10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 33 / 3
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 36 / 2
- Average Mileage:
- 82,932 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer made four attempts to duplicate the failure by replacing the driver and passenger side seat belt pretensioners however, the failure continued to occur. The manufacturer had not been notified. The current mileage was 165,000 and the failure mileage was 70,000. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 01/10/12
- Severna Park, MD, USA
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.
- Cleveland , OH, USA
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 Ford 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!
- Schoenchen, KS, USA
Air bag warning light came on, pulled plug apart under drivers, seat sprayed cleaner on it put it back together, took care of that problem. Gear shift lever sheared off. Ford says you need to replace steering column. Went online found a man in sweden that made a replacement part, ordered it, put it on, works great. (why couldn't Ford supply one?) the transmission is starting to act up, you shift in to drive it hesitates and leaps forward, quite hard, same in reverse. Ford should recall this before someone gets hurt.
- Fortuna, CA, USA
I am so disgusted after reading all the same problems with the 2002 Ford Explorer. I too have the airbag problem, they told me it was the airbag pretentioner and it is $650, now my air bag will not deploy if I get into an accident. I have the extended deluxe warranty that wont cover it. I also have a problem with the rear temp and mode actuators that failed and binding again not covered under warranty that is $510 to repair. I truly think Ford should recall these same problems.
- Coventry, CT, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 25 mph, the air bag indicator light illuminated. The contact had the pretension set and clock spring replaced seven times but the failure continued. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.
- Sugar Land, TX, USA
Long list of repairs made this summer including computer, airbag sensors, A/C whole system, main window controls and now my transmission.
- Sarasota, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the air bag light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact called a local dealership and was advised to take the vehicle in for a diagnostic test at his expense. The current and failure mileages were approximately 121,000.
- Haines City, FL, USA
I have a 2002 Ford Explorer. For the last 2 years the air bag light is coming on and off. Finally I took it for inspection and it didn't pass because the light was on and is a safety issue concern. I contacted Ford Motor Company and because there is no a recall they would not fix the problem, despide of all hundreds of complaints about the same issue. Probably waiting till someone die...Toyota is the best example of ignoring problems like this...
- Gloucester, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While driving 15 mph she lost vehicle control, and then the vehicle rolled over. The airbags did not deploy. The manufacturer was notified and she was advised that the non-deployment of the air bags were normal. The current and failure mileages were 174,000.
- Ocala, FL, USA
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.
- Ypsilanti, MI, USA
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.
- Lemon Grove, CA, USA
Air bag light.
- E Hartford, CT, USA
My air bag light goes on and off alot.
- Watertown, WI, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the air bag indicator illuminates intermittently. He has taken the vehicle to the dealer on numerous occasions and they have replaced several components; however, the failure still persists. The dealers were unable to determine the cause of the failure and provide a remedy. There were no recalls available. The failure mileage was 89,000.
- Syracuse, NY, USA
Have had to replace both rear wheel bearings on 2002 Ford Explorer limited, also had to replace both rear springs. Lucky my wife has good hearing so she noticed the noise as soon as it started or else may have went far enough to loose wheel. Had rear springs and wheel bearings replaced at a cost of approximately $1100. After reading complaints and talking with other Explorer owner I feel it should have been a recall for factory to fix. Also have recurring problem with airbag warning light coming on. Have to jiggle wires under passenger seat to make light go out.
- Linden, PA, USA
We have a 2002 Ford Explorer. The airbag warning light is on and stays on. It's been like this for a while now. I never thought much of it until I got online researching it and found that not only that it is a common problem, but a very dangerous situation. Apparently the airbags will not even work. From what I found the problem has to do with a cable that connects the seatbelt locking mechanism to the SRS system is to short also a possible problem with a clockspring. By doing something as little as moving the drivers seat all the way back can trigger the warning light because the cable is to short. I learned this mostly through people over the internet who took there vehicles to Ford dealerships and was told that was the problem. I called Ford to see if there was a recall on it or if they would fix it. No recall and won't pay to fix. Ford knows about the problem and knows what the problem is. I read that Ford sent a memo out to it's dealerships telling them about the problem had a memo number forgot to write it down. This vehicle is a family vehicle and that's the primary reason we bought it. I would think that this being such a serious safety issue that Ford would fix no problem, but at the very lest somebody should be able to make them fix this. I don't know what are the parameters for a recall to be issued, but I do know that if this does not call for one then who or what is the NHTSA for. I guess it takes a lot of people getting hurt or dyeing for something to be done.
- Macclenny, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the air bag indicator remained illuminated. The dealer stated that the seat belt latch system does not work and they are charging him to diagnose and repair the failure. The contact stated that it is a safety hazard that the seat belt does not work. The failure and current mileages were 47,600. Updated 12/10/08 both of the rear springs broke and the rear axle bearing was bad. Updated 12/16/08.
- Windber, PA, USA
2002 Ford Explorer airbag light has been on. I took it to the dealer and they said it needs a pretensioner repair kit installed for $650. I declined service. I looked on the internet and their are lots of complaints; in July 2001, Ford issued a special service message announcing that some air bag clockspring devices may produce noise when the steering wheel is turned full left or right. Ford was aware that some clocksprings may have been improperly installed. The improper installation may also cause an open circuit and the air bag warning light to illuminate. Starting with vehicles produced in September 2001, Ford adding length to the clockspring wire to reduce the likelihood of damage from improper installation.
- Denver, CO, USA
- Lorain, OH, USA