- November 18: Ford Expedition Seat Belt Pretensioner Recall Investigated investigations | 1 days ago
- November 18: Ford Battery Failures Investigated in Mavericks, Bronco Sports investigations | 1 days ago
- November 17: Ford Backup Camera Problems Cost Automaker $165 Million news | 2 days ago
- November 9: Ford 'Death Wobble' Lawsuit Certified as Class Action news | 10 days ago
- November 7: Ford Mustang Mach-E Lawsuit Over Battery Contactors Dismissed news | 12 days ago
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.
7.0
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $1,540
- Average Mileage:
- 103,350 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 10 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
- not sure (4 reports)
- no warranty support (3 reports)
- paid to get problem fix (2 reports)
- find a good honest mechanic or dealership (1 reports)
miscellaneous problem
Helpful websites
- No one has added a helpful site for this 2002 Explorer problem yet. Be the first!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Alright. First off, to any potential buyers: STAY AWAY. These vehicles, from what I have heard from mechanics, are dead cars rolling. They are a money pit.
I bought this used from some well off individuals who liked the truck but just "wanted something new". They had purchased the vehicle from a mechanic, and since I was going through mechanic school myself, thought this would be a good project car to learn on. BOY WAS I RIGHT. I have gained a lot of mechanical experience BUT there is literally NO money left in my wallet and I work two jobs.
I purchased this truck in February of 2013. First the starter went in May 2013. And I thought it was all right because that's normal wear and tear. So I rebuilt the starter myself, and put it back in. Worked like a charm, for 6 months. Now that may have been my own fault since I did rebuild it so I replaced it in November of 2013. In that six months though, I nearly ran the truck dry of oil because the truck seemed to have a slow leak but the oil light never went on. NEVER. Something flashes on the message center, but it never stays on long enough to tell you what the hell it is. So I fixed the oil leak, but I check that thing every two weeks.
So December 2013 rolls around, and it snows, and its wet out, and the battery light comes on. Its the alternator. So I replaced the alternator, and the battery just to be on the safe side.
Then January 2014, left rear wheel bearing goes. So I replace it. And I thought while I am at it, I'll replace the rotors and brakes on the rear as well.
Then it finally drives nice for a while. And I think that that was it, that's all that needed to be done. The worst is over. Until I start making left hand turns in December 2014. Every time I would turn left, the truck would make a loud squealing noise. So I take it to the mechanics because I can't figure out what the hell it could be. They tell me the whole front end needs to be replaced. The control arms, the two front wheel bearings, the brakes, the rotors, the hubs, the sway bar links... Since I had replaced the brakes and rotors only a few months earlier myself, it brought the bill down. But $2000 later, it's still making that noise. So I take it back. It turns out, that the noise had NOTHING to do with the front end.
Remember that wheel bearing I replaced on the right rear? The pin came loose and the wheel bearing was rocking back and forth every time I took a left. Thankfully before they figured that out, they had replaced my emergency brake, the two rear rotors, and the emergency brake cable.
But, its not over. I'm driving down the street 4 months later eating my lunch, and the truck starts to squeal again. This is a different kind of squeal though because the truck is shaking like the wheel is going to fall off and I can feel the vibrations in the steering wheel. So I tow it to the mechanics who tell me they don't know what it is, and to take it to a transmission shop. So I have it towed to the transmission shop. They determine that its the transfer case. Great. So I pay them $800 to have the transfer case disconnected and now my truck is rear wheel drive only because I couldn't afford to pay another $2000 to have the transfer case replaced.
Now three months later in July 2015, I've replaced all the coils as part of the regular maintenance (8 of them, ouch). But the truck is making that roaring noise that can only be the front wheel bearing. Thankfully it's under warranty, but come on.
Oh, and since BC is having the hottest summer on record, the air conditioning unit quit. Coincidence? I think not.
This truck is going over a cliff some where. I used to love this truck, it had it all. Leather heated seats, sun roof, dual climate controls... etc. But are all those luxuries supposed to make up for the fact that this truck is a POS?
- Connor M., Surrey, BC, Canada