Vehicle Data Hub

2002 Ford Explorer body & structure problems

Owners reported body & structure problems in 490 complaints for the 2002 Ford Explorer, 12% of the complaints on file. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
490 12% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
67,000 miles 321 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
4 and 2
Injuries and deaths
62 and 1

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When body & structure problems show up

Body & structure complaints by mileage, 2002 Ford Explorer Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 67,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 21 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 48 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 65 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 63 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 47 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 26 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 26 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 17 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 3 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 1 complaints 200k+ miles: 4 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 67,000 miles
Based on 321 complaints that include mileage. 42% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles21
20k to 40k miles48
40k to 60k miles65
60k to 80k miles63
80k to 100k miles47
100k to 120k miles26
120k to 140k miles26
140k to 160k miles17
160k to 180k miles3
180k to 200k miles1
200k+ miles4

What the data shows

Of the 321 body & structure complaints that report mileage, the median is about 67,000 miles, and 42% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 4 crashes, 2 fires, 62 injuries, 1 death.

What owners wrote

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.

August 2003 CrashInjuryDeath

While the vehicle was parked consumer was closing the rear hatch and the entire window shattered. Consumer contacted the manufacturer, and although the ball and socket joint to the hatch window was recalled, manufacturer refused to assist consumer unless a waiver was signed so that consumer will not sue the manufacturer. Consumer refused to sign waiver, but would only like to get the defect repaired. This occurred prior to consumer receiving notification not to open the hatch after this defect happened.

Reported at 29,990 miles, September 2004 Injury

Other problems reported for the 2002 Ford Explorer

Body & structure problems in other years

Body & structure problems across all Ford models