2002 Ford Explorer Rear Problems
- 192
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 192 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- rear coil · 58 records
- coil springs · 42 records
- both rear · 34 records
- coil spring · 34 records
- rear springs · 24 records
- springs broken · 18 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 108 |
| 30–60k mi | 28 |
| 100–150k mi | 25 |
| 150–400k mi | 5 |
| 1–30k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Rear
Rear wheel axle bearings. I have a 2002 ford explorer that had 85,000 miles on it. I had to have the rear wheel axle bearings replaced. I drove the vehicle about 20,000 and it was just over a year and the rear bearings went out again. Ford would not cover these. I had to pay full price again to have them replaced. Numerous people i have spoken with said there have been many problems with the bearings. Also a very…
ODI 10188795
Automatic Transmission · Non-Powered Axle Assembly · Rear · Spindle
My 2002 ford explorer has been repaired for major transmission and rear end problems approx. 15 times in the past 3 years. The transmission continues to slip between 2nd-3rd and 3rd-4th gear. In reverse the clutch binds up. The rear end roars and was replaced at 35,000 miles (after numerous fix attempts) and at 66,000 miles rear wheel bearings, ring gear & pinion were replaced. The transmission was almost overhauled…
ODI 10184551
Rear
Rear wheel almost fell off on my wife's 2002 ford explorer. There was no leading suspicion to this problem until it happened. Very dangerous and with my wife being pregnant it makes it that much more frustrating. *nm
ODI 10171953
Front · Rear
In april of 2005 my 2002 explorer with just over 40,000 miles started making grinding noise in the right rear. Took it to a mechanic and then to the ford dealership, both said the right rear wheel bearing needed to be replaced, had it replaced on 5/11/05. Within 2 weeks, the left rear wheel bearing also started making a grinding noise, had it replaced on 5/25/05. Called ford customer care who said they could do…
ODI 10170740
Rear
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling on the highway at 60 mph, suddenly control of the vehicle was lost. The contact thought the vehicle's tire blew out, because both rear tires began wobbling. The vehicle was traveling on a normal flat surface at the time of the incident. The failure occurred under normal driving conditions, and was driven about 20 miles to the contact's residence. Two weeks prior to the…
ODI 10160332
Differential Unit · Rear
I own a 2002 ford explorer xlt. The bearings in the rear end differential are going out. This type of problem should not be occurring in a vehicle with less than 100,000 miles. From what i understand, many ford explorers have this problem ford should take a second look at this problem because it should not be happening. I don't have a warranty, but still this is too common of a defect in the ford explorers for it to…
ODI 10158733
Clutch Assembly · Rear
Dt*: the contact stated while turning the vehicle at low speeds, not exceeding 10 mph, the vehicle vibrates. The dealership determined the clutch basket and rear axle seal needs to be replaced.
ODI 10156989
Automatic Transmission · Front · Rear
Grinding noise sounding like it is from front end, especially on accelerating at low speeds, and turning slow. Told to replace tires and front hub. Both done and still making same noise. Cannot figure what is wrong. Think the sound is from transmission or rear end. Also having problems with the transmission. The truck does not switch gears properly. It takes to long and sometimes reaches 4 rpms before finally…
ODI 10156889
Rear
I purchased my 2002 ford explorer from a ford dealer in april 2005, with approximately 45,000 miles on it. I immediately noticed a humming noise coming from the rear and thought that i needed to replace the tires. After purchasing all four new tires, the noise continued to worsen. By 60,000 miles the noise was unbearable and i was told by a local garage that the right rear hub seal was the problem and that the wheel…
ODI 10224780
Rear
Tl*- the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving 50 mph he heard a loud noise coming from the rear wheels. The mechanic stated that the wheel bearings were rusted and should be replaced. The dealer made the repair. The failure mileage was 83,000 miles at the time of the repair. There had not been any other occurrences since the repair. The vehicle's current mileage was 95,000 miles. *ak updated 07/03/07. *jb
ODI 10188129
Air Bags · Automatic Transmission · Electrical System · Rear
2002 ford explorer. Failed transmission, starter, rear wheel bearings, airbag, pinion, electric window. Now loud sounds from rear of car. *jb
ODI 10156337
Rear
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 30 mph, the rear passenger side tire began to wobble. The vehicle was pulled over and the contact noticed the wheel bearings in the road. The vehicle was driven to an independent repair shop where the wheel bearing and hub was replaced.
ODI 10155825
Rear
The rear wheel bearing on the passenger side locked up while my wife was driving home from 150 miles away. Lucky she heard a weird noise and slowed down prior to it seizing the tire up. *jb
ODI 10159498
Axle Hubs · Differential Unit · Rear
Rear end hum and leak back tire was loose due to rear wheel bearings deteriorating, took it apart and bearings fell apart. There was no grease on them. This '02 explorer has 30,000 miles on it. *jb
ODI 10153141
Rear
Major noise from rear end escalated quickly requiring service. Independent service garage diagnosed and replaced right rear wheel hub assembly and left rear tie rod. This was the third of the four wheel hubs replaced on this vehicle between 70,000 and 86,000 actual odometer miles. The other two were both the fronts. Very honest mechanic showed me failed parts and three other explorers in the shop that same day with…
ODI 10157834
Rear
2002 ford explorer 4x4 eddie bauer. Right rear suspension hub/bearing failure. Vehicle located and driven in southeast michigan (detroit area) where roads are salted in winter. Vehicle in service date (12/12/2001). Incident date (03/08/2006 - 69216 miles). Left rear suspension hub/bearing failure at a later date. *tr
ODI 10252022
Rear
2002 ford explorer 4x4 eddie bauer. Right rear suspension coil spring fracture. Vehicle located and driven in southeast michigan (detroit area) where roads are salted in winter. Vehicle in service date (12/12/2001). Incident date (03/08/2006 - 69216 miles). Left rear suspension coil spring fractured at a later date. *tr
ODI 10252016
Rear
Funny thing, my explorer only has 30,000 mile, there was no event, one day it was fine the next day come the whine and grind. *jb
ODI 10152368
Air Bags · Brake Lights · Rear
First of all i have a humming sound coming from the rear of the vehicle i notice it most when we are traveling on the hwy at at least 55 mph or more. In oct. My brake light came on for no reason and now in feb. My air bag light came on for no apparent reason. *nm
ODI 10156798
Rear
Dt*: the contact stated while driving at speeds of 20mph or more there was a roaring noise coming from the rear end of the vehicle. Initially the contact suspected the tires needed replaced. The vehicle was inspected by an independent tire repair shop. The repair shop mechanic suggested the vehicle should be inspected by an authorized dealer because it was determined there were no problems with the tires. The…
ODI 10149856
Rear
I have had the rear bearings replaced 4 times and the complete rear hub assemblies and bearings replaced once (total 5 times) the car is dangerous to drive and sways going down the road. The sway links have been replaced twice. The problems keeps recurring. I have all parts bills dating back to 11/2005 when problems started and continue to date. *tr
ODI 10220438
Differential Unit · Rear
We noticed a humming noise and a small oil leak coming from the rear axle. We took the vehicle to the ford dealer and were informed that the rear differential was in need of repair and that this was a known problem with explorers. We were given a discounted rate for the repair. Two weeks later the left rear wheel bearing went out (with only 59,000 miles) and were told that this had nothing to do with the rear…
ODI 10142780
Rear
1) could hear high pitch noise while driving. 2) jacked up rear of explorer and rear wheel(s) could wobble on the axle. 3) by 70,000 miles, both left and right rear wheel bearings have now failed and have been replaced by a ford dealer. I now have 77000 miles on the explorer and i am beginning to hear the high pitch sound again. *jb
ODI 10143776
Rear · Steering
Dt: the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear bearing went out on 9-6-05. The consumer is unsure if it was on the right or the left. She did not hear a noise prior to this but reported that the vehicle felt sluggish. The contact said that the vehicle was not steering properly and it was pulling all over the road. She reported that steering was very sloppy and she could not control the…
ODI 10135535
Differential Unit · Rear
I bought my explorer brand new in may 2002. I have had problems with the rear end differential twice, rear end sensor, and my latest problem is the rear end sealer (pinion). All within 3 years of owning the vehicle. *jb
ODI 10144478