE DOME LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

10967531

Incident

Mar 15, 2017

DRIVER"S SIDE SEAT WILL GO BACK AND FORTH

NHTSA ID

10896221

Incident

Jul 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND LEAKED WATER INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER STAINS BY THE VISORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,748.

NHTSA ID

10789529

Incident

Nov 9, 2015

Mileage

133,748 mi

SEAT BRACKET BROKE WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES WHEN A DEER JUMPED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659513

Incident

Sep 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BECAME DETACHED FROM THE FRAME RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10566997

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

THE METAL BARS THAT HOLD THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR BROKE CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551338

Incident

Nov 5, 2013

Mileage

106,400 mi

I'VE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY TRUCK SAYING THE DOOR IS AJAR WHEN IT'S NOT. WHILE DRIVING, THE INSIDE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS. I NOTICED IT USUALLY HAPPENS EITHER WHILE ITS RAINING OR IF IT JUST FINISHED RAINING. SOMEONE ELSE I KNOW WHO HAS THE SAME VEHICLE (YEAR/MAKE/MODEL) SAYS THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO HIS VEHICLE. I'M WONDERING IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND IF SO, WHAT STEPS DO THE MANUFACTURES TAKE IN DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT A VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR A SPECIFIC PROBLEM? ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! *TR

NHTSA ID

10483997

Incident

May 10, 2012

2002 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A BOLT UNDER THE FRONT SEAT THAT CAN BREAK CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH *TGW THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS 2002, AND NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL# 03V281000, WHICH HE DID REFERENCE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10477722

Incident

Sep 1, 2012

THIS REQUESTED RECALL INVOLVES A 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAVING AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DURING NORMAL USE, THE SHIFT LEVER BREAKS OFF AT A CAST ROTATING CYLINDER THAT TRANSMITS THE TORQUE FROM THE GEAR SHIFTER TO PUSH AND PULL THE CABLE THAT PUTS THE VEHICLE IN PARK, DRIVE, NEUTRAL, AND REVERSE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A TENDENCY TO JUMP OUT OF PARK EVEN BEFORE THE PART BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK AND ALMOST PINNED ME BETWEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK AND CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE PARKED DOWNHILL. THIS WAS A NEAR MISS ACCIDENT. FORD WANTS TO CHARGE $1500 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. WE ELECTED TO JUNK THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME UNTIL ANOTHER SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND. VEHICLE STILL DRIVES IF YOU REACH YOUR HAND AND PUSH/PULL THE TRANSMISSION CABLE TO SHIFT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR. WE CAN SEND THE BROKE OFF SECTION OF THE PART IF YOU WILL RETURN IT. ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME FAILURE FOR YEARS 2002 THROUGH 2005 FORD EXPLORERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10403817

Incident

May 28, 2011

Mileage

123,968 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT WAS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD BUT WOULD NOT MOVE BACKWARD WHEN ENGAGED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD MAKE DRIVING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND HE BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD, AS HE FELT HE WAS SITTING TO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,220.

NHTSA ID

10386857

Incident

Mar 7, 2011

Mileage

118,220 mi

O/D LIGHT FLASHES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN AT AROUND 25 MPH THE GEAR SWITCHES INTO NEUTRAL AND RUNS VERY ROUGH THEN THE CAR IS THROWN FORWARD. HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION (WE WERE TOLD WE WERE GETTING A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AND PAID EXTRA FOR IT!) AT 83K MILES ON OCT 15, 2010 THEN FEB 5, 2011 THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENS. THE DEALER CANNOT TAKE THE TRUCK FOR ANOTHER 5 DAYS AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME A LONER CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. PLEASE NOTE: BELOW I PUT IN THE FIRST INCIDENT DATE, FEB 2011 IS THE SECOND INCIDENT DATE. IN MAY OF 2009 I WAS TOLD MY ENGINE FAILED AT ABOUT 76,000 MILES. WE DID BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WE WERE COVERED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD US WE WERE NOT COVERED. THEY HAD OUR TRUCK FOR 3 WEEKS UNTIL THE WARRANTY PEOPLE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND LET THEM KNOW IT SHOULD BE FIXED. WE ALSO HAD A RENTAL CAR OR A LONER CAR UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR AND SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE A LOANER CAR AVAILABLE. IT TOOK 4 MORE WEEKS (IN TOTAL 7 WEEKS) TO GET THE TRUCK BACK AND NEVER PAID FOR THE RENTAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10381434

Incident

Oct 10, 2010

Mileage

83,000 mi

DOORS WILL NOT SHUT IN THE FREEZING COLD WEATHER. WENT OUT TO THE EXPLORER TONIGHT, GOT IN, SHUT THE DOOR AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE. I TAKE THE HIGHWAY ON RAMP AND MY DRIVERS DOOR FLEW OPEN. I STOPPED AND TRIED TO SHUT IT AND IT JUST BOUNCED OPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE THE LATCH WAS FROZEN. I FINALLY GET IT TO STAY CLOSED, DROP MY PASSENGER OFF AND THEN THE PASSENGER'S DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE EITHER. I DROVE ALL THE WAY HOME HOLDING MY PASSENGER'S DOOR CLOSED. THIS TRUCK IS THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST PIECE OF GARBAGE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN IN MY LIFE. IF YOU ARE READING THIS COMPLAINT AND HAVE NOT YET PURCHASED AN EXPLORER I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10381226

Incident

Feb 8, 2010

Mileage

89,998 mi

THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED UPON SIDE DOOR CLOSURE OF A FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AFTER RE-FUELING. CONCURRENT WITH AND IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG, THE DOOR ALARM SYSTEM WAS CHIMING THAT A DOOR WAS AJAR, AND AFTER INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SECURITY/DOOR WARNING SYSTEM MODULE HAS FAILED. FORD WAS SENT THE AIRBAG MODULE FOR INSPECTION, AND HAS YET TO PROVIDE THE RESULTS OF THE MODULE INSPECTION - AFTER A PERIOD OF MORE THAN 5 MONTHS. FURTHER PROBLEMS PERSIST WITH THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. THE DOOR AJAR ALARM CONTINUES TO SOUND AT RANDOM INTERVALS, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS, AND THE DOOR LOCKS REPEATEDLY LOCK AND UNLOCK, ALL OF WHICH CAUSE A DISTRACTING POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10377155

Incident

Jun 9, 2010

Mileage

140,000 mi

ON 8/15/09, [XXX]WAS OPERATING HIS 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN HOUSTON, TX WHEN THE EXPLORER WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY A PICKUP TRUCK. DURING THE COLLISION, [XXX]SEAT BACK COLLAPSED AND, ALTHOUGH HE HAD BEEN WEARING HIS SEAT BELT, HE WAS EJECTED THROUGH BROKEN-OUT REAR WINDOW GLAZING. [XXX] SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BLUNT FORCE INJURIES FROM WHICH HE DIED. THE SEAT BACK IN THE 2002 EXPLORER IS ATTACHED TO A RECLINER MECHANISM ON EACH SIDE OF THE SEAT. THE RECLINER MECHANISMS ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME BY SPIRAL COIL PINS. WHEN THE EXPLORER WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR, THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD IN RELATION TO [XXX] BODY, CAUSING HIS BODY TO LOAD THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK. AS THIS OCCURRED, THE FORCE OF THE SEAT BACK BEING MOVED REARWARD BY [XXX] BODY CAUSED THE RECLINER MECHANISMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SEATS TO MOVE FORWARD; AS THEY DID SO, THEY CONTACTED THE SPIRAL COIL PINS, AND FRACTURED THOSE PINS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SEAT. WHEN THE SPIRAL COIL PINS FAILED, THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ONTO THE REAR SEAT CUSHION, AND [XXX] WAS EJECTED INTO THE CARGO AREA OF THE EXPLORER AND THEN OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW GLAZING. [XXX] SUFFERED MUTLIPLE BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA INJURIES, WHICH TOOK HIS LIFE. UPON INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING COMPARISON OF A NUMBER OF OTHER, EXEMPLAR DRIIVER'S SEATS FROM 2002 EXPLORERS, IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THAT THE SPIRAL COIL PINS ARE DEFECTIVELY INSTALLED IN MANY EXPLORER SEATS. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS MANIFESTED BY THE SPIRAL COIL PINS BEING INSERTED THROUGH MATING HOLES ON THE SEAT CUSHION FRAME TO INCONSISTENT DEPTHS, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PINS NOT TO SEAT PROPERLY IN THOSE HOLES. IN THE CASE OF [XXX], BECAUSE THE SPIRAL COIL PINS WERE NOT INSERTED FAR ENOUGH INTO THE MATING HOLES WHEN MANUFACTURED, THE PINS ON HIS SEAT WERE FRACTURED BY THE RECLINER MECHANISMS AND FAILED TO HOLD HIS SEAT BACK UPRIGHT IN THE COLLISION. THIS FAILURE MECHANISM IN THE PINS ALLOWED FOR [XXX]EJECTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10364191

Incident

Aug 15, 2009

2002 FORD EXPLORER GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF WHILE IN DRIVE. THE LEVER IS CONNECTED TO A SOFT ALUMINUM CYLINDER THRU A U SHAPED END AND A PIN. THE CYLINDER SHEARED AT THE BASE OF THE U AS A RESULT LEAVING NO WAY TO SHIFT OR GET THE KEY OUT AFTER TURNING THE MOTOR OFF WHEN I FINALLY GOT STOPPED. REPAIR COST IS $1400 FOR A NEW STEERING COLUMN PLUS LABOR. CANNOT BUY SMALL PART THAT BROKE SEPARATELY SO EXPLORER IS NOT FIXED. A PICTURE OF THE PROBLEM CAN BE SEEN AT THIS URL HTTP://WWW.EXPLORERFORUM.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=188761&PAGE=4. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353936

Incident

Sep 2, 2010

Mileage

71,000 mi

PURCHASED 2002 EXPLORER XLT V6 4.0L ALREADY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING SOLENOID OR WHATEVER OUT.. I HAVE READ REPORTS AND WONDER WHY THIS TRANSMISSION IS NOT RECALLED? I HAVE IT IN SHOP NOW HAVING TO HAVE IT REBUILT AND EVERYTHING CHANGED. ALSO RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS BAD, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS BAD, SUSPENSION SHOT. AND THE RECORDS SHOW THE PREVIOUS OWNERS MAINTAINED EVERYTHING WELL. BUT ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND HAD PROBLEMS AT 99,000MILES. PLEASE DOING SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US OUT HERE. ALSO COOLANT LEAK, ENGINE LEAK, POWER SEAT FAILURE, AND ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10350869

Incident

Aug 17, 2010

Mileage

179,000 mi

DRIVERS SEAT IS DETACHED FROM FLOOR, MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE SAFELY. AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, LOCKS DON'T WORK, DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10340442

Incident

Apr 25, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SEAT DETACHED FROM THE FLOOR BOARD. THE ELECTRICAL GAUGES AND COMPONENTS WERE ALSO INOPERABLE AND THE POWER DOOR LOCKS HAD FAILED. NEITHER THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10340415

Incident

Jun 28, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER USED BUT ALSO HAVE A FATHER-IN-LAW WITH A FORD AND HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN WE BOUGHT IT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE DOME LIGHT WOULD STAY ON BUT AS WE DROVE THE LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF BUT THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. RECENTLY LAST WEEK THE LIGHT STAYS ON LIKE NORMAL BUT NOT THE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF, IT DINGS CONSTANTLY, AND THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS VERY DISTRACTIVE AS WELL AS ANNOYING. WE GOT ONLINE TO SEE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DONE AND THERE WERE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS. WE TRIED THE WD40 BUT THEY SAY THAT ONLY WORKS FOR A DAY OR SO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10339162

Incident

Jun 16, 2010

REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330852

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

2002 FORD EXPLORER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN FREEZING WEATHER, DOORS POP OPEN WHILE DRIVING! *TR

NHTSA ID

10297737

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

176,000 mi

I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 19,000 MILES ON IT ALSO THINKING WHAT A GREAT DEAL I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK FOR 3 YEARS IT NOW HAS 76,000 MILES ON IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND THE O/D LIGHT WILL START BLINKING I TOW A BOAT SO I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP THEY SAID IT WAS VERY COMMON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN WITH THE YEAR OF TRUCK THAT I HAVE. THEY SAID THE CAUSE WAS SERVO PISTON BORE WHAT EVER THAT MEANS THEY ALSO SAID THAT IF I DON'T REPAIR IT FOR $2,400.00 THAT THE LIGHTS WILL CONTINUE TO COME ON AND THE TRUCK WILL CONTINUE TO SLIP. THE OTHER WEIRD THING IS I'LL BE DRIVING AND I HEAR A DING YOU KNOW THE SOUND YOU HAVE WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR KEYS IN THE TRUCK BUT I'M DRIVING MY TRUCK WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THE DOOR LOCK WILL GO OFF LIKE I'M LOCKING THE DOORS. I REALLY LOVE MY TRUCK THE BODY IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE I STILL OWE ON MY TRUCK SO BUYING SOMETHING NEW ISN'T AN OPTION. THE SAD THING IS I TOW A BOAT EVERY WEEKEND AND I'M WORRIED THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267459

Incident

Mar 30, 2009

Mileage

76,000 mi