2002 Ford Ford Truck Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Think Neighbor. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle and attempting to secure the front driver’s seat belt latch into the buckle, the seat belt latch failed to lock into place. The seat belt loosened and unlatched from the buckle while the contact was driving. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

NHTSA ID

11449800

Incident

Jul 1, 2021

Mileage

20,000 mi

FORD F 250 TRITON V10 NO. 2 SPARK PLUG AND COIL BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHERS. FORD WILL CHARGE 650.00 TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660238

Incident

Nov 22, 2014

Mileage

207,653 mi

FORD F 250 TRITON V10 NO. 2 SPARK PLUG AND COIL BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHERS. FORD WILL CHARGE 650.00 TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660236

Incident

Nov 22, 2014

Mileage

207,653 mi

WHILE GOING AROUND A HAIRPIN TURN THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE FELL OFF ROTOR AND ALL, THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE 2002 FORD LIGHTNING TRUCK TO SLIDE INTO THE CURB CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ROLL COMPLETELY OVER LANDING BACK ON IT'S 3 TIRES THAT WERE LEFT. FROM THE LOOK OF IT THE AXLE BOLT FELL OFF CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. DRIVER WAS GOING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT & NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. ACCORDING TO A FRIEND THIS SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED TO HIS LIGHTNING TRUCK. SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT ON FORDS PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267527

Incident

Mar 12, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND HARD BANG WHEN IT GO INTO GEAR. FORD SERVICE DEPT.DIAOGNOSE TRANS OP, NO CODES,LINE PRESSURE TEST.R110-N-75 OD95 L-95. R&R TRANSMISSION PAN FOR INSPECTION, PIECES OF BRASS BUSHINGS IN PAN. R&R TRANS TO OVERHAUL. REPLACED OD PLANETARY ASSY .BUSHINGS BETWEEN GEARS COME APART) FLUSHED COLLING LINES,REPLACED CONVERTER(METAL CONTAMINATION.) REPLACED VALVE BODY(VALVES STICKING). CLEARED PCM MEMORY & REFLASHED PCM. ROAD TEST. ALL THE ABOVE WORK WAS DONE ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE. WHEN I DROVE THE TRUCK I COULD HEAR A NOISE THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE, I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER AND CHECKED THINGS OUT AND TOLD ME EVERY THING WAS FINE, BUT IT WASN'T. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215891

Incident

May 22, 2004

Mileage

27,708 mi

2002 FORD EXPLORER VERY COLD NIGHT NOTICED A HUGE CRACK IN THE REAR PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW RIGHT OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR WAS FINE HOURS BEFORE AND AS I WALKED PAST IT AGAIN SAW A HUGE CRACK BY THE EMBLEM AND UNDER.*CN

NHTSA ID

10213545

Incident

Jan 3, 2008

DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH MY 2 CHILDREN 2 AND 10 YEAR. DROPPING THE 2 YEAR OLD OFF TO SCHOOL. STOP THE VEHICLE GO TO PUT THE SHIFT GEAR INTO PARK, BREAKS RIGHT OFF IN HAND, IF THE RUBBER WASN'T AROUND IT, I COULD HAVE WALKED OUT OF THE CAR WITH IT. I WAS STUCK THERE KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE GEAR WAS ALSO STUCK BETWEEN REVERSE AND PARK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212470

Incident

Dec 18, 2007

Mileage

27,600 mi

TRANSMISSION TAKES 3-5 SECONDS TO GO INTO REVERSE THIS IN ITS SELF DANGEROUS WHEN NEEDING A QUICK REVERSE. THE MAIN REASON FOR A COMPLAINT IN TRANSMISSION NEEDING TO BE REBUILT AFTER ONLY 45,000 I DON'T TOW ANYTHING AND AM A GOOD DRIVER I KNOW OTHERS WITH SAME VEHICLE SAME PROBLEM TAKE NOTE UHAUL WILL NOT RENT TO EXPLORER OWNERS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION (CALL UHAUL AND FIND THIS OUT). *TR

NHTSA ID

10207245

Incident

Nov 23, 2005

Mileage

45,000 mi

UNSAFE TRANSMISSION FORD CAN T FIX IT LOCKED TRANSMISSION UP AND I SHOWED UP AT DEALER WITH WHITE SMOKE CLOUD BEHIND THE CAR FORD STILL INSISTS NOTHING WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200757

Incident

Nov 27, 2005

Mileage

59,000 mi

THE MIRRORS ON BOTH MY 2002 FORD SPORT TRAC AND 2002 FORD RANGER DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE MIRRORS (X4) ARE ELECTRIC AND WILL NOT MOVE TO THE RIGHT. THEY WORK IN THE AXIS OF LEFT, UP, AND DOWN. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF MIRROR ON THEIR 2002 VEHICLES AND ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200467

Incident

Apr 25, 2007

Mileage

38,000 mi

TIRE TREAD PEALED OFF MY TIRE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES TO MY SIDE STEP, THE METAL AROUND MY TIRE WHEEL GOT BENT UP INTO MY DOOR AND TORE OFF ALL MY WHEEL WELL PLASTIC. ALMOST CAUSED MY FRONT BUMPER TO COME OFF IT IS NOW TORN ON THAT SIDE AND A PLASTIC PIECE UNDER THE BUMPER IS BARELY HANGING IN THERE. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE AS IT DIDN'T DEFLATE. MY STEERING WHEEL CLICKS AND MAKES MY CAR SKIP WHEN I MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. AS IF THE TIRES ARE NOT TURNING CORRECTLY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON! *TR

NHTSA ID

10197734

Incident

Jul 19, 2007

PURCHASED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER 2006. IN JANUARY 2007 I AWOKE TO CLEAR THE SNOW OFF MY VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED A HUGE CRACK ON THE BACK PANEL UNDER THE TAILGATE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD IMMEDIATELY, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT IT WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. WHEN TEMPERATURES REACHED A HIGH THE CRACK THEN EXPANDED AND THE CRACK WAS NOT NOTICABLE. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOT COLD AGAIN THE CRACK WAS VERY APPARRENT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE WAS A FAULT WITH THIS PANEL, BUT ERE NOT ABLE TO COVER IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196633

Incident

Jan 16, 2007

Mileage

72,000 mi

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FLAWED DESIGN OF FORD EXPLORER LIFTGATES. 2002 AND 2003 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED, BUT I WAS SURE THERE WERE MORE. THE BACK PANEL CRACKED COMPLETELY DOWN THE PANEL SEPARATING THE TWO SIDES. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE END RESULT COULD BE BUT IT CERTAINLY LOOKED LIKE A PIECE COULD FLY OFF AND INTERFERE WITH FOLLOWING VEHICLES. THERE WERE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME EXACT CRACK, AND FORD RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS BUT REFUSED TO FIX IT SO FAR. AS USUAL, THEY WILL PROBABLY WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE WAS HURT OR WORSE BEFORE TAKING ACTION. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10196562

Incident

Jul 17, 2007

Mileage

102,000 mi

I TOOK THE KIDS TO THE BABYSITTER AND WENT TO PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AND THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD A PLACE WHERE THE SHIFTER LEVER WOULD KIND OF CATCH BETWEEN REVERSE AND PARK AND YOU HAD TO WIGGLE IT WHEN PUTTING IT INTO PARK . I WAS TOLD IT HAD TO HAVE A NEW STEERING COLUMN THAT IS $500+ NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I THINK THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT IF IT HAPPENED GOING DOWN THE ROAD OR WHEN MY 15 YEAR OLD [BEGINNER DRIVER] WAS DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10192081

Incident

May 29, 2007

75400 MILES. NOISE FROM REAR END BECOMING MORE NOTICEABLE. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WON'T SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE REAR END PROBLEM AS BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PROBABLY THE REAR HUBS WERE BAD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FORD DEALER SERVICE ADVISED ME TO CONTACT FORD 800 NUMBER, AND OPERATOR AFTER PUTTING ME ON HOLD AND TALKING TO THE DEALER TURNED THE PROBLEM OVER TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF CUSTOMER CAR BECAUSE HER LIMIT OF $500 WOULD NOT BEGIN TO COVER THE REPAIRS. FORD COSTUMER CARE CALLED ME AND AFTER LETTING ME TELL MY STORY SAID THERE WAS NO PROGRAM DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR ASSISTING IN FIXING EITHER PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE REAR END PROBLEM WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS VISIT AT 74,400 MILES PER THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION. ALSO INFORMED ME THAT NOT EVEN THE $500 WAS AVAILABLE ,AND THE OPERATOR HAD NO RIGHT TO OFFER THAT AMOUNT. TOOK THE CAR FROM THE DEALER AFTER PAYING $120, PLUS $100 CAR RENTAL THEY WOULD NOT COVE) SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS 400 OVER WARRANTY 75000 MILEAGE LIMIT TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM THEY FAILED TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE THE FIRST 2 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10186004

Incident

Mar 20, 2007

Mileage

75,400 mi

74400 MILES. NOISE COMING FROM REAR END AND FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE DRAGGING WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE NOISE WAS WORSE WHEN ENGAGING THE 4-WD HIGH. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD TRANSFER CASE ASSEMBLY. WAITED 2 DAYS BECAUSE THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE HAD TO APPROVE THE REPAIR. WAS TOLD THE MAIN SHAFT HAD CRACKED AND WAS ENGAGING THE 4-WD EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT SHOW UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE IT SEEMED TO BE BETTER EVEN THOUGH NOT COMPLETELY GONE. MY MISTAKE FOR NOT RETURNING THE TRUCK BECAUSE IT STARTED TO GET WORSE AT 75400 , AND NOW THE FORD CUSTOM CARE CERTIFIED THE TRUCK AS A USED CAR COVERING DRIVE TRAIN UNTIL 75000 MILES, AND IT WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE ANY FURTHER WORK EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM STILL HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS FROM 2 OTHER VISITS AT THE SAME DEALER. EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMEND THAT THE WORK BE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10185998

Incident

Mar 16, 2007

Mileage

74,400 mi

RUBBING NOISE IN THE REAR END. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED BEARINGS IN THE FRONT LEFT HUB. DEALER SAID 2 OF THE TIRES WERE BADLY CUPPED SO THE COULD NOT HEAR ANY OTHER PROBLEM. PROBLEM/NOISE STILL THERE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10185995

Incident

Dec 14, 2006

Mileage

71,400 mi

FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE HINGES OF THE GLASS PANEL ON THE HATCH OF THE TRUCK. I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THAT REPLACEMENT. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE DEALER & HAD THE RECALLED HINGES REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT THE WORK MAY HAVE ADDED STRESS TO THE HATCH....SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED. I NOTICED IN THE MORNING OF 2/3/07 THAT THE BACK OF MY TRUCK HAD A HAIRLINE FRACTURE TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS IS THE TRUCK PART THAT OPENS UP FOR ME TO PUT MY GROCERIES IN THE CAR & THE SAME PART THAT HAD THE RECALLED HINGES REPLACED. WELL, BY THE DAY'S END - THE HAIRLINE FRACTURE IS NOW A FULL BLOWN CRACK. THERE ARE NO OTHER MARKS ON THE TRUCK INDICATING ANY OTHER DAMAGE/ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE PROVOKED THIS FRACTURE. I TRULY BELIEVE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW/DEFECT IN THE WAY THE HATCH CLOSES & WITH THE BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES - IT HAS ADDED STRESS TO THIS AREA. I STOPPED BY THE AUTOBODY SHOP & WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HATCH - I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE ESTIMATE - WHICH MAY BE WELL OVER $ 1K..... I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THIS DEFECT - AND TO MY SURPRISE, THIS MORNING 2/6/07 - I FOUND ANOTHER 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE SAME DEFECT. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF BOTH TRUCKS AND WILL CERTAINLY FORWARD THEM TO YOU AS WELL AS FILING A COMPLAINT WITH FORD. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER 2002 FORD EXPLORERS HAVE THIS DEFECT IN THE SAME AREA. PLEASE HELP! *NM

NHTSA ID

10181749

Incident

Feb 3, 2007

Mileage

50,545 mi

CONTINUOUS ROARING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WAS DETERMINED THAT REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS BAD. IF IT WOULD HAVE GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING, TRUCK COULD HAVE LOCKED UP. WAS TOLD BY SERVICE THAT WAS A BIG SAFETY CHANCE TO TAKE. OUT OF WARRANTY ON MILES. (BUT NOT ON 3 YEARS).SO IT COST US $1900 OUT OF POCKET TO REPAIR. HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136411

Incident

Jul 28, 2005

Mileage

81,000 mi

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING. THEN IT REFUSED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. IT HAS SHIFTED HARD SINCE WE PURCHASED IT USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES ON IT. WHAT A PAIN. I HAVE BEEN TO MANY FORD FORUMS AND I SEE NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS CAR PRONTO. EVERY ONE I KNOW WHO HAS THIS MAKE AND MODEL ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THEY NEED TO CORRECT THIS ITEM NOW. OR WE WILL JUST HAVE TO BUY JAPANESE NEXT TIME. THEY BELIEVE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.

NHTSA ID

10133674

Incident

Aug 21, 2005

Mileage

81,000 mi

AUTO ACCIDENT AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED INJURIES TO ANKLES, FRACTURE TO RIGHT LEG, BRUISES TO CHEST AREA AND HIP AREA. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO FORD FOR THEIR RECORDS.

NHTSA ID

10133517

Incident

Jul 24, 2005

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, AT APPROX. 62,000 MILES WAS MAKING A LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS. I TOOK IT TO A GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER & WAS TOLD THEY'VE SERVICED AT LEAST 6-7 OF THE 2002 EXPLORERS FOR THE SAME ISSUE- SOME WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS POOR DESIGN ON FORD'S PART OF THE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY? IT COST ME OVER $300 TO FIX THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY- THEY HAD TO REPLACE A ROTOR IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE WATER GOT IN WHERE THE SEAL BROKE AND RUSTED TO THE ROTOR AND HAD TO BE CUT OFF. THEY SAID THE SEAL IS BAD ON THE ASSEMBLY AND THE WHOLE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COMES APART. THEY SAVED PARTS TO SHOW ME & SAID IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE (REAR WHEEL COULD COME OFF). I'M VERY ANGRY- I'M NOW HEARING THE SAME HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE SAME ISSUE, YET FORD HAS NOT HAD A RECALL?!? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY CAR WITH MY DAUGHTER INSIDE, FORD WILL HAVE A HUGE LAWSUIT ON THEIR HANDS. I HAVE BEEN VERY DISSATISFIED WITH MY FORD EXPLORER. THE CAR HAS ALSO FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY SINCE IT WAS NEW. EACH OF THE 4-5 TIMES I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, I AM TOLD THEY CAN'T RECREATE THE ISSUE AND THAT FORD HAS SERVICE GUIDELINES AND THEY CANNOT TEAR MY CAR APART TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAD ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHERE FOR OVER A YEAR I'D BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT WOULD SUDDENLY GO ON & THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND BUZZERS WOULD SOUND. NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD NEVER RECREATE. FINALLY IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS SO BAD THAT THEY FINALLY HEARD WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT & REPLACED SOME REAR HATCH LOCK. IT SEEMED OK....UNTIL A WEEK LATER WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT STILL DOES IT INTERMITTENTLY, BUT I AM SO SICK OF TAKING IT IN FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THEN I THINK THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN GOING AS WELL- IT STICKS WHEN YOU TRY TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10131926

Incident

Aug 8, 2005

REF 2002 FORD EXPLORER, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THIRD GEAR WENT OUT AT 57,000 MILES. BEACH FORD REPLACED. HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THE GEARS SYNCRONIZED. HAVE TO TOUCH GEAR SHIFT SOMETIMES TO PUT IN GEAR. TONIGHT CAR IS BACK AT BEACH FORD WITH A TRANSMISSION PUMP LEAK. REPORTED THIS CAR LAST WEEK FOR ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10131756

Incident

Aug 5, 2005

Mileage

52,000 mi

TURNED CAR INTO PARKING LOT, HAD FOOT ON BRAKE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. FINALLY, WITH MUCH PUMPING OF THE BRAKE, IT FINALLY STOPPED. NEARLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131163

Incident

Jul 18, 2005

Mileage

54,290 mi

RIGHT AFTER 2002 EXPLORER SPORT 4X4 WAS OUT OF WARRANTY A WHINE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL IN THE RANGE OF 40 - 80 MILE PER HOUR HAPPENS. FORD STATES TO LIVE WITH IT AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILTY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS AND MANUFACTURING OF DIFFERENTIAL.

NHTSA ID

10129407

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

Mileage

40,000 mi