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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
33 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
36 / 2
Average Mileage:
82,932 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact complained about a fatal crash which involved a 2002 Ford Explorer and stated that the air bags failed to deploy. The contact stated that the victim's vehicle was found three hours after the crash and the vehicle had flipped upside down. The victim was found, wearing the seatbelt but no air bags had deployed. A police report was filed (case number: 19-11405). The contact stated that the city observed a curfew whereby the coroner's report stated that 'death was caused by a multiple blunt force injury to the head". the street lights were turned off from 12 midnight to 5 am. The contact stated that the crash might have occurred at about 3am. The vehicle was totaled and was towed to the apd (anchorage police department) impound. The failure mileage was not provided.
On January 21, 2019 I was hit head-on by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel. Totalled my 2002 Ford Explorer! my airbags did not deploy during the accident! I was going approximately 35 mph and the other driver was driving approximately 40 mph on a city street.
- Portland, OR, USA
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The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While driving 24 mph, a vehicle on the opposite side of the road crashed into the driver's door of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained lower and upper back injuries, which required medical attention. The fire department arrived and had to pry the driver's door off the vehicle after the crash. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed, but it was not determined whether the vehicle was destroyed. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 176,000.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle crashed into a median, spun around, and landed in a ravine. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to garners towing in miami, ok. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 215,000.
The ABS dash light comes on when you start the vehicle and stays on. The airbag light blinks 33 then stays on. There was a short in the trailer brake and alarm which caused the entire car to shut down would not start until battery cables were removed for a few minutes then vehical started but every time you close a door or any vibration the alarm goes off.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the driver was driving at 40 mph, both driver and passenger side air bags deployed without impact. As a result, the vehicle failed to start. The driver sustained left arm injuries and the passenger sustained neck injuries but did not require medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was pushed by another vehicle to the contacts resident. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
On May 31st 2016, I was involve in an automobile accident and at which time my airbag did not deploy..after further evaluation it was determine that my clock spring was bad..my insurance estimator/or adjuster stated that the cause of the malfunction was not a result from the accident..then I was told to contact the NHTSA to see if my vehicle was under a recall for this incident....my vehicle was in motion on a highway.
Drivers side curtain air bag inadvertently deployed while vehicle was in park after the driver had exited the vehicle. The airbag deployed and stuck a child which was seated in the rear seat behind the driver.
On May 6, 2016 I was driving on interstate 5 between 55-60 mph in the middle lane of heavy traffic when suddenly there was an explosion inside my car. The right/left side airbags deployed without any warning. I was able to get to the shoulder and call aaa. I was towed to the landmark Ford service center.
Both side air bags deployed driving on interstate at 55 mph with no apparent cause. The car was not involved in an accident and there was no other damage to the vehicle.the front air bags did not deploy. I was able to get to the shoulder of the freeway and called roadside assistance to have the care towed. The explosion was quite traumatic and it took me several seconds to realize just what had happened.
Two weeks ago for no reason my air bags deployed while I was driving. I contacted Ford and couldn't get any help from them at all. I was leaving work in Virginia.
Air bag wiring harness to short : every time you move the seat the air bag light would come on $683 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.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While pulling into a parking space at a very low rate of speed, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration, surged forward, and crashed into a building. During the crash, the front end of the vehicle sustained significant damage; however, the air bags did not deploy. The driver suffered injuries to the left arm and hip, head, and neck. Medical attention was received and a police report was filed. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 47,000.
I financed this vehicle thru 123 auto in homosassa fl citrus county and it has a airbag that is no good and no horn and the transmission was bad the day I bought it and they will not fix so I am currently paying to get it fixed I was told to make a complaint with this office to see if you can help me get something done because it is not right
Around 1015am on Saturday July 25, 2015, I was in the process of attaching my boat trailer to the hitch. After opening my drivers door several times, checking on the hitch position, I put my vehicle in park, got out, shut the door, and then heard a loud sound that sounded like a gunshot. I turned around and saw that my drivers side curtain airbags had deployed for no reason at all. The left rear seat airbag also deployed. The vehicle was not moving and did not suffer any side impact whatsoever. I believe this is a safety defect due to the hazardous condition that it could create if a driver is driving and it inflates for no reason at all. This could potentially cause the driver to hit another vehicle or go off the road and potentially kill someone. I know of two other cases files on carcomplaints.com of this same issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bridgeport , CT, USA