CarComplaints.com Notes: 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.
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.
8.7
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$280
Average Mileage:
143,950 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (3 reports)
after market hubs manufactured incorrectly (1 reports)
Pulled into a gas station and heard a thump. After refueling, pulled out and started down the road. Truck started vibrating more and more violently. Going around a corner 4 out of the 5 lugs flew off of the rear passenger tire due to shearing of the lugs. Fortunately, I did not loose the tire but would later in a second incident exactly 11 months to the day.
This is something Ford Explorer owners need to unite against. Was driving back from Rhode Island on Route 1. Truck began vibrating (around 55mph) to the point it became violent. Suddenly, the rear passenger wheel came off and landed in the drainage ditch. Was able bring the vehicle to a safe stop. All five lugs had sheared off. Even worst...this was the second time it happened in under one year (11 months to the day to be exact)
Driving West on Hwy. 401 Ontario Canada at above posted speed limit. Halfway through the trip when I would let of the gas it sounded like I had a Jake Brake... lots of rattling. Stopped to take a look cause it sounded like a flat tire. Didn't see the problem cause the studs where staying in the holes. Plus never thought they'd sheer. Made it to my destination. Mechanic looked at it the next day. 2 on the drivers side front and back tire had sheered. Sad I was very lucky to have made it that far. Now have a rattle creak in the rear end. Nothing like the chance of tires coming off when going 80+mph! Thing is just had summer tires put on had no issues until 2hrs into the trip.
i bought this 2005 explorer in march 2011 and in august of 2011 is when the lug bolt and nuts first broke off. since then i have replaced then 3 time now going on my 4th time. all on the passenger side. on top of that I've put a new tie rod and bearings on the same side. it unfair out of pocket costs. its just a piece of crap truck and i wish i would of never bought it!!!!!!
the FIRST time this happened on December 19th 2010 i was taking my daughter to the doctors upon exiting the freeway i felt a bad shaking in the steering wheel like a flat so i pulled into the first parking lot and found that my rear driver side wheel had only one lug holding it on!!! four of the five lugs had sheered off! took it back to where i bought it and they said they would fix it even though it was not they're felt and we called ford and they just gave us the run around. when the dealership did a full investigation they found that other lugs had sheered on the other tires too! so fast forward to October 27th 2011 it happened again! coming home from work i exited the freeway and took a right hand turn going about 15 mph when i felt that hard shaking pulled over to find that ALL five lug nuts had sheered off the driver side rear tire!!! my whole car was barely reat on the rim THANK GOD! i called ford this morning to get the same run around so then i got a hold of the the people who make recalls happen! the us department of vehicle safety we all need to call them the number is 1-800-424-9393 and the website is www.safercar.gov does there really need someone to die before they do something!!!!!!
- Sabrina G.,
Santee, CA, US
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I had my Explorer towed to Mission Valley Ford after the third time several rear wheel studs sheared off. I asked them to analyze the problem and fix. They pulled both rear axles and replaced all ten studs. That cost around $700.00. Within a couple of months it was back at Mission Valley Ford with more broken rear studs. This time I got Ford engineering involved. After meeting Ford's west coast district safety and design engineers. It was determined that the AFTER-MARKET BRAKE ROTORS did not fit properly onto wheel hub. Center bore of rotor was too small to allow wheel to locate onto axle leaving the studs to bare all the weight. No more problems since ROTORS and studs.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Pulled into a gas station and heard a thump. After refueling, pulled out and started down the road. Truck started vibrating more and more violently. Going around a corner 4 out of the 5 lugs flew off of the rear passenger tire due to shearing of the lugs. Fortunately, I did not loose the tire but would later in a second incident exactly 11 months to the day.
- trooperbsb, Woodbury, CT - Connecticut, US