2002 FORD EXPLORER Fuel System Gasoline Problems

IT HAS BECOME INCREASING MORE DIFFICULT TO FUEL THE VEHICLE. THE PUMP CLICKS AS IF THE TANK IS FULL AS SOON AS THE FUELING BEGINS AND TAKE A LONG TIME TO FILL THE TANK AS YOU HAVE TO CONTINUALLY PUSH THE TRIGGER ON THE GAS PUMP BECAUSE IT KEEPS SHUTTING AS IF THE TANK IS FULL. *TR

I NOTICED ONE DAY THAT MY GAS GAUGE SHOWED EMPTY WHEN I KNEW I HAD GAS, THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE ENGINE MY GAS GAUGE WORKED. FROM THAT DAY IT WORKS SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL GIVE OUT COMPLETELY ONE DAY AND CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WONDER WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL AS I FEEL FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY HERE AS IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER AT 15000 MILES; BOUGHT TRUCK USED FROM MY BROTHER. HE NEVER DROVE IT BECAUSE HE HAD A COMPANY CAR. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING IT HOME, DOOR AJAR LIGHT NEVER WENT OUT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON(SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT RIGHT BACK TO MY BROTHER).$650.00 TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP, $100.00 TO FIX DOOR AJAR LIGHT(FIXED MYSELF), $600.00 TO FIX CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THAT PROBLEM WAS DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHICH PLACE CHECKED THE ERROR CODES. NOW THE FUEL GAGE IS GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND VERY POOR MPG. WAS TOLD THE SENDING UNIT IS PROBABLE CAUSE. NOW THIS 2002 EXPLORER STILL UNDER 20,000 MILES. WHAT NEXT!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE READING BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE ERRATICALLY . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIANS STATED SUGAR WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP,CLEANED THE FUEL TANK, AND REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE FUEL GAUGE CONTINUED TO READ EMPTY CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 09/20/2011 *LN *TR

FUELING SYSTEM/FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THIS IS MY SECOND 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE FIRST EXPLORER I HAD I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME. NOW THE CURRENT 2002 EXPLORER I HAVE NOW IS EXPERIENCE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. I'M JUST AMAZED AT HOW MANY COMPLAINTS THERE ARE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FROM OTHER BUYERS AND IT STILL ISN'T CONSIDERED A RECALL. VERY FRUSTRATED! *TR

EXPLORER GAS WILL NOT PUMP. CLICKS EVERY FEW SECONDS . *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, ORIGINAL PLUGS IN IT FROM DEALER. TODAY I HAD A PLUG EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE RESTING ON TOP OF THE HEAD. LUCKILY I KNOW ABOUT CARS AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. INCIDENT IS COMMON IN FORDS AND COULD LEAD TO POSSIBLE INJURY, SINCE EJECTED PLUG COULD LEAD UP TO EXCESSIVE GASOLINE VAPORS WHICH COULD BE IGNITED BY LOOSE PLUG CAUSING FIRE. *TR

ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS HARD TO PRESS, RPM REMAINED HIGH 3000 - 4000. EVENTUALLY THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK - GO WAS GOING 70 MPH. HAD TO STRUT OF ENGINE MECHANIC REPLACE ACCELERATOR CABLE - NOTED CABLE WAS KINKED AND FRAYED - VERY DANGEROUS AND THAT I SHOULD REPORT IT. *TR

THE FUEL GAUGE, MOST OF THE TIME, DOES NOT WORK. *TR

EVEN WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS THE GAS GAUGE WILL GO TO "0" AND THE "CHECK GAUGE" LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE THE SENDER ASSEMBLY UNIT OF THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. THERE HAD BEEN ANOTHER 2002 EXPLORER BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THAT MORNING. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND IS ON BACK ORDER. THE PART COST $76.79 BUT THE LABOR WILL BE $270! THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR US TO PAY DUE TO AN FORDS ENGINEERING PROBLEM. ARE MANY OTHER 2002 EXPLORERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS? MANY TIMES, BECAUSE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS CORRUPTED, IT WILL PUT TOO MUCH FUEL IN INJECTORS, WHICH HAS CAUSED MY CAR TO "BOG DOWN" ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS AND AT HWY ENTRANCE RAMPS. *TR

CAME HOME TO FIND STOING GASOLINE FUMES AND A STREAM OF GAS LEAKING ON THE DRIVEWAY FROM UNDER THE EXPLORER. CLIMBED UNDERNEATH IT TO FIND A HOSE LEAKING. *TR

1) 2002 FORD EXPLORER WILL CRANK BUT NOT START WHEN WEATHER IS HOT (2) MANY TIMES AT HOME WHEN WEATHER IS HOT. CONSEQUENCES: UNABLE TO USE CAR FOR A MONTH. (3) FORD DEALER ($250) CHANGED FUEL IDLE BOX. DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM.(4) FORD NOW WANTS TO CHANGE FUEL PUMP FOR $1000.00 MILEAGE IS 12000 . *TR .

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM A HOSE AFTER REFILLING THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ASSEMBLY LINE CONNECTED TO THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,085.

MY FUEL TANK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, STATING THAT I NEED TO CHECK MY CAP. WHEN I CHECK THE CAP IT IS ON TIGHT AND HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE LIGHT COMES ON.. IT'S NOT ON ALL THE TIME... *TR

FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING INTO MY DRIVEWAY WITH ONLY 11,000 MILES ON THE CAR. COST $ 950.00 TO REPLACE THE PUMP AT DEALER. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. A FEW WEEKS EARLIER I NOTICED A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE WHEN THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 55 MPH BUT PROBLEM CORRECTED ITSELF. *TR

THE FUEL SYSTEM ON MY FORD EXPLORER WENT OUT COMPLETELY AT 40,000 MILES. ALSO, THE BLACK PANELS BETWEEN THE WINDOWS ARE FADED AND PEELING. *TR

WHERE TO START... BROKEN CRUISE CONTROL, HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS A SHORT, DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW DOESN'T ROLL DOWN, TROUBLE GOING INTO GEAR, CAR SUDDENLY DIES AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, LOUD GRINDING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE BAY (LIKE AN ELECTRIC KNIFE SHARPENER) THAT IS GETTING INCREASINGLY MORE FREQUENT, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF, BRAKES SQUEAL AND DON'T STOP THE VEHICLE PROPERLY, SUPPORT FOR THE HATCH (WHICH IS CRACKED 8 INCHES OR SO IN TWO PLACES) DOESN'T LIFT HATCH COMPLETELY, AND THE FUEL ECONOMY IS DOWN TO 4-6 MPG IN THE CITY. I HATE IT! I DON'T FEEL LIKE MY GIRLFRIEND IS SAFE DRIVING IT, AND I THINK FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO MAKE THEIR WRONGS INTO RIGHTS! *TR

2002 EXPLORER HAS PROBLEMS PICKING UP SPEED AND OVER USE OF GAS. *TS THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, GEAR ADJUSTMENT, DIFFICULT HIGH ALTITUDE DRIVING EVEN AFTER GEAR CHANGE, AIR SUCTION INTO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ACCELERATOR AND SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM UPDATED 07/06/06. *JB

ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 3, 2005, I PURCHASED A BREAK MODEL USED FORD EXPLORER XLT 2002 FROM NORM REEVES HONDA CAR DEALER IN CERRITOS, CA. THE CAR HAD 78,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I SIGNED THE PAPERS AND TOOK THE POSSESSION OF THE CAR. IT HAS NOT BEEN MORE THAN 2 MONTHS THAT THE CAR STARTED GIVING ME TROUBLE ON THE PICK UP OF THE SPEED, TRANSMISSION, GEAR ADJUSTMENT, OVER USE OF THE GAS, DIFFICULT HIGH ALTITUDE DRIVING EVEN AFTER CHANGE OF GEARS, AIR SUCTION INTO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ACCELERATOR AND SIGNS LIKE SERVICE ENGINE SOON ON THE FRONT PANEL, ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN GETTING REGULAR LUBE AND TUNE ON THE CAR AFTER EVERY 3000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING THE, OCCASIONALLY, THE CAR GIVES A THUNDERING NOISE ON THE TIRES AS IF IT IS DRAGGING ITSELF AND RUNNING ON THE ROAD. THIS MAKES ME FEAR THAT...

AFTER A SHORT DRIVE TO AND FROM THE GAS STATION I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER. NOTICED WET SPOT ON THE DIVEWAY THE FOLLOWING DAY. A SHORT 6 DRIVE CONSUMED NEARLY A QUARTER TANK OF GAS. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AS OF YET. HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE. ARE ANY OTHER REPORTS OF SUCH FAILURES? IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR?

FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *BF THE CONSUMER HAS A REPORT WHICH STATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A GAS LEAK. *JB *NM

SEPTEMBER 2002: FUEL INJECTOR FOR #3 CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE SPRAYED OVER ENGINE. DISCOVERED IN DRIVEWAY DURING VEHICLE WARM-UP. NO INDICATION OF PROBLEM EXCEPT FOR SMELL. OCTOBER 2003: FUEL INJECTOR FOR #3 CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE SPRAYED OVER ENGINE. FAILURE OCCURED AT SOME POINT DURING DRIVING. DISCOVERED ONLY DUE TO FUEL SMELL. NO OTHER INDICATION. DEALER FIXED BOTH TIMES. CONCERNED ABOUT OCCUPANT SAFETY -APPEARS AS THOUGH FIRE COULD EASILY IGNITE, AND LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. NO WARNING THAT SYSTEM HAS FAILED.

THE CONSUMER STATED THE GASOLINE FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED. *AK *SC

FUEL SYSTEM HAS A LEAK THAT RESULTS IN FUEL SPILLS, ALLOWING FUMES TO ENTER PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES PERIODS OF STALLING AT LOW SPEEDS. APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING. NO PRIOR WARNING BEFORE STALLING. EXISTING PROBLEM 5 TIMES, TAKEN INTO THE DELAER. *AK DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP, MAIN CONTROL VALVE BODY, TRANSMISSION OIL PAN, IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND PROGRAMMED PCM. VIBRATION LIKE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS KICKING IN. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. OVERDRIVE COMES IN AND OUT AT ODD SPEEDS. NO PROBLEM FOUND.

WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP OR FROM A STOP POSITION VEHICLE WOULD MOMENTARILY HESITATE BEFORE JERKING INTO GEAR WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP THE TRUCK WILL NOT ACCELERATE. IT WILL JUST MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. CONSUMER HAS TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART. VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH AND CHANGES GEARS WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FORD TO EITHER FIX THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY, REPURCHASE OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE. *JG

FUEL FUMES WERE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK