general problems of the 2002 Ford Explorer

25 problems related to air bag have been reported for the 2002 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2002 Explorer.

1 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 06/14/2024

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her fiancé was driving at 45mph, the drivers side and passenger side air bags deployed with no contact. Causing the contacts fiancé to swerve and go down a ditch. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicles front bumper and windshield cracked, as well as the passenger side taillight. No injuries were sustained. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 118. 583.

2 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 06/22/2021

The light form air bad juts got on when I was driving.

3 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 04/10/2017

"takata recall" I only want to know whether a recall was issued.

4 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 06/27/2016

Drivers side curtain air bag inadvertently deployed while vehicle was in park after the driver had exited the vehicle. The airbag deployed and stuck a child which was seated in the rear seat behind the driver.

5 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 02/08/2016

Two weeks ago for no reason my air bags deployed while I was driving. I contacted Ford and couldn't get any help from them at all. I was leaving work in virginia.

6 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 09/01/2015

I financed this vehicle thru 123 auto in homosassa FL citrus county and it has a airbag that is no good and no horn and the transmission was bad the day I bought it and they will not fix so I am currently paying to get it fixed I was told to make a complaint with this office to see if you can help me get something done because it is not right.

7 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 07/25/2015

Around 1015am on Saturday July 25, 2015, I was in the process of attaching my boat trailer to the hitch. After opening my drivers door several times, checking on the hitch position, I put my vehicle in park, got out, shut the door, and then heard a loud sound that sounded like a gunshot. I turned around and saw that my drivers side curtain airbags had deployed for no reason at all. The left rear seat airbag also deployed. The vehicle was not moving and did not suffer any side impact whatsoever. I believe this is a safety defect due to the hazardous condition that it could create if a driver is driving and it inflates for no reason at all. This could potentially cause the driver to hit another vehicle or go off the road and potentially kill someone. I know of two other cases files on carcomplaints. Com of this same issue.

8 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 06/12/2014

I have a 2002 Ford Explorer and it has not been wrecked and I had the light that come on in my dash and they said that my seat belt pretentioner was gone in my seat belt.

9 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 09/11/2013

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 4 mph, the air bags inadvertently deployed without the vehicle being involved in a crash. A police report was filed of the incident. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 76,000.

10 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 09/18/2011

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after loosing control of the vehicle and crashing into a pole, none of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed and the driver sustained minor contusions. The passenger suffered a broken arm. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 135,000.

11 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 04/01/2011

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after shifting into reverse, there was an explosion under the hood. The air bags deployed and the engine caught fire. The fire department was present. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the gears slipping where the transmission was rebuilt but the failure was not corrected. The contact and two passengers suffered injuries but they were unknown. The vehicle failure and current mileage was 291,000.

12 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 02/15/2011

Ford has informed dealers that there is a problems with the air bags on 2002 Ford Explorers. If you move the seat too much it disconnects with the air bag. All Ford dealers are aware of the problem, but Ford is not willing to issue recall. Serious safety issue that should require action. It would be a simple fix of the pretensioner located under the seats.

13 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 11/27/2009

My SUV hit a concrete wall on the I-94 eastbound freeway, the impact torn my front end a part. A highway patrolmen said that the impact should have deployed both my front airbags, but it didn't, now I am concerned.

14 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 06/25/2009

Issue is with the airbag warning lamp coming on and disabling the airbag system in a 2002 Ford Explorer. Per the error code lfc 34 the issue is the passenger side seat pretensioner, though this also happens with the driver side. There is currently a TSB out article no 03-11-3. For my vehicle the replacement part# is 1l2z-78610e22-aac. This failure is current everything the vehicle is turned on.

15 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 09/01/2008

I bought my 2002 Ford Explorer in 2005. At about 85000 miles I noticed the transmission started to slip and often jerks real hard when shifting into 3rd. I had the transmission fluid changed by an authorized Ford dealer in my area and they told me there are no metal shavings in the fluid, however, they did tell me that the 2002 Fords are well knows for having transmission problems and they see it all the time in this make model and year. I called Ford and they told me there are no recalls on the transmission, however, reading all the problems on the internet about owners who have complained, I feel there should be a recall on this because it is a safety issue!.

16 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 09/01/2008

2002 Ford Explorer, wheel bearings went out (pre-maturely as on thousands of this model car)and airbag disconnected (Ford made cable too short under driver's seat. ) lucky we caught it before wheel flew off and airbag didn't deploy!.

17 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 01/01/2007

On my 2002 Ford Explorer SUV I have had to replace 3 of the 4 wheel bearings and hub assemblies(approx $250 each), with the 4th not far behind. I have also had to replace the 4-wheel drive module(approx $400-$500). I have had problems with the rear window motors going bad and having to replace these too. The air conditioning unit has stopped working. The passenger air bag dummy light has come on for no reason. The seat belt warning chime often comes on and will not go off, even though you have buckled your seat belt. You have to slam the buckle into place for it to go off and sometimes this does not work either. The transmission is now making a lovely clunking sound when shifting from park to drive and when you try to put it back into park, it does not want to. You have to put it up to park as far as it will go then go back to neutral and then into park from there. We have replaced the emergency brake shoes on both sides because they were completely worn off even though we do not use the e-brakes. These problems are just piling up one after another. I went to an internet site that has complaints about vehicles and found that there are hundreds of others with the same problems on their 2002 Ford Explorers of all kinds (xl, eddie bauer, special edition, etc. ). Why hasn't Ford done any recalls for these problems? does it require multiple injuries or even death for them to take responsibility???.

18 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 05/10/2006

2002 Explorer with 95k miles: power windows, airbag and front/rear wheel bearings. Dealer was not surprised by these problems at all. $3k estimated repair cost.

19 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 04/24/2006

2002 Ford Explorer. Failed transmission, starter, rear wheel bearings, airbag, pinion, electric window. Now loud sounds from rear of car.

20 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 07/15/2003

Anti-lock brake light comes on and you lose anti-lock brakes. The brake pedal pushes to floor was repaired 4 times already. In addition, the airbag is not operating, 2002 Ford Explorer xls.

21 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 04/12/2003

While pulling into parking space (right) in parking garage my Explorer experienced a sudden accleration-at full throttle (snapping the steering wheel to the right) (extremely loud revving, whining and another sound like a bad belt screech all at the same time) before the crash. No brakes (pedal went to the floor). Crashed into steel I-beam bending it and cracking concrete pillars. No airbag on impact.

22 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 10/09/2002

My truck rolled at 35 mph 2 times and did a 180 the airbags never went off. Causing me to suffer injuries to my head chest and legs. Mr.

23 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 06/20/2002

Severe frontal damage. Vehicle total loss. Why did air bags ot deploy???.

24 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 04/30/2002

Consumer states that while traveling at 40 mph, consumer hit another vehicle that failed to stop at a light. Consumer states none of the vehicles airbags deployed. Please provide any further information. 8jb.

25 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 02/12/2002

While pulling into parking space (right) in parking garage my Explorer experienced a sudden accleration-at full throttle (snapping the steering wheel to the right) (extremely loud revving, whining and another sound like a bad belt screech all at the same time) before the crash. No brakes (pedal went to the floor). Crashed into steel I-beam bending it and cracking concrete pillars. No airbag on impact.



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Explorer Defect Investigations