2002 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls

TIRE PRESSURE IN 2002 EXPLORER STILL SET TOO LOW. THE DOOR PANEL ON MY 2002 EXPLORER SAYS TO INFLATE FRONT TIRES TO 30 PSI, REAR 35 PSI. WHILE SPIN BALANCING I WAS ABLE TO WITNESS THE "CUPPING" OF THE TIRE WHILE IT WAS SPINNING ON THE MACHINE. THIS SHOWED UNEVEN WEAR. THIS WAS ONLY ON THE FRONT TIRES, WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL AND THE DOOR PANEL, NEEDED ONLY 30 PSI OF AIR. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER (GOODYEAR) AND THEY SAID NEVER GO BELOW 35 PSI ON ALL FOUR TIRES. I HAVE 16 INCH AP TIRES. HOW FAR IS FORD WILLING TO GO? SMOOTH…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000169 at NHTSA ↗

EXCESSIVE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION JERKING, AND SHIFTING PROBLEMS, PURCHASED VEHICLE AS BRAND NEW AFTER 4 MONTHS CONTACTED DEALER WHERE CARE WAS PURCHASED REGARDING PROBLEM. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE PROBLEM WAS FOUND.THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED HAS SINCE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS, VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING, CD PLAYER POWER SHUTS OFF. RATTLING WHEN HITTING BRAKES. FILED A COMPLAINT DEALER REFUSES TO BUY CAR BACK ASK ME TO TRADE CAR IN WITH MORE MONEY DOWN. THE DEALER REPAIR PERSONS CONFIRMED THAT THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000738 at NHTSA ↗

2002 FORD EXPLORER CAN SLIP FROM PARK INTO REVERSE, CAUSING A ROLL-AWAY ACCIDENT. THE GEAR SHIFT IS LOOSE ENOUGH THAT A DRIVER CAN SHIFT THE TRUCK INTO "P" ON THE GEAR SHIFT, BUT THE TRUCK IS NOT ACTUALLY ALL THE WAY IN PARK. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT CAN SLIDE INTO REVERSE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER. SHE PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND BACKED UP THE DRIVEWAY. SHE LEFT THE VEHICLE IN PARK ON THE LEVEL DRIVEWAY TO RUN A BAG OF GROCERIES INSIDE. SHE OPENED THE REAR GATE, WENT INSIDE, DROPPED THEM OFF, THEN HEARD A LOUD CRASH.…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000878 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS TO COLLAPSE BACKWARD.TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001058 at NHTSA ↗

NHTSA#14956-01-F-061-000 LIFT GATE GLASS BRACKET ROTATION OF THE BRACKET COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE LIFT CYLINDERS TO DETACH FROM THE GLASS: CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS PE04045.PCO

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001148 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STICK IN PARK AND WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001654 at NHTSA ↗

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. CONTROL MODULE REPLACED THREE TIMES. HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. VEHICLE IN SERVICE 5 OR 6 TIMES. *TT *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001743 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX. AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE IS CONSTANTLY MAKING A TICKING NOISE. SOMETIMES WHEN MAKING A COMPLETE STOP THE TRUCK WILL STALL AND THEN JERK FORWARD WHEN I AM TRYING TO PUSH ON THE GAS TO GO. THIS HAPPENS SO MUCH AND I HAVE SENT IT IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS AND NO SOLUTION. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TWICE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I HAD TO PRESS ON THE BRAKES TO STOP QUICKLY THE TRUCK LOCKED UP FOR ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS AND THEN JERKED FORWARD. I STILL HAVE TO D…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002730 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-05-24 (May 24, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES MAY HAVE HORIZONTAL CUTS ON THE EDGE OF THE TREAD THAT COULD HAVE OCCURRED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: OVER TIME, THE TIRE COULD FAIL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIRES AND, IF ANY SLICES ARE FOUND, THE CUT TIRES WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 7, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

Reported: 2004-09-13 (September 13, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED OR THE HINGE MAY FRACTURE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK.

Consequence: IF THE HINGE SHOULD FRACTURE, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE GLASS TO FALL AND ULTIMATELY BREAK AND PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL HAVE THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT BRACKETS AND GLASS HINGES REPLACED. FOR THE VEHICLES BUILT FROM AUGUST 1, 2000 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2002, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HINGES AND LIFTGATE STRUT BRACKET. ON VEHICLES BUILT FROM MARCH 3, 2002 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2003, THE DEALERS WILL ONLY REPLACE THE HINGES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004. A POSTCARD WAS SENT TO OWNERS ON DECEMBER 27, 2004, ADVISING THEM THAT PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.