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.
8.4
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
63,800 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
build Ford cars with quality parts like the foreign cars (3 reports)
We lifted the window, not the entire door the window and when the widow was up it just shattered. We have had every problem in the book. I wish it fell on me so ford would be wishing they never sold me the car.
Had just arrived at North Carolina for vacation. Family was impressed with the truck. I take out the luggage, go to close the glass assembly and a hinge popps off and im left holding the window. One held so I locked it in at the base and drove to Ford Dealership. They had me leave it overnight and was fixed next day. Car was only 1 year old at the time.
I am really pissed this is the day before I am to leave for a 12 hr drive to spend christmas with my family. One of the screws holding the rear window on fell in and half of the rear window POPed out when I opened it. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME! Havent had anyone look at it yet. Hopefully I can get this fixed with out to much cost tried to talk to someone at the dealership as if they cared. I'm lucky it did not fall out while I was driving down the road.
my brothers has been telling me for years not to buy a ford i didn't listen ! my first american car is a nightmare, own for two years two recalls and a host of other problems but right now the back window fell out and the part they say won't be in until late november the glass fell out oct 24 and they won't even go ahead and order the part it's like they don't even care, if the glass falls out and hurt me or my kids the ford motor company is going to wish they nerver sold me this vehicle!!!!!!!!!!!!! i can't even use my trunk, am scare it's going to fall out which it has 4 times and my brothers taped it up with duct tape! once you buy one of these vehicles the ford company don't ever want to hear form you!!!!!!!!!!!! stay away from american made cars
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The back glass shattered on my 2002 explorer after I had closed it. I was at work. Luckily I was not injured. Ford needs to correct this issue.
- csewell, Parker, KS, US