10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 76,982 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
Left rear "permanently sealed" wheel bearing failure.
- Bolton, MA, USA
Vehicle started to make terrible grinding/rubbing noise while 50 miles from home. On exit ramp to my city, it swayed... the next morning my cousin examined the vehicle finding the right rear spring broken, and the left in terrible condition as well. I am just thankful nothing bad happened on my way home. I have never had this vehicle off road nor used it to pull anything. After viewing all the complaints of the same issue on the "car complaints" web site, I cannot understand what has to happen B/F Ford is forced to make a recall on this item"???" I had to have the parts replaced, and I do have the old springs! good thing I did not hit a huge bump or pot hole on my way home or have to swerve quickly, I hate to think of what might have occurred!
- Scottsburg, IN, USA
Rear coil spring found broken during routine brake inspection.
- Naperville, IL, USA
While in traffic today, my 2002 Ford Explorer suddenly lost drive power. Fortunately, the driver behind me was not tailgating and noticed my vehicle slow down rapidly. I now find this transmission failure is a very common problem with Ford 2002 Explorer. In fact on one web site alone, www.autobeef.com I see over 861 complaints on this issue alone all with 2002 Explorer. Transmission failures in heavy traffic and at higher speed could certainly be a significant safety issue. Also last year replaced both rear springs that had failed and broke completely affecting braking.
- Midland, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The rear coil springs on the vehicle broke which the contact was informed of during a brake inspection. The dealer stated that the coil springs were the same used on the Ford Taurus model and that they were aware of the failures with the springs. The current and failure mileages were approximately 250,000.
- Twinsburg, OH, USA
I have a 2002 Ford Explorer and both rear coil springs are completly rusted and broke in several places..I realize that my vechile is now 8 years old and has 100,000 miles but I've read online that many people have had this same problem with these springs breaking and blowing tires. Now im paying close to 400 dollars to have this replaced. I think Ford needs to take action and stop neglecting them buying cheap material and playing with people lives and safety. They should reimburse those who have had this problem and fix all vechiles of this year...
- Lakewood, OH, USA
Broken rear springs causing struts to fail
- Attleboro, MA, USA
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.
- Michigan City, IN, USA
When I took my 2002 Ford Explorer V8 into the shop to get new tires I was told that my rear coil spring is broke and would need to be replaced. I have never been off road with my vehicle and only drive mostly highway. I was told by the mechanic that this is common for my vehicle and I should file a complaint. I had no idea it broke or how it did but my car started leaning to one side. I have small children that need to be in a safe and dependable vehicle. There needs to be a reall done for this issue before there is serious injuries. My vehicle has 115K miles.
- Gardner, KS, USA
The broken rear springs (both) on our 2002 Ford Explorer XLT 4X4 caused a near accident on veterans parkway in bloomington, Illinois. The springs completely shattered and were broken on both the right and left rear making the SUV much less stable in lane changes. When traffic suddenly slowed, we almost loss control when we tried to change lanes. It was a miracle there was not an accident. Ford has known about the bad steel in these springs for years and there are hundreds of reports on the internet of this same problem on 2002 to 2005 Ford Explorer. We are having to pay out of our pockets about $700 for vehicle repairs even though there is a Ford service bulletin on this problem.
- Bloomington, IL, USA
2002 Ford Explorer 4X4 limited with 2 broken coil springs 127,000mi.
- York, PA, USA
I brought my 2002 Ford Explorer to my mechanic because I noticed a very loud rubbing noise. Upon inspection, my mechanic discovered that both rear coils were cracked. My vehicle is a "soccer mom" car and has never been off-road. He had to replace the coils, rear rotors and rear wheel bearings because of the damage from the coils. My vehicle has approximately 124,000 miles.
- North Scituate, RI, USA
2002 Ford Explorer XLT 4.0 engine. Rear coil spring failure. The vehical has never been used off-road and the springs do not have surface rust but both are broken. Car in for recall on cruise control and Ford "found" issue. Turns out it is very common in this model and Ford dealers find it a great way to make extra dollars. U-haul will not rent trailers to owners of Ford Explorer. They say that there are too many claims but will not reveal nature of claims. Ford said that they have no comment on issue. I can forward E-mails from both U-haul and Ford stating such.
- Doylestown, PA, USA
I have a 2002 Ford Explorer with about 75,000 miles. I took it to my dealer due to a recall notice, and they performed a multi-point inspection. During this inspection, they said that both of my rear springs were broken. I found this hard to believe because I don't tow anything and I drive city streets and highways. Through investigation on the internet, it seems this is a common problem for 2002 Ford Explorer. I will need to replace the springs as they could puncture a tire leading to an accident. The cost of the springs seems to be about $125 plus labor.
- Fairview Park, OH, USA
On 01/29/2010, I took my 2002 Ford Explorer 4X4 to kill brake & wheel to have new tires put on the vehicle. The technician/mechanic advised me that the left rear spring for the vehicle was broke, but sitting in the center. I called tiffin brake & wheel to schedule an appointment to have the springs replaced. I was advised by an employee that the business has had "a lot of Explorer have their springs replaced." The employee also mentioned that a complaint should be filed, because a recall may be in order due to the amount of Explorer with broken springs. I am concerned with this issue, because the vehicle has not been off roaded and/or abused. The vehicle has been well maintained. The actual date when the spring broke is unknown.
- Alvada, OH, USA
Took the truck into have a vibration and noise checked out coming from the rear of the vehicle. Turned out to be a failure of passenger rear knuckle assembly and wheel bearing. Went on car complaints.com to see if a recall was issued for this. There were report of the same type of failure with the wheels actually coming off.
- New Britain, CT, USA
2002 Ford Explorer rear coil breakage.. was driving and my back end dipped no noise just leaning. Went to mechanic and realized coils have just rusted out, are you serious. Explorer only has 87K. Parts just rusted out and broke.
- Cleveland, OH, USA
I took my 2002 Ford Explorer with 67K miles on it to the dealer for a recall. They offered a free inspection of which they informed me the right rear spring was broken. There was no indication it was broken while driving the vehicle, so there is no way of knowing when it broke. The problem will be corrected by replacing the spring. No improved spring part number was available for Ford, so I expect it to break again in about 70K miles if I buy a new Ford spring.
- Savage, MN, USA
2002 Ford Explorer driver side rear coil spring broken.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
- Asheville, NC, USA