47 problems related to vehicle speed control 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.
Contact states when taking foot off of the throttle it continued to accelerate. This happened three times. The last time was less than 30 days ago. It has only been happening for the last three months. It has happening more frequently. It does not happen at a low speeds; but at other speeds above 35 mph. Road conditions have been perfect at every incident.
This has been a wonderful vehicle! it is a 2002 Ford Explorer equipped with automatic 4-wheel drive as well as full 4-wheel drive with high & low transfer case, 5-speed automatic, 4. 6l v8 with double overhead cams, limited slip rear differential, towing package, leather seats, etc. However, this problem has the potential of causing harm or even death to its passengers and/or those in other cars and especially pedestrians. The problem has been extremely intermittent such that the technicians cannot experience it themselves. It usually happens on a cold day. The first time it did it, I was pulling a small trailer and I had driven a couple of miles to a plant nursery and on the way back as I neared my house, I drove down a long grade toward a stop sign. When I began to apply the brakes, the engine accelerated with such force that the transmission downshifted so that I had to stand on the brakes with both feet to keep from running clean across the road into a tree. It happened 2 more times that day. I then had it towed to the dealer and they replaced the idle valve. However, that did not fix the problem. It has happened several times sense. It has happened while traveling up a hill, down a hill, and on level ground. But it always happens when you apply the brakes. The last time it happened, it threw me out into a busy intersection but fortunately I was not hit. The time before that it tried to run over the little car in front of me but I was still able to stop it. I'm thinking about naming this SUV christine. My brother has an early 2002 Explorer equipped the same as mine and his has done it once. My mother has a 1998 crown victoria with this same engine and it has done it twice. There's no telling how many "christines" out there waiting to kill and there poor owners may not be totally aware of the problem.
When the brakes were depressed, the vehiclesurged forward. This also occurs when the acceerator pedal is being depressed. The vehicle was serviced several times but the technician was unable to determine the cause. Please provide any additional information.
While driving speedometer would be off by 6 mph. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The vehicle was not in compliance with federal law 49 cfr chapter iii section 393. 82 for the speedometer which states reasonable accuracy is within +/- 5 mph at a speed of 50 mph. The consumer notified Ford customer service of the problem and asked them to comply with the above code. The customer was denied this service.
My family and I were traveling on vacation on July 20,2002. We were driving our new Ford Explorer XLT. I stopped for fuel and was re-entering the interstate. Traffic was heavy so I had to accelerate to about 60mph to enter the traffic. As I made my entrance, I let off the accelerator as I was between two 18 wheelers. I removed my foot from the accelerator and the vehicle continued at full speed almost rear ending the semi. I was applying my brake with all my strength to no avail. The vehicle charged ahead. I steered to the shoulder avoiding the semi and began stomping the accelerator at which time it finally released. My family and I were terrified. I got the vehicle back to my dealer in lexington where it was examined and the position taken that there is nothing wrong with the vehicle. "the problem couldn't be verified". I was told to come and get my vehicle that nothing is wrong with it. My wife and daughter are terrified of the vehicle and we can get no relief from Ford. I did contact Ford in detroit and got the same answer-nothing wrong with the vehicle.
After removing foot off accelerator pedal, vehicle continues to accelerate, causing extended stopping distance when brakes are applied. Dealer and manufacturer were notified.
Consumer stated that the vehicle experienced an acceleration problem, consumer started to brake, however the vehicle would not stop, it started to buck and jerk for about 4 car lengths and then went back to normal.
After engine was started and gear shift indicator was in park position vehicle started rolling backwards unexpectedly for a short distance before brake system stopped the movement. Dealership has not examined vehicle for this problem. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
Recall notice 09s09 on 2002 Ford Explorer.
Consumer has had vehicle in the shop 4 times for the rear window. When the vehicle was coming to a stop it would surge forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to help the consumer with the problem.
When the brakes were applied, the vehicle surged foward into oncoming traffic.
On date of accident, I was driving on 12 mile approaching intersection of orchard lake road. I'm coming to a complete stop, going about 1-2 mph, when the engine surged. My foot was on the brake, and I could hear and feel my engine accelerating, and to avoid rear ending the car in front of me, I turned the wheel and went up the curb, and finally stopped when I hit an interstate sign. The event took place in about five seconds. On the Monday following the accident, I took my truck to jerome duncan Ford and explained what happened. I also informed them that on 2 ocassions my car would not start. The diagnostic showed that my pcm need to be replaced. It could not bring up any missing codes for the surge of my engine. The pcm controls the engine and is the drive train. I don't believe for one second the defective pcm isn't the cause of the accident. I never relased my foot from the brake! my car is still at the dealer, and I refuse to have the pcm changed till a field engineer looks into it. I told them I don't want the truck back till they find what caused the surge, and that the car is unsafe to drive. The service drive manager said that this Monday (2/25/02) he would take my truck out and wait for it to surge on him. They are not taking this as a serious matter! they told me I could start some "legal" action paperwork (where there will be and investigation, and a Ford field engineer will look into it) and I told them that I was willing to start paperwork. They explained it could take up to 4 months, I told them that is not an issue, my truck is unsafe to drive. A detail I forgot to mention was the service manager started to say that they already changed my pcm, then told me they didn't. So called him 2 minutes after our conversation and told him that I did not want it changed until someone from Ford looked at it. He said "OH you don't want it changed, I was just going to have it changed. " I said do not change it!.