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.
6.4
fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$520
Average Mileage:
75,050 miles
Total Complaints:
18 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (8 reports)
replace rear ABS sensor again and again (5 reports)
replace rear abs sensor and entire rear abs (2 reports)
Ford needs to replace vehicle, unsafe (1 reports)
get senors cleaned (1 reports)
replace the front ABS sensor and bearing (1 reports)
Brake squeal ever since i had fixed. I think my car was sabotaged!!! It worked fine before i had it inspected BY FORD. They said they could not pass it because the brakes were bad. They worked fine when i drove it LESS THN A MILE THERE. Don't tell me that does not sound fishy or ill find you!!!
this light seems like it's been on since day one..... they should make the rest of the vehicle to last like this light. Ford replaced the sensor at least a couple of times , my regular mechanic could not run the problem down either. other issues made this one a very low issue.
My second Explorer.... I was told the reason my ABS sensor light is staying on, was due to the rear sensor crapping-out. My understanding is a sensor costs around $75- $85 and to do the job at a Ford dealership will cost me about $1400.00???!!! Apparently, I was told by 'Mr.Crap Wrench', the rear axle housing has to be replaced as well, as it's a two-in-one part (please tell me this isn't true!). I didn't fix it! Can't I just buy a sensor and epoxy it on? I now have a vehicle with standard brakes and they work fine.
ABS light came on and the sensor had to be replaced by the dealer at my cost. This was fourth issue within a month that I have had with this vehicle. The mechanic also told me the rear springs are cracked and need to be replaced so make that five!
- Greg G.,
South Lyon, MI, US
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My ABS light has been coming on and off for the last year. I am scared to go to the Ford dealer for them to fix it because they are a rip off. (I have been to them for another vehicle that I previously owned that had an O2 sensor to go out that they fixed. They told me it was covered under a warranty and when it went bad again, they wanted to charge me again-202.00)Now another problem has came up. All the brake lights are stuck!!! When I am driving and while it is parked. I went to them for a quote (it cost a 100.00 for that quote)just to find out that it will cost me another 300.00 I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN!!!
Well my ABS light would randomly go on. I will be driving on the highway and the light would go on. Hmm.... I wondered why would the warning light go on while I've been driving for 30 minutes? Then 10 minutes later I look down and it was off. At this point, I was so confused. Since then, every other day my ABS light would randomly go on and off. I have a place that fixes cars next door to me so i took it there. They did a diagnostic test which cost me $90 and guess what? MY ABS SENSORS WERE FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. So what the guy did was clean my sensors. I don't know with what but it worked. Now my ABS light doesn't randomly go on anymore.
you can expect this only from ford ...why would you put abs sensor inside front bearing what if left or right abs sensor goes out ..then you have to change the bearing...Geniuses....Ford Designers should get burned or kill themselves against the wall.
Well, it seems like the brakes are still okay. But this needs to be fixed. I never know whether the brakes are on the verge of failure, or what. Help, Ford!
Another problem that the dealership wants to charge me another $50 just to look at it. Can't check it out myself or I would. No doubt it's going to cost me an arm and a leg. I'm up to about $5000 in repairs this year. That's roughly half of what the vehicles worth. I used to like Fords.
This is a long story but I'll keep it short. I had the rear ABS sensor replaced under warranty the first time... 6 months later the ABS light came on again. I had the vehicle in England and couldn't find anyone to fix it so I left it. I finally had to have it fixed because it wouldn't pass inspection. I couldn't get the correct part in England and their computers couldn't tell what was wrong. Anyway I finally got it fixed but it was a pain in the butt and quite expensive.
i felt really sorry for my dad, first the electrical problem then the transmission problem then the ac thing and then this - ABS light is on and the damn brakes squeaks like a mouse got burnt, and it was doing this for a week... the good thing is that this was a company car so he was going to turn it in a week anyway. so we were celebrating when we got rid of the piece of sh*t
ABS light starting coming on and going off at 28000 miles, then started staying on longer and going off only occasionaly , then finally staying on all the time. Brakes work , not sure ABS system works, lease is up and guess who has to pay to have it fixed? Ford has a problem w/this on a lot of their explorers
I had the ABS light illuminate and then noticed that the back brakes hung up and when I went to the dealer, I was told the rear brakes needed replacement and the sensor for the ABS was faulty. Now, a few months later, the ABS light is back on. This is concerning with the winter months here and living in western PA. I am going to try to find resolution with the dealer.
I purchased my 2002 Explorer XLS with 22,000 miles as a "certified" used vehicle from a Ford Dealership. I constantly keep up with all repairs and precautions and have 55,000 miles on the vehicle. I was driving home from work and noticed the yellow "ABS" light started flashing. When I got home I turned the vehicle off, and called Ford as explained in the owner's manual as a safety precaution. When I started the vehicle, the light remained off all the way to the Ford dealership. When I spoke to the "Manager" he told me since the light was off, not to worry about it. I took his word, and left. Four days later, "ABS" and "Check Engine" began flashing and then remained luminated all the way back to the Ford dealership. When I spoke to the "Manager" again, he said it was "No big deal" and they would check it out, all for $116.00 evaluation charge. He called later that day, and said the seat-belt buckles' retention sensors had to be replaced and he needed a credit card for the special order $289.00 sensors. The next day, the vehicle was ready, and they banged me for three hours service ($96.00/hour). Wow. 13 days laters, "ABS" light comes on again and I return to Ford, thinking something happened with the latest repair. This time, the main ABS Component system "fried itself" as described by the "Manager" and needed replaced because the vehicle would not be safe to operate unless it was replaced. Another $442.00 for special order system, plus another three hours service. Ironically, both repairs had nothing to do with each other as per the "Manager." God help you if you have this vehicle and the "ABS" light comes on. I had ford dealer service repair. big mistake!
First experienced ABS light at 33,000. Dealer warrenty. Since then every 2,500 to 8,000 miles light comes on. Rear ABS sensor. Local dealer tells me "I'm the only one to complain", but they now stock sensor. Ford Parts site lists multiple customers with problems. I think I put on so many miles as sales rep, I'm the bell mare here. 87,000 miles-5 abs failures. Next car is a Toyota. To be fair: brakes still work with light on-just no ABS.
the abs light came on, bilton ford fixed it, three weeks later the light stays on again, the brakes failed at a stop sign, lucky for me no cars were close to me, i feel this vehicle is unsafe and ford should replace my explorer. its a shame to pay high price labor to built a car that is unsafe. i work hard and this explorer costs lots of hard earned money. i should be able to get to and from work safely. i have grandchildren that ride with me also, i fear for their safety. i don't need ford to say they will fix the problem, i need ford to replace this vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Light just started coming on, had brand new battery installed in Dec 2011
- missmarilyn, Hartford, CT, US