2002 Ford FORD TRUCK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
56,645 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 37 complaints (18.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 29.7% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.1% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 8.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Power Train: 3; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine: 2; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Structure: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2002: 4; 2003: 1; 2005: 14; 2007: 12; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2014: 2; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10011920 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, THE PAINT WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THE RUNNING BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS DAMAGED. THE BACK BED ON TRUNK NEEDED TO BE REALIGNED AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY EVEN AFTER REPAIR.*PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108443 · 2005-02-02 (February 2, 2005)
THE LIFTGATE MOLDING DEVELOPED A CRACK SEVERAL INCHES LONG AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR 2 1/2 YEARS WITH ROUGHLY 55,000 MILES. A RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED DEALING WITH THE LIFT GATE WINDOW,BUT, THE RECALL DIDN'T INCLUDE THE CRACKED MOLDING. I HAVE NOTICED MANY EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. I ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK COMPLETED, BUT MY FORD DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE LIFT GATE UNTIL I AGREED TO HAVE THEM PERFORM OTHER VEHICLE MAINTENANCE TO THE TUNE OF OVER $400. I FEEL THIS IS MORE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113924 · 2005-03-11 (March 11, 2005)
ON THE RIDE HOME FROM PURCHASING MY NEW CAR, MY SEAT BELT CAME UNLATCHED. THIS EVENT REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE RIDE HOME. I CALLED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY, AND THEY SAID TO BRING THE CAR IN AND THEY WOULD FIX IT. THE MIDDLE FRONT SEAT BELT WASN'T ASSEMBLED TO BEGIN WITH, SO THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX BOTH PROBLEMS. DUE TO THE FAMILY CATCHING THE FLU THAT DAY I DID NOT BRING THE CAR IN, HOWEVER THE SEATBELT BEGAN ENGAGING PROPERLY. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT BEGAN LATCHING INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID IT WAS WORK…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114664 · 2005-03-24 (March 24, 2005)
ACCORDING TO DETROIT'S WXYZ NEWS REPORTER, STEVE WILSON, MY 2002 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC HAS THE SAME FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT THE RECALLED FORD'S HAVE AND THE ONES YOU ARE NOW EXAMINING. I'M NOT HAPPY TO KNOW THAT I HAVE THAT SWITCH AND WANT IT REPLACED, TOO. I HAVE DISCONNECTED IT AND FEEL CHEATED THAT I CAN NOT USE AN EXPENSIVE AND CONVENIENT ITEM LIKE THAT. I FELT AS IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING IN A FIRE TRAP IF I DIDN'T HAVE IT DISCONNECTED. PLEASE HELP ME OUT HERE! THANK YOU, BJBAUER
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116396 · 2005-04-05 (April 5, 2005)
I HAD BOUGHT A USED 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT A FEW MONTHS AGO AND NOTICED A LOT OF HORIZANTAL CUTS ON THE SIDEWALLS OF THE MICHELAN TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER LOOKING ON THIS WEB SITE AND NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE FORD THAT I OWNED ( NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 01V171000 ) AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NEAR ME. THEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECALL IN THEIR SYSTEM FOR MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH MY FORD WAS MADE AT THIS LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY PLANT AT THE TIME SPECIFIED ON THIS RECALL. I EVEN CALLED THE FORD COMPLAINT LINE AND THEY AS WELL SAID NOTHING WAS IN THEIR SYST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121998 · 2005-05-24 (May 24, 2005)
WAS DRIVING A 2002 FORD RANGER AND HIT A CAR BROADSIDE AND THEN HIT A UTILITY POLE AND AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124886 · 2005-06-10 (June 10, 2005)
I AM THE OWNER 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT I PURCHASED FROM METRO MOTORS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN AUGUST 2002. ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2004, WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED COMPLETELY FROM THE AXIS OF THE VEHICLE. I DROVE OFF FROM THE STOP LIGHT. WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL TURN SHARPLY TO LEFT AND THE WHEEL BUCKLE. A FEW MINUTES LATER, I FELT A TUG ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THEN I FELT THE WHEEL BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED TO SUDDEN STOP. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW THAT THE FRONT DRIVER''S SIDE WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126050 · 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)
PURCHASED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER NEW. WITH LESS THAN 45,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. CAR NOW HAS LESS THAN 65000 MILES AND THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACE. FORD WILL NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. RAPHAEL
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126050 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.