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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,579 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The liftgate cracked in 3 places. It started a year ago with one crack, then another crack appeared 6 months later. A few weeks ago a 3 crack appeared. The Ford dealer refused to help and a call to Ford was not returned.
I have a 2002 Ford Explorer and the panel below the back window hatch has cracked for seemingly no reason. I found on the internet that this seems to be a common problem for the 2002-2004 block of Ford Explorer. I have just over 100K miles on my vehicle and Ford said that because it's out of warranty that they won't cover the repair. This seems to be the common answer that Ford is giving to everyone that is experiencing this problem too.
- Jacksonville, AR, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I have not been involved in any accident, nor any incidences of property damage. It happens that on a Saturday during the summer, I noticed a crack in the liftgate of my vehicle. It is a clean and totally straight crack directly under the glass, measuring approximately 6 inches long and 1 to 1/12 wide. While driving and everytime I see an Explorer, I look to see if there is a defect in that particular area of their vehicle and I have seen several, which prompts me to think that this is in fact a defect. I took the vehicle to the repair shop and am told that it would be over $1800 to have repaired as they will need to order an entire lift gate vs. Repairing the one that on their currently. Have you had any reported incidences such as this? I noticed this in July of this year.
A crack appeared on the rear hatch door under the rear window. The crack just appeared one morning without any direct action. Now I have 2 cracks. A search on the internet showed that this problem is happening to many 2002 Ford Explorer.
1. due to a recall (Ford recall no. 04S20. ), the liftgate glass operation system was replaced in 2005. Since early 2007, the same glass struts and hinges are apparently having problem -- first it took extra effort to raise the glass to the fully opening position, then while the glass is lifted open, it unexpectedly dropped down. I got hit 3 times at my head or hands by the sudden dropped glass and frame; it coursed bleeding on my hand once. This is certainly of serious safety concern. I really doubt if the Ford dealer (gainesville Ford in gainesville, fl) correctly performed the recall job in 2005, as they have a reputation of low standards of service and technique. But, Ford, as the manufacturer, should have also taken the responsibility of enforcing the recall job meet the standard. Otherwise, what is point of going through the recall? 2. since July of 2008, I started to notice that the back liftgate panel start having cracking under the rear window. I suspect that this is related to the malfunction of the liftgate glass struts or hinges, the same system that was previously recalled. Nonetheless, this is clearly a safety issue as well, since the crack appearing reflects the liftgate being unstable and the glass having much higher risk of accidentally breaking, therefore coursing injury. This vehicle, with only 60 K miles, has been taken good care. Through searching internet, I found this appears to be a quite common issue for Explorer 2002 model. It is absolutely not acceptable to have this kind safety issue ignored by Ford for so long. Please help to get Ford to truly realize their responsibility and give the massive affected public justice. Thank you very much! J. james jia
Ford 2002 Explorer has large crack on liftgate panel running from just of the left of the Ford insignia to the bottom of the rear window. Ford will not help with replacement despite the obvious safety concerns and the admission that this is a widespread problem with Explorer. The liftgate was recalled a few years ago for an unrelated problem with the cylinders.
On the 2002 Ford Explorer I have a crack on the back panel under the lift gate. I have done some researching and find that this is not uncommon. I believe it has to do with the liftgate hinge recall. I am afraid that the panel being broken may cause it to come off and hit a car behind me. I feel that this crack may cause serious problems if I was in a wreck. I feel that there are many people who are out there with the same problem and Ford will not do anything to replace this part. They have received many complaints as I can see from the research I have done.
Crack developed in area below lift gate glass. Now the door ajar light goes on and off, as well as the buzzer. The glass does not shut properly and is inoperable and the area below the glass has completely fallen away.
2002 Ford Explorer - rear applique (plastic trim) under the rear window cracked, and a portion of it fell off the vehicle traveling 70mph. Same problem as reported at www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Explorer/2002/body_paint/cracked_panel_below_the_rear_window.shtml. Ford has said it was temp related, however, I'm in Florida, the vehicle never saw any temp below 40, freezing wasn't considered. Tsb 0485 if I'm reading it correctly.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the molding on the rear of the vehicle was cracked. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current mileage was 77,000 and failure mileage was 65,000.
My 2002 Ford Explorer hood is corroding. It's been over a year since the first spot appeared. I really didn't pay much attention to it because I thought it was just from wear and tear, but then 2 months ago 2 more spots appeared. On 10/3/08 I went to a body shop to see how much it would cost to paint, and I surprised to hear him tell me that the problem is really a Ford problem because it looked like the hood is made of aluminum and the paint isn't sticking. That same day, I went to the Ford dealer nearest to me and I was told that indeed there is a problem with these hoods and confirmed what the guy at the body shop said. He then told me that since my car is a 2002, 5 years has passed and I cannot have it replaced for free. This is unfair. I was not aware of the problem, and no one at Ford informed us. Had I known that it was their problem, I would have had it replaced when the first spot appeared.
Same as noted from other Ford explore 02 owners.....the bottom of the rear window is cracked shortly after purchase in 03. I have now attached a sign using stick on letters that read on the back panel "Ford quality' with an arrow pointing to the crack as the dealer and Ford will not do anything about it as evident by all the complaints. I think Ford needs this type of publicity!
Rear gate plastic that is directly below the rear window snapped due to cold weather most likely. Don't know why there is glass underneath this section, the whole thing should be metal.
Purchased a 2002 Ford exp eddie bauer ed used with 35,000 miles. Transmission had to be repaired within 3 weeks due to 4WD malfunction covered by warranty. Passenger side window motor assembly has been replaced once, and window regulator has been replaced once, and is in need of a second replacement. Took to local dealership and was told window was not meant to be lowered halfway. The rear hatch has also cracked completely down from window to lower panel. Dealership will not acknowledge issues with this occurring, but upon further research have found this to be a common problem with this vehicle make and model. Overdrive light blinks continuously and dealership reports it to be a malfunctioning electrical switch repair cost at around $400. Have continued to drive vehicle, but will no longer drive vehicle after discovering that this is a precursor to transmission failure. May possibly trade-in this vehicle and lose monetary value for private sale. Will not be responsible for selling this vehicle to a private party and risk injury to next owner. Shame on Ford for not taking care of their customers.
A cracked rear panel on my 2002 Ford Explorer. To date, I haven't had any safety issues, but I've checked other online sites and seen quite a few submissions from other owners with the same issue. I cannot afford to have it replaced, and according to other owners, the problem will probably reoccur (it seems to happen during cold weather). Ford has not listed it on their recall site.
March '07: Rear gate split under window December '07 through Jan '08: Rear differential rebuilt twice, rear axel hubs and bearings replaced; differential noise still loud June '08: Torque converter replaced.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Colchester, CT, USA