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.
8.0
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$300
Average Mileage:
101,100 miles
Total Complaints:
87 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replace window motor (28 reports)
not sure (25 reports)
replaced faulty regulator and faulty switch (13 reports)
replace master switch (9 reports)
I won't buy Ford again (7 reports)
find break in red power wire at door hinge and add jumper (2 reports)
Bought the Explorer Sep 15th Noticed the back window quit a week later not covered under warranty, let it slide since it was the rear passanger side... a year later the driver rear started to go out.... by summer it was gone. a couple months later the passanger front window started acting up along with the driver window occasionly.... Well dumby me left the driver window down one night and it rained.... Fixed the rear driver window...Dont ask... then replaced the motor and regulator in the driver one and that fixed the Front two.... the original one still doesnt work in the rear passanger side... :(
two of my power windows randomly fell right inside my doors in my explorer, ine the passenger front and the driverside rear i replaced the passenger side but now both of the rear ones dont work like frigg build car to last ford!
While rolling the window down, heard a grinding noise and it wouldn't go back up or down. Found out the cable wound up incorrectly inside the assembly and got chewed up. I took the motor out and taped a block to the track to keep the window up until I decide if I want to spend the money to fix it. What a pain in the ass!
I took the explorer in to ford to have the transmission serviced. They rolled the window down (policy I guess) while it was being serviced. They finished the servicing and left the vehicle out front for me to pick up. I hopped in and tried to put the window up and the switch was non-responsive. Ford took the explorer back in and jumped the switch to get the window up. The window worked before I took it in, but they told me I was S.O.L. and would have to pay out the @#%# to get it fixed. Thanks Ford.
I bought my 2002 Ford Explorer as my first brand new car. It has given me nothing but problems since Day 1. I was getting ready to back out to go to work, and I put all 4 power windows down to remove moisture so I could see clearly. Only 3 went back up...the rear passenger window, which has only been used probably 5 times ever, decided to disappear. So I drove in the rain and cold to work. It rained inside my car all day until I could leave at 3:30 to tape a garbage bag over it. Great! You can't drive with a garbage bag over your window. The next day I missed an entire day's work just so I could take it to a shop for an estimate. Thanks Ford!
- mycarsalemon,
Summerville, SC, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Its 20 degrees in NJ and I put the drivers window down to put mail in my neighbors mailbox and the window went down and would not go back up. Lowered it a little more, now at half way mark, still wont go back up. Finally put it all the way down and now I have no window at all. Put plastic bag over it as it snowed. Thanks Ford!
Rear passenger window went down and never went back up.This window probably hadn't been used 5 times since the car was new.I picked up a new regulator and changed it myself.Pain in the butt.
my rear passenger window motor went while under warranty..fixed by ford no problem, in 2007 my front passenger car window engine went ..we replaced it, then june 09 drivers side window regulator went, knocking out all the windows, that was expensive for the part, not to mention very inconvenient....i purchased from for just the part which ran about 110.00 dollars...had a friend put it in......
fully loaded cars may be nice, but it adds things that can go wrong......
i now have another window that's going to have to be fixed. won't go down or up. that will make two in the last 6 months. cost $400. by the time i get done it will be $1,264, $800.00; $55.62. i feel these are way to high for a vehicle that is maintained religiously and not 'mud four wheelin' or off road adventures, etc. i take very good care of my vehicle but never again on a ford. we have three but this one has surely been a lemon.
Ive had to replace 2 motors on my power windows. First my driver windows motor went out and then after getting that one fixed my back right window went out as well. WFT Ford!!! Make better cars and stop sucking at your job.
At 41,000 miles my 2002 Ford Explorer XLT's driver side window fell all the way down while driving down the highway in a rain storm. Took it straight to Ford and had to pay $100 a day for three days to rent a car and then was given a bill for $500 for a window regulator. Now at 60,000 the passenger side front window is failing.
First, right rear passenger window just fell down and wouldn't close, so upon closer inspection, we found 3 of 4 windows ready for same repair at $300-400 a window. Ford will take no responsibility, as usual. However, they did agree to drop labor from $99/ to $89 hour. They should fix all four windows so we are responsible for their usual design manufacture deficiencies which they refuse to acknowledge. ALSO, major drag, driver's side window also scratched from bolt or some such part in window motor grinding the glass each time it goes up and down. Of course, not Ford's fault.
we found if you open the drivers door wide open, then you can roll the windows up or down. it's a broken wire in the door somewhere. then close your door and your good to go. im not taking it to garage we payed enough fixing the transmission, hub assembly and cv joint assembly. oh yes and the alternator.(X 2)
Well, it was bound to happen wasn't it? Especially if the queue of other people who have had this exact same problem on the internet was anything to go by.
My wife was driving the car - put the driver's window down, but it wouldn't come back up. I took it to an auto electrician because as we all know, FORD WILL RIP YOU OFF! I was charged $380 Australian to get a new Power Window Switch - when I got home I checked on the internet and could have bought the part from the U.S. for $75 Australian (plus an unspecified postage). Sure I would have had to wait 2 weeks and it was pouring rain today AND I NEEDED TO DRIVE MY CAR, but don't worry FORD - I certainly won't worry you when it is time to buy a replacement car!
And another thing, I was at the gas station, opened the passenger window told the guy what I wanted, closed the window, opened it to give him my credit card, closed the window, opened the window to take my card back and the window wouldn't close. The motor went. This is the forth complaint I've listed so far and I still have more to go. Never again Ford!
The third power window on my car went out today. The driver's side window stopped working at 45k miles, left rear at 55k, and now the right rear at 63k. See the pattern? I fixed the first one for $250, but I'm leaving the other 2 broken so I can save the $500+ for the major repairs that I know are coming based on what I've read here. I'm 23 and this is my first car, and I can say with absolute certainty that I will never buy a Ford again. Great job convincing the next generation that Fords are quality vehicles.
I agree with previous posters, a recall is definitely appropriate. This is more than just coincidence...
Wow, another part gone bad....Amazing, you couldn't screw an extended warranty more than you have...no wonder these companies need a bailout. All of you are a bunch of scam artists and I'm sick of it.
We had our first problem in march of 07. We had it fixed which was costly. Now 2 more windows are going out. I also have a cracked back panel. Ford has really gone downhill, my 93 explorer is much better quality. other than a few plastic pieces that have broken due to the fact that we live in the desert, the 93 is great. The 02 is a piece of crap and we wont be buying from ford again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Bought the Explorer Sep 15th Noticed the back window quit a week later not covered under warranty, let it slide since it was the rear passanger side... a year later the driver rear started to go out.... by summer it was gone. a couple months later the passanger front window started acting up along with the driver window occasionly.... Well dumby me left the driver window down one night and it rained.... Fixed the rear driver window...Dont ask... then replaced the motor and regulator in the driver one and that fixed the Front two.... the original one still doesnt work in the rear passanger side... :(
- kita va beach, Virginia Beach, VA, US