2002 FORD EXPLORER Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

#3 CYCLINDER PLUB BLEW. HAD TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIX EASILY BY INSTALLING A HELIX COIL ADAPTER & COULD HAVE CAR READY NEXT DAY. DEALER CALLS BACK AND SAYS THEY FIXED IT BUT IT WAS REALLY RUNNING BAD AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND DRIVING IT. I ASKED WHAT THE SOLUTION WAS AND THEY SAID THEY COULD PULL THE HEAD AND REFINISH IT BUT THAT THEY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND DOING SUCH. I ASKED ABOUT A JASPER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT RECOMMEND AS JASPER HAS A POOR WARRANTY (12 MONTHS+LIMITED MILEAGE & NO LABOR) WHILE A NEW FORD ENGINE WOULD HAVE 3 YEARS, NO MILEAGE LIMIT & BE WARRANTED FOR BOTH LABOR AND PARTS. AS I NEEDED THE VEHICLE - AS IT IS I HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK AND TALKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER FORD DEALERS - IT WOULD SEEM THAT...

2002 FORD EXPLORER SPARK PLUG EJECTION ISSUE ON V8 4.6L ENGINE. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE HAD SPARK PLUGS EJECT FOR THE ENGINE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FORD REDUCED THE NUMBER OF THREADS FOR THE SPARK PLUGS TO SAVE MACHINING TIME AND COSTS IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THE SPARK PLUG THREADED BACK IN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT SOMEWHERE FOR PROPER REPAIR. I AM NOT SO LUCKY THE SECOND TIME AS THE THREADS IN THE HEAD ARE DESTROYED. NOW I HAVE THE EXTRA COST OF TOWING THE TRUCK FOR REPAIR. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS ON THIS ISSUE YET FORD CONTINUES TO IGNORE THE SAFETY OF IT'S CUSTOMERS. IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN DEFECTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS BLOWN THE TIMING CHAINS IN THE ENGINE. PLASTIC PARTS THAT WEAR OUT EASY AND CAUSED THE CHAINS TO FAIL. NOW I AM LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THE ENGINE IS V6 AND IT ONLY HAD 95,000 MILES ON IT. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. FORD IS USING FAULTY PARTS AND CAUSING THIS DAMAGE TO THEIR PRODUCT AND NOW THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO PAY BIG BUCKS FOR REPAIRS DUE TO THEIR CHEAP AND SHOTY PARTS USED BY FORD. THE TRUCK STARTED MAKING NOISE AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE CONVERTER AND A VERY SHORT TIME AFTER THAT FIRST NOISE THE ENGINE FROZE AND STOPPED RUNNING. THEIR REALLY WAS NOT ALOT OF TIME FROM NOISE TO FAILURE OF ENGINE. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES, SO IT WAS NOT FROM FAILING TO CHANGE THE OIL, IT WAS...

2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED 4.6L V8. SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM HEAD UPON START-UP. THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT EJECTED A SPARK PLUG. THE SPARK PLUG WAS ORIGINAL (IT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED). MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO CHURCH WHEN THE SPARK PLUG WAS COMPLETELY EJECTED AND BROKE THE COIL MOUNT. THIS ALLOWS FUEL VAPOR TO ESCAPE FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD AND COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE. LUCKILY, MY WIFE DIDN'T EXPERIENCE AN ENGINE FIRE SINCE SHE WAS PULLING INTO HER DESTINATION WHEN IT HAPPENED AND SHUT OFF THE MOTOR. THE SPARK PLUG EJECTION STRIPPED THE THREADS FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

ENGINE KNOCK IN ALL 4.6 FORD EXPLORER ENGINES-KNOW BY FORD, DUE TO FAULTY CYLINDER HEADS

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THREADS AND SPARK PLUG BOTH BLOWN OUT OF TOP OF CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT ON FORD EXPLORER XLT 2002 MODEL YEAR WITH 4.6L ENGINE. HAS 145,000 AND ORIGINAL PLUGS (PLATINUM). CAR STARTED TO MAKE A TICKING SOUND AND THEN THE PLUG POPPED OFF. *TR

NUMBER 8 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE TODAY ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.6L. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE ENGINE STARTED TO SOUND EXTREMELY LOUD AND SPITTING SMOKE I PULLED OVER AND AFTER INSPECTION OF THE MOTOR I FOUND A SPARK PLUG LAYING ONTOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THE COIL LAYING NEXT TO IT. THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE THREADING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME IN THE LAST 1.5 YEARS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS UNDER MY WARRANTY FROM USED CAR DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE COMPLETE MOTOR WITH A NEW ONE. AND THE CURRENT INCIDENT HAPPENED TODAY AND PER MY MECHANIC HE IS GOING TO PUT IN A HELICOIL TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

IN MAY 2005, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE O/D LIGHT HAD BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS. TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4500. CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 60000 MILES. IN JANUARY OF 2008, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT WENT AT A COST OF $3000. CAR HAD 75000 MILES. IN AUGUST 2009, BOTH REAR SPRING WERE DISCOVERED TO BE BROKEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR A WHINING IN THE REAR, WHICH WAS THE REAR AXLE BEARING. THE CAR HAD 94000 MILES, COST OF REPAIR WAS $1200. *TR

APRIL 2007 1. JUST BRINGING THE CAR UP TO FREEWAY SPEED. 2. A POPPING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE, PASSENGER SIDE. UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AS IT WAS DARK, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. 3. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE 3RD PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE AND ALSO DESTROYED THE COIL ATTACHED TO IT. A NEW THREADED INSERT WAS INSTALLED IN THE SPARK PLUG HOLE. A NEW SPARK PLUG AND NEW COIL WERE INSTALLED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE ENTERING INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. WHEN THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, THE SMOKE BECAME DARKER. THE FIRE APPEARED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. I'VE HAD TWO FORD VEHICLES BLOW A SPARK PLUG THIS YEAR. *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER - 4.6 V8 HAS THE POPULAR BLOWN SPARK PLUG ISSUE WHICH HAS CAUSED ME A LOT OF PROBLEMS ON PRETTY MUCH THE WORST WEEKEND OF MY LIFE THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN. THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY POPULAR COMPLAINT ABOUT FORDS W/ THIS ENGINE AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. IT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW W/ THE ALUMINUM AND METAL HEATING ISSUES CAUSING THE SPARK PLUGS TO BREAK OFF OR JUST SHOOT OUT OF THE ENGINE. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE UNDER MY HOOD FOR A SHORT TIME AS WELL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. IN MY CASE, I DID HEAR THE INFAMOUS "CLICKING" NOISE THAT HAPPENS JUST BEFORE THE PLUG BLOWS AND THEN RIGHT AFTER, IT BLEW, SOUNDING LIKE SOMEBODY WAS STARTING A HARLEY UNDER MY...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THE VEHICLE LOSES COMPLETE POWER. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT THE COST OF $2,000. THE DEALER HAS NOT EXPLAINED WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

MY WIFE'S 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD A WHINE IN THE REAR END SINCE IT WAS NEW AND IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE WITH TIME. AT ABOUT 55K MILES IT WAS SO BAD THAT WE HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL REBUILT AT A COST OF OVER $1,000. AT 65K MILES THE ENGINE HAD BEGUN TO MAKE NOISE AND IT BECAME MUCH LOUDER RAPIDLY. THE ENTIRE CAM DRIVE (TIMING CHAIN, SPROCKETS, TENSIONERS) HAD BEEN GROUND UP. THE TENSIONER PADS HAD 3/8" DEEP GROOVES WORN INTO THEM AND THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS EVERYWHERE. THE BILL THIS TIME WAS ALMOST $1,300. IT IS INTERESTING THAT ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED WERE A DIFFERENT DESIGN THAN THE ORIGINALS. IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, WHY SPEND THE MONEY TO CHANGE THEM? OF COURSE FORD WOULD NOT ADMIT THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN FOR THE CAMS. AFTER...

I HAVE 2002 FORD XLT EXPLORER. 102K MILES NOW. I HAD ISSUE WITH THROTTLE CABLE STICKING BACK IN FEB 2008. WOULD NOT DECELERATE PROPERLY DRIVING HOME IN THE EVENING, THROTTLE STUCK OPEN. CAME CLOSE TO REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. TRACED THE PROBLEM TO WHAT WAS THAT THE INNER LINER OF THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD BACKED OUT IN THE DRIVER COMPARTMENT APPRX 2 INCHES AND NOT ALLOWING THE CABLE TO RETRACT CORRECTLY. I REMOVED THAT SECTION OF THE LINER. AFTER RESEARCH FOUND THAT NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE05037 MATCHED MY PROBLEM EXACTLY. PLEASE NOTE HERE THAT MY ISSUE OCCURRED AFTER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN WHAT AS NOTED IN PE05037, YOU MAY HAVE TO OPEN NEW INVESTIGATION USING LONGER PERIOD. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THIS AND THEY OFFERED NO REMEDY FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

THIS IS TO ADD INFORMATION TO A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. ODI NUMBER 10207581. THERE WAS A SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE ENGINE THAT RESULTED IN SUDDEN LOCKUP OF THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT LOW SPEED. HOWEVER A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC HAD JUST BEEN NAVIGATED. IF THE FAILURE HAD HAPPENED AT THAT INTERSECTION, THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY RESULTED IN SEVERE INJURIES OR LOSS OF LIFE. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING. BY SUDDEN, MY WIFE DESCRIBED THE NOISE AS RATTLE, CRUNCH, BANG WITH EVERYTHING LOCKING UP IN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY UP TO THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE EXHAUST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE AND MY WIFE FEARED THE VEHICLE WAS CATCHING ON FIRE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, A LARGE QUANTITY (1 TO 2...

SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE ENGINE THAT RESULTED IN SUDDEN LOCKUP OF THE ENGINE, COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER, AND CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT LOW SPEED. HOWEVER A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC HAD JUST BEEN NAVIGATED. IF THE FAILURE HAD HAPPENED AT THAT INTERSECTION, THE FAILURE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERE INJURIES OR LOSS OF LIFE. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY UP UNTIL THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE CAR STARTED SMOKING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY AFTER FAILURE. *TR

EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES: FORD ACKNOWLEDGES ISSUES INTERNALLY WITH THE TIMING CARTRIDGES ON THE 2002 E CODE 4.0L V6 SOHC ENGINE THROUGH SEVERAL TSB'S, HOWEVER DOES NOT NOTIFY THE PUBLIC THAT THIS ISSUE EXISTS. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ISSUE AFTER APPARENTLY BLOWING THE ENTIRE ENGINE ON MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER. NOW, INSTEAD OF HAVING A REPAIR DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT COULD COST A LITTLE, I HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I AM GREATLY THANKFUL THAT THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND NOT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. APPARENTLY, FORD USED SEVERAL PLASTIC GUIDE WAY PARTS TO TENSION THE CHAIN, AND THESE PARTS FAIL EASILY BECAUSE THEY ARE OIL STARVED AT ENGINE STARTUP. BECAUSE THEY ARE PLASTIC, THEY CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK AT ANY TIME, CAUSING SEVERE VALVE...

AT A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE SURGES (ACCELERATES). HAVE TO PLACE IN NEUTRAL AT STANDING STOPS TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED, HAD REPLACED, ALSO THE WINDOW WHINES WHEN ROLLING UP. PASSENGER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR(CABLE) SNAPPED?? WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN AT A SPEED OF 20 MPH+ IT SOUNDS LIKE A HELICOPTER IS IN THE BACK SEAT(ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY HURTS YOUR EARS!!!) <<<<NO FIX OR REPAIR?? ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM? 55-65 MPH STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. REPAIR ATTEMPT BALANCED AND ROTATED TIRES AND SUSPENSION WAS INSPECTED. STILL SHAKES. REAR SPARE TIRE ACCESSORIES COVER HANDLE BROKE. <<NOT ABUSED. HOW DO YOU CHANGE A FLAT WITH NO JACK OR NO TOOLS?? (SPARE TIRE CAME DOWN ALRIGHT THOUGH). EGR VALVE FAILURE @ 40,000 MILES. 4X4 INTEMITTENT SHIFTING ISSUES FROM LOW>AUTO AND AUTO>HIGH. CAN NOT PIN POINT PROBLEM. THAT ABOUT WRAPS UP MY LOVELY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I AM A...

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE HAD TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD INSTEAD OF A TAP KIT TO AVOID METAL SHAVINGS RUINING THE ENGINE. *NM

PERSISTENT QUALITY PROBLEMS: ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, POWER STEERING, AIR COMPRESSOR, AND RELATED SAFETY HAZARDS SUCH AS DEFECTIVE REAR HINGE. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH A V6 ENGINE, PURCHASED NEW, MAINTAINED, HAS 77,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT BECAME ERRATIC, AS IF WATER IN TANK, DROVE ABOUT 1/2 MILE WHEN IT DIED. NOW THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED: ACCORDING TO WARRANTY INSPECTOR THE "CASSETTE FAILED DUE TO THE HYDRAULIC TENSIONER AND IT IS CLOGGED WITH SLUDGE, SLUDGE IS GETTING THICKER AND IT HAS CLOGGED A PIN HOLE IN THE TENSIONER AND CAUSED A LOSS OF PRESSURE". GEICO WILL NOT COVER THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT WAS CAUSED BY LACK OF MAINTENANCE; HOWEVER, I PROVIDED THEM WITH RECORDS OF THE MILEAGE AND DATE OF OIL CHANGES AT INTERVALS BETWEEN 3K AND 5K MILES, PROBLEM I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ONLY 75% OF THOSE CHANGES. THE HIGHEST GAP BETWEEN A RECEIPT BACKED CHANGE AND NON RECEIPT CHANGE IS 7000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS AWFULLY SIMILAR TO THE 1996 - 2002 TOYOTA...

DRIVING ON I-65 NASHVILLE, TN. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOUD AND ABRUPT SOUND IN THE ENGINE WITH SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER. NARROWLY MISSED HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER. WE MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WHERE UPON INSPECTION, A SPARK PLUG HAD OBVIOUSLY BLOWN OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE (LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT). *NM

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 52,000 MILES. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH FORD ESP. IN AUGUST, A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE LEFT HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER AUTHORIZED WARRANTY WORK THAT WOULD REPLACE THE HEAD ON THE LEFT SIDE. I HAD THE VEHICLE BACK FOR 2 WEEKS AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE RIGHT HEAD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE FAULT. THEIR REASON IS THAT THERE WERE AUTOLITE SPARK PLUGS IN THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF MOTORCRAFT SPARK PLUGS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID THE PREVIOUS REPAIR WITHOUT REALIZING THAT. FURTHERMORE, THEY ONLY REPLACED THE ONE PLUG ORIGINALLY THAT BLEW OUT, RE-USING THE OTHER 3 PLUGS (AUTOLITES) THAT WERE IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TALKED WITH FORD IN MICHIGAN AND THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT. FIRST,...

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.6L V8. WITHIN THE LAST MONTH 3 SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEADS. EACH TIME ITS A DIFFERENT CYLINDER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS DENIED OUR CLAIM TO REPAIR THE STRIPPED OUT THREADS IN THE CYLINDERS, WITH A 75,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY.

1. REAR END HOWLING NOISE (3/18/2005) - HEAR NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 40 AND 65 MPH. WHEN LETTING OFF OF ACCELERATOR, NOISE GOES AWAY, COMES BACK AGAIN WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED AGAIN. DEALER SERVICE DEPT REPLACED REAR CARRIER BEARINGS, CUP, SEALS, AND SPACER IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL. NOISE NOW OCCURS BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MPH. WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER SERVICE DEPT ON 4/11/2005. WAS INFORMED 4/20/2005 THAT REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS ADJUSTED WITH NEW SPACER, BUT NOISE IS STILL THERE. SERVICE MANAGER HAS ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER ON LOT AND TEST DROVE IT. THIS EXPLORER HAS SAME NOISE BETWEEN 40 AND 65 MPH. ONE OF THE TECHS (WHO USED TO WORK AT A FORD DEALERSHIP) TOLD SERVICE MANAGER THAT ALOT OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM. FORD HAS NO SOLUTION OR CURE. 2. NOISE IN TIMING CHAIN AREA. FORD HAS A TSB ON THIS. I CAN HEAR THIS...

JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED 2002 FORD EXPLORER FROM A DEALER. KEPT SCHEDULED MAINT. HAS BEEN OFF LOT FOR SIX MONTHS. NOTICED A LOUD ENGINE KNOCK FROM FRONT OF THE ENGINE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER!, THEY SAID I HAD BLOWN A ROD BEARING. HAS TO BE SOMETHING WITH THE ENGINE. ENGINE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 60,000 MILES ON IT. NO SIGN OF AN OIL LEAK, SLUDGE,ETC. DEALER SAID THE ENGINE WAS CLEAN. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, TIMING CHAIN GUIDE FAILURE (4.0L PREVIOUS FORD RECALL) FORD REPLACED TRANS. NOW THAT TRANS IS FAILING. REPLACED TIMING CHAIN AND GEAR SET. *NM

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. SHE TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE RPM READING DROPPED TO ZERO, AND THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. SHE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAS ABOUT TO CALL ME, AND TRIED TO TURN THE ENGINE BACK ON. IT RESTARTED AND SHE DROVE HOME. MY THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WITH HER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30-35 MPH, THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE, I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND DROVE HOME. THIS SAME INCIDENT HAD OCCURED TO MY WIFE THE DAY BEFORE, SO I DROPPED OFF MY TWO SONS AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE CAR ALSO LOST ALL ENGINE POWER ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER. AFTER HAVING THE CAR AT THE DEALER FOR 5 DAYS DURING WHICH THEY PUT 50 MILES ON MY CAR, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THEREFORE DID NOT FIX ANYTHING.*AK

TODAY, 9-2-04, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPPED AND LOST POWER. THE RADIO REMAINED ON. THE ENGINE STARTED AGAIN, BUT ONE MINUTE LATER, STALLED AGAIN. IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN OVER, STARTED, AND STALLED YET AGAIN. THIS OCCURRED ONE MORE TIME, AND I DROVE IT HOME TO DROP OFF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN, AND TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER, FORD GALPIN IN NORTH HILLS, CALIFORNIA. THIS IS THE 3RD SEPERATE OCCASSION THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND ITS 2ND TRIP TO THE DEALER. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING INSPECTED AT THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS AND IT HAS BEEN INTO THE FORD SERVICE-REPAIR SHOP A TOTAL 0F 37 WORK HOURS -10 DOCUMENTED SERVICE DAYS FOR AN ANNOYING TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DASH-CONSOLE-ENGINE AREA THAT CAN NOT SEEM TO BE REPAIRED. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER OR NOT THAT THE ENGINE IS COLD OR WARM, THE WEATHER CONDTIONS HOT-DRY OR HUMID AND WET, IT STILL TICKS INTERMITENTLY FOR SOMETIMES AROUND 8 MINUTES OR CAN GO ON FOR 20 AT THAT MOMENT. WHEN IT STARTS IT SOUNDS LIKE A TOGGLE SWITCH GOING ON AND OFF AND THEN MAKES A RUBBING ,SQUEAKING , TICKING NOISE THAT STARTS OFF LOW AND THEN GETS SO LOUD THAT YOU CAN HEAR IT WITH THE RADIO ON SET AT A SLIGHTLY HIGH VOLUME. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER THE AIR IS ON OR OFF, THE RADIO-CD IS ON OR OFF OR THE HEAT IS...

BOUGHT CAR IN JANUARY 2003, WAS A DEALER VEHICLE. WE HAD 54,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT HOME FROM WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE SAME TIME THE EXPLORER STARTED ALMOST BUCKING. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING SO BAD THAT I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AS BEST AS I COULD. I CALLED AAA AND AS THEY HAD ME TURN THE VEHICLE AROUND SO IT COULD BE PUT ON THE TRUCK THE ENGINE STOPPED ALL TOGETHER, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. AFTER BRINGING IT TO MY MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE MY WARRANTY WAS FOR 36,000. I HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED ALWAYS ON TIME AND ALSO HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR ITS FULL...

THE ABS ACTIVATED WHILE ON A DRY PAVEMENT ANDTHE VEHICLE LOST BRAKING POWER. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO KEPT INSISTING THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER FELT DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE DEALERS EVALUATION. *AK THE CONSUMERS BROTHER VERIFIED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT COULD NOT TAKE IT APART TO CHECK IT OUT BECAUSE OF WARRANTY ISSUES AND THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A MISS. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FOUND BAD. *SC *JB

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IDLING AT A LIGHT. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE VALVE. UNFORTUNATELY WITHIN THREE DAY THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE WHILE SURGING IDLING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PERMANENTLY RESOLVE THAT PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A WHINE IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BUT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN ALL THESE PROBLEMS STARTED. *NM

DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, WHEN WE GOT OFF & WE TRIED TO STOP MY HUSBAND HEARD A REVVING NOISE THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. HE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. WE HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF & COAST TO A STOP BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING EITHER. WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO REAR-END SOMEONE & THAT NO ONE IN THE CAR INCLUDING MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN WERE HURT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED 4 DAYS EARLIER. I WAS ALSO THANKFUL MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR IN 5 OTHER TIMES FOR RELATED PROBLEMS. THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND A PROBLEM. THIS IS A LEASE CAR & I HAVE HAD IT FOR 1YR 9MTHS. IT WAS FIRST SERVICED 1 MONTH AFTER I GOT IT...

WHEN STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN, INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN TURNING LEFT, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE HEAT VENTS THAT BLEW DIRECTLY ON THE CONSUMER DID NOT WORK. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES IN ONE MONTH. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

WHILE CHANGING THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT SEVERAL DRIVER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WERE LOOSE. MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE FACTORY. *AK *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND THE SECOND OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN SHUT DOWN. *MR *TS *JB

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SOMETIMES STALLS WHEN STARTING MY VEHICLE. IT HAS ALSO HESITATED AND ACTS LIKE IT IS STALLING WHEN DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM THE SIDE WITH 4 SMALL CHILDREN IN MY CAR WHEN IT HAS DECIDED TO HESITATE. *NLM

THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

THE ENGINE STALLED TWICE IN 3 DAYS, LAST FRIDAY I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STALLED AND I HAD TO MOVE OVER 3 LANES TO STOP AT THE SHOULDER, CALLED THE POLICE, POLICEMAN CHECKED THE BATTERY, NO PROBLEM, THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T START, HE CALLED THE TOW TRUCK. I GOT CURIOUS, TRIED STARTING THE CAR, IT STARTED BACK UP. I THEN DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE TECHNICIAN SAID NO ERROR CODE AND THEREFORE NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. TODAY (SUNDAY), MY CAR STALLED AGAIN, THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CAR STARTED BACK UP. WHAT IS CAUSING THIS? I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN RIDING WITH ME! PLEASE GIVE ME SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS! *NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE JERKS AND WILL LOSE POWER AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OIL PAN GASKET BUT THE LEAKING PERSISTED. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE OIL PAN BUT OIL CONTINUED TO LEAK. THE DEALER EVENTUALLY HAD TO GLUE THE SCREWS TO THE OIL PAN TO SOP THE LEAKING. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THIS REPAIR. *AK *PH *NLM

VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THIS INCIDENT CAN HAPPEN ON QUARTER OR LESS OF GAS IN GASOLINE TANK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK