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)
The rear Driver side window would not go up or down. There would be a sound when we hit the button, but the window would not move. I had to pull it up and leave it. I have two kids and it was a pain, because they both wanted to ride on the side of the good window and they kept fighting about it. I drove like this for 3 months before fixing it. When my side cargo window exploded (which I reported as a separate issue at this site), I found myself having both issues repaired at the same place and at the same time.
What a piece of crap! Last year the rear end went out while on vacation. This year the front end went out and now the damn window will not go back up. Hey Ford - this will be my last American Car.... can you hear Toyota taking over!!!! My 11 year old Honda has not had this many problems. I am going to try to replace the part myself since every dealer trip has cost me 1K to get something fixed. I have had it with you FORD. People Run away from American cars... they are money pits!
The window would roll down but not up. The toggle wouldn't engage & now it won't roll up or down. The passenger side back window won't roll up or down either. I am going to try & get a new master switch & see if that works. The motor is fine, it's just getting the switch to run it!
In June 2007 we have had our regulator replaced for a power window for the 6th time. It seems like every few months since the Explorer reached 20,000 miles we are fixing one of the windows. The only one that has not gone out yet is the drivers side, knock on wood.
Another of my many issues with this f-ing truck. The driver-side rear window just decided to stop working, I am told I need a new motor for it. Why is everything going wrong with these trucks? my A/C failed 4 times, the oil pan had leaks, recall on the back hatch, door ajar light had to be replaced twice due to a malfunction, and now the window stops working.
And they wonder why people buy foreign cars????
- vitalis,
Woodbury, CT, US
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The backseat window wouldn't roll back up, but I could hear that the motor was still working, so I asked the guy at ford service if maybe the window just came off of the track. He then said to me that there have been a number of explorers with this problem and he is certain that I needed a new motor for the window, in fact his own explorer had the same problem. It sounds to me like this is a problem with the explorer and not just a random thing.
I used to be big on ford but after buying my 2002 piece of sh*t pain in the ass explorer ill never do business with them again and make sure i tell anyone i know buying or looking for a new or used car or truck that unless you wanna get screwed don't buy a ford. Maybe ford will see this and offer to fix their mistake but i really doubt that since they got there money. Well if anyone reads this and have a suggestion on how to fix them myself please let me know and remember DON'T BUY FORDS SH*TTY PRODUCTS.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The rear Driver side window would not go up or down. There would be a sound when we hit the button, but the window would not move. I had to pull it up and leave it. I have two kids and it was a pain, because they both wanted to ride on the side of the good window and they kept fighting about it. I drove like this for 3 months before fixing it. When my side cargo window exploded (which I reported as a separate issue at this site), I found myself having both issues repaired at the same place and at the same time.
- Darlene L., Sparta, NJ, US