Front Suspension Hub problems of the 2002 Ford Explorer

I own a 2002 Ford Explorer, it's our daily driver everything works except the hubs, this truck has never been wrecked, and we find ourselves@ about every 15,000 to 20,000 miles having to replace the wheel bearings and hub assembly's , last night on the way home the driver side front hub started squealing and came apart and we had to have it towed again, I have owned this truck for 3 years, I have had to replace the bearings and hubs brakes 11 times and now I'm going to have to do it again, wow, these parts are really expensive to have no better quality than that, everytime we get it fixed it cost around $1400, it's a nice truck, and everything else works great, no issues, I transport my family members in this vehicle, and I'm getting tired of fearing for their lives and my own when the wheel hubs break and leave us stranded , it's obviously time for a different vehicle, and I just thought about how many other people drive one of those trucks, and how dangerous that could have been out on the interstate, it's a good thing we were driving 30 mph on a country rd, if we had been in town when it broke again we I thought that the last time this happened too, there definatly is a problem, when the guy at the dealership says that's a very common problem, but unfortunately, all he can do is fix it, or sell me something else,and that that's the issue that those trucks have and that everyday someone is dropping one of to get fixed for the exact same problem, anyway I think it's time to try something else, but this problem needs to be on a recall list because it's just bad business and a safety hazard, and it's problaby already gotten people and families killed, I'm going to fix this thing one more time and give the people that buy it this website info, Ford motor company needs to fix this ever occurring problem.

2002 Ford Explorer hub assembly/wheel bearing failure. The left rear tire completely locked up and had to be towed. Upon inspection the bearing had ripped apart so bad you could see the metal coming out of the rear side of the tire, where the axle shaft connects. In addition to that, right rear hub assembly was very loose and had to be replaced. 2 weeks later, the front left hub is so bad that it's roaring and thumping and feels like it's also ready to lock up. 88k miles on Explorer, this is the second time the rear hub were replaced. There is obviously either a flaw in the design or just substandard dangerous defective parts produced by Ford.

2002 Ford Explorer. Rear springs/coils rusted, broken, on both sides didn't know until I had estimate done for noise in front end which turned out to be uv joint. I understand to repair back springs it will cost about $325 each side and the other things I need uv joint, wheel hub, strut,etc. . . Another $400 this is sad!!!.

Upon inspecting our 2002 Ford Explorer for state inspection, I discovered the right rear coil spring to be broken. This is one of two broken on this vehicle to date, the first was the left rear discovered by the local Ford dealer when in for a routine check, they replaced that spring, I replaced the right side & still have the pieces (3 to be exact) in my possession. We have also had all four axle bearings replaced. One of which became so hot, the left side rear hub cap melted & fell off the wheel. All four bearings were replaced by the dealer. None of the bearings or hub cap were under warranty so we were stuck with those & the rr spring expense. Knowing the type of part failures on our Explorer it brings up a more crucial question of, could any of them have resulted in serious consequences. Rollover,swerving off of the road to possibly hit something or someone,etc. What could have happened if both rear coil springs broke around the same time? I've always enjoyed Ford products, repaired many,hope they will take this and apply it to tougher test standards. Vehicles' current mileage is over 120,000 I understand other Ford models have had other coil spring concerns also, such as a notice we received when we owned our '95 windstar.

My first occurrence was approximately sept 2008 when I pulled into a driveway and felt an odd bump upon leaving the vehicle was wobbling when I stopped and took the cap off of the lug nuts I noticed the studs where broken on the drivers side rear. Thought we had it fixed by having the studs replaced. Wrong about 2 months later it happened again. Was told the hub and bearing needed replaced so we replaced them. Upon inspection the passenger side rear had started doing the same thing. So we replaced that side as well. That lasted about 4 months and we went to have new tires put on the vehicle the mechanic said that our bearings were bad again and needed replaced. So we did replace them. About 4 months later it started all over again with the studs breaking off. In one incident I lost all lug nuts but one on the drivers side at once with my kids in the vehicle. This is a serious problem for my family being that we depend on this vehicle and cant afford another but yet can't find why this problem isn't and apparently cant' be fixed. I've done everything the garage has told me to do. The local Ford dealer says my problem is that I'm not putting good quality Ford parts in there from them. Can any one help. Upon research I have found that there are others with the same type of vehicle having the same problem. I have never owned a vehicle that has done this.

2002 Ford Explorer 4x4 eddie bauer. Left rear suspension hub/bearing failure. Vehicle located and driven in southeast michigan (detroit area) where roads are salted in winter. Vehicle in service date (12/12/2001). Incident date (12/10/2008 - 108845 miles). Right rear suspension hub/bearing failure at an earlier date.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. There was a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle which caused the back wheel to fail. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who stated that the rear differential system, rear wheel and back hub needed to be replaced at a cost of $3,600. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted but stated that there were no recalls and offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 140,816.

Both rear springs are broken at the top. Also, driver rear tire blew out on inside sidewall with about 50% tread left (suspect broken spring gouged the tire). Also had to replace right rear wheel bearing (noisy and wobbly) and parking brake shoes (completely worn off from tilted axel hub). 110,000 miles. Also both front wheel bearings were replaced at 95k miles (making noise). Where is the safety recall?.

I was driving home and turned the corner and this clanking noise began coming from the rear wheel of my truck. I took the tire off to check the brake calipers and and were spinning the hub and got resistance and clanking sounds. I went to the repair shop and was told the left rear bearings had gone out.

Rear hub bearings shot and very costly to repair. This is happening on 2002 Ford Explorers in great numbers and should be resolved by a recall. . Read more...

1. Humming noise coming from vehicle, went to dealer got it looked at dealer said it was hub assembly in 3 of four wheels that needed replaced. 2. Asked if I could drive it until I had the money, was told it is not recommended because (if) (when) it fails completely it could damage the braking system or the wheel could fall off, searched online and found car-complaints. Com and discovered numerous Explorer drivers with the same problem and was told the same thing about the wheel falling off. 3. Wheel hub assembles will be replaced, I could get the old parts back if requested. Just kind of scary that the wheel could fall of when this part fails, and it failed on 3 out of 4 wheels.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While driving 45 mph, the front passenger side of the vehicle makes a grinding and roaring sound. The vehicle could not be driven while making a right turn. As of April 10, 2008, three wheel bearings and hubs have been replaced. The current mileage was 61,306 and failure mileage was 54,000.

Grinding noise from rear especially driver side rear humming and swaying brought to dealer replaced rear hub and bearing assemblies both sides replaced front sway bar links and bushings both sides.

This vehicle has been maintained per manufactures recommendations. It is not used off road and run under normal conditions. With no warning and no previous noise the right rear wheel hub/bearing failed. The bearing came apart and the wheel was so loose it was walking 1-2 inches side to side. Had my wife not been driving slowly there could have been a horrific wreck. Luckily she was close to a shop when it happened. I have not fixed it as of yet but am in the process now. I know I will need a hub, bearing and the brakes were knocked out by the walking motion. There should have been a recall on this. I see on the internet where a lot of individuals have had the same issue.

Noise like unbalanced tire coming from left front tire/wheel. Noise increases until it becomes a roar like an airplane taking off. Steering wheel begins to vibrate. Feels like wheel is going to fall off car. Mechanic tells me left front hub and bearings must be replaced. The three other wheels are also symptomatic but not as immediately pressing as left front he does not think but won't know until repair is completed later today. Repair ball park cost at this time is $600-$700. Still, other three wheels bearings/hubs will need to be replaced. Car has 70,000 miles, has received all recommended maintenance and has had city driving. Ford is aware of this problem. They have issued technical service bulletins about it. They say that only you can issue a recall. . Read more...

The hub on the driver side went bad, causing damage to my axel, rotor, and brakes. Almost caused me to have an accident due to this manufacturing problem.

I bought an 02 Explorer. Was driving and started making weird grinding noises. Took it to the mechanic and its costing me 1000! dollars to replace the wheel hubs and bearings. He said the wheel on the back was ready to fall off!.

Grinding noise sounding like it is from rear end, especially accelerating at high speeds, and turning. Told to replace rear hub assembly.

Grinding noise progressively increased over the last several weeks. Took the car to local mechanic. In early 2006 he had replaced a rear hub assembly for noise. He diagnosed that there were three bad wheel hub assemblies and they were the same three replaced in 2006. He stated that this was a very common Explorer problem. I felt 6 wheel hub replacements in 2 years was excessive at $450 a pop, including labor. This was a problem that Ford needed to address. Luckily, two of the three parts were covered under warranty , napa, but I did have to pay for the labor.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. On February 21, 2007, the contact replaced the rear driver side hub assembly. Currently, the vehicle is in the shop a second time for the passengers side hub assembly. On April 18, 2007, the contact heard a loud rumbling noise while driving 65 mph. The vehicle began to operate as if the alignment had failed. Someone driving beside the contact informed her that the rear wheels appeared as if they were about to detach from the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 65,000.

2002 Ford Explorer XLT- all four wheel bearing have gone bad within 1 year. This is a known problem with owners and dealers. This year and model of Ford Explorer has bad bearings and hub assemblies. Ford is happy to collect the hundreds of dollars it cost owners to replace these faulty parts but will not do anything to fix the issue. One bearing actually broke on my vehicle and now I am afraid to drive it because I do not want to be stranded somewhere. I have a front and rear bearing out again.

I purchased my 2002 Ford Explorer from a Ford dealer in April 2005, with approximately 45,000 miles on it. I immediately noticed a humming noise coming from the rear and thought that I needed to replace the tires. After purchasing all four new tires, the noise continued to worsen. By 60,000 miles the noise was unbearable and I was told by a local garage that the right rear hub seal was the problem and that the wheel could fall off if I didn't replace it. The entire housing needed to be replaced, due to rust fusing the parts together. Surprisingly, the noise continued (although somewhat more muffled this time), but I was afraid to drive it. I do alot of local on and off highway driving and I was afraid of losing a wheel at higher speeds. I took it into a Ford dealer and both rear hubs needed to be completely replaced. I now have 105,000 miles on this vehicle and the problem has not re-occurred. I just can't believe though that Ford has not owned up to this wide-spread problem by making these Ford-owners whole after they're made to spend anywhere from $500 to $1500 (like I did) to repair a problem that surely they must know could potentially cost them another headline!.

: the contact stated while traveling 30 mph, the rear passenger side tire began to wobble. The vehicle was pulled over and the contact noticed the wheel bearings in the road. The vehicle was driven to an independent repair shop where the wheel bearing and hub was replaced.

Major noise from rear end escalated quickly requiring service. Independent service garage diagnosed and replaced right rear wheel hub assembly and left rear tie rod. This was the third of the four wheel hubs replaced on this vehicle between 70,000 and 86,000 actual odometer miles. The other two were both the fronts. Very honest mechanic showed me failed parts and three other Explorers in the shop that same day with the same wheel hub assembly replacement requirement. There is obviously a defective design on this vehicle. Vehicle is a highway driven car only, not off road.

2002 Ford Explorer 4x4 eddie bauer. Right rear suspension hub/bearing failure. Vehicle located and driven in southeast michigan (detroit area) where roads are salted in winter. Vehicle in service date (12/12/2001). Incident date (03/08/2006 - 69216 miles). Left rear suspension hub/bearing failure at a later date.

I have had the rear bearings replaced 4 times and the complete rear hub assemblies and bearings replaced once (total 5 times) the car is dangerous to drive and sways going down the road. The sway links have been replaced twice. The problems keeps recurring. I have all parts bills dating back to 11/2005 when problems started and continue to date.

2002 Ford Explorer bearing and hub failure.