2002 FORD EXPLORER Wheels Problems

I HAD HAD THIS 2018 JEEP RENEGADE NOT EVEN 2.5 MONTHS AND IT NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE AND THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT THEY WERE EVERY ONE SLICK AS COULD GET AND DANGEROUS. I CALLED THE DEALER BECAUSE THE TIRES WENT BAD AND I HADN'T HAD THE FIRST 50K MILES ON IT YET AND THEY DID NOTHING. CALLED THE TIRE COMPANY THEY DID NOTHING. SO I REPLACED THEM AND ANOTHER ALMOST 3 MONTHS GO BY AND THE TIRES ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND SLICK AGAIN. THIS HAS REPEATEDLY HAPPENED EVERY 2-3 MONTHS TO WHERE THEY ARE SO DANGEROUS YOU EITHER DRIVE 30 MPH OR GET THEM CHANGED. 3 TIMES I'VE REPLACED THE TIRES AND AND THE OIL GOES SO FAST. AND NOW I AM STUCK WITH THIS VEHICLE I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY THESE PRICES FOR A 30K VEHICLE THAT'S NOT WORTH 10K.

THE REAR STABILIZER LINKS JUST BROKE OUT OF NOWHERE NOT EVEN TO LATEST LATER THE FRONT STABILIZER LINKS JUST BROKE OUT OF NOWHERE AND I HAVE NO STEERING A WHOLE LOT OF LOOSE CONTROL

WHEEL STUDS BREAKING OFF & CAUSING DANGER FOR MY FAMILY,THEREFORE MAKING IT UNSAFE FOR THE FAMILY.MANY REPORTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES.WHEN IM ABLE I WILL GET RID OF BOTH MY FORD VEHICLES FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY & WELLBEING.

THE REAR SUSPENSION IS BROKEN ON EITHER SIDE OF VEHICLE, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED, NOW THE DRIVERS REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE SHOT.

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND FELT A SHARP JERK/PULL TO THE RIGHT. AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE SO GOT OFF ON NEXT EXIT. WASN'T A FLAT TIRE BUT COULD SMELL SOMETHING AWFUL. MADE GRINDING SOUND AND STILL HAD BAD SMELL, KNEW WE HAD TO DRIVE IT BACK TO THE PLACE WE ARE STAYING AT. HAD HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND ONLY DROVE 10-15 MPH BECAUSE OF THE SOUND AND BECAUSE OF HOW SCARY IT WAS. KNEW SOMETHING BAD WAS HAPPENING TO OUR CAR. BRAKES AT THIS POINT PRACTICALLY WENT OUT. WOULD NOT HAVE TO PRESS BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT, THE CAR WOULD JUST STOP. STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT EVEN, BUT MORE OR LESS 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. PULLED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND A CAR LEAVING THE STREET SAW THAT OUR VEHICLE AT THIS POINT WAS ON FIRE! EXTINGUISH...

I HAVE REPLACED 8 WHEEL BEARINGS ON THIS AUTO. 4-21-12 I WAS ON THE HWY TO THE NEAREST BIG CITY TOWING A BORROWED UTILITY TRAILER, WHICH IS 90 MILES FROM MY HOME, AND I AM SO FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT LOOSE MY WHEEL. AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY NEW TIRES BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER OF MY TIRES HE SHOWED ME THE PLAY THAT MY BACK WHEEL HAD AND TOLD ME I WAS A VERY LUCKY GIRL THAT MY TIRE DIDN'T SNAP OFF. FAST FORWARD AND I HAVE JUST REPLACED BOTH BACK WHEEL BEARING AGAIN WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES ON THE PREVIOUS REPLACED BEARING. 14,000 ON THE ONE BEFORE THAT! FORD YOU HAVE A PROBLEM!! *TR

BEARING KEEP HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AN THE REAR COIL SPRING IS CRACKED AN THE TIRE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK, HAVE REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING 3 TIMES ALREADY. AN I HAVE REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION 2 TIMES. *TR

I HAVE ONLY OWNED MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS 3 TIMES. JUST TODAY I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING IS GOING AGAIN AND I JUST REPLACED BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS A MONTH AGO. THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I'M AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER ABOUT 25MPH WHEN I FELT THE REAR END DROP DOWN. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALL 5 STUDS HAD SHEARED OFF. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ONLY BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I PUT IT INTO DRIVE & STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE OPPOSITE SIDE STUDS SHEARED OFF. THIS TIME ONLY 4 STUDS BROKE SO I LIMPED THE TRUCK BACK ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15MPH GOING AROUND A TURN & 4 STUDS BROKE OFF AGAIN. IF I WAS GOING ANY FASTER THE TRUCK COULD HAVE FLIPPED OVER. *TR

FAILURE OF REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES. TIME BETWEEN ONSET OF NOISE AND NEAR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES. FEARING A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS MIGHT FAIL WITHOUT WARNING AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND INJURIES, THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO INCUR THE HIGH COST TO REPLACE ALL FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS AND RELATED PARTS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORERS ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF MODEL YEARS AND IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DESIGN DEFECT. NHTSA HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE VIA A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS AND MUST COMPEL FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO ISSUE A RECALL OF ALL FORD EXPLORERS BEGINNING WITH MODEL YEAR 2002 OR EARLIER. THE RECALL RIGHTFULLY MUST INCLUDE FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR REASONABLE AND CUSTOMARY REPAIR COSTS INCURRED BY OWNERS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION. *TR

REAR PASSENGER WHEEL STARTED SHAKING. STOPPED AND REMOVED WHEEL COVER AND FOUND THREE WHEEL STUDS SHEARED OFF. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO TIRE STORE. REPLACED WHEEL, HUB AND ALL STUDS. *TR

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 65 AS POSTED, I STARTED TO FEEL SHAKING FROM THE TIRES AND IT GOT TO THE POINT I COULDN'T CONTROL THE VEHICLE, LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CALL AAA FOR A TOW, A STATE POLICE OFFICER PULLED BEHIND ME AND SAID LET ME GUESS HUB BEARING. THE POLICE DEPT ALSO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS MY 8TH REPAIR I AM DOING AND NEXT WEEK I AM DOING THE OPPOSITE SIDE. IT IS COSTING ME 600.00 DOLLARS FOR EVERY SIDE I AM DOING. I MADE A COMPLAINT TO FORD COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL. THEN WHY IS MY MECHANIC TELLING ME HE GETS NUMEROUS REPAIR JOBS ON THE SAME VEHICLES. PLUS I SPOKE TO A CO WORKER THAT HAS THE SAME YEAR AND VEHICLE DOING THE SAME THING. WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE THREE LUG NUTS THAT HAD BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE WHEEL REPLACED. LESS THAN ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LUG NUTS HAD BECOME LOOSE AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE BECOMING LOOSE FROM THE VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY NAME IS[XXX] AND I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT (V6). I HAVE OWNED IT FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW (WILL BE IN JAN 2012) AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT UNTIL RECENTLY. ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO, I HEARD A STRANGE LOUD WHINING NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS GOING. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF I WOULD HAVE TOOK THE INTERSTATE TO WORK THAT EVENING I COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DIED OR CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO OTHERS ON ROAD. VERY SCARY! MIND YOU THIS BEARING WENT WITH NO WARNING. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I HEARD THE NOISE I TOOK IT IN. WELL THE BEARING GOT FIXED AND I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN HAPPIER. HOWEVER, ABOUT A MONTH AGO I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DOING ABOUT 70MPH WHEN MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I ASSUMED I WAS...

I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN I DROVE OVER A CRACK AND IT FELT LIKE A LARGE POTHOLE. I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND PULLED OVER. MY REAR SPRINGS WERE BOTH BROKEN. THE DRIVER SIDE ONE AT THE TOP AND THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE AT THE TOP IN 3 PLACES. WHEN I TURN NOW IT FEELS LIKE MY VEHICLE IS GOING TO ROLL OVER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AS STATED BY MANY OTHERS ON MANY INTERNET SITES. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT DEADLY ACCIDENT. FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS PART AND REPLACE THEM FOR FREE, SINCE THEY WERE THE ONES WHO USED BAD PARTS IN THEIR VEHICLES. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. *TR

FOR THE SIXTH TIME SINCE 2009, I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A POP. MY BOYFRIEND NOTICED MY RIGHT REAR TIRE WOBBLING. I KNEW IMMEDIATELY A STUD OR STUDS HAD BROKEN. WHEN HE POPPED OFF THE CAP, TWO STUDS WERE LITERALLY SNAPPED AT THE BOLT, CLEAN BREAK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX OTHER TIMES, ONE IN WHICH MY TIRE WAS HANGING ON BY ONE STUD AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO WRECK INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY MECHANIC MAKING ERROR AFTER ERROR BUT COULD NEVER FIND AN ISSUE. NOW, AFTER DOING SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, I SEE IT IS FORDS ERROR. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS GETTING NEW ROTORS, NEW TIRES, ETC. THINKING THIS WAS IT. CLEARLY IT'S NOT. FORD NEEDS TO EITHER REIMBURSE OR RECALL THE VEHICLES. I'M DONE. *KB

YOU NEED TO SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO RECALLING ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS FOR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WHEEL AND HUB ASSEMBLIES. THIS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT HAPPENED IN AUGUST 2008. I JUST MOVED INTO MY DORM, AND I HAD TO GO HOME FOR A LITTLE WHILE. I WAS ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE, AND MY TRUCK BEGAN SWERVING TO THE POINT THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OVER IT, AND I HAD TO PULL OVER. WHEN I GOT OUT, I PULLED THE LUG COVER OFF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO FIND THAT FOUR OF THE FIVE LUGS WERE SNAPPED. I HAD TO PAY $400 TO HAVE IT TOWED, AND WHEN IT GOT TO THE GARAGE, THEY FOUND THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUB WERE DAMAGED. THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED, IT HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL, AND, AGAIN, THE LUGS SNAPPED AND THEY FOUND THE HUB...

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CHANGED AND BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 80000 MILES FOR ME BUT IS SO WIDE SPREAD IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL THAT IT OCCURS OVER AND OVER. *LN

CHROME WHEELS DISINTEGRATING. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT IT WAS COSMETIC AT THE TIME. NOW THE ALUMINUM HAS BECOME POROUS AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

WE OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000 MILES ON IT TO DATE. WE TOOK IT INTO THE MECHANIC FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND WERE TOLD THAT 3 OF THE 4 WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD BEEN HEARING A LOUD, ALMOST GRINDING NOISE, WHILE DRIVING. THESE ASSEMBLIES, BEING OF POOR QUALITY, MEAN 3 OF THE 4 WHEELS ON OUR VEHICLE WERE LOOSE. I SEE A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HUBS AND BEARINGS ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE A "RUBBING SOUND", HAD IT CHECKED, AND WAS TOLD I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. IT IS APPROXIMATELY, $1000.00 (LOWEST I COULD FIND) TO REPLACE THEM. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY FORD (TSB 05-25-8, AND 051710) WHICH CLEARLY DESCRIBES THE BEARING ISSUE TO MECHANICS. UNFORTUNATELY FORD REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED DOING 65MPH, WHEEL LOST STABILITY, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING ALSO FAILED 5/3/2010. *TR

DISCOVERED THE REAR HUB BEARINGS ON MY FORD 2002 EXPLORER WERE TOTALLY GONE, IN JANUARY 2010, STARTED WITH A LOUD ROAR IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE AUTO MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WHEEL WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND WAS ABOUT TO COME OFF THIS CAR. I HAD THE REPAIR WORK DONE IMMEDIATELY, THEN TODAY, MAY 3 2010 NOTICED THE SAME ROAR, THE AUTO SHOP DEEMED IT THE SAME ISSUE, THE REAR HUB BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AGAIN ON MAY 3. THIS HAS TO BE STOPPED, THIS PROBLEM COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. FMC NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY TODAY, THE JAN 2010 REPAIR WAS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT I MIGHT NOT BE AS LUCKY THE NEXT TIME. I JUST PRAY IT'S A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. *TR

FORD 2002 EXPLORER XLT LIMITED. I HAVE HAD A MYRIAD OF ISSUES, WHICH UPON RESEARCH APPEAR COMMON TO THE EXTREME. FRONT & REAR BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING -- O/D LIGHT BLINKS, SES LIGHT ACTIVATES, AND VEHICLES OVER-REVS, SLIPS, AND WILL NOT OPERATE IN OVERDRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION DESIGN IS COMPLETELY SEALED, SO I CANNOT EVEN CHECK FOR FLUID LEVELS, NOR DO ANY PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE WHATSOEVER. THERE IS NO WARNING, JUST FAILURE. ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL YEAR ARE SO PREVALENT THAT LOCAL MECHANICS NEED ONLY ASK THE MODEL AND YEAR AND CAN ITEMIZE THE PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED, AND PUBLIC FORUMS ARE FULL OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR

MY FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS APPROXIMATELY SEPT 2008 WHEN I PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND FELT AN ODD BUMP UPON LEAVING THE VEHICLE WAS WOBBLING WHEN I STOPPED AND TOOK THE CAP OFF OF THE LUG NUTS I NOTICED THE STUDS WHERE BROKEN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR. THOUGHT WE HAD IT FIXED BY HAVING THE STUDS REPLACED. WRONG ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WAS TOLD THE HUB AND BEARING NEEDED REPLACED SO WE REPLACED THEM. UPON INSPECTION THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR HAD STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. SO WE REPLACED THAT SIDE AS WELL. THAT LASTED ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND WE WENT TO HAVE NEW TIRES PUT ON THE VEHICLE THE MECHANIC SAID THAT OUR BEARINGS WERE BAD AGAIN AND NEEDED REPLACED. SO WE DID REPLACE THEM. ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN WITH THE STUDS BREAKING OFF. IN ONE INCIDENT I LOST ALL LUG...

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

IN 03/2008 I WENT IN THINKING I HAD BRAKE PROBLEM AND ENDED UP WITH A RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL FORD. NOW ITS 12/2009 AND I HAVE THE SAME NOISE, I GO TO THE DEALER AND TELL HIM I THINK ITS THE LEFT FRONT BEARING AND AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION THEY SAY THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT BUT THE LEFT REAR IS ABOUT READY TO FALL OFF. I AM GLAD I WENT TO GET THE TRUCK CHECKED BEFORE IT FELL OFF AT 65 MPH ON I80. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INCIDENTS WITH THE WHEEL BEARINGS/HUBS ON 2002 FORD EXPLORERS THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND FORD IS NOT FIXING IT. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET THE PROBLEM RECALLED? ACCIDENTS WITH DEATHS? *TR

WHEEL BEARING FAILED, WAS LEFT STRANDED IN SNOW OUTSIDE JACKSON, WY. NO WARNING OF FAILURE. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER, REPLACED FRONT LEFT AND LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. NOW THE RIGHT REAR BEARING IS GOING OUT. MECHANICS AT FORD DEALERSHIP SAID ITS A COMMON PROBLEM. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE. *TR

FAULTY BEARINGS AND HUB IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER. APPARENTLY, A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS CONCERNING THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS AND THE FREQUENCY IN WHICH THEY BREAK OR COME LOSE CAUSING LOSE OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MY VEHICLE ON 5 OCCASIONS, THE LAST OF WHICH FORD REFUSES TO REPLACE AT THEIR COST DUE TO IT BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY 2007 WHEN MY RIGHT FRONT BEARING BROKE WHILE I WAS ON AN HIGHWAY OVERPASS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AS THE WHEEL NEARLY COMES OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND THE VEHICLE JERKS. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2008 WHEN MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING BROKE. THIS TIME I WAS THANKFULLY NOT ON THE EXPRESSWAY BUT ONCE AGAIN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AS IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE....

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE WHEELS LOCKED; WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59000.

2002 FORD EXPLORER(XLS)ONE BY ONE EACH WHEEL(BEARING) HUB HAD TO BE REPLACED!THE WHEELS ON MY TRUCK WERE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO FALL OFF IT WAS SCARY AND VERY DANGEROUS! IT STARTS OUT WITH A SQUEAKING SOUND LIKE THE BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT NO IT WASN'T THE BRAKES WHICH REPAIRS AND PARTS TOGETHER RANGE FROM $60 TO $90 IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARING WHICH REPAIRS AND PARTS TOGETHER RANGE FROM $300 TO $400!I HAD TO GET EVERY WHEEL REPAIRED ONE BY ONE WITHIN 6 MONTHS SO YOU DO THE MATH.ALSO MY (OD)LIGHT FLICKERS AND MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JUMPS IN TO GEAR!!! *TR

WE HAVE OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW. ON OCTOBER 13, 2009 MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET, THANKFULLY AT A SLOW SPEED, HE TURNED A CORNER AND REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE CAR, THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE. SO HE SLOWED DOWN AND STARTED TO PULL OVER, HE THEN LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW TO SEE THE TIRE ROLLING OFF THE CAR AND DOWN THE STREET. THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE TIRE FELL OFF THE CAR. IT HAD SHEARED ALL THE LUG NUTS OFF. IF THE TIRE WERE TO FALL OFF AT HIGH SPEEDS THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH TO THE PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE AND POSE A THREAT TO OTHER DRIVERS AS WELL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED EITHER. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE LUG NUTS SHEARED OFF OF THE SAME...

I HAVE HAD TROUBLES WITH THE WHEEL ENDS ON MY FORD SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2005. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING ARE COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE. I STARTED NOTICING MORE BRAKE DUST ON SOME OF THE WHEELS THAN OTHERS. THEN ON MY REAR/PASSENGERS TIRE I HEAR A SQUEAKING, GRINDING NOISE WITH A LITTLE WABBLE IN THE WHEEL. TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER -SAID THEY GRINDED SOMETHING DOWN. DIDN'T HEAR THE NOISE ANYMORE. MY ABS LIGHT KICKS ON WON'T GO OFF HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH DEFECT IN WHEEL END ASSEMBLY APPARENTLY. PAID $150 TO GET IT OFF COMES RIGHT BACK ON WEEKS LATER!! MY ENTIRE WHEEL END ALMOST FALLS OFF WHILE ON THE HWY. PULL OVER ALL 4 STUDS HAD COME COMPLETELY OFF OF THE WHEEL EXCEPT 1, THE WHEEL WAS LITERALLY HANGIN. HAD TO HAVE ALL STUDS REPLACED. HAVE HAD TO HAVE WHEEL...

I HEARD A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT TIRES ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES HUMMING BECAUSE I HAD A BRAKE JOB AND TIRES ROTATED AND I NOTICED THE HUMMING SOME TIME AFTER THAT. NOW I FIND OUT IT WASN'T TIRES BUT THE WHEEL HUB BEARINGS WENT BAD IN THE FRONT. IT IS AT THE DEALER NOW BEING REPAIRED. *TR

I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT MY DRIVERS SIDE BEARING WAS GOING BAD AND HAD IT FIXED AND MY CAR WAS STILL MAKING A FUNNY NOISE BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT IT WAS MY BRAKES GOING BAD AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED REPLACED, SO WE WENT AND BOUGHT BRAKES AND ROTORS TO PUT ON OURSELVES. AS WE WERE PUTTING THEM ON WE NOTICED THAT MY WHEEL WAS CLOSE TO FALLING OFF!!! NOW WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE BEARING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR AND ALSO THE AXEL SHAFT. WHAT IF MY WHEEL HAD CAME OFF AND KILLED MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND MY HUSBAND AND I? *TR

FLAT TIRE; AFTER TAKING TIRE OFF I NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN IN HALF AND THE WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO WOBBLE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE PART FAILURES. AFTER CONSULTING OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE TYPE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2002 FORD EXPLORERS - WHEEL BEARINGS AND COIL SPRING FAILURE. FORD MAY WANT TO RECALL THESE BEFORE IT CAUSES ACCIDENTS. *TR

WHEEL HUBS ESPECIALLY THE REAR - CONSTANTLY GOING BAD USUALLY 12 MONTHS OR LESS- REAR DIFFERENTIAL VENTED WITH HOSE OVER REAR TIRE. CAUSES WATER TO GET INTO GEARS - MAJOR PROBLEM. I KEEP CATCHING THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY BECAUSE I NOW LOOK FOR THEM BUT IT HAS BEEN CLOSE - RECENTLY I HAD TO HAVE IT TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SITE AS IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR

I RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE BEARINGS REPLACED DUE TO PROBLEMS THAT MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND RESPECTIVE YEARS. ONCE THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED I NOTICED MORE ISSUES WITH THE "SLIPPING" TRANSMISSION THAT MANY MANY MANY MORE HAVE ALREADY LODGED COMPLAINTS AGAINST. WHAT IS BEING DONE? WHEN CAN WE EXPECT ANSWERS? *TR

PURCHASED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER FOR MY 17 YR OLD DAUGHTER. A FEW WEEKS LATER SHE DROVE HOME FROM COLLEGE AND SAID SHE THOUGHT IT NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE CAR VIBRATING. SHE HAD SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS DONE. A COUPLE DAYS LATER SHE WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN HER AND THE PASSENGER HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR THAN BEGAN TO SHAKE VERY HARD AND LOOSE CONTROL. SHE COULD NOT KEEP ON THE ROAD AND ROLLED ACROSS THE INTERSTATE AND INTO THE MEDIAN. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD BROKEN OFF THE CAR. THANKFULLY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND THE TWO SURVIVED THE CRASH WITH NON LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. I CAN ONLY HOPE THE NEXT PERSON THIS HAPPENS TO IS AS LUCKY. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I REALIZED THIS SEEMS TO BE A...

FELT A WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING, FOUND OUT THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING IS OUT. HAD TO ORDER A FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY. IF BEARING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING, THE WHEEL WILL COME OFF. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE DEATH. FORD IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT DECLINES TO TAKE ACTION.114 OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED AT CARCAMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/WHEELS_HUBS/WHEEL_BEARING_FAILURE.SHTML. *TR

REAR BEARINGS GO OUT ON VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE - NO CRASH OCCURRED, BUT IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2002 EXPLORER NEW LATE IN 2001. EVERY WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED AND NOW MY PASSENGER FRONT HAS FAILED A SECOND TIME SO I AM ON MY 3RD SET OF WHEEL BEARINGS IF YOU INCLUDE THE FACTORY BEARINGS AND I ONLY HAVE 112K ON THE CAR. THE BEARINGS ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE ON THESE CARS AND IF LEFT ALONE ARE ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

HAD TO HAVE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. *TR

THIS 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS ONLY 62,153 MILES AND THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY HUBS HAVE FAILED. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE DESIGN OF THIS PART BECAUSE IT HAS NO AXLE AND IS ASSEMBLE TO THE FRAME BY THREE BOLTS. IF THIS PART GOES BAD ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE WHEEL WILL COME OFF , GOD HELP THE DRIVER AND THE PEOPLE ON THE SAME PATH. THIS SUV NEEDS TO BE RECALL! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE ROUTERS FROM THE BRAKES, AND ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO WORRY. AS THE CONTACT LEFT THE MECHANIC, THE SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WHEELS WERE BEING HELD ON BY THE BRAKES AND THE BEARINGS WERE DESTROYED. AFTER HAVING THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED ONE YEAR LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRES HAD POOR TREAD MARKS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT TWO OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DESTROYED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TRANSMISSION IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER FAILED W/O WARNING. DIRECTLY (3 DAYS) AFTER GETTING IT BACK FROM TRANSMISSION SHOP, BOTH REAR HUB ASSEMBLIES WENT. AGAIN, SEEMINGLY OVERNIGHT. MY WIFE SAID, "IT FEELS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF." SERVICE SHOP SAID, "IT'S A WONDER THE WHEELS DIDN'T FALL OFF." DID THIS THING JUST SELF-DESTRUCT OR WHAT? FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE UNTIMELY FAILURES. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN. UPDATED 06/25/08

I HAVE HAD 4 WHEEL BEARING/HUB ASSEMBLY UNITS FAIL ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLOYER. THE FIRST TO GO WAS AFTER ONLY 20K MILES. THE CAR NOW HAS ~70K MILES AND IN THE SHOP NOW FOR THE SAME REPAIR. A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND VERY DANGEROUS SITUITION. FORD WILL NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A PROBELM BUT UNDERSTAND IS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH MANY CUSTOMERS.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 XLS STARTED TO MAKE A ROARING SOUND FROM THE REAR WHEELS AND THE GAS MILEAGE SEEMED TO BE A COUPLE MPG LESS. I THINK I HAD ABOUT 25K MILES AT THE TIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT, I THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE BEARINGS, THEY FOUND NOTHING. I WAS VERY CONCERNED SINCE I WAS GOING TO TAKE MY FAMILY ON VACATION... NOW, STILL CONCERN I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH SEEING IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/WHEELS_HUBS/WHEEL_BEARING_FAILURE.SHTML AND NOW I AM EVEN MORE CONCERNED. I THINK I AM SITTING ON A TIME BOMB. THERE WERE SO MANY COMPLAINTS, THAT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS TRULY A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. I HAVE HAD IDENTICAL ISSUES AND I DON'T ABUSE THE CAR. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE...