2002 Ford Explorer engine problems

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to coast off the freeway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called an independent mechanic, but the mechanic declined to service the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified about the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

NHTSA complaint #11557714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the steering wheel intermittently seized while driving at various speeds without warning. After finding a replacement part at a salvage yard, the contact had the steering wheel replaced by an independent mechanic; however, the failure persisted. The contact also stated that an abnormal ticking noise was coming from the engine with the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the same independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11483635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WAS DRIVING ON HWY AND MY VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN AS I WAS TURNING OFF THE MAIN ROAD, LOST ALL CONTROL OF STEERING. WHEN I RAISED THE HOOD I SAW MY RADIATOR SMOKING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT POPPED. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR HAD EXPLODED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? I NEVER EVEN HAD IT TO OVER HEAT OR THE LIGHT NEVER EVEN ALERTED ME. JUST BLEW UP AND LEFT ME STRANDED. I WAS TOLD AFTER THE FACT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE RADIATOR!

NHTSA complaint #11300581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THE RADIATOR STARTED GOING OUT ON ME. I HAD TO FIX IT TWICE. THE BREAKES I KEEP HAVING THE CONTINUED FIXING THEM EVERY 4 MONTHS. RECENTLY OCTOBER 25, 2019 IT STARTED SMELLING LIKE BURNT RUBBER CAME THRU THE AIR VENTS. THINGS WITH THE ELECTRICITY OE A SHORTAGE. WITH THE TIRES THEY PUT WRONG TIRE SIZE. THEY TOLD ME TO SIGN AND GO BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE MY ACTUAL TIRE SIZE. ITS ALWAYS ON THE SMALLS STREETS AND ON FREEWAY OR. HIGHWAY IT SMELLS LIKE BURNT RUBBER. THE OWNER DIDN'T NOTIFY ME OR BOTHER TO TELL ME IT WAS ON RECALL ALREADY.

NHTSA complaint #11278383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE GRILL, SO I PULLED OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD, SMOKE STARTED BOILING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD

NHTSA complaint #11271276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MOTOR IS OVER HEATING AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINS ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA complaint #11229277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

THE TIMING BELTS BROKE AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE. TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11022952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AS WELL AS DRIVE, WHICH WAS WHEN THE INTERMITTENT STALL FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #10991130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TRANSMISSION OUT FOR 3RD TIME

NHTSA complaint #10983600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND ALARM GOES OFF CONSTANTLY FROM IT. SEAT BELT LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON EVEN WHEN SEAT BELTS ARE IN USE. ABS LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND OFF. ALWAYS ISSUES WITH HEAT AND COOLANT.

NHTSA complaint #10937883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10863607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10855181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WENT TO A AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS GIVEN OEM CODE P0442 (EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM). THE SCENT OF GAS WAS PRESENT. I CHANGED THE FUEL CAP AND ISSUE STILL REMAINS. GAS FUEL TANK VAPOR VENT CHECK VALVE IS DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10852382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TURNED CAR ON TO DRIVE IT WOULD NOT START AFTER SEVER RAINFALLS UNTIL FINALLY WHEN I DID THE LAST TIME AFTER A JUMP, BATTERY NEW. IT STARTED TO MAKE THIS AWFUL NOISE LIKE A CLANKING SOUND LIKE A CHAIN SOUND. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, CALLED A MOBILE MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE SAME THING SAID IT COULD BE A VALVE OR PISTON PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I HEAR SOUNDS LIKE A CHAIN. BEFORE THIS HAPPENING THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS FOR THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES BROKE. HAD LEFT SIDE FIXED RIGHT SIDE NOT FIXED, GLASS STILL HELD WITH A BOARD INSIDE DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #10850487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE WHEN I STOP AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OUT. I GOT A CODE READING, THERE WERE MANY FUEL EJECTION ISSUES. I GOT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TODAY, AND WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE FUEL PUMP. WHEN I PUT GAS IN, THE GAS PUMP GETS STUCK INSIDE SOMETIMES. DOES NOT COME OUT SMOOTHLY. WHAT IS GOING ON?

NHTSA complaint #10705713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

IN 2009 ON THE WAY TO OUR FAMILY VACATION OUR TRANSMISSION FAILED. WE HAD IT TOWED AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A FORD REBUILT TRANSMISSION WITH A WARRANTY PURCHASE. IN 2012 THIS REBUILT TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WE HAD IT TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. THIS CURRENT TRANSMISSION IS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE LAST TWO DID PRIOR TO FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10702092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED SIGNS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RESTARTED IT BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 191,000.

NHTSA complaint #10678581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER, SINCE 2013 HAVE BLEW OUT SPARKS PLUGS THREE TIMES. THE THREATS OF THE HEAD ARE DAMAGE .

NHTSA complaint #10676143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

BOUGHT AN EXPLORER WE THOUGHT WAS A PRIVATE OWNER ON CRAIGLIST IN CHICAGO, AND FOUND OUT HE WAS A DEALER FROM INDIANA. HE SIGNED THE TITLE AS FIRST AUTO INC. 2620 165TH IN HAMMOND IN 46323. THE NAME OF SELLER IS [XXX] . THE DMV FILE A COMPLAINT ON OUR BEHALF AND STATED WHAT HE DID WAS ILLEGAL. WE DID NOT KNOW HE WAS A DEALER TIL WHEN WE TRIED TO TRANSFER OUR PLATES THE NEXT DAY. WE TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE AND MY MECHANIC STATED THAT CARFAX HAS THE MILES ALMOST 80,000 MORE THAN WHAT IS ON THE ODOMETER. THE ODOMETER LISTED 110,000 AND CARFAX WAS FAR PAST THAT AMOUNT. THE DEALER ROLLED BACK THE MILES OF EXPLORER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10668513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON. CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STARTED SCREECHING LOUDLY, NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHILE GOING TO THE AIRPORT ON AN EXPRESSWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10664913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP AND HEATING CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000. UPDATED 1/16/15*CN UPDATED 9/7/2017

NHTSA complaint #10660508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS; BACK CHAIN 'PLASTIC' TENSOR BROKE AND AFFECTED CRITICALLY ENTIRE ENGINE. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PROBLEMS; SHIFT ROUGH FROM 1ST TO 2ND. PUT NEW SOLENOID BLOCK, PROBLEM STILL THERE. FORD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10597782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

" CHECK ENGINE SOON" SIGN IS ON. " O/D" SIGN IS ON.

NHTSA complaint #10593924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

EXPLORER O/D LIGHT BLINKS AND SHIFTS ROUGH FROM 1ST TO 2ND.

NHTSA complaint #10579020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THANK GOD I WAS ALMOST HOME AT THIS TIME, MY FORD EXPLORE WAS DRIVING FINE ALL OF A SUDDEN I HERD A POP AND A BANG AND THEN THE MOTOR STARTED STUMBLING AND SHAKING. AS IT WAS RUNNING THE MOTOR KEPT ON POPPING I GOT OUT AND SEEN A SPARK PLUG NEXT TO DRIVER SIDE FENDER UNDER THE HOOD ALSO THE COIL THAT WAS PLUGGED ON TO THE PLUG WAS THERE TOO.I TRIED TO GRAB THE COIL BUT GOT SHOCKED BECAUSE THE RUBBER ON THE COIL WAS BROKE FROM THE PLUG FLYING OUT LIKE A BULLET AND HITTING THE COIL BRAKING IT IN FOUR OR FIVE PLACES THATS Y I GOT SHOCKED SO MUCH.THE HOLE POINT IS THAT THE PLUG STRIPED OUT OF THE HEAD AND DID ALL THIS DAMAGE. NOW I HAVE NO WAY TO FIX THIS ISSUE ONE OF THE WAYS TO FIX IT CAN BE TO REPLACE THE HEADS ON THE MOTOR WITCH WILL COST LOTS OF MONEY.WHAT CAN I DO IM DESPERATE SO IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A HELPING HAND BY THE DEALER BUT THEY CLAIM IT'S NOT THERE FAULT BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY FORDS BECAUSE OF THE HEADS THEY HAVE USED ON THIS MOTOR PLEASE MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE IT IS A DEFECT I DO BELIEVE IT IS. I FOUND OVER 50 PEOPLE ONLINE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES AS ME. PLEASE HELP US.....

NHTSA complaint #10579018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

WHEN DRIVING TO WORK THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. I STARTED TO TAKE OFF AGAIN ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND A SOUND FROM THE ENGINE SCARED ME. THE TRUCK STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A LAWN MOWER. I THEN HAD THE TRUCK TOWED AND TAKEN TO THE GARAGE WHERE THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT THE ENGINE. HE SAID THAT WITH FORDS IT HAPPENS ALOT AND IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT IT HAPPENS TO. HE THEN TOLD ME ONCE HE FIXES IT I SHOULD SELL IT RIGHT AWAY UNLESS I AM WILLING TO SPEND WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH ON REPLACING HEADS. IF FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS ALREADY.

NHTSA complaint #10577850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND SOLENOID, COSTING OVER $2500.

NHTSA complaint #10574652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

IT IS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. ENGINE REVS UP TO AND OVER 4,000RPMS AND SLAMS INTO THE GEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10565490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.