Front Suspension Wheel Bearing Problems of Ford Explorer - part 2

Two out of four wheel bearings are howling on this vehicle.

See all problems of the 2004 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Wheel bearings on 2002 Ford Explorer are wearing out without any notice. I never had a car that experienced this issue. This is a sever problem as I drive my small children around in. Knowing that a wheel could eventually come off scares the life out of me. There is no recall from as this is a manufacture defect.

See all problems of the 2002 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Premature failure of all four wheel bearings in my 2002 Ford Explorer as well as the pinion gear and clutch packs with less than 50,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while traveling at unknown speeds, the wheel bearing failed on the vehicle causing her to lose control of the vehicle. The contact was able to barely avoid crashing with another vehicle. She stated that the wheel bearings had been replaced five times. The most recent failure was the sixth failure. The failure mileage was 130,000 and the current mileage was 150,000.

Right rear wheel making noise and is loose. Wheel hub/bearing is loose and wobbly. Parking brake pads worn completely off from wheel being tilted. Failed wheel bearing!!! 106,000 miles. 2002 Ford Explorer. Also replaced both front wheel hubs for same reason at about 95,000 miles (noisy and rough bearing).

Wheel bearings eroded after only 75k miles; tires in danger of falling off.

Front wheel bearing on my 2002 Ford Explorer had to be replaced at 65,000 miles. Shop said if it had been driven much further the wheel would have come off. My extended warranty expired last year and Ford will not help. This is evidently a very common problem with this model year and could lead to death or serious injury please issue a recall before anyone gets hurt.

On 7/15/08 we brought our 2003 Ford Explorer to the dealership for a tune-up. We then found out our front wheel bearing needed replacing. Other problems occurred too. The lower ball joints and upper control arm also needed to be replaced. We also had a front pinion seal leaking. The cost of the tune-up was $555. 54 while all the other problems costs us $1402. 30. We were prepared to pay for the tune-up but not for all the other problems. We asked if Ford could help out before this work was done but the dealership said we were out of warranty so we had no choice but to pay and have it fixed because the dealership told us these were safety issues. Soon after we left the dealership we noticed a loud noise coming from the front. We thought it was the tires. We brought our Explorer back to the dealership on 7/31/08 only to find out the other front wheel bearing had gone. They told us it would cost another $365 and again we asked if Ford could help out and they said we would need to call Ford ourselves. Which we did in the waiting room of the dealership. Ford did not want to help at all. I explained to Ford all the complaints I found on the NHTSA site as well as the technical service bulletins on the same exact problem we were having with our Explorer. Ford finally said they would cover $265 but we would have to pay $100 as a deductible. We said no and tried to explained to Ford that these parts were defective and that Ford should cover all the expenses. Ford said it was up to the NHTSA site to issue a recall and until that time Ford will not pay for these defective parts. The service manager then said he would cover the $100 but we would have to go after Ford on our own for the past expenses. We had the part fixed but we want Ford to step up and do the right thing and admit these parts are defective and cover the costs. Our Explorer has only 73000 miles and we feel these parts should not have gone. Ford should care more about their customers safety.

See all problems of the 2003 Ford Explorer 🔎.

First the back (both) wheel bearings went. Sounded like a nasty grinding noise, very loud. I had them replaced at 750. 00 to replace them and that was not including the fact that they destroyed my brakes and they had to be replaced also. . Very expensive. . No warranty. . Than replaced the drivers front bearing and not the passenger side bearing is going. . Will replace very soon.

Wheel bearings going bad, from time to time.

Rear wheel bearings worn out on Ford Explorer. Looks to be a huge problem with them. It should be a recall item to be fixed. Luckily no accident/or injuries!!!.

My vehicle has 79k miles on it and I have all four of the wheel bearings replaced once and the left rear bearing replaced twice. I have never towed a trailer, driven through standing water or overloaded the vehicle at any time. The comments on the internet would indicate that this is a common problem on the 2002 Explorer. This problem could cause loss of control of the vehicle. I have not had to replace wheel bearings on other vehicles and I suspect that Ford motor company is well aware of this issue. My experience with the dealer was very good. I do not hold joe cotton Ford responsible for any deficiencies with my vehicle.

Wheel bearing needs to be replaced after 50k miles which seems to be very common on 2000+ model year Ford Explorers.

Wheel bearing failure on Ford Explorer 2002.

Failure of wheel bearings, causing lack of control and possible wheel loss.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. At 50,000 75,000 and 80,000 miles, the wheel bearings failed. The two front and the rear driver side wheel bearings were replaced several times. At 30,000 miles, the contact took the vehicle back to the dealer for the state inspection and they stated that four wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The dealer further stated that the frequent failures of the wheel bearings may be due to driving on a dirt road. The manufacturer stated that there was no recall for the failure; therefore, he should take the vehicle to the dealer. The contact will have the wheel bearings replaced, but he feels that the manufacturer should be responsible for the cost. The dealer information and purchase date were unavailable. The current mileage was 130,000 and failure mileage was 60,000.

My 2002 Ford Explorer XLT made a loud tinging, screeching noise on a Tuesday morning ,especially noticeable when turning the wheel. It was not a consistent sound. My husband lubricated the bushings that night, thinking that was the problem. Next day, the sound was progressively worsening, I even heard it when I was driving in a straight path, but the noise still was not consistent. It did seem louder with a clanking sound in the rear of the vehicle. That day on the highway coming home from work the noise was intermittent until I had slowed down for traffic and it began to vibrate and shake. Fortunately, I was at my exit and was two blocks from home. I was absolutely frightened. There was a rubbing sound now that was at the rear rt side of the car. Later, that evening we were told it was probably the bearing. First my husband went out and purchased the bearing from a Ford dealer. Then he came to find out that the entire kit was needed, as well as, a special tool to get the bolt off which took hours to loosen and release. Today he is still trying to replace the rt rear wheel bearing with the kit from an auto store since Ford is not open and this is our one means of travel for the family. Please include this complaint with any others as a "near miss" for an accident that could have occurred on the beltway in rush hour traffic. This could have been worse. I feel very lucky, but I want Ford to know about this incident and to consider this a safety recall for others. As I have done some research I have heard that this is happening far too often and is a serious hazard to other Ford Explorer owners and the public. The car wheel could have come off as well as the drive shaft could have broken. I have also read that this is not something that should occur on a 2002 vehicle. There have been reports of the left side having problems not too long after the rt or vice versa. Please notify me of any updates on this issue. Thank you.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While driving at speeds of 40 mph, the contact could hear a noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The dealer found that both the driver and passengers side rear wheel bearings were failing. The wheel bearings were replaced accordingly. The VIN was not available . The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current was 80,000.

Failed rear wheel bearing. Car swaying side to side, possible rollover if at high speed.

Front driver wheel bearing replaced twice in 1. 5 years. Right rear wheel bearing replaced once already need to replace again.

I own a 2002 Explorer, with only 74k miles on it. I began making a severe humming noise while driving. Took into dealer and I was told that my right rear wheel bearing was bad and this I need to get this fixed right away. I had it in within a day, while they fixed my right rear, they noticed that one of my front wheel bearing is going bad. From what I am hearing Ford is aware that on the 2002 Explorers there are issues with the wheel bearings. I am glad Ford recognizes that. . . . . Considering this seems to be a dangerous scenerio, especially as I travel with my 5 year old in the vehicle. Ford needs to do a recall on 02 Explorer's wheel bearings.

Bought my 2003 Ford Explorer in June 2005. After lengthy trip home I noticed a loud buzzing sound up front. When we finally had it diagnosed about 6 months later, we had to replace the passenger front side wheel bearing. Now the driver's side front bearing is buzzing even worse so we will need to replace that one as well. We have 66,000 miles on the vehicle.

My rear passenger wheel bearing is going out. . . This had happened to many other Explorers drivers and I do not think it is safe. . . . . Wheel could fall off to unknown driver.

I have Ford Explorer and have replaced three of four wheel hub assemblies in 3 years. Each time I took the car to a repair shop I was told the wheel was close to coming off the car because of the poor condition of the wheel hub assembly( bearings).

Front wheel bearings shot at 80k miles.

This is my second Ford vehicle with only 80k miles and on both, all wheel bearings have had failure. And on more than one occasion for a single bearing. It is very costly to repair these defects at approximately $500 per wheel, and is an obvious mechanical and safety hazard. Twice I have been stranded on the highway with a child in the car because the wheel has almost came off. Consumers should not have to repair these defects at their expense to have them continually fail over again. I would like to see to the possibility of a class action lawsuit against Ford if they cannot agree to a recall, since there are certainly well enough people with these problems. I have lost any and all interest in this manufacturer and will not consider an american made car in the future.

I, too am apparently a Ford Explorer loose wheel bearing victim. Unlike most of the complaints I've read, I only have 42,000 mi. On my truck. My mechanic also indicated that he's seeing many of these cases and that Ford should be stepping up in the name of safety to recall this defective item before serious injury occurs and the tsa should be forcing them to do so. It is outrageous that a part that should last a minimum of 100,000 mi is going to cost me in excess of $700! is Ford simply using less expensive parts because most people do not carry an extended warranty after 5 years? in addition to filing a complaint here, I strongly encourage you to discuss this with your insurance company. They are a much louder voice since they do not want to pay out unnecessary claims. Ford does not want to alert the public to a safety issue prior to someone being killed, nor do they voluntarily wish to assume this expense if the public simply goes out and pays $700 to fix it. I'm so fired up, I may attempt to reach out to the media. Ford & tsa. My insurance company just called back and they are concerned that claims are being paid out on this and it's neither the owner's nor the insurance companies fault. Please take the time to do what's right here.

This is my wife's vehicle so I do not drive it often. When I did I noticed the loud roar and asked how long it had been there. She said a couple months. I replaced 3 of the 4 wheel bearings. Had I not drove it myself the wheels could have fallen off!!! she has my two children in there also. Thanks Ford!! this is not an old vehicle. Less than 80,000 miles. If there is no recall on these bearings and someone gets killed I hope Ford is sued so bad they go under. Recall your piece of crap bearings like you should.

I have a 2002 Ford Explorer and replaced the right rear wheel bearing in 2004, again in oct. Of 2006, and now in Feb. Of 2008. The right front was also replaced in Dec. Of 2006.

My complaint is that I've had to replace all four wheel bearings on my 2002 Ford Explorer. . . . It only has 90,000 miles on it and it is a very costly repair. It seems to me that these bearing are defective and if I don't replace them the car would be in serious jeopardy of an accident.

Wheel bearing failure for third time almost flipped truck I have had it repaired again.

02 Ford Explorer, bad wheel bearing, go on internet and find out very high failure rate of these bearings that could cause wheel to come off and potentially kill someone. Ford will not recall these bearings.

Recently purchased a 2002 Ford Explorer for my 17 year old daughter, it has 79,000 miles on it. Within the first three months of owning the vehicle I have had to replace 3 of the 4 wheel bearings. The tire was practically falling off the vehicle by the time it made enough noise for anyone to notice.

2002 Ford Explorer XLT replacing 3rd wheel bearing in 2 years.

All four wheel bearings needed replaced on my 02' Ford Explorer prematurely in my opinion and this seems to be a common complaint on internet chat rooms and web sites. The rear wheel bearings can be dangerous when they fail due to the tire wobbling on the axle without warning. These repairs are extremely expensive also and hard to do for the average person if they want to save money.