CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002 Ford Explorer is hands-down our worst vehicle on record. "Avoid like the plague" is putting it lightly.
The 2002-2005 Explorer has a very well-established record of expensive transmission failure at under 100k miles. The Explorer has an enclosed transmission which is typically replaced with a rebuilt transmission at a cost of almost $3,000.
Another common problem for the 2002-2003 Explorer is wheel bearing failure at around 90k miles, with a typical repair bill of $500 to $1000 depending on how many wheel bearings failed.
Adding insult to injury, the 2002-2005 Explorer also has a massive problem with the rear panel cracking. While it's a minor annoyance compared to transmission failure, ironically the crack usually goes right through the Ford logo.
8.6
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
107,950 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (4 reports)
disable the cruise control and have ecu checked (2 reports)
Driving down the freeway with both my children, the cruise control was active and I was coming up on some heavy traffic, so I attempted to disengage the cruise control by pushing the brakes. It slowed it down but kept the idle at 75 so I attempted turning it off by steering wheel and nothing happened. I was approaching massive backed up traffic and I was smashing the brake and the engine was idled so high I thought it was going to blow up. I could not stop my vehicle.
I came up to stand still traffic and drove up on the right hand side of the slow lane in order to avoid an accident and I was able to pass traffic to the next exit. I got onto the exit and was able to put the truck in neutral and it released. I was so scared and shaking, I really thought we were going to get hurt or hurt someone else. I exited the off ramp back onto the freeway and the very second i attempted to accelerate the idle got stuck again. This time the I had not engaged the cruise control. I put it in neutral again and was able to release it this way all the way home. I unplugged the cruise control and the idle quit sticking, however now when i start it it sticks for about 60 seconds and if I am engage to drive without the idle dropping below 1 it will keep sticking.
I am a single mother with 2 jobs and 2 kids those 2 jobs do not earn me the luxury of fixing my truck freshly after purchasing it. Thanks FORD, just when I thought I was getting ahead here we go back to square one and spend more money.
we travel a lot to take kids to doctors two hours away and when diving the first time we realized the cruise control did not work at all. we don't have money to fix it but i would be nice and save on gas if it did work.
While driving my 2002 Ford Explorer with the cruise control engaged, I noticed the speed had increased about 10mph. I tapped the the break pedal to disengage the cruise control.
it would not disengage, I applied the brakes and slowed to 50mph. After releasing the brake the car began to increase speed again. I applied the brake hard to stop the car and when it stopped I shut the engine off. This was very dangerous when you cannot control the speed of you car. After Shutting the engine off, I restarted it only to find the engine racing and so I shut it down. After thinking about this and reading about other ford Explorer having this problem, I felt it should be noted somewhere for others to read.
If we had been in traffic we may have crashed. This was the scariest thing I have been involved in with an automobile. It appears the 2002 Ford Explorer is the most problems year model for the Explorer.
The vehicle was purchased used and was in excellent condition and a one owner. I have replaced the front hubs, the brake lights come on when the engine is off, the passenger side door lock will not release. Just replace the right rear wheel bearing. All of these problems do not concern me as much as the cruise causing the engine to accelerate to a dangerous level.
I am scared now to have anyone ride with me. I felt I stayed calm and got the car stopped, but my wife has driven the car at times and she may have not reacted in the same manner.
This could happen with someone who may panic. I hope that I do not meet another Ford Explorer in this "run-away" condition. I am not sure what to do with this vehicle, I am scared of it!
- ewmurphy,
Mobile, AL, US
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Well, my cruise control would not work half the time. I would be driving and try to engage the cruise control with no success. I took it to the dealership and they found a sticky brake pedal! So I had been driving around with my brake lights on! OH, and also...the brake lights would stick on after I had turned the car off and parked it and left. THANKS FORD!
Ok, I was on the Freeway when my cruise control failed to disengage using the footbrake and off buttons on the steering wheel. I ended up with a police escort down the freeway and on the phone to the police the whole way trying to figure out how to get the car to stop. we tried turning the engine off and shifting the gear shift all to no avail. When the footbrake was applied it slowed the car but the cruise control would just accelerate it again to the set speed. i was lifted my ass off that drivers seat to put all my strength on those brakes. in the end i had to crash the car into the median strip and then was order by police to apply the handbrake and use the footbrake as much as i could to stop the car. 1metre from having a headon. Does anyone know if the cruise control on these cars are dodge? or if its the ECU that may have taken over and not the cruise control?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Driving down the freeway with both my children, the cruise control was active and I was coming up on some heavy traffic, so I attempted to disengage the cruise control by pushing the brakes. It slowed it down but kept the idle at 75 so I attempted turning it off by steering wheel and nothing happened. I was approaching massive backed up traffic and I was smashing the brake and the engine was idled so high I thought it was going to blow up. I could not stop my vehicle.
I came up to stand still traffic and drove up on the right hand side of the slow lane in order to avoid an accident and I was able to pass traffic to the next exit. I got onto the exit and was able to put the truck in neutral and it released. I was so scared and shaking, I really thought we were going to get hurt or hurt someone else. I exited the off ramp back onto the freeway and the very second i attempted to accelerate the idle got stuck again. This time the I had not engaged the cruise control. I put it in neutral again and was able to release it this way all the way home. I unplugged the cruise control and the idle quit sticking, however now when i start it it sticks for about 60 seconds and if I am engage to drive without the idle dropping below 1 it will keep sticking.
I am a single mother with 2 jobs and 2 kids those 2 jobs do not earn me the luxury of fixing my truck freshly after purchasing it. Thanks FORD, just when I thought I was getting ahead here we go back to square one and spend more money.
- Name H., Albany, OR, US