2002 FORD EXPLORER Structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REAR HATCH WINDOW WAS CLOSED AND IT SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE WINDOW WAS REPLACED, SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE EXACT ISSUE. UPDATED 03/21/16.*JB

CRACK IN REAR LIFT GATE PANEL THAT LED TO SHATTERED REAR WINDOW UPON NORMAL CLOSING. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS TO USE AS A SECOND VEHICLE FOR CAMPING TRIPS SO THE MILEAGE ON IT IS VERY LOW FOR ITS AGE. SUDDENLY ONE DAY OF NORMAL LOCAL DRIVING, THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN VERY ROUGH. IT COULDN'T SEEM TO ACCELERATE AND RPMS WERE HIGH. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON SINCE THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE ANY MOMENT. SINCE O/D FLASHING MEANS SOMETHING WITH TRANSMISSION, I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS WHO BOTH DIAGNOSED A BAD TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $3,500. I WAS SHOCKED THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 43000 MILES ON VEHICLE DESPITE ITS AGE. BOTH SHOPS INFORMED ME THAT THE 2002 FORD EXPLORERS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BAD TRANSMISSIONS. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE WITH THIS REPAIR. THEY WOULD...

THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS A DESIGN FLAW SUCH THAT THE REAR PANEL CRACKS. WHEN MOISTURE GETS IN IT CAUSES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE SIX PROBLEMS EXPERIENCES ON THIS EXPLORER ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1) FALSE "DOOR AJAR" INDICATOR 2) REAR WINDOW WIPER NO LONGER WORKED 3) DEAD BATTERY 4) BACK-UP WARNING SIGNALS NO LONGER WORK 5) REAR WINDOW CAN NO LONGER OPEN 6) BRAKE LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. WE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. *TR

THE LIFTGATE HINGE FRACTURED ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL NEARLY BREAKING MY HAND. THIS HINGE WAS RECALLED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 / FORD RECALL NO. 04S20. IN CONTACTING CUSTOMER SERVICE TONIGHT ON A FORD TRANSMISSION ISSUE, I DISCOVERED THE PREVIOUS HINGE RECALL AND THEY INDICATED THAT HINGE HAD BEEN REPLACE ONCE IN 2004 AND IT WAS MY BAD LUCK THAT IT FAILED A SECOND TIME. THEY WOULD MAKE NO RESTITUTION FOR THE FAILED PART. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS A PREVIOUS RECALL AND NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE AGAIN. IT IS CLEARLY A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THEY SHOULD ADDRESS, REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PART I PURCHASED THROUGH FORD AND REPLACE THE OTHER HINGE BEFORE IT ALSO FAILS AND HURTS SOMEONE. *TR

CAR LEAKING UNKNOWN FLUIDS .. THERE ARE OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. RECALL ID 09509. *TR

WE OPENED THE REAR WINDOW TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE TRUNK, LIFTED THE WINDOW AND THE WINDOW EXPLODED AND CRASHED ON MY HUSBAND'S HEAD. IT SEEMS AS IF THE HYDROLICS FAILED ON EACH SIDE OF THE REAR WINDOW. GLASS JUST SHATTERED AND WAS EVERYWHERE. MY HUSBAND'S HANDS WERE CUT AND HIS HEAD WAS BANGED UP. *TR

THE TRUNK OF MY VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A SIZABLE CRACK IN THE REAR PANEL ONLY THROUGH NORMAL USE. I HAVE SEEN THIS ON A NUMBER OF OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES AND KNOW IT IS NOT ONLY ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIFT GATE PANEL WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE LIFT GATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 154,000.

I HAVE 2 ISSUES WITH MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER..THE FIRST ISSUE IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THIS LAST YEAR AND TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT 2 DAYS LATER AND THEY HAD THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THEY DEAL WITH LOOK AT IT AND WAS TOLD THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. WHEN I GO TO PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE THE VEHICLE WONT MOVE. ONCE I START DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING AND WHEN STOPPED AT RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS BECAUSE IT WONT GO AND WANTS TO DRIFT BACKWARDS AND WANTS TO STALL AND I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY DRIFTING INTO SOMEONE. I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS EVERYDAY AND IT'S GETTING OLD NOW. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE REAR HATCH/DOOR.. TODAY I TOOK NOTICE THAT THERE IS A CRACK RIGHT UNDER THE WINDOW WHERE THE REAR FORD EMBLEM IS...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE CRACK ON THE REAR LIFT GATE. THE CRACK WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

VEHICLE RECALLED FOR A PART CAUSING ENGINE FIRES. TRANSMISSION FAILURE, MAKES THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO SHIFT COST OF REPAIR I CANNOT AFFORD AT THIS TIME ( NEW IS $ 3000 ). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE NOTICED A LARGE CRACK IN THE REAR LIFT GATE, DIRECTLY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,000. UPDATED05/04/11 *BF UPDATED 05/09/11

MY FORD 2002 EXPLORER HAS EXCESSIVE BUBBLING AND PEELING OF PAINT ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE HOOD. REPORTED THREE TIMES TO FORD ONLY TO BE TOLD, "NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY". SEEN HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET. *TR

FORD EXPLORER 2002 REAR PANEL CRACKED, AND I TRAVELED AROUND THE COUNTRY AND I SAW SEVERAL CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I VISITED TOO MANY WEBSITES AND THERE'S MORE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ON THAT ISSUE. THE BACK DOOR PANEL IS CRACKED AND GETTING WORSE EVERYDAY, AND SOMEDAY THE GLASS IS GOING TO EXPLODE. *TR

RE NHTSA # 04V-442. 2002 FORD EXPLORER. LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE SHEARED AND GLASS FELL ON ME. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT THAT FORD RECALL 04S20 (PERFORMED IN 2004) WAS ONLY WARRANTEED FOR 1 YEAR, SO I PURCHASED NEW HINGE KIT (2L2Z-78420A68-AA) AND INSTALLED MYSELF. AFTER EXAMINING OLD PARTS, I NOTICED SIGNIFICANT REDESIGN. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH A FORD SERVICE MANAGER IT APPEARS THAT INITIAL RECALL REPAIRS WERE INSUFFICIENT AND BY HIS ESTIMATE THE HINGES LAST ABOUT 3 YEARS. THERE WERE SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RECALLED PARTS AND PROCEDURES SINCE 12/04. MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED 12/20/04 SO THE MOST RECENT PROCEDURE WAS NOT FOLLOWED AT THE TIME AND MOST RECENT PARTS WERE NOT INSTALLED. FORD WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES ONCE ANY RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. I WAS NOT INJURED BECAUSE I WAS OPENING THE HATCH SLOWLY AND HAD NOT LET GO BEFORE THE HINGE BROKE AND THE GLASS FELL....

PANEL ON THE REAR UPPER HATCH CRACKED WITH A VERY LOUD POP STARTLING ME THE PANEL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET FORD WANTS $500 FOR THE MINOR FIX. *TR

THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING O HAPPEN. MY PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW IN 2002 EXPLORER MAY SOON FLY AND HIT ANOTHER CAR ON THE FREEWAY AND CAUSE A BIG ACCIDENT. THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM HUNDREDS OF OTHER FORD EXPLORERS. A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE BEFORE MAJOR ACCIDENTS HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR WINDOW - THE HINGES OR THE SLIDES ON THE SIDE DID NOT HOLD THE WINDOW UP FOR THE WINDOW SECTION OF THE REAR DOOR. WHILE PARKED, THE GLASS DOOR CAME DOWN ONTO THE HEAD OF A PERSON, THE GLASS IN THE WINDOW EXPLODED HITTING THE PERSON IN THE HEAD, CAUSING THE PERSON TO FALL BACKWARDS INTO THE BOTTOM FRAME OF THE REAR WINDOW ASSEMBLY. THE PERSON SUFFERED A LARGE KNOT ON THEIR HEAD AND GLASS CUTS. THE FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THIS IS A "COMMON PROBLEM" THEY HAVE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF IT BUT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL OR TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE HATCH BELOW THE WINDOW IS CRACKED IN THREE PLACES..... AND LOOKS LIKE IT IS NOT GOING TO LAST MUCH LONGER. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON MANY OF THE SAME MAKES AND SOME IN THE SAME YEAR AND NEW YEARS. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND THINK THAT THIS ISSUED NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AND RECALLED ASAP. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OTHER STEPS I MIGHT TAKE TO HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I AM EMBARRASSED OF IT AND THINK THAT FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. *TR

THE BACK PLASTIC PANEL UNDER THE REAR WINDOW OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2002 CRACKED FOR NO REASON. I NOTICED THAT MANY FORD AND MERCURY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM - THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT CLOSED THE REAR HATCH, THE LEFT HINGE FAILED AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. NHSTA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) WAS REFERENCED. THE INSURANCE AGENCY WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 124,996.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE LIFTED THE LIFTGATE ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD ONLY HOLD FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE COMING BACK DOWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ONE OF WHICH INJURED THE CONTACT'S BACK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DEEMED AS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR HATCH HAS A CRACK IN IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE REAR DOOR, THE REAR LIFTGATE AND HINGE ON THE TOP LEFT SIDE BECAME LOOSE. THE REAR GLASS FELL OUT AND SHATTERED ALL OVER THE CONTACT AND HER CHILD. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HER MECHANIC AND WAS NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). SHE CALLED FORD AND WAS INFORMED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE REPAIR SHOULD BE MADE FOR FREE SINCE THE FAILURES ARE IDENTICAL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 69,000.

RIGHT BELOW THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED FROM WINDOW DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF DOOR. (TOP HALF) I THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT SOMEONE MUST HAVE TRIED TO BREAK IN USING A PRY BAR. WENT THROUGH THE CAR WASH AND WHEN I CAME OUT I NOTICED THE CRACK. PISSED ME RIGHT OFF..I HATE DRIVING DAMAGED CARS.. THIS WAS NOT CALLED FOR..WHY DID IT CRACK? *TR

PAINT IS BLISTERING AND CHIPPING ON THE HOOD AND FENDER OF MY 2002 EXPLORER. ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR

I HAVE PROBLEMS CLOSING THE BACK WINDOW. YESTERDAY I WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO CLOSE THE BACK WINDOW, THEN ABOUT 1/3 WAY DOWN OUT OF NO WHERE THE BACK WINDOW SHATTERED ALL OVER ME FOR THE SECOND TIME! VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY AROUND CHILDREN. (GOOD THING MY CHILDREN WERE ABOUT 15FT AWAY, BUT THEY WITNESS THE WHOLE THING). THE FIRST TIME THE WINDOW SHATTERED, IT WAS MAYBE AROUND 2004-05. (I CAN VERIFY UPON REQUEST). SUPPOSEDLY DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM. (YEAH RIGHT!) VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD!! *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

THE BODY PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW IS CRACKED FOR NO REASON WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO A FORD DEALER THEY SAID THAT IS NORMAL AND FORD KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DUE. SO I CALLED THE FORD SERVICE NUMBER IN MY FORD HANDBOOK AND THE MANAGER CONFIRMED THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT ITS NOT A RECALL OUT BECAUSE ITS NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM AND IF I WANTED IT FIXED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. SO I ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE RATE AND I WAS ALSO TOLD THEY KNEW ABOUT THAT TOO (THE TRANSMISSIONS FAIL UNDER 100,000 MILES) BUT THERE ISN'T A RECALL AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED AS WELL. *TR

THE REAR WINDOWS WAS RECALLED AND THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. NOW THE BACK WINDOW FAILED AS I AM TOLD BY THE FORD DEALER HAS CRACKED. AFTER SOME SEARCHING I SEE THIS IS PRETTY COMMON AFTER THE REPAIR. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/WINDOWS_WINDSHIELD/REAR_LIFT_GATE_WINDOW_EXPLODED.SHTML *TR

THE FIBERGLASS PANEL ON THE BACK HATCH OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS CRACKED FROM THE GLASS STRAIGHT DOWN APPARENTLY DUE TO COLD WEATHER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT FOR SOME REASON THIS HAD HAPPENED A LOT THIS WINTER. I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY BE TAKEN CARE OF OR AT LEAST A 50/50 SPLIT. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THE MANAGER TOLD ME BECAUSE OF THE MILES ON MY VEHICLE THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I HAVE SINCE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF THE FORD EXPLORERS THAT HAVE THE 2 PIECE FIBERGLASS PANELS ARE CRACKED ALSO THAT ARE DRIVING AROUND. CAN FORD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS? I HAVE NO OTHER DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. BUT THIS IS VERY NOTICEABLE AND...

CRACK IN THE PLASTIC PANEL UNDER THE REAR GLASS. 02 FORD EXPLORER. WENT TO PICK UP KIDS FROM MOTHERS HOUSE, AND WALKED AROUND TRUCK, AND SAW IT. CRACKED ALL THE WAY FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP, IN AN UPSIDE DOWN FASHION. ALL THE WAY THROUGH FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. LOTS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, AND AROUND TOWN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AFRAID IT IS ALSO A REAR GLASS PROBLEM, AS THE REAR GLASS IS ATTACHED TO THE CRACKED PEICE. ALSO HEARD THERE WAS AT ONE TIME A RECALL ON THE REAR GLASS OF THE 02. *NM

CRACKING IN PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I FEAR THE NATURE OF THE CRACK HAS INCREASED THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE REAR WINDOW TO FALL OUT DURING DRIVING. CRACK HAS JUST APPEARED DUE TO NO CONSEQUENCE OR MISUSE. THIS APPARENTLY IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. *NM

PART THAT HOLDS THE BACK WINDOW IN THE FORD EXPLORER HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR

2002 FORD EXPLORER SAFETY BAR TO THE TAIL GATE CRACKED. *MR THE SAFETY BAR CRACKED AND CAUSED THE BACK WINDOW TO FLEX. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM MAY OCCUR ON HIS 2003 MODEL AS WELL. *SC *JB

WHEN DRIVING MY 2002 EXPLORER, THE CABIN HAS A POUNDING SOUND WHEN DRIVING OVER ANY UNEVEN SURFACE, JUST LIKE A BOOMING STEREO. IT DOESN'T EVEVN HAVE TO BE A LARGE BUMP OR BUMPS. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF THIS NOISE, I END UP GETTING A HEADACHE. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I CAN ATTACH A LETTER I SENT TO FORD WITH NO REPLY. *AK

2 OF MY COUSINS WERE INVOLVED IN A FORD EXPLORER TIRE BLOW OUT OUTSIDE OF RALEIGH NC ON AUGUST 16TH. AMAL MUARAKA, A PEDIATRIC SURGEON WAS KILLED INSTANTLY AND SUMMEET MURARKA WAS PLACED IN ICU AS THE NON-BRIDGESTONE TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE FORD EXPLORER AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED 5 TIMES WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ACT ON FORD'S MALICIOUS DECEIT. FORD'S HISTORY IS PLAGUED WITH SERIOUS ISSUES SUCH AS THE PINTO THAT BLEW UP AND THIS TIME IT WAS THE GOVERNMENTS INACTION AND FORDS COVER-UP THAT PREVENTED MY COUSIN FROM LIVING A FULL LIFE AT ONLY THE AGE OF 33. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL IMMEDIATELY RECALL THE FORD EXPLORER LINE EVEN IF IT CAUSES SERIOUS COSTS AND FINANCIAL BURDEN TO FORD TO SAVE LIVES AND PREVENT SO MANY FROM THE PAIN OF TRAGEDIES SUCH AS THE ONE...