general problems of the 2002 Ford Explorer - part 1

I had had this 2018 Jeep renegade not even 2. 5 months and it needed an oil change and the tires were completely worn out they were every one slick as could get and dangerous. I called the dealer because the tires went bad and I hadn't had the first 50k miles on it yet and they did nothing. Called the tire company they did nothing. So I replaced them and another almost 3 months go by and the tires are completely worn out and slick again. This has repeatedly happened every 2-3 months to where they are so dangerous you either drive 30 mph or get them changed. 3 times I've replaced the tires and and the oil goes so fast. And now I am stuck with this vehicle I don't feel safe in. I shouldn't have to pay these prices for a 30k vehicle that's not worth 10k.

The rear stabilizer links just broke out of nowhere not even to latest later the front stabilizer links just broke out of nowhere and I have no steering a whole lot of loose control.

Tl- the contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated the door ajar light and brake warning indicator illuminated even when the doors were closed. The contact also stated the vehicle made an abnormal noise. An independent mechanic was notified of the issue and diagnosed the wheel bearings were defective and needed to be replaced. The failure was repaired for the wheel bearing failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failures however they were inform that the NHTSA is responsible for all recalls and transferred to the NHTSA. The failure mileage was not provided. Kh.

Wheel studs breaking off & causing danger for my family,therefore making it unsafe for the family. Many reports have been made about these particular vehicles. When im able I will get rid of both my Ford vehicles for my families safety & wellbeing.

The rear suspension is broken on either side of vehicle, the rear passenger side bearings were replaced, now the drivers rear wheel bearings are shot.

Was driving on the highway and felt a sharp jerk/pull to the right. At first thought it was a flat tire so got off on next exit. Wasn't a flat tire but could smell something awful. Made grinding sound and still had bad smell, knew we had to drive it back to the place we are staying at. Had hazard lights on and only drove 10-15 mph because of the sound and because of how scary it was. Knew something bad was happening to our car. Brakes at this point practically went out. Would not have to press brakes to stop vehicle at a red light, the car would just stop. Steering wheel was not even, but more or less 90 degrees to the right. Pulled into the neighborhood and into the driveway and a car leaving the street saw that our vehicle at this point was on fire! extinguish fire (since it was a gas fire) and looked at the damage. Looks like the front driver side wasn't even connected to anything. Do not know how or when fire started but the flames when we noticed were about 1 foot tall and wide by the internal driver side wheel.

I have only owned my 2002 Ford Explorer for a little over a year and I have had to replace the rear wheel bearings 3 times. Just today I have noticed that the left rear wheel bearing is going again and I just replaced both rear wheel bearings a month ago. This is very expensive and I'm am very disappointed in the quality.

Bearing keep have to be replaced, an the rear coil sping is cracked an the tirer came off while driving my truck, have replaced the wheel bearing 3 times already. An I have replace the transmission 2 times.

Failure of rear wheel bearings on both sides. Time between onset of noise and near catastrophic failure was approximately 300 miles. Fearing a high probability that the front wheel bearings might fail without warning and possibly cause a serious accident and injuries, the only option was to incur the high cost to replace all four wheel bearings and related parts. This is a common problem with Ford Explorers across a wide range of model years and is clearly a manufacturing design defect. Nhtsa has been made aware of this issue via a sufficient number of complaints from owners and must compel Ford motor company to issue a recall of all Ford Explorers beginning with model year 2002 or earlier. The recall rightfully must include full reimbursement for reasonable and customary repair costs incurred by owners after warranty expiration.

I have replaced 8 wheel bearings on this auto. 4-21-12 I was on the hwy to the nearest big city towing a borrowed utility trailer, which is 90 miles from my home, and I am so fortunate that I did not loose my wheel. At the time, I thought it was my new tires but when I went to the dealer of my tires he showed me the play that my back wheel had and told me I was a very lucky girl that my tire didn't snap off. Fast forward and I have just replaced both back wheel bearing again with only 23,000 miles on the previous replaced bearing. 14,000 on the one before that! Ford you have a problem!!.

I was driving my 2002 Ford Explorer about 25mph when I felt the rear end drop down. Pulled over to the side of the road and all 5 studs had sheared off. The second time it happened I was only backing out of my driveway when I put it into drive & started to accelerate the opposite side studs sheared off. This time only 4 studs broke so I limped the truck back onto my driveway. The third time this happened I was driving about 15mph going around a turn & 4 studs broke off again. If I was going any faster the truck could have flipped over.

Rear passenger wheel started shaking. Stopped and removed wheel cover and found three wheel studs sheared off. Had to have vehicle towed to tire store. Replaced wheel, hub and all studs.

My name is[xxx] and I own a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT (v6). I have owned it for almost a year now (will be in Jan 2012) and loved every minute of it until recently. About 4 months ago, I heard a strange loud whining noise. I immediately took it to my mechanic and found that rear wheel bearing was going. I was also told that if I would have took the interstate to work that evening I could have possibly died or caused serious injuries to others on road. Very scary! mind you this bearing went with no warning. Immediately after I heard the noise I took it in. Well the bearing got fixed and I couldn't have been happier. However, about a month ago I was on the interstate with my two year old daughter doing about 70mph when my truck began to shake violently. I assumed I was in the process of having a tire blow-out and began slowly breaking and losing control of the vehicle. Luckily I made it onto the shoulder of the interstate. My tire however was not as lucky. All 5 studs on my right rear tire snapped causing the tire to completely fly off and proceed down the road at a fast speed just passing the turn ramp and missing several other vehicles. In the process of losing the tire, it also caused damage to rear end of my SUV. It looked as if the tire got caught and caused the rear to dent in. Replaced studs and everything seemed fine. Today (Dec. 15th) not even an entire month later, vehicle started shaking again. Oh how I remembered that scary shake. Examined tire and once again, studs snapped. 2 this time with a third one missing the cap. The tire was only held by 2 studs. Thank the lord I noticed this problem before going onto the interstate and once again having my tire fly off! I have been doing research this evening to find that this is a common problem with the 02-04 Explorers. Please make a recall Ford and others help me to get one made! this is a scary and dangerous situation! it can cause the loss of many lives as it has almost done mine and my daughters. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact was driving 60 mph when the rear passenger side tire detached from the vehicle. The contact discovered that there were three lug nuts that had become loose and caused the failure. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic to have the wheel replaced. Less than one month later, the contact noticed that the lug nuts had become loose again. The contact stated that the lug nuts were becoming loose from the vibration of the vehicle. The contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostics or repairs. The failure mileage was 112,000. The VIN was not available.

For the sixth time since 2009, I was driving and heard what sounded like a pop. My boyfriend noticed my right rear tire wobbling. I knew immediately a stud or studs had broken. When he popped off the cap, two studs were literally snapped at the bolt, clean break. This has happened six other times, one in which my tire was hanging on by one stud and nearly caused me to wreck into a telephone pole. I thought it was my mechanic making error after error but could never find an issue. Now, after doing some extensive research, I see it is Fords error. This is a life threatening issue. I have spent thousands of dollars getting new roaters, new tires, etc. . Thinking this was it. Clearly it's not. Ford needs to either reimburse or recall the vehicles. I'm done.

You need to seriously look into recalling all 2002 Ford Explorers for potentially dangerous wheel and hub assemblies. This happened on multiple occasions. The first time it happened, it happened in August 2008. I just moved into my dorm, and I had to go home for a little while. I was on the pennsylvania turnpike, and my truck began swerving to the point that I had no control over it, and I had to pull over. When I got out, I pulled the lug cover off the rear passenger side wheel to find that four of the five lugs were snapped. I had to pay $400 to have it towed, and when it got to the garage, they found that the wheel bearings and hub were damaged. The next time it happened, it happened on the driver's side rear wheel, and, again, the lugs snapped and they found the hub and wheel bearings to be the cause of it. This was about a month after the first incident. The third incident involved both front wheels, but luckily only the wheel bearings and hubs were damaged and my wheels stayed in place. This happened about November of 2010. In January of 2011, the rear went again. This time it was in the middle of a snow storm, so I had to wait in the freezing cold for two hours until the tow truck could come. Currently, my vehicle is sitting in a garage to have yet another wheel bearing replaced because it has failed. In total, in the last two years, the rear wheel bearings have been replaced three times each and the front wheels have now been replaced two times each. Every time it happens, it feels as though you are driving on ice, and the vehicle eventually gets to the point where it cannot be controlled any longer. I've had numerous incidents where I've began to fishtail. Every time it goes to the garage, they put it on the lift and the wheels just dangle there. The mechanic, one time, kicked it and it fell off. He did this to show how close I was to a major accident. These vehicles need to be recalled and equipped with superior parts. Ford will eventually kill someone.

I have had to have the rear differential changed and both wheel bearings. The problem occurred at 80000 miles for me but is so wide spread in this make and model that it occurs over and over.

Tl- the contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 68 mph, the vehicle exhibited a squealing noise and began pulling to the left. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis and was told that the wheel bearings were frozen and that he should continue to drive on them until they fractured, in which the vehicle would be fine to drive. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the bearings were frozen to the axle, and that the rear driver's side axle would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 73,000 and the current mileage was 161,000. Kmj.

We own a 2002 Ford Explorer. It has approximately 56,000 miles on it to date. We took it into the mechanic for an annual inspection and were told that 3 of the 4 wheel bearing assemblies needed to be replaced. We had been hearing a loud, almost grinding noise, while driving. These assemblies, being of poor quality, mean 3 of the 4 wheels on our vehicle were loose. I see a very large number of complaints online regarding this particular issue. Very dangerous.

I was driving in town at approximately 30 mph when I drove over a crack and it felt like a large pothole. I heard a grinding noise and pulled over. My rear springs were both broken. The driver side one at the top and the passenger side one at the top in 3 places. When I turn now it feels like my vehicle is going to roll over. This is a common problem as stated by many others on many internet sites. This is going to cause a serious if not deadly accident. Ford needs to do a recall on this part and replace them for free, since they were the ones who used bad parts in their vehicles. This is a manufacturing defect and should be treated as such.

Apparently there is a problem with the hubs and bearings on the 2002 Ford Explorer. I have a "rubbing sound", had it checked, and was told I have to replace them. It is approximately, $1000. 00 (lowest I could find) to replace them. Ford is aware of the problem, there is a technical service bulletin issued by Ford (TSB 05-25-8, and 051710) which clearly describes the bearing issue to mechanics. Unfortunately Ford refused to address the issue.

Discovered the rear hub bearings on my Ford 2002 Explorer were totally gone, in January 2010, started with a loud roar in the back of the vehicle. The auto mechanic stated that the wheel was very dangerous and was about to come off this car. I had the repair work done immediately, then today, may 3 2010 noticed the same roar, the auto shop deemed it the same issue, the rear hub bearings were replaced again on may 3. This has to be stopped, this problem could be very dangerous. Fmc needs to own up to the problem. I was lucky today, the Jan 2010 repair was under an extended warranty, but I might not be as lucky the next time. I just pray it's a safe vehicle to drive.

In 03/2008 I went in thinking I had brake problem and ended up with a right rear wheel bearing replaced. I was told this is a common problem on this year and model Ford. Now its 12/2009 and I have the same noise, I go to the dealer and tell him I think its the left front bearing and after further inspection they say the noise was coming from the left front but the left rear is about ready to fall off. I am glad I went to get the truck checked before it fell off at 65 mph on i80. I could have been killed. I have researched online and there have been many incidents with the wheel bearings/hubs on 2002 Ford Explorers they know there is a problem and Ford is not fixing it. What does it take to get the problem recalled? accidents with deaths?.

Faulty bearings and hub in 2002 Ford Explorer. Apparently, a very common problem.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While driving 15 mph the wheels locked; which caused the vehicle to stop without prior warnings. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, but the technician could not duplicate the failure. The current and failure mileages were 59000.

We have owned a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT for about two years now. On October 13, 2009 my husband was driving on a side street, thankfully at a slow speed, he turned a corner and realized that something was seriously wrong with the car, thought it was a flat tire. So he slowed down and started to pull over, he then looked out the window to see the tire rolling off the car and down the street. The rear driver-side tire fell off the car. It had sheared all the lug nuts off. If the tire were to fall off at high speeds this type of incident could cause serious injuries or death to the people in the vehicle and pose a threat to other drivers as well. This is not the first time it has happened either. About a year ago the lug nuts sheared off of the same wheel, we thought the first time was a freak accident but it was under similar conditions - slow speed, turned at a stoplight, thought something was seriously wrong, then pulled over to discover the rear driver-side tire falling off of the vehicle, all lug nuts were sheared off. We had no recent work on the tires or the vehicle that could have possibly loosen the lug nuts for either occurrence. To fix this failure we are having the car towed and the lug nuts replaced, again, along with a panel that was damaged by the tire coming off. I do not feel safe driving this car especially with our children as the tire can just come off without warning. Also, as I searched the NHTSA website there are eight other complaints filed for the same problem for 2002 model Explorers and seven similar complaints for the 2003 Explorer year and two for the 2004 year as well. . Read more...

Wheel bearing failed, was left stranded in snow outside jackson, wy. No warning of failure.

I was on the highway doing 65 as posted, I started to feel shaking from the tires and it got to the point I couldn't control the vehicle, lucky I was able to get off the side of the highway and call aaa for a tow, a state police officer pulled behind me and said let me guess hub bearing. The police dept also has the same problem. This is my 8th repair I am doing and next week I am doing the opposite side. It is costing me 600. 00 dollars for every side I am doing. I made a complaint to Ford company and they told me there is no recall. Then why is my mechanic telling me he gets numerous repair jobs on the same vehicles. Plus I spoke to a CO worker that has the same year and vehicle doing the same thing. When is something going to get done. Or is the company going to wait till someone gets killed. Bbb and bluminthau was told about and still no response from no body.

I had been told that my drivers side bearing was going bad and had it fixed and my car was still making a funny noise but was told by the mechanic that it was my brakes going bad and that they would need replaced, so we went and bought brakes and rotors to put on ourselves. As we were putting them on we noticed that my wheel was close to falling off!!! now we have to replace the bearing in the passenger side rear and also the axel shaft. What if my wheel had came off and killed my 3 small children and my husband and I?.

Left rear wheel bearing failed doing 65mph, wheel lost stability, almost lost control of the car. Right rear wheel bearing also failed 5/3/2010.

Rear bearings go out on vehicle while driving on the interstate - no crash occurred, but it very well could have in heavier traffic.

I purchased a 2002 Explorer new late in 2001. Every wheel bearing has failed and now my passenger front has failed a second time so I am on my 3rd set of wheel bearings if you include the factory bearings and I only have 112k on the car. The bearings are clearly defective on these cars and if left alone are also a safety hazard.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While driving various speeds the contact heard a buzzing noise in the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated the rear passenger side wheel bearing needed to be replaced. After the repairs were performed, the contact was driving approximately 5 mph when the vehicle began to shake and wobble. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technicians stated the hub and the wheel bearing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

Purchased a 2002 Ford Explorer for my 17 yr old daughter. A few weeks later she drove home from college and said she thought it needed an alignment because car vibrating. She had scheduled an appointment to have this done. A couple days later she was driving at 70 mph on the interstate when her and the passenger heard a loud noise in the back passenger side of the car. The car than began to shake very hard and loose control. She could not keep on the road and rolled across the interstate and into the median. The rear passenger side tire had broken off the car. Thankfully there was no traffic and the two survived the crash with non life threatening injuries. I can only hope the next person this happens to is as lucky. Upon researching this problem on the internet I realized this seems to be a common cause of accidents with this type of vehicle. What is it going to take to make Ford recall and fix this issue. How many people have to be hurt or killed? I hope this is addressed before someone else is injured.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While driving 75 mph, the contact heard a grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The mechanic stated that the noise was due to the routers from the brakes, and advised the contact not to worry. As the contact left the mechanic, the sound from the rear of the vehicle continued. The contact took the vehicle to another mechanic and was informed that the wheels were being held on by the brakes and the bearings were destroyed. After having the wheel bearings replaced one year later, the contact noticed that the tires had poor tread marks. The contact took the vehicle in for a wheel alignment and the mechanic informed the contact that two of the wheel bearings were destroyed. The current mileage was 75,000 and failure mileage was 60,000.