2002 FORD EXPLORER Power Trainaxle Assembly Problems

REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND ALSO THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE DO A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. YOU MAKE TONS OF MONEY OFF YOUR LOYAL COSTUMERS, NOW DO SOMETHING FOR THEM AND FIX AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT MECHANICS, DEALERSHIPS AND OWNERS OF 2002 FORD EXPLORERS KNOW ABOUT. THANK YOU *TR

FORD EXPLORER 2002 CLUTCH PACK IN REAR DIFF WENT OUT CAUSING RACK AND PINION TO GO OUT. FORD DEALER STATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR. HAD REAR DIFF REBUILT BY DEALERSHIP WITH FORD PARTS AND 24,000 MILES LATER THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. AT $1300 TO OVER $1500 EACH TIME THIS IS CRAZY AND NEITHER FORD NOR THE DEALERSHIP WILL ASSIST IN THE COST. AFTER CALLING FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE MY AGGRAVATION INCREASED BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. NOW SAME PROBLEM ON OUR 03 EXPEDITION. IF THE DIFF LOCKS UP I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. *TR

ONE OF MY CUSTOMERS CAME TO ME WITH 53,000 ON HER 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE COMPLAINT WAS A MILE LONG. ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, ABS LIGHT IS ON, SPEED SENSOR,A/C PROBS, REAR AXLE SEALS ARE LEAKING ON THE IRS, POOR EXCUSE FOR A REAR AXLE SYSTEM IN MY OPINION. A PERSON CANT TELL IF IT IS THE DIFFERENTIAL OR THE REAR BEARINGS ARE BAD, READING ON HERE I THINK THAT THEY ARE BOTH BAD. DIFF IS FULL OF METAL SHAVINGS. I AM SORRY BUT IF FORD DON'T START STANDING BEHIND SUCH A POOR EXCUSE FOR A VEHICLE, THAT ONE ONE GENTLEMEN ON HERE IS GOING TO BE RIGHT SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT FIRST. THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT INPUT ON HERE AS A MECHANIC IT MEANS A LOT. I AM GOING TO LOOSE A BIG JOB GRANTED. UNLIKE OTHER CERTAIN PLACES HMMMMMMMMM DEALERS I CARE ABOUT MY CUSTOMERS...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM WHAT SHE BELIEVED TO BE THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE AND THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE NOISE WENT FROM A LOUD HUMMING NOISE TO A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, AND BEGAN TO PULL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THAT THE REAR AXLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. FORD WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

I FIRST NOTICED A GRINDING WHEN I WOULD TURN SHARPLY WITH MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I TOOK IT IN AND IT WAS NOTED THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL REBUILT TO REPLACE TO RING AND PINION GEARS AND CLUTCH PACKS. AFTER 1 DAY OF HAVING THE VEHICLE I WAS NOTIFIED THAT A BEARING HAD FUSED TO THE AXLE ASSEMBLY AND COULD RESULT IN MY REAR AXLE SEIZING UP WHILE DRIVING. THE TOTAL REPAIR IS GOING TO COST $1500. *TR

CONSTANT RUBBING/GRINDING SOUND FROM REAR AXLE SOUNDING LIKE VERY LOUD ROAD NOISE. INITIALLY HAD SPRING KITS , BUT ON REAR EMERGENCY BRAKES WHICH DID NOT HELP. FINALLY, HAD TO HAVE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY REBUILT BY A KIT THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, SHOWING THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE MAKES A WHINNING SOUND FROM THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT WHEN ACCELLARATING OVER 35 MPG.

ON THE BACK LIFTGATE, THE MIDDLE BODY PIECE HAS CRACKED AGAIN AFTER BEING REPLACED AROUND THE FORD SYMBOL. DEALER HAS REPLACED ONCE AND WILL NOT REPLACE AGAIN. THE AXLE HOUSING IS LEAKING NEXT TO THE DIFFERENTIAL. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE'S REAR AXLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING AND THERE WERE ALSO METAL FLAKES IN THE DIFFERENTIAL.

BOUGHT 2002 EXPLORER IN 2003 WITH 12,000 MILES. SERVICNG DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY @ 32,000 MILES AFTER O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. NOW NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION @ 54,000 MILES. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED, DRIVEN LIGHTLY, NEVER TOWED, NEVER ABUSED. DEALER WILL NOT PAY OR HELP OUT ONE BIT. FORD KNOWS 2002 EXPLORERS HAVE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS AND REAR ENDS, IS IGNORING PROBLEM, LEAVING CONSUMER TO ABSORB COST! HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY, AIR CONDITIONING UNIT UNDER WARRANTY. FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACING- OUT OF WARRANTY. REAR END IS MAKING CLASSIC "HUMMING" SOUND THAT FORD IS ALSO IGNORING-PINION GEARS. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD REAR END TROUBLES, THIRD TIME HAVING WORK DONE ON THE REAR AXLE AND ASSEMBLY, TROUBLED STARTED AT ABOUT 40000 AND NOW AT 72000 MILES. SEALS, BEARINGS, REAR AXLE. HUMMING AND WHINING NOISE FROM REAR END AT BOTH HIGHWAY SPEED AND CITY DRIVING. DEALER QUOTED OVER THE PHONE COULD RUN IN EXCESS OF $2000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR, TOOK IT TO A LOCAL GARAGE SPENT $1032 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS. REPLACED WITH DEALER ONLY PARTS, NO SAVINGS THERE. FORD CLAIMS NO PROBLEMS WITH REAR END. ALL INDICATIONS IS THE PROBLEM WILL RETURN. I'M NOT CONVINCED THE PROBLEM IS FIXED. *NM

REPEATED REAR AXLE AND SEAL FAILURE, TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *JB

THREE INSTANCES OF WHINING NOISE AT 50+ MPH AND FLUID LEAKAGE FROM REAR AXLE SEAL 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE FIRST ONE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY. DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE SINCE REAR TRANSAXLE FLUID LEAKS DOWN DRIVE SHAFT TO BRAKE ASSEMBLY. I NOTICED SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF BRAKE ASSEMBLY WHERE FLUID IS RUNNING INTO THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. ONLY WHEN LEAK IS SIGNIFICANT WILL FLUID DRIP ONTO SURFACE BELOW REAR AXLE. DEALER NOTED FORD ENGINEERS ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. FIRST REPLACEMENT OF REAR AXLE SEALS AT 30000 MILES; SECOND AT 460000 MILES AND THE THIRD AT 62000 MILES. THESE SEALS SHOULD LAST LONGER. SECOND INSTANCE HAD VIBRATION WHEN ENGAGING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND LOUD WHINING NOISE/ VIBRATION FROM REAR; THEN FLUID LEAKAGE. MY DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT MANY EXPLORERS (2002-2005) HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY ENGINEERS ARE EVALUATING; AS A...

THE REAR END ON MY CAR WAS CAUSING A LOUD HUMMING NOISE ABOVE 40 MILES PER HOUR. *JB

THERE IS A LOUD HOWL/WHINE COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE AREA OF OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THESE VEHICLES. OUR EXPLORER IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WE WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO AT LEAST SHARE THE COST OF REPAIR WITH US. *NM

LOUD TIRE ROAR WHEN I REACH SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE. DEALER NOTICED THE NOISE BUT DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE HOW TO FIX IT. VERY LOUD, ALMOST MAKES YOU NOT WANT DRIVE. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END. THERE IS A CONSTANT LEAK, ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THAT CAN'T EVER SEEM TO BE FIXED. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS THE AXLE SEALS AND THEY REPLACED THEM. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY HUB WHICH THEY REPLACED. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEY SAID THAT A GROOVE HAD BEEN WORN IN THE AXLE AND THAT WAS CAUSING THE LEAK. LESS THEN A YEAR LATER THE OTHER SIDE OF THE REAR END IS LEAKING. *JB

LTR FM CONSUMER (KY) RE THE PROBLEMS SHE'S HAD W/THE REAR END OF HER 2002 FORD EXPLORER, WANT FORD TO BUY BACK HER VEHICLE. *TS IN THE SUMMER OF 2003 THE CONSUMER HEARD A WHINNING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR END AND REPLACED THE SEAL. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED THE SEAL WAS REPLACED AGAIN. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED AGAIN. THE ENTIRE REAR END HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. *NM

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IS MAKING A HOWLING SOUND FROM THE REAR END AND IS LEAKING FLUID, SOMETIMES THIS FLUID REACHES THE TIRES AND MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BRAKES... COULD THIS CAUSE THEM TO FAIL? CRASH? MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, I WENT TO A LARGE PARKING LOT AND LOOKED UNDER SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS 2002-UP 6 OUT OF ABOUT 10 HAD THIS PROBLEM, WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE FORD FIXES THE PROBLEM, DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE? *NM

ROAR/WHINE FROM REAR END @ 40-65 MPH. STOPS WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM ACCELERATOR. *JB

ABS LIGHT CAME ON AT 19,518 MILES, 22,071 MILES, AND 27,078 MILES. MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOWEVER, ARE MY ISSUES WITH THE 2002 EXPLORER REAR END. 10/1/03: 27,078 MILES ABS LIGHT CAME ON, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ASSEMBLY. REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING, DEALER REPLACED THE SEALS. 7/28/04: 40,541 MILES REAR END LEAKING AGAIN. HALF SHAFTS WERE WORN. REAR LOCKING DIFF WAS SLIPPING. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH HALFSHAFTS, SEALS, AND CLUTCH PACKS. 9/22/04: 43,203 MILES REAR AXLE CHATTERING. REPLACED WHOLE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. 2/25/05: 54,960 MILES REAR DIFF MAKING MORE NOISE. LEFT REAR AXLE BEARING WAS NOISY. REPLACED LEFT REAR AXLE HUB AND ASSEMBLY. ON TEST DRIVE, THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE BEARING THEY JUST INSTALLED WAS BAD, SO THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. 8/11/05: 68,000 MILES LEAKING FLUID FROM REAR END. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING MAINTENANCE: REPLACED DIFF SEALS, REPLACED TIMING CHAIN, REPLACED RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY, REPLACED...

TWO INSTANCES OF WHINING NOISE AT 50+ MPH AND FLUID LEAKAGE FROM REAR AXLE SEAL 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. THE FIRST ONE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY; RESULTING IN COMING TO REST WITHIN INCHES OF CONCRETE BARRIER AFTER JERKING ACROSS SEVERAL LANES. DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE SINCE REAR TRANSAXLE FLUID LEAKS DOWN DRIVE SHAFT TO BRAKE ASSEMBLY. I ONLY NOTICE BECAUSE I PERFORM A MONTHLY INSPECTION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. NOTICED SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OF BRAKE ASSEMBLY WHERE FLUID IS RUNNING INTO THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. ONLY WHEN LEAK IS SIGNIFICANT WILL FLUID DRIP ONTO SURFACE BELOW REAR AXLE. DEALER NOTED FORD ENGINEERS ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. FIRST REPLACEMENT OF REAR AXLE SEALS AT 39000 MILES; SECOND AT 50000 MILES. THESE SEALS SHOULD LAST LONGER. SECOND INSTANCE HAD VIBRATION WHEN ENGAGING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND OUD WHINING NOISE/ VIBRATION FROM REAR; THEN...

DRIVE TRAIN AND REAR AXLE HAVE PERSISTENT SHUDDER AND BINDING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS 2-3 AND UPON ACCELERATION DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND WILL NOT RESOLVE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ID'D W/ SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THE 5355-RW ASSEMBLY AND THE REAR-GEAR LUBRICANT RATIO MIX-UP INTHE SEALED REAR HOUSING EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE REC'D PROTOCAL FROM MFG. ON THE PROCEDURE AND/OR REPLACEMENT PARTSAS BEING AVAILABLE SINCE MAR 2001 THIS HAS BEEN NOTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERE DAMAGE DONE TO THE REAR AXLE AND WHEEL COMPONENTS BUT THEY DO NOT SEE THIS AS A PROBLEM WHEN IN FACT IT CAN RESULT IN VEHICLE FAILURETHAT MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR EVEM DEATH. I PERSONALLY SEE THIS AS BLATANT NEGLIGENCE ON THE DEALERAND MFG. PART OF RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. MY EXPLORER EXHIBITED TROUBLE SINCE JULY'04 AND WAS MFGD. IN THE TIME FRAME THAT A DEFECT WAS BROUGHT TO FORD'S ATTENTION IN...

DT: PROBLEM WITH BACK END, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER,AND DEALER SAID THEY FIXED AXLE, THEN, TOOK BACK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FIXED HUB, AND REPLACED THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. IN LAST 3 MONTHS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP 3 TIMES. CURRENTLY, IN THE SHOP. WENT TO GET OIL CHANGE LAST FRIDAY, AND MECHANIC NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE AXLE. CURRENTLY VEHICLE IN SHOP TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE. THEY GAVE CONSUMER AN EXTRA 5 YR WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND THIS WAS 8 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP KEPT SAYING VEHICLE WAS SAFE EVEN THOUGH DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. *AK

LOUD THUMPING NOISES COMING FROM FRONT END OF 2002 FORD EXPLORER. FORD SAYS THEY ARE NORMAL. IT DIDN'T DO THIS WHEN WE BOUGHT IT. ALSO THERE IS A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. REAR END HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCED. PROBLEM DISAPPEARED FOR ABOUT 10K MILES AFTER IT WAS REPLACED. WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AS WE HAVE THREE NEWBORN BABIES.

REAR END NOISE (GRINDING) IN OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER DURING DE-ACCELERATION. FIRST TIME TO DEALER 8/25/03 MILEAGE 30,901, NOTHING DONE, 2ND TIME TO DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 11/03/03, MILEAGE 36,930 COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. PROBLEM SEEMS TO GO AWAY, CAME BACK AROUND 75,000 MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND COMPLETE REAR END WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $2600.00. NOT SURE WHY IT WAS NOT DETECTED WITH THE FIRST TIME TO THE DEALER?

LOUD WHINING NOISE IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL .. THE BEARINGS ARE BAD AND THE SEALS ARE LEAKING

HELLO, I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORE XLT WITH 50,000 MILES V-6. IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE THAT IS IN A RYTHMIC PATTEREN. I HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT NEXT TUESDAY BUT WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY RECALLS THAT I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. AFTER READING SEVERAL FORMS FROM OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS IT SOUNDS AS IF THERE IS A REOCCOURING PROBLEM.*AK

1ST TIME WAS THE REAR HOWLING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, PRIMARILY DURING ACCELERATION. IT WAS REMEDIED ONCE FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL. INNER/OUTER AXLE BEARINGS, RACERS, PINION SEAL WERE REPLACED. 2ND INCIDENT OCCURED LESS THAN 30 DAYS, AND 3000 MILES LATER, WHEN THE TRUCK DECIDED TO PULL ME FROM 75 MPH TO 25 MPH IN SECONDS. THERE WAS A MAJOR LEAK UNDER THE REAR AXLE, AND THE TRUCK REQUIRED TOWING. THERE WAS A MAJOR REPLACEMENT TO THE REAR END, DO NOT HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION AT HAND, BUT IT WAS EXPENSIVE. NOW, 2 YEARS LATER, 30000 MILES LATER, THE REAR END NEEDS AN EXPENSIVE PART FOR REPLACEMENT. WHEN I MADE SHARP RIGHT/LEFT HANDED TURNS, THERE WAS A SHUDDER, A GRIND, THAT WAS COMING FROM THE REAR. FORD SERVICE NOTIFIED ME SAME DAY THAT A PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $725, ABOUT THE SAME REGION WHERE ORIGINAL PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED....

PRIOR TO PURCHASE 6/03 @ 40K MILES, TRANS FLUID 2 QTS LOW, NOTHING ELSE ADDRESSED. APRIL '04 @ 50K MILES REPLACED LEAKS IN TRANSMISSIONS, CHARGED $200 DEDUCTIBLE. SEPT '04 REPLACED REAR DIFFERENTIAL, JAN '05 REPLACED REAR DIFF CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, NOW NEED WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION AT 68000 MILES. *AK

I AM THE FLEET MANAGER OF THE BUFFALO GROVE PARK DISTRICT AND WE OWN FOUR FORD EXPLORERS TWO OF THE FOUR A 2002, AND A 2003, EXPLORER 4X4 XLT HAVE HAD NUMEROUS EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS SUCH AS WHEEL BEARING FAILURES THREE FAILURES ON THE 02 EXPLORER AND ONE ON THE 03, REAR STRUT FAILURE,SEALS LEAKING CONVERTER CLUTCH FAILURE,REAR AXLE NOISE GEAR WHINE,CLUTCH PACK NOISE,ALL THESE PROBLEMS ON VEHICLES THAT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY BY MILEAGE BUT ONLY A COUPLE TWO OR THREE YEARS OLD. THIS YEAR JAN 04 TO JAN 05 3,500 IN REPAIRS FOR THESE TWO VEHICLES, NOT INCLUDING THE REAR AXLE PROBLEMS ON THE 03, THIS IS "NOT ACCEPTABLE" P.S. THE MILEAGE 72,000 ON THE 02, AND 51,000 ON THE 03 *JB

MULTIPLE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4, 42,000 MILES. LOUD NOISE PROMPTED ACTION BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE. COMPLETE FAILURE MAY HAVE RESULTED IN WHEEL LOCK-UP AND POSSIBLE CRASH. DESPITE COMPLAINT AND RESQUEST FOR THE REPAIR TO BE COVERED GIVEN LIMITED MILEAGE, NO ASSISTANCE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. DEALER DID REPLACE ONE UNIT AT NO CHARGE. FORD PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF ANOTHER OWNER WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM, HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS. THIS IS CERTAIN TO BECOME A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AS THESE CARS AGE IF FORD IS NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT AND FORCED TO TAKE PREIMPTIVE ACTION TO SAVE LIVES.*AK

ABS LIGHT WAS ON. ALSO, BACK AXLE WAS REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN. *AK THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. *TC

FORD EXPLORER REAR END HAD HIGH PITCH NOISE: MECHANIC HAD TO PLACE A NEW REAR END IN THE VEHICLE: FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LOCKED INTO LOW GEAR AND WOULD NOT RELEASE: REPLACED CONTROL SWITCH BUT 4X4 HIGH LIGHT BLINKS.

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAS EXPIERENCED ALL THE POWER TRAIN PROBLEMS THAT I AHVE FOUND ON THIS SITE.MY DEALER AHS BEEN ADMIRABLE IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BUT IT SEEMS WE GET ONE FIXED AND ANOTHER STARTS.THE FIRS WAS THE TRANSFER CASR HAD A SHUTTER IN IT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR , THEN THE REAR END HAD A BAD BEARING, THEN THE LEFT REAR AXLE HAD A BAD WHEEL BEARING, THEN THE VEHILCE WAS STAYING IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ALL THE TIME, THIS HAPPENED ON A TRIP THIS FALL BARE GROUND. THEN THE LATEST IS THE TRANSMISION IS GOING TO NEUTRAL AT STOP SIGNS AND RED LIGHTS BY ITSELF. THE VEHILE THEN SITS AND REVS UNTIL WITH A BANG THE TRANSMISSON ENGAGES AGAIN. *AK

THE REAR AXLE LEAKED. WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE RUBBER SEAL EATING INTO THE METAL OF THE AXLE PER MECHANIC. *AK THE REAR AXLE FAILED BETWEEN 17K MILES AND 30K MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES. *SCC *JB

4 FAILURES OF THE TRANSMISSION. COMMON PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN MISS SHIFTS FROM 2-3 AND 3-4, DELAYED SHIFTS FROM 2-3 AND 3-4, AND SEVERELY HARD SHIFTS IN ALL GEARS. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT TWICE AND REPLACED ONCE. FORD HAS BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK AFTER ARBITRATION UNDER THE LEMON LAW. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND RIGHT HALF SHAFT. I HAVE HAD 6 TOTAL FAILURES OF THE REAR END. WARNING SIGNS HAVE BEEN A WHINE FROM THE RIGHT REAR THE GROWS LOUDER OVER TIME AND THEN A VIBRATION IN THE RIGHT REAR. FORD KNOWS OF THESE PROBLEMS AS THEY HAVE ISSUED MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SERVICING DEALERS OF THE ORDER OF REPAIR ATTEMPTS TO BE MADE. A RECALL MAY IN ORDER. *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING 55 - 65 MPH A HIGH PITCHED WHINNING NOISE WOULD DEVELOP IN THE REAR PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WOULD SUBSIDE AS THE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. HOWEVER THE NOISE WOULD INCREASE AS THE GAS PEDAL WAS SLIGHTLY PRESSED TO ADVANCE SPEED. TOOK TO DEALER ON 6/11/02. MECHANIC CLAIMS TO KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING NOISE. TRUCK IS SITTING UP ON RACK APART AND THE TOOL TO REMOVE AXLES IS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE LOANER VEHICLE I AM CURRENTLY USING HAS THE SAME SOUND, BUT IS NOT AS SEVERE AT THE MOMENT. I FEEL THIS MAY BE A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT MAY NOT BE FIXED AS EASILLY AS HOPED.*AK