2002 Ford Explorer Suspension Problems
- 113
- 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 113 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- Rear · 2 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 37 |
| 100–150k mi | 21 |
| 30–60k mi | 15 |
| 150–400k mi | 9 |
| 1–30k mi | 5 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Suspension
Ford dealership and local mechanic have witnessed dozen of cases with ford in which the vehicle is vibrating at higher speeds. We have tried replacing tires, balancing, and wheel alignments. I have read hundreds, if not thousands of people complaining about this issue online, but ford has done nothing to educate their staff or public about this issue. Most common identified issue has been the rear differentials, but…
ODI 10467026
Rear · Suspension
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. *tr
ODI 10238898
Suspension
Severe wheel bearing issues since day one. Hub assembly made loud noise and the wheels may have fell off because of poor design of bearing assembly. Mathews ford assured us it was normal for 4x4 explorers to make such noise, and have not revisited the problem from 2002 until now. Bearings were checked on routine maintenance on june 17 2008 and were found to be failing according to mathews ford mechanic. At 52,000…
ODI 10231465
Automatic Transmission · Fuel Pump · Power Window Devices And Controls · Suspension
2002 ford explorer- a nightmare of problems that keep getting worse. It has 56k miles on it and i am about to replace the transmission. Fuel pump , 2 rear springs, 2 wheel bearings and the drivers side window motor have already been replaced. Neither of the 2 rear windows roll down and the back hatch lift replace on recall is broken yet again. This is the biggest hunk of junk on 4 wheels. Ford needs to do something.…
ODI 10230807
Suspension
Well, the wife bought this pre owned 2002 ford explorer. 10 months ago. We started getting road noise after an oil change and tire rotation. I thought the noise was coming from the rear tires being cupped, and placed on the front. We let that go, i then told the wife to go get new tires. They tell here afterwards, that both rear coil springs are broken, and would be $660.00 dollars to fix. So i told her, to just…
ODI 10230076
Suspension
Rear hub bearings shot and very costly to repair. This is happening on 2002 ford explorers in great numbers and should be resolved by a recall. Please refer to http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/wheels_hubs/wheel_bearing_failure.shtml where among others complaints regarding this issue are posted. *tr
ODI 10232012
Suspension
WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON FORD EXPLORER 2002. *TR
ODI 10226080
Suspension
Failure of wheel bearings, causing lack of control and possible wheel loss. *tr
ODI 10226302
Axle Hubs · Suspension
WHEEL HUB AND BEARING BAD. *TR
ODI 10224835
Equipment · Suspension
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…
ODI 10220196
Suspension
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…
ODI 10218427
Automatic Transmission · Equipment · Suspension · Wheels
Transmission shifted hard into 2nd gear from day one, took it to dealer and they said it was normal, whining in rear end also said normal. Had to replace 2 wheel bearings, 2 more bad now, replaced wheel hub, now transmission will not shift. *tr
ODI 10226355
Spindle · Suspension
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…
ODI 10223208
Suspension
1. Humming noise coming from vehicle, went to dealer got it looked at dealer said it was hub assembly in 3 of four wheels that needed replaced. 2. Asked if i could drive it until i had the money, was told it is not recommended because (if) (when) it fails completely it could damage the braking system or the wheel could fall off, searched online and found car-complaints.com and discovered numerous explorer drivers…
ODI 10218164
Suspension
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. *tr
ODI 10217695
Hub · Suspension
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. *tr
ODI 10217453
Suspension
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. *tr
ODI 10230770
Suspension · Wheel Bearing
2002 ford explorer xlt replacing 3rd wheel bearing in 2 years. *tr
ODI 10217020
Suspension
I own a 2002 ford explorer, and i have had it for nearly 3 years. I recently started hearing a familiar noise from my truck, another wheel bearing needs replacing! This is the third one over the past year and a half! Ford has to fix this problem, there is no reason a vehicle should have this many problems with the bearings! *tr
ODI 10217929
Hub · Suspension
I bought my 2002 ford explorer in jan 08, it is now april 08 and i have already replaced the r front wheel bearing, and both rear wheel bearings. It has cost me around $1,200.00 and it only has 60,000 miles on it. Once a month i am putting more money into something that i believe should have been a recall. I can count more than 60 complaints about this problem on this particular year and model of vehicle and it…
ODI 10223502
Suspension · Wheel Bearing
Potential lost left wheel due to failing wheel bearing. *tr
ODI 10217063
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · Suspension
2002 ford explorer front and rear wheel bearing replacement. Back right wheel bearing failed causing damage to the axle, breaks and wheel drum. Front left wheel bearing failed. In both occasions noises were heard. In regards to be back wheel bearing the tire almost came off and the wheel froze. This occurred while on a major interstate traveling at a speed of 65 miles an hour. Back wheel bearing, axle, drum and…
ODI 10214299
Air Conditioner · Power Window Devices And Controls · Suspension
We own a 2002 ford explorer that we purchased used with 40,000 miles on it. Since purchase we have had 3 power window motors go bad, both rear bearings replaced, the back door panel is cracked, the a/c doesn't work, and now it looks as if the transmission is going bad. If so many people with this vehicle have all the same problems how can there be no recall? *tr
ODI 10231430
Power Train · Power Window Devices And Controls · Suspension
The noise was the indication of a problem, took the car in for noise coming from the wheels. Was told by ford garage all four wheel bearings needed to be replaced i was very shocked. When ford mechanic said this was a recurring problem and common in this year and model i was angry. Not soon after that the four wheel drive module went out and needed replaced. This car is five years old with at the time 82,000 miles…
ODI 10219997
Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated he noticed that the front tires were wearing excessively. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the front passenger coil spring was fractured, causing the excessive tread wear. The vehicle was not repaired. Both rear coil springs also fractured since the failure occurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
ODI 10424110