2002 FORD EXPLORER Suspensionrear Problems

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORE WITH 47,000 MILES. WAS TOLD BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKE DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION. DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY BROKE. DAILY DRIVER ONLY, NO TOWING. SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT 47,000 MILES SHOULD HAVE A RECALL WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITH SPRINGS. *TR

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS (STRUT ASSEMBILES) BROKEN ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. BREAKS IN STEEL COIL SPRINGS DISCOVERED DURING DEALER INSPECTION IN 2010. VEHICLE IS USED FOR STANDARD DAILY DRIVING ON PAVED ROADS. RESULTED IN SAGGING REAR OF VEHICLE AND DEGRADED VEHICLE CONTROL IN BUMPY TERRAIN. PARTS LIKELY BROKEN FOR SOME TIME BEFORE DETECTION. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. PHOTOS OF BROKEN PARTS AVAILABLE. *TR

REAR CRACKED/CRUMBLING STRUT SPRINGS BOTH SIDES. *TR

UPON TAKING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE FORD DEALER THAT MY LEFT REAR SPRING WAS BROKEN. MY EXPLORER ONLY HAS 26,116 MILES, HOW COULD THE SPRINGS BREAK? I NEVER CARRY ANYTHING HEAVY, USUALLY ONLY ONE PERSON IS IN THE VEHICLE. IV'E BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T NHTSA LOOKED IN THIS ISSUE SINCE IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM? FORD MOTOR CO. KNOWS THIS IS A DEFECT SINCE THEY CHANGED THEIR DESIGN AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED. CAN NHTSA RE-EXAMINE THIS ISSUE AND ORDER A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE JETS INJURED. *TR

REAR SPRINGS ARE CRACKED AND MY MECHANIC AND FRIENDS SAID ITS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 2002 EXPLORERS. ALSO SAW MANY COMPLAINTS AND PHOTO'S OF THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. *TR

OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 109,000 MILES HAS SERIOUS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. THE LOCAL DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP STATE THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST BETWEEN $2,500 AND $3,500. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND BALL BEARINGS ALSO NEED REPLACED ACCORDING TO 2 SEPARATE MECHANICS. THERE IS A RANDOM THUMPING COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE DAILY. THE COST TO REPAIR IS BETWEEN $2,000 AND $5,000. THEY CANNOT TELL US EXACTLY UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY GET IN THERE TO DO THE REPAIR. *TR

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ON MY 02 FORD EXPLORER BROKE. THERE WASN'T ANY INDICATIONS PRIOR FOR US TO KNOW IT WOULD HAPPEN.WHEN IT DID IT FELL ONTO RUBBER STOPS BUT TRACTED CROOKED AND SPRING ALMOST HIT TIRE.I WENT TO DEALER THEY SAID NO RECALL CALL FORD. I CALLED FORD REP SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO JUSTIFY A RECALL OR FIX MY EXPLORER. I WENT TO LOCAL PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT MONROE QUIK STRUT.. INSTALLED MYSELF.SAVED OLD PARTS JUST IN CASE BECAUSE FORD SAID GET RID AND SAVE MY RECEIPT FOR PARTS IN CASE OF FUTURE RECALL.VEHICLE MILEAGE AT TIME WAS ABOUT 46,000 MILES. *TR

REAR COIL SPRING. AFTER HAVING TIRE ROTATED WAS INFORMED THAT DRIVER REAR SPRING WAS BROKEN. HAD BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS REPLACED SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EVENTUAL PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

O/D LIGHT FLASHES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN AT AROUND 25 MPH THE GEAR SWITCHES INTO NEUTRAL AND RUNS VERY ROUGH THEN THE CAR IS THROWN FORWARD. HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION (WE WERE TOLD WE WERE GETTING A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AND PAID EXTRA FOR IT!) AT 83K MILES ON OCT 15, 2010 THEN FEB 5, 2011 THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENS. THE DEALER CANNOT TAKE THE TRUCK FOR ANOTHER 5 DAYS AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME A LONER CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. PLEASE NOTE: BELOW I PUT IN THE FIRST INCIDENT DATE, FEB 2011 IS THE SECOND INCIDENT DATE. IN MAY OF 2009 I WAS TOLD MY ENGINE FAILED AT ABOUT 76,000 MILES. WE DID BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WE WERE COVERED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD US WE WERE NOT COVERED. THEY HAD OUR TRUCK FOR 3 WEEKS UNTIL THE WARRANTY PEOPLE CALLED THE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE BACK WHEEL TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEM, REAR WHEEL AND BACK HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3,600. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED BUT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,816.

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPLACE REAR BRAKES WHERE A TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. REPAIRED BRAKES AND REAR SPRINGS. WAS INFORMED BY SHOP THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. ADDED NOTE, THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO TOW OR CARRY HEAVY LOADS, ONLY USED AS PERSONAL TRANSPORT. *TR

LEFT SIDE COIL SPRING SNAPPED SUDDENLY WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

DURING THE 90,000 MILE SERVICING OF THIS VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS ON OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE DO NOT RESIDE IN A COASTAL AREA RESULTING IN EXPOSURE TO THE SALTY OCEAN SPRAY NOR DO WE DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN OFF ROAD SITUATIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE WATER TO ACCUMULATE UNDER THE VEHICLE. FOR THESE REASONS THERE IS NO APPARENT CAUSE FOR THE COIL SPRINGS TO PREMATURELY RUST THROUGH. I DON'T WANT TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE OR I IF THESE SPRINGS WOULD HAVE FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER LTMD...90K MILES FRONT WEAR BEARINGS COMPLETELY BLEW OUT, REAR STRUTS LEAKING MASSIVE OIL AND REAR SPRINGS FRACTURED....HAD FRONT BEARINGS REPLACED WHEN IT DISABLES BRAKE USAGE FROM TIRES BEING CROOKED IN NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS NEED TO HAVE REAR END DONE WITH STRUTS, SPRINGS AND BUSHINGS....ALL NEW PARTS NO CHOICE AND $2600.00 LATER IN ALL THE SPRINGS ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUE, THEY SHOULD NOT BREAK. *TR

BROKEN REAR SPRINGS. MY FORD SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH BROKEN REAR SPRINGS ON EXPLORER'S AS WELL AS OTHER FORD'S. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE DRIVER HAS LOST THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE TRUCK. MINE BROKE WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND MY DAUGHTER AND I HEARD A LOUD BANG. I THOUGHT A TIRE BLEW. $800 TO FIX, FOR JUST THE 2 REAR SPRINGS, BUT SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD RECOMMEND REPLACING THE FRONTS AS WELL. UNTIL I CAN GET TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE TRUCK AS THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING LANDED ON THE REAR SUSPENSION AND MAY CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE AS IT RUBS. I DROVE TRUCK SLOWLY HOME AS THE TRUCK NOW LEANS TO THE RIGHT (SIDE THAT FAILED) AND I HAVE DEFINITELY LOST THE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS TO THIS TRUCK. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER. REAR SPRINGS/COILS RUSTED, BROKEN, ON BOTH SIDES DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL I HAD ESTIMATE DONE FOR NOISE IN FRONT END WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE UV JOINT. I UNDERSTAND TO REPAIR BACK SPRINGS IT WILL COST ABOUT $325 EACH SIDE AND THE OTHER THINGS I NEED UV JOINT, WHEEL HUB, STRUT,ETC...ANOTHER $400 THIS IS SAD!!! *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD REAR COIL SPRING BROKE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. CREATED BAD SITUATION WITH CAR SWAYING LEFT TO RIGHT. HAD TO REPLACE SPRING AND STRUT. ALSO ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO REPLACED IN 5 YEARS. *TR

NOTICED FLUID ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM. UPON CLOSED INSPECTION, NOTICED FLUID COMING FROM REAR SHOCK AND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. REPAIR ESTIMATES TO REPLACE BOTH REAR COIL SPRING ASSEMBLY RANGE FROM $655 TO $800. *TR

REAR SPRINGS BOTH CRACKED-FRONT & REAR WHEEL BEARINGS BAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE SERIOUSLY IF NOT ALREADY HAS BEEN HURT OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

PURCHASED 2002 EXPLORER XLT V6 4.0L ALREADY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING SOLENOID OR WHATEVER OUT.. I HAVE READ REPORTS AND WONDER WHY THIS TRANSMISSION IS NOT RECALLED? I HAVE IT IN SHOP NOW HAVING TO HAVE IT REBUILT AND EVERYTHING CHANGED. ALSO RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS BAD, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS BAD, SUSPENSION SHOT. AND THE RECORDS SHOW THE PREVIOUS OWNERS MAINTAINED EVERYTHING WELL. BUT ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND HAD PROBLEMS AT 99,000MILES. PLEASE DOING SOMETHING FOR ALL OF US OUT HERE. ALSO COOLANT LEAK, ENGINE LEAK, POWER SEAT FAILURE, AND ON. *TR

LEFT REAR "PERMANENTLY SEALED" WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. *TR

VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE TERRIBLE GRINDING/RUBBING NOISE WHILE 50 MILES FROM HOME. ON EXIT RAMP TO MY CITY, IT SWAYED... THE NEXT MORNING MY COUSIN EXAMINED THE VEHICLE FINDING THE RIGHT REAR SPRING BROKEN, AND THE LEFT IN TERRIBLE CONDITION AS WELL. I AM JUST THANKFUL NOTHING BAD HAPPENED ON MY WAY HOME. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS VEHICLE OFF ROAD NOR USED IT TO PULL ANYTHING. AFTER VIEWING ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE ON THE "CAR COMPLAINTS" WEB SITE, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN B/F FORD IS FORCED TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM????? I HAD TO HAVE THE PARTS REPLACED, AND I DO HAVE THE OLD SPRINGS! GOOD THING I DID NOT HIT A HUGE BUMP OR POT HOLE ON MY WAY HOME OR HAVE TO SWERVE QUICKLY, I HATE TO THINK OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED! *TR

REAR COIL SPRING FOUND BROKEN DURING ROUTINE BRAKE INSPECTION. *TR

WHILE IN TRAFFIC TODAY, MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY LOST DRIVE POWER. FORTUNATELY, THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS NOT TAILGATING AND NOTICED MY VEHICLE SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY. I NOW FIND THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD 2002 EXPLORER. IN FACT ON ONE WEB SITE ALONE, WWW.AUTOBEEF.COM I SEE OVER 861 COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ALONE ALL WITH 2002 EXPLORERS. TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND AT HIGHER SPEED COULD CERTAINLY BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO LAST YEAR REPLACED BOTH REAR SPRINGS THAT HAD FAILED AND BROKE COMPLETELY AFFECTING BRAKING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR COIL SPRINGS ON THE VEHICLE BROKE WHICH THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF DURING A BRAKE INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS WERE THE SAME USED ON THE FORD TAURUS MODEL AND THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURES WITH THE SPRINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 250,000.

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE COMPLETLY RUSTED AND BROKE IN SEVERAL PLACES..I REALIZE THAT MY VECHILE IS NOW 8 YEARS OLD AND HAS 100,000 MILES BUT I'VE READ ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THESE SPRINGS BREAKING AND BLOWING TIRES. NOW IM PAYING CLOSE TO 400 DOLLARS TO HAVE THIS REPLACED. I THINK FORD NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION AND STOP NEGLECTING THEM BUYING CHEAP MATERIAL AND PLAYING WITH PEOPLE LIVES AND SAFETY. THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND FIX ALL VECHILES OF THIS YEAR...

BROKEN REAR SPRINGS CAUSING STRUTS TO FAIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER FOUND THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS SIDE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE FAILING. THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED ACCORDINGLY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 80,000.

WHEN I TOOK MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER V8 INTO THE SHOP TO GET NEW TIRES I WAS TOLD THAT MY REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD WITH MY VEHICLE AND ONLY DRIVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS COMMON FOR MY VEHICLE AND I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT. I HAD NO IDEA IT BROKE OR HOW IT DID BUT MY CAR STARTED LEANING TO ONE SIDE. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT NEED TO BE IN A SAFE AND DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A REALL DONE FOR THIS ISSUE BEFORE THERE IS SERIOUS INJURIES. MY VEHICLE HAS 115K MILES.

THE BROKEN REAR SPRINGS (BOTH) ON OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4 CAUSED A NEAR ACCIDENT ON VETERANS PARKWAY IN BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS. THE SPRINGS COMPLETELY SHATTERED AND WERE BROKEN ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT REAR MAKING THE SUV MUCH LESS STABLE IN LANE CHANGES. WHEN TRAFFIC SUDDENLY SLOWED, WE ALMOST LOSS CONTROL WHEN WE TRIED TO CHANGE LANES. IT WAS A MIRACLE THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE BAD STEEL IN THESE SPRINGS FOR YEARS AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ON THE INTERNET OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ON 2002 TO 2005 FORD EXPLORERS. WE ARE HAVING TO PAY OUT OF OUR POCKETS ABOUT $700 FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A FORD SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 LIMITED WITH 2 BROKEN COIL SPRINGS 127,000MI. *TR

I BROUGHT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE I NOTICED A VERY LOUD RUBBING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION, MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR COILS WERE CRACKED. MY VEHICLE IS A "SOCCER MOM" CAR AND HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE COILS, REAR ROTORS AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE FROM THE COILS. MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000 MILES. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4.0 ENGINE. REAR COIL SPRING FAILURE. THE VEHICAL HAS NEVER BEEN USED OFF-ROAD AND THE SPRINGS DO NOT HAVE SURFACE RUST BUT BOTH ARE BROKEN. CAR IN FOR RECALL ON CRUISE CONTROL AND FORD "FOUND" ISSUE. TURNS OUT IT IS VERY COMMON IN THIS MODEL AND FORD DEALERS FIND IT A GREAT WAY TO MAKE EXTRA DOLLARS. U-HAUL WILL NOT RENT TRAILERS TO OWNERS OF FORD EXPLORERS. THEY SAY THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY CLAIMS BUT WILL NOT REVEAL NATURE OF CLAIMS. FORD SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO COMMENT ON ISSUE. I CAN FORWARD E-MAILS FROM BOTH U-HAUL AND FORD STATING SUCH. *CN

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH ABOUT 75,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER DUE TO A RECALL NOTICE, AND THEY PERFORMED A MULTI-POINT INSPECTION. DURING THIS INSPECTION, THEY SAID THAT BOTH OF MY REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. I FOUND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE BECAUSE I DON'T TOW ANYTHING AND I DRIVE CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THROUGH INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS AS THEY COULD PUNCTURE A TIRE LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. THE COST OF THE SPRINGS SEEMS TO BE ABOUT $125 PLUS LABOR. *TW

ON 01/29/2010, I TOOK MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 TO KILL BRAKE & WHEEL TO HAVE NEW TIRES PUT ON THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN/MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THE LEFT REAR SPRING FOR THE VEHICLE WAS BROKE, BUT SITTING IN THE CENTER. I CALLED TIFFIN BRAKE & WHEEL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE SPRINGS REPLACED. I WAS ADVISED BY AN EMPLOYEE THAT THE BUSINESS HAS HAD "A LOT OF EXPLORERS HAVE THEIR SPRINGS REPLACED." THE EMPLOYEE ALSO MENTIONED THAT A COMPLAINT SHOULD BE FILED, BECAUSE A RECALL MAY BE IN ORDER DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF EXPLORERS WITH BROKEN SPRINGS. I AM CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN OFF ROADED AND/OR ABUSED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THE ACTUAL DATE WHEN THE SPRING BROKE IS UNKNOWN. *TR

TOOK THE TRUCK INTO HAVE A VIBRATION AND NOISE CHECKED OUT COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. TURNED OUT TO BE A FAILURE OF PASSENGER REAR KNUCKLE ASSEMBLY AND WHEEL BEARING. WENT ON CAR COMPLAINTS.COM TO SEE IF A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS. THERE WERE REPORT OF THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE WITH THE WHEELS ACTUALLY COMING OFF. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR COIL BREAKAGE.. WAS DRIVING AND MY BACK END DIPPED NO NOISE JUST LEANING. WENT TO MECHANIC AND REALIZED COILS HAVE JUST RUSTED OUT, ARE YOU SERIOUS. EXPLORER ONLY HAS 87K. PARTS JUST RUSTED OUT AND BROKE. *TR

I TOOK MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 67K MILES ON IT TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL. THEY OFFERED A FREE INSPECTION OF WHICH THEY INFORMED ME THE RIGHT REAR SPRING WAS BROKEN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION IT WAS BROKEN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SO THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN IT BROKE. THE PROBLEM WILL BE CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE SPRING. NO IMPROVED SPRING PART NUMBER WAS AVAILABLE FOR FORD, SO I EXPECT IT TO BREAK AGAIN IN ABOUT 70K MILES IF I BUY A NEW FORD SPRING. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER DRIVER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING BROKEN. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR SPRINGS BROKE , PUNCTURED THE TIRE. *TR

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE ON 2002 EXPLORER. THIS WAS NOTICED DURING INSPECTION WHILE HAVING THE OIL CHANGED. IT APPEARS TO BE BAD STEEL AS THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS OF THIS ON THE INTERNET. FORD SHOULD RECALL AND PAY FOR ANYONE WHO HAS ALREADY HAD TO HAVE THESE REPLACED. MY TAKE ON THIS IS IT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTN.(IN THE FORM OF A RECALL FROM FORD) TO SAVE LIVES. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT REAR COIL SPRINGS . I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MANY EXPLORER OWNERS AND THEY REPORT THAT THEIR REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BREAKING AND CRACKING PREMATURELY! AS OF NOW, NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND AS I CHECKED UNDER THE REAR END OF MY EXPLORER TODAY, BOTH REAR COILS ARE BROKEN AND WILL NEED REPLACEMENT. AS I UNDERSTAND, THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT ONLY EXIST IN 2002 MODELS, BUT OTHERS ALSO. *TR

UPON INSPECTING OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER FOR STATE INSPECTION, I DISCOVERED THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING TO BE BROKEN. THIS IS ONE OF TWO BROKEN ON THIS VEHICLE TO DATE, THE FIRST WAS THE LEFT REAR DISCOVERED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHEN IN FOR A ROUTINE CHECK, THEY REPLACED THAT SPRING, I REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE & STILL HAVE THE PIECES (3 TO BE EXACT) IN MY POSSESSION. WE HAVE ALSO HAD ALL FOUR AXLE BEARINGS REPLACED. ONE OF WHICH BECAME SO HOT, THE LEFT SIDE REAR HUB CAP MELTED & FELL OFF THE WHEEL. ALL FOUR BEARINGS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. NONE OF THE BEARINGS OR HUB CAP WERE UNDER WARRANTY SO WE WERE STUCK WITH THOSE & THE RR SPRING EXPENSE. KNOWING THE TYPE OF PART FAILURES ON OUR EXPLORER IT BRINGS UP A MORE CRUCIAL QUESTION OF, COULD ANY OF THEM HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS...

2002 EXPLORER FIRST REAR END WENT AND WAS REPLACE ONLY TO FIND ITS GONE AGAIN AFTER 20,000 MILES, THEN 4.6 V8 ENGINE HAS A KNOCK IN IT, FORD IS AWARE OF IT BUT WONT REPLACE OR FIX IT, NOW BOTH REAR SPRINGS ARE BROKE WHICH FORD ALSO KNOWS AND WONT REPLACE. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THIS SUV HAS A THIRD SEAT, THAT'S SELDOM USED. HAS A TOWING PACKAGE THAT'S BEEN RARELY USED. REAR COIL SPRINGS THAT TELL ME NONE OF THESE EXTRA OPTIONS CAN BE USED. WITHOUT ENDANGERING EVERYBODY IN THE CAR, AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ON THE ROAD. THIS CAR WAS DRIVEN DAILY, TO AND FROM WORK, AND SELDOM USED ON THE WEEKENDS. PARKED ON PAVEMENT, NOT GRAVEL, OR GRASS, AND NEVER OFF ROAD. WHY ARE THEY BREAKING? DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAVE TO BE WARNED TO AVOID DRIVING PAST ONE OF THESE SUV'S BECAUSE THEY MAY RANDOMLY VEER OFF THE ROAD WITH A TIRE BLOWOUT? THIS IS TYPICAL OF FORD TO SEND OUT RECALLS ON THE HATCH, BUT NOT THE MUCH MORE SERIOUS (LIFE SAFETY) PROBLEM WITH IT'S REAR COIL SPRINGS. *TR

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE HAVING MY TIRES ROTATED THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. I AM WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO ORDER NEW SPRINGS AS IT APPEARS BOTH NEED TO BE CHANGED. I WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS ON 9-9-09. SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT BROKE. I DID NOT HEAR ANY NOISE OR NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN HANDLING. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION AND THEY NOTICED 2 REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN AND BAD REAR RIGHT WHEEL BEARING. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR REPAIR/RECALL FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF BEFORE SOMEONE SERIOUSLY GETS INJURED OR DIES. I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE TO AND FROM WORK LOCALLY WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6. I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T GET INTO A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH THIS HAPPENING. *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

AFTER HEARING SEVERAL DIFFERENT NOISES COMING FROM THE EXPLORER, I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT STRUTS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACED. I PAID TO HAVE THOSE REPLACED. AFTER LEAVING, I CONTINUED TO HEAR A SECOND NOISE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. AFTER ANOTHER WEEK I DIDN'T HEAR THE NOISE ANYMORE. I THEN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A CHUGGING OCCURRING IN THE ENGINE. WHILE HAVING THIS SERVICED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND THE STRUTS ALSO NEED REPLACED. THE FIRST ESTIMATE FOR THE REAR SPRINGS AND STRUTS WAS $780! SO FAR ON THE 2002 EXPLORER I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT (50K MILES), OD SENSOR REPLACED (45K MILES), ABS SENSOR REPLACED (45K MILES), REAR CONTROL ARM REPLACED (75K MILES), FRONT STRUTS...