2002 Ford Explorer Suspension Problems

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

THE CAR ALWAYS FEELS LIKE IS ABOUT TO JUMP OFF THE ROAD OR THE LANE IM IN WHENEVER I DRIVE OVER ANY ROUGH ROAD OR POT HOLES. %ģ

NHTSA ID

11316967

Incident

Mar 2, 2020

Mileage

95,474 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

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES TOOK A RIGHT INTO THE LIBIARY PARKING LOT AND MY FRONT SIDE DRIVERS TIRE SNAPPED THE BALL JOINT COMPLETELY SNAPPED AND IT BROKE THE SPRING, UPPER CONTROL ARM, SWAY BAR AND TYIROD

NHTSA ID

11076407

Incident

Feb 27, 2018

Mileage

221,210 mi

THE REAR STABILIZER LINKS JUST BROKE OUT OF NOWHERE NOT EVEN TO LATEST LATER THE FRONT STABILIZER LINKS JUST BROKE OUT OF NOWHERE AND I HAVE NO STEERING A WHOLE LOT OF LOOSE CONTROL

NHTSA ID

11003536

Incident

Jul 5, 2017

Mileage

22,000 mi

DRIVING ND STEERING WHEEL FELL APART BRAKE SWITCH STOPPED WORKING 3 TIMES HAD NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN HAD TO HAVE 3 DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRE PUT ON BACK WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE SITTING AT RED LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10917406

Incident

Oct 19, 2016

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, IT'S OUR DAILY DRIVER EVERYTHING WORKS EXCEPT THE HUBS, THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED, AND WE FIND OURSELVES@ ABOUT EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES HAVING TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUB ASSEMBLY'S , LAST NIGHT ON THE WAY HOME THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT HUB STARTED SQUEALING AND CAME APART AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN, I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR 3 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS AND HUBS BRAKES 11 TIMES AND NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN, WOW, THESE PARTS ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE NO BETTER QUALITY THAN THAT, EVERYTIME WE GET IT FIXED IT COST AROUND $1400, IT'S A NICE TRUCK, AND EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS GREAT, NO ISSUES, I TRANSPORT MY FAMILY MEMBERS IN THIS VEHICLE, AND I'M GETTING TIRED OF FEARING FOR THEIR LIVES AND MY OWN WHEN THE WHEEL HUBS BREAK AND LEAVE US STRANDED , IT'S OBVIOUSLY TIME FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE, AND I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE ONE OF THOSE TRUCKS, AND HOW DANGEROUS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN OUT ON THE INTERSTATE, IT'S A GOOD THING WE WERE DRIVING 30 MPH ON A COUNTRY RD, IF WE HAD BEEN IN TOWN WHEN IT BROKE AGAIN WE I THOUGHT THAT THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED TOO, THERE DEFINATLY IS A PROBLEM, WHEN THE GUY AT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, ALL HE CAN DO IS FIX IT, OR SELL ME SOMETHING ELSE,AND THAT THAT'S THE ISSUE THAT THOSE TRUCKS HAVE AND THAT EVERYDAY SOMEONE IS DROPPING ONE OF TO GET FIXED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, ANYWAY I THINK IT'S TIME TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE, BUT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ON A RECALL LIST BECAUSE IT'S JUST BAD BUSINESS AND A SAFETY HAZARD, AND IT'S PROBLABY ALREADY GOTTEN PEOPLE AND FAMILIES KILLED, I'M GOING TO FIX THIS THING ONE MORE TIME AND GIVE THE PEOPLE THAT BUY IT THIS WEBSITE INFO, FORD MOTOR COMPANY NEEDS TO FIX THIS EVER OCCURRING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10885215

Incident

Jul 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOCAL DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUB ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10875201

Incident

Jun 6, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. REPLACED FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED BALL JOINTS REPLACED TRANSMISSION HAS NOW FAILED AND IS NOW UNDEPENDABLE. MAY FAIL WITH OUT WARNING NO ACCIDENTS, ANY OF THE ABOVE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT FORD IS AWARE OF ALL OF THE MENTIONED PROBLEMS AND REFUSES TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEMS. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS.

NHTSA ID

10816783

Incident

Dec 29, 2015

AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT : EVERY TIME YOU MOVE THE SEAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON $683.00 REPAIR SERVICE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD NO COMPENSATION FOR REPAIRS MILES 22,000. FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE LEFT AND RIGHT 60,000 MILES. REAR SPRING FAILURE 75000 MILES FRONT SPRING FAILURE 75000 MILES. FUEL TANK REGISTERS 1/4 TANK WHEN TANK IS EMPTY 45000 MILES TRANSMISSION CELLINOID FAILURE 28000 MILES AND 800000 MILES HEATER CONTROL MODULE 70000 MILES. INTAKE LEAK 80000 MILES. REAR WHEEL BEARING AND AXLE SEALS 100,000 MILES. OTHER THAN THAT GREAT CAR. IF FORD CARED ABOUT ITS CUSTOMER IT WOULD HAVE FIXED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THEY HAD SIX FLAWS FROM DAY ONE OF PRODUCTION FROM 1990 ---- WHY FORD IF YOU HAD A REAL TRANSMISSION IT WOULD MAKE UP FOR ALL THE OTHER FAILURE BUILT INTO THIS CAR. YOU MAKE GREAT REAL TRUCKS LIKE THE F150 OTHER THAN THAT YOUR ENTIRE FLEET IS JUNK.

NHTSA ID

10811045

Incident

Dec 15, 2015

THE REAR SUSPENSION IS BROKEN ON EITHER SIDE OF VEHICLE, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED, NOW THE DRIVERS REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE SHOT.

NHTSA ID

10762830

Incident

May 1, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

INSPECTION FOUND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND DRIVER FRONT COIL SPRING ALSO BROKE. 3 BROKEN SPRINGS. NEVER HEARD OF SPRING BREAKING, EVER. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLOYERS

NHTSA ID

10736033

Incident

May 4, 2015

Mileage

121,623 mi

MY FORD EXPLORER STARTED MAKING A SOUND LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING ROLLING AROUND IN BACK GATE. FIRST MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM. I WORKED ON THIS FOR THREE MONTHS. LOOKS AS IF IT IS THE BUSHINGS ARE WORN AND BODY IS TOUCHING FRAME. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712719

Incident

Feb 3, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

I GOT A KNOCK ON MY DOOR BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TELLING ME THAT MY CAR SET ON FIRE I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AND THEY TOLD ME TO FILE A CLAIM WITH FORD BECAUSE THEY HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON THAT SET THE CAR ON FIRE . *TR

NHTSA ID

10703950

Incident

Nov 28, 2014

Mileage

220,000 mi

UTAH I-15 SOUTH BOUND, INSIDE LANE NEXT TO CONCRETE BARRIER WITH TOUR BUS IN LANE ON MY RIGHT. MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AS I WAS PASSING THE BUS. I CORRECTED BY SLOWLY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT; NOT HARD OR FAST BUT SLOWLY AND EVENLY. THE EXPLORER (4-DOOR, 2002, XLT) BEGAN TO WHIP BACK AND FOURTH VIOLENTLY. IT TOOK ME SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AFTER COMING WITHIN AN INCH OR TWO OF BOTH THE BARRIER AND THE BUS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE WHIPPING PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FOUR MONTHS AGO FROM A PRIVATE SELLER. I PUT NEW "BIG-O" BIGFOOT TIRES ON IT AND HAD THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT CHECKED; IT WAS FINE. IF I HADN'T DONE SOME FANCY DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED (AT 80MPH) AND I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM GETTING RID OF THE EXPLORER AND NEVER BUYING ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564282

Incident

Feb 9, 2014

Mileage

147,000 mi

REAR SPRING BROKE ON LEFT SIDE, NOT EVEN RUSTED. CAR ONLY HAS 32000 MILES ON IT. HAVE BEEN SEEING THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL BUT NO RECALL WAS EVER INSTITUTED. A TRAVESTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554241

Incident

Nov 27, 2013

Mileage

32,000 mi

BEARING KEEP HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AN THE REAR COIL SPRING IS CRACKED AN THE TIRE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK, HAVE REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING 3 TIMES ALREADY. AN I HAVE REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION 2 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10504254

Incident

Mar 4, 2013

Mileage

102,000 mi

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WE HEARD A CLUNK AND SO WE PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY AND LOOKED AND THOUGHT IT LOOKED LIKE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WAS SAGGING BUT WASN'T SURE, WE DROVE HOME AND THEN REALIZED IT WAS DEF SAGGING. I TOOK IT TO THE CAR LOT I BOUGHT IT AT AND THEIR GOING TO CHECK IT ALL OUT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.. JUST BE LOOKING AT IT THE CAR LOT MECHANIC SAID LOOKS LIKE SUSPENSION ISSUE AS IF SOMETHING BROKE. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE HAD IT CHECKED OUT A FEW TIMES AND IT APPEARS TO HAVE O2 SENSOR ISSUES LOCATED ON THE EXHAUST WHICH SEEMS TO BE A ISSUES WITH ALOT OF FORD EXPLORERS WHICH MAKES GAS MILEAGE TERRIBLE AND VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES, NOT TO MENTION THE PIECE OF PLASTIC UNDER THE REAR HATCH WINDOW THAT ALWAYS BREAKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503988

Incident

Mar 17, 2013

Mileage

177,156 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ID

10503463

Incident

Feb 7, 2013

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A SQUEALING NOISE AND BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE FROZEN AND THAT HE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE ON THEM UNTIL THEY FRACTURED, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FINE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE FROZEN TO THE AXLE, AND THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

NHTSA ID

10478525

Incident

Oct 4, 2010

Mileage

73,000 mi

HEARD A CLUNK NOISE IN THE REAR OF TRUCK...COME TO FIND OUT BOTH REAR STRUT COILS WERE ROTTED OUT AND BROKEN..TRUCKS HAS NEVER PULLED A TRAILER OR BEEN OFF ROAD! *TR

NHTSA ID

10475201

Incident

Sep 8, 2012

Mileage

161,664 mi

REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE RUSTED AND CRACKING, PIECE FELL OFF. IT APPEARS THAT INADEQUATE OR DEFICIENT METAL WAS USED. MECHANIC SAYS VERY RARE FOR COIL SPRINGS TO RUST LIKE THIS, SPRINGS LOOK AS THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN IN A JUNK YARD FOR 30 YEARS.THIS VEHICLE IS A FAMILY CAR, NOT USED FOR OFF-ROADING AND KEPT IN A GARAGE. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, SOME HAVE EVEN HAD THE PIECES PUNCTURE TIRES CAUSING A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT FORD IS NOT CONCERNED WITH CONSUMER SAFETY, BUT ONLY WITH THEIR OWN PROFITS AND ARE WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL AND FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468064

Incident

Jul 27, 2012

Mileage

87,000 mi

FORD DEALERSHIP AND LOCAL MECHANIC HAVE WITNESSED DOZEN OF CASES WITH FORD IN WHICH THE VEHICLE IS VIBRATING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WE HAVE TRIED REPLACING TIRES, BALANCING, AND WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLINE, BUT FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO EDUCATE THEIR STAFF OR PUBLIC ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MOST COMMON IDENTIFIED ISSUE HAS BEEN THE REAR DIFFERENTIALS, BUT THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THEM REPLACED HAS HAD THE VIBRATION COME BACK AFTER TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467026

Incident

Jul 17, 2008

Mileage

30,000 mi

MY NAME IS[XXX] AND I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT (V6). I HAVE OWNED IT FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW (WILL BE IN JAN 2012) AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT UNTIL RECENTLY. ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO, I HEARD A STRANGE LOUD WHINING NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS GOING. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF I WOULD HAVE TOOK THE INTERSTATE TO WORK THAT EVENING I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DIED OR CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO OTHERS ON ROAD. VERY SCARY! MIND YOU THIS BEARING WENT WITH NO WARNING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I HEARD THE NOISE I TOOK IT IN. WELL THE BEARING GOT FIXED AND I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN HAPPIER. HOWEVER, ABOUT A MONTH AGO I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DOING ABOUT 70MPH WHEN MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I ASSUMED I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING A TIRE BLOW-OUT AND BEGAN SLOWLY BREAKING AND LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY I MADE IT ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE. MY TIRE HOWEVER WAS NOT AS LUCKY. ALL 5 STUDS ON MY RIGHT REAR TIRE SNAPPED CAUSING THE TIRE TO COMPLETELY FLY OFF AND PROCEED DOWN THE ROAD AT A FAST SPEED JUST PASSING THE TURN RAMP AND MISSING SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES. IN THE PROCESS OF LOSING THE TIRE, IT ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO REAR END OF MY SUV. IT LOOKED AS IF THE TIRE GOT CAUGHT AND CAUSED THE REAR TO DENT IN.REPLACED STUDS AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. TODAY (DEC.15TH) NOT EVEN AN ENTIRE MONTH LATER, VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AGAIN. OH HOW I REMEMBERED THAT SCARY SHAKE. EXAMINED TIRE AND ONCE AGAIN, STUDS SNAPPED. 2 THIS TIME WITH A THIRD ONE MISSING THE CAP. THE TIRE WAS ONLY HELD BY 2 STUDS. THANK THE LORD I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE GOING ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND ONCE AGAIN HAVING MY TIRE FLY OFF! I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH THIS EVENING TO FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 02-04 EXPLORERS. PLEASE MAKE A RECALL FORD AND OTHERS HELP ME TO GET ONE MADE! THIS IS A SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION! IT CAN CAUSE THE LOSS OF MANY LIVES AS IT HAS ALMOST DONE MINE AND MY DAUGHTERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A

NHTSA ID

10440111

Incident

Dec 15, 2011

I AM A MECHNICAL ENGINEER, AND DO A LOT OF MY OWN CAR REPAIRS, WHEN I WAS ADJUSTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I NOTICED THAT MY REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN IN 2 PLACES AND RUSTED THROUGH, I WENT ONLINE TO BUY REPLACEMENT SPRINGS AND STRUTS, AND I CAME UPON A WEBSITE WITH OTHERS ALSO WITH THIS ISSUE OF BROKEN SPRINGS ON THIS FORD MODEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD DROP AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY AND FATALITIES. THE NHTSA SHOULD HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS SERIOUS MANUFACTURING FLAW I AM LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE SPRINGS WHERE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA. THE NHTSA SHOULD GET SOME GUTS AND EXPOSE THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AS A PERSONAL NOTE THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD . *TR

NHTSA ID

10439942

Incident

Dec 7, 2011

Mileage

147,500 mi