2002 FORD EXPLORER Suspensionrearspringscoil Springs Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

2002 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH TIRES *TGW THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. WHEN TRIPLE AAA ARRIVED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE REAR COIL SPRING ALONG WITH 3 LUG NUTS HAD FAILED. IN JULY 2010, THREE MORE LUG NUTS BROKE AGAIN. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS ROTATING HIS TIRES WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER COIL SPRINGS HAD FRACTURED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE COIL SPRING. ONE YEAR LATER WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE COIL SPRINGS WERE ALSO FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,994.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A SHARP LEFT TURN AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL. HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE WAS SHREDDED WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TWO REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED WHICH SHREDDED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE MECHANIC ALSO REPLACED THE TWO REAR TIRES, SPRING SET WITH STANDARD SUSPENSION, PINION SHAFT SEAL, TWO REAR RIMS AND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS. ALL REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,898. UPDATED 06/29/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/21/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHEN THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING HAD FRACTURED. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE DEALER'S DISCOVERY OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 11/9/10 *CN UPDATED 11/16/10*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE DRIVERS REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS WERE BREAKING OFF IN PIECES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. HER REAR PASSENGER COIL SPRING HAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 47,600.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER . WHILE CHANGING THE BRAKE PADS, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER, AND THE AXLES BEARINGS,THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $2140.56. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON REACHING HIS DESTINATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING AN OIL CHANGE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE FAILURE DID NOT RUPTURE THE TIRES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF UPDATED 10/24/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE BEING SERVICED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,979. UPDATED 06/17/08. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC FOUND A CRACK IN THE REAR COIL SPRINGS. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY PRIOR FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,000. UPDATED 6/9/08 *CN

DRIVERS SIDE REAR COIL SPRING SNAPPED AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING SNAPPED IN 4 PLACES. MECHANIC AT MIDAS TOLD ME THEY ARE SEEING ALOT OF THESE ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WONDERING IF FORD IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I CALLED THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DIDN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH THEM. *TR

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE CRACKED/FRACTURED COMPLETELY THROUGH. SPRING COILS ARE COLLAPSED ONTO EACH OTHER AT THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE. THIS IS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. SPRINGS/STRUTS SHOULD LOSE TENSION OVER TIME BUT SHOULD NOT COMPLETELY FAIL TO THE POINT THEY COMPLETELY CRACK INTO TWO PIECES. SOME QUICK RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 EXPLORER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

THE BACK COIL SPRINGS ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAVE BROKEN. MY SISTER'S, NEPHEW'S AND A FRIENDS HAS ALSO BROKEN ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS MINE. I WOULD THINK THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG FOR ALL OF US TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BACK COIL SPRINGS. I AM NOT FOR SURE IF ANY ONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM OR NOT? WILL THERE BE A RECALL ON THESE SPRINGS? WE HAVE ALL HAD TO HAVE THESE SPRINGS REPLACED AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CHEAP. *TR

TOOK MY 02 EXPLORER TO DEALER FOR PA STATE INSPECTION ON 2-26-08. VEHICLE LOGGED 79,000 MILES. DEALER FOUND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN AT VERY TOP OF EACH SPRING. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF BOTH REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS, IN TURN, REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH REAR INSULATORS AND BRACKETS. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT UTILIZED FOR TOWING OR "OFF ROAD" ACTIVITIES. *TR

REAR COIL SPRING BROKE LAST WEEK WITH ONLY 65K MILES ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IT HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD. I'M TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS ITS A COMMON FORD PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? I HAVE PIECE OF OLD SPRING SHOWING RUST. IT COST ME $500 TO REPAIR. FORD SAYS NO RECALL OR CUST SAT PROGRAM. *TR

VEHICLE MILEAGE: 69,000. LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NO PREVIOUS WARNING. REQUIRED TOW. REPLACED 2 CRACKED REAR SPRINGS, 2 DAMAGED STRUTS, 2 REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. UNUSUAL AND DANGEROUS INCIDENT FOR THIS MILEAGE. WE NOW KNOW IT IS A "NOTORIOUS PROBLEM" - OLD PARTS AVAILABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE REAR COIL SPRINGS AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,000. THE DEALER INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/06/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE COIL SPRING ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION FAILED. THE DEALER DID NOT STATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AS OF AUGUST 1, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COIL SPRING ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION FAILED JUNE 2005. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 79,835 MILES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 79,835. UPDATED 02-04-08. *KB THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED HE DIDN'T HAVE 3RD GEAR. UPDATED

REAR COIL SPRING ON DRIVERS SIDE IS CRACKED THROUGH. TALKED WITH MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAS SEEN THIS. PROBABLY EVERY THIRD EXPLORER HE HAS SEEN HAS THIS PROBLEM. HE QUESTIONED LOCAL FORD DEALER ON THIS AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

BROKEN REAR COIL SPRING. *TR

REAR SPRING FAILURE. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. *AK

THE REAR COIL SPRINGS ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER FELL APART! PIECES OF THE COIL ARE BREAKING APART WITH RAZOR SHARP EDGES. I'VE NEVER SEEN SPRINGS FALL APART LIKE THIS,THE METAL HAS TO BE DEFECTIVE. I HAVE FOUND PARTS OF THE COILS IN MY DRIVEWAY, SO I'M SURE THERE HAS TO BE SOME COMING OFF ON THE ROAD. I HAVE PICTURES IF YOU WOULD LIKE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS. THE MECHANIC WAS ROTATING BOTH REAR TIRES AND CHANGING BRAKE PADS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS SHEARED OFF. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,600. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED BOTH THE INVOICE AND PICTURES OF THE BROKEN COIL SPRINGS. UPDATE 4/23/07 *TR

REAR COIL SPRING ON FORD 2002 EXPLORER BROKE. TOOK CAR IN FOR ANNUAL INSPECTION AND MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. WHILE IT WAS REPLACED WITH A DEALER PART, I WAS INFORMED THAT ALL IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN FOR THE SPRING TO PIERCE A TIRE OR BRAKE LINE WAS TO HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. WHO KNOWS HOW LONG I WAS DRIVING AROUND WITH THIS PROBLEM AND IN DANGER OF A POSSIBLE FATAL INCIDENT. *JB

BROKEN REAR COIL SPRINGS. VEHICLE NEVER USED OFF ROAD OR ANYTHING OTHER THAN NORMAL ROADWAY DRIVING. WENT FOR NEW TIRES AND MECHANIC FOUND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKEN. THE DRIVERS SIDE SPRING WAS BROKEN INTO MULTIPLE PIECES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITHIN THE CITY, I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WHEN I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND THE CAR'S RIGHT REAR TIRE DEFLATED. I MOVED OUT OF TRAFFIC, CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN OFF AND PUNCTURED THE REAR TIRE (WHICH BY THE WAY WAS BRAND NEW). IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT SPRING, BUT SAW NO NEED TO REPLACE THE LEFT. SOUNDS LIKE DEFECTIVE HEAT TREATING TO ME. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE RODE LOWER THAN NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BOTH FRACTURED. THE SPRINGS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FRACTURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 12/12/2006 - *NM

APPARENT MANUFACTURING DEFECT CAUSES A SIMULTANEOUS BREAKAGE OF ONE OR BOTH REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS. IN MY CASE, BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE DISCOVERED BROKEN ON A ROUTINE SERVICE VISIT. *JB

HORRIBLE WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED EDITION. REPLACED TWICE ALREADY AND NOW IT'S WHINING LOUDER AND LOUDER EVERYDAY. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE SAME REPAIR A 3RD TIME. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. OTHER POPULAR DEFECTS FOR THE NEW FORD EXPLORER ARE CRACKED REAR COIL OVER SPRINGS, ALONG WITH TRANSMISSION AND A/C PROBLEMS, ETC, ETC. HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE FORD STANDS UP TO THEIR DESIGN FLAWS...???? *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING REAR AXLE PINION SEAL REPAIRED AT A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE REAR SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONSULTED. *AK

2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR COIL SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED. *TS *NM

ON ROUTINE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT REAR SPRING ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WAS BROKEN. THIS VEHICLE HAS 55,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS PROBABLY NOT BROKEN LONG SINCE I INSPECT MY VEHICLES REGULARLY. WHEN I WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY INITIALLY WANTED ME TO PAY THE FULL REPAIR BILL FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRING; HOWEVER, AFTER NEGOTIATION, THEY OFFERED REPLACEMENT IF I PAID HALF OF THE BILL, OR $78.00. I AGREED TO THIS OFFER, AND HAD THE SPRING REPLACED. I FEEL, AND EXPRESSED THIS OPINION TO THE FORD AGENCY, THAT THIS SPRING SHOULD NOT BREAK AFTER ONLY 55,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER REAR SPRING, AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IT BROKE. *JB

BROKEN REAR SPRINGS

1. INSPECTION OF VEHICLE 2. REAR COILS SPRINGS BROKEN 3. REPALCEMENT

DT: CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. *AK