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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.

2.4

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
64,000 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.

2002 Ford Explorer electrical problems

electrical problem

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2002 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #2

Mar 172008

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 128,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Door ajar light and alarm are coming on intermittently. Also the anti-theft alarm will go off for no reason.

- Hemphill, TX, USA

problem #1

Jun 302002

Explorer

  • miles
Faulty anti-theft module(shorting) making vehicle unable to operate. At this time Ford is unable to repair or replace module leaving owner stranded. Ford has told us that they are working on a solution but at this time there is not one. How many others are driving witht his unsafe module?

- Springdale, AR, USA

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