CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002 Ford Explorer is hands-down our worst vehicle on record. "Avoid like the plague" is putting it lightly.
The 2002-2005 Explorer has a very well-established record of expensive transmission failure at under 100k miles. The Explorer has an enclosed transmission which is typically replaced with a rebuilt transmission at a cost of almost $3,000.
Another common problem for the 2002-2003 Explorer is wheel bearing failure at around 90k miles, with a typical repair bill of $500 to $1000 depending on how many wheel bearings failed.
Adding insult to injury, the 2002-2005 Explorer also has a massive problem with the rear panel cracking. While it's a minor annoyance compared to transmission failure, ironically the crack usually goes right through the Ford logo.
I was trying to get out of the ditch in the snow, and I had to run back and forth up and down the hills to get up over the top of the hill several times. When I did get to the top of the hill, the car died like it ran out of gas. I got it started and proceeded to drive to the nearest gas station and the longer I drove the worse the car was running. It was running like it was running out of gas. I got to the gas station pulling up at the pump in the car died. I could get it restarted after I filled the tank but had to keep it running at 3000 RPMs and above. When I took my foot off the accelerator it would die like a large vacuum leak.
I could not get it restarted so I had to have it towed home. Got under the hood started checking around and saw fuel injectors or wiggling in their sockets. In winter, I pulled air manifold off and it was full of gasoline. Then noticed several injectors were completely loose, including the seals, and pop completely out. Pulled all injectors and cleaned them, and putting in new seals. I do not know if it's fixed the problem yet. Has anyone else had same or similar problems and what was your solution?
I DRIVE MY SUV EVERY DAY PRETTY MUCH..........BUT???? HERE IS THE LATEST AND GREATEST???
NOT SURE WHAT WENT WRONG WITH MY SUV BUT I WENT OUT TO START IT LAST WEEK AND IT WILL NOT START AND I EVEN INSTALLED A BRAND NEW STARTER??? ENGINE IS LOCKED UP AND FLY WHEEL WON'T TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WITH A WRENCH. CAR IS DEAD - HELP !!!!
THERE WERE ALSO NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE ON THE INDICATOR LIGHTS TO THE PANEL. NO SIGNS OF NOTHING. CAR JUST DECIDED IT WAS GONNA DIE ON ME AND NEVER RUN AGAIN???
STARTER IS NOT TURNING OVER THE ENGINE TO MAKE IT START???
NOT SURE I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW A CAR CAN NOT START WITH NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE INTERNALLY FROM THE INDICATOR LIGHTS AS EVERYTHING OPPERATED NORNALLY FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL???? ALSO SHOWED NO SIGNS AT ALL THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN ADVANCE....CAR JUST WENT ON THE CRAPS WITH NO WARNING
WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY NOW I HAVE NO CAR??????
THANK YOU
- savannahr,
Saint Louis, MO, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I was trying to get out of the ditch in the snow, and I had to run back and forth up and down the hills to get up over the top of the hill several times. When I did get to the top of the hill, the car died like it ran out of gas. I got it started and proceeded to drive to the nearest gas station and the longer I drove the worse the car was running. It was running like it was running out of gas. I got to the gas station pulling up at the pump in the car died. I could get it restarted after I filled the tank but had to keep it running at 3000 RPMs and above. When I took my foot off the accelerator it would die like a large vacuum leak.
I could not get it restarted so I had to have it towed home. Got under the hood started checking around and saw fuel injectors or wiggling in their sockets. In winter, I pulled air manifold off and it was full of gasoline. Then noticed several injectors were completely loose, including the seals, and pop completely out. Pulled all injectors and cleaned them, and putting in new seals. I do not know if it's fixed the problem yet. Has anyone else had same or similar problems and what was your solution?
- Terry W., Norwood, MN, US