2002 Ford Explorer problems
The 2002 Ford Explorer has 4,100 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (24%) concerns transmission. Next are drivetrain & axles (15%) and body & structure (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 4,100 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Transmission 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 178 and 71
- Injuries and deaths
- 212 and 6
- Typical mileage
- 79,000 miles 3,100 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 160 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 310 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 494 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 612 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 571 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 335 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 239 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 181 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 91 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 43 |
| 200k+ miles | 64 |
What the data shows
Of the 3,100 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 79,000 miles. For transmission specifically, the median reported mileage is about 80,000 miles (847 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 178 complaints mention a crash; 71 complaints mention a fire; 212 injuries reported; 6 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 36 model years of the Ford Explorer with enough data (2,030 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
2 of my cousins were involved in a ford explorer tire blow out outside of raleigh nc on august 16th. Amal muaraka, a pediatric surgeon was killed instantly and summeet murarka was placed in icu as the non-bridgestone tire blew out on the ford explorer and the vehicle flipped 5 times when the tire blew out. What will it take for the government to act on ford's malicious deceit.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the driver of the vehicle was forced off the road by another vehicle, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle to roll over several times. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was a passenger in the vehicle and sustained injuries to the head, ankle and ribs. In addition, the contact sustained several lacerations and bruises. The driver of the vehicle was killed and the vehicle was destroyed.
2002 ford explorer gear shift broke off when putting car in park. Steering column replaced by dealer with used parts. Dealer retained possession of old parts.
Purchased 2002 explorer xlt v6 4.0l already transmission slipping solenoid or whatever out.. I have read reports and wonder why this transmission is not recalled? I have it in shop now having to have it rebuilt and everything changed. Also right wheel bearings bad, upper and lower ball joints bad, suspension shot. And the records show the previous owners maintained everything well. But also had transmission replaced and had problems at 99,000miles. Please doing something for all of us out here.