2002 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
- 108
- 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 108 stored complaint records:
- 7 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- steering column · 65 records
- gear shift · 43 records
- shift lever · 19 records
- shift broke · 17 records
- gear shifter · 14 records
- lever broke · 12 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 39 |
| 100–150k mi | 28 |
| 150–400k mi | 13 |
| 30–60k mi | 7 |
| 1–30k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Power Train · Steering
The shift lever literally snapped off at the steering column while putting the car into drive. Car couldn't be shifted into park, still running. Keys couldn't even be removed to turn the car off. Very dangerous. Seems like a fairly common problem among 2002 ford explorer owners. Many complaints filed here: https://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/accessories-interior/gear_shift_lever_fell_off-2.shtml
ODI 11046319
Steering
Gear shift in steering column fell off as i was beginning to drive. The vehicle had approximately 95k miles on it.
ODI 11113246
Glass, Side/Rear · Power Train · Service Brakes · Steering · Suspension · Tires
Driving nd steering wheel fell apart brake switch stopped working 3 times had new transmission put in had to have 3 different sets of tire put on back window shattered while sitting at red light. *tr
ODI 10917406
Steering
The gear shift just broke off while i was putting the car in reverse this is extremely dangerous the car had to be towed but we had to figure out how to shut off the car, since it would not shut off while in reverse. I got another whole steering column put in and within less than 2 months the gear shift broke off again this time the car was in park, but its scary. I have attached two pictures of the two different…
ODI 10908824
Service Brakes · Steering · Suspension
I own a 2002 ford explorer, it's our daily driver everything works except the hubs, this truck has never been wrecked, and we find ourselves@ about every 15,000 to 20,000 miles having to replace the wheel bearings and hub assembly's , last night on the way home the driver side front hub started squealing and came apart and we had to have it towed again, i have owned this truck for 3 years, i have had to replace the…
Crash reported
ODI 10885215
Power Train · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While attempting to start the vehicle, the gear shift fractured without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not at the dealer being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.
ODI 10836768
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the shifting lever used to shift gears fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 120,000.
ODI 10819703
Power Train · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving at approximately 55 mph, the transmission shifted from third gear to fourth gear independently and the vehicle decelerated. The vehicle made an abnormal noise and the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the transmission was burned out and needed to be replaced. The…
ODI 10735120
Steering
After arriving back home from dinner i was putting the car into park. Half way between reverse and park the gear shift arm broke! *js
ODI 10669457
Air Bags · Service Brakes · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that while in reverse, the vehicle accelerated independently. Additionally, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond and the steering wheel seized. As a result, the vehicle crashed into trees then went forward independently crashing into shrubs, a fence, and a building. In addition, the air bags failed to deploy and smoke started to emit from…
Crash reported · Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10664567
Power Train · Steering
The handle to shift the manual transmission from park to reverse broke off at the metal part inside the steering column. This is could have been very dangerous if i was driving! Ford states they no longer produce the part. *tr
ODI 10648973
Steering
SHIFTER LEVER BROKE OFF. *TR
ODI 10604370
Power Train · Steering
After driving into a parking spot i tried to put the car into park and the gearshift fell. After it fell again i tried once more and it broke completely off. We had to take it to the dealership whom just turned it off and later informed us that they would have to replace the entire steering column which would cost $1700 just because one piece was poorly constructed and made of soft metal. It has been almost a month…
ODI 10567129
Steering · Suspension
Utah i-15 south bound, inside lane next to concrete barrier with tour bus in lane on my right. My vehicle began to drift to the right as i was passing the bus. I corrected by slowly turning the steering wheel to the left; not hard or fast but slowly and evenly. The explorer (4-door, 2002, xlt) began to whip back and fourth violently. It took me several hundred yards to get the car under control after coming within…
ODI 10564282
Power Train · Steering
Yesterday evening, i got into my 2002 ford explorer and noticed the gear shift lever was stuck in park. I was unable to shift into reverse in order to back out of the driveway. This morning i figured i would give it another attempt as i needed to head out for work. As i tried again, i simply applied the break, grabbed the shift lever and as i pulled the towards me and began to pull down to shift into reverse the…
ODI 10556342
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact was attempting to exit the driveway when the steering wheel fractured. The dealer replaced the steering wheel. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 130,000. Updated 09/05/14*lj updated 09/11/2014 *js
ODI 10607977
Power Train · Steering
As i was driving in snow, i put the car into reverse to go around another car. When i put it back in drive the gear shift handle broke off in my hand. I was stuck in my car unable to shift, if i turned it off i would not have been able to restart the car. I had to sit on the side of the road and figure out how to get it back into gear with my foot on the brakes. *tr
ODI 10556010
Engine · Service Brakes · Steering
August 27,2012. Huaband driving howm from work. Going down hill to traffic light. Car suddenly, with no warning, stalls out completely. Loss of power steering, power brakes.etc. A/s contuinued to work. Engine ligh came on. Wrestled car to verge of road. Turned car off and it restarted on forst try. Stated that the following day as he attempted to pull away from stop sign, car would not initally take gas but then…
ODI 10538149
Power Train · Steering
While moving the shift lever from park to reverse, the lever broke away from the steering column and could not be returned to park position. The vehicle was stuck in reverse, engine running, and brake applied. With the brake applied, the engine was turned off, still in reverse. The key could not be removed until a small wire contact inside the steering column was shorted to the metal in the column. The vehicle had…
ODI 10546715
Steering
I had just pulled in to my customers lot and went to put the car in park, as i did the gear shift lever broke off in the steering column and was just dangling. I put the parking brake on as the suv was rolling, i could not get the keys out. I had to have it towed to interstate ford in dayton. Oh. *tr
ODI 10511353
Power Train · Steering
Pulling in driveway stopped the vehicle going to put it in park shift lever broke off inside of steering column went on internet found 146 complaints as the same thing happened to them on ford explorer carcomplaints.com. *tr
ODI 10493422
Power Train · Steering
Pulled into park, went to shift vehicle into park (was fully stopped) and gear shifter broke off. I did not apply any force, just the normal typical action of shifting the gear. Good thing it was in neutral when it snapped. Took rubber seal off of the gear lever arm and the part which the lever arm was attached had totally broken off. The metal was not stripped or twisted but broken. Part #905-104: column shift…
ODI 10495058
Power Train · Steering
I just purchased the vehicle in a private sale on 11/09/12 and on 11/10/12 went to shift from park into reverse on a flat surface and my shift lever broke off and i am not able to shift my vehicle. *tr
ODI 10483947
Power Train · Steering
On the afternoon of october 22nd 2012 my pregnant wife was leaving the speech therapist with my son went to put the car in reverse and the shifter snapped off in her hand. The car every since we had it when u put it in park as a delay and rolls for ward a bit i feel that this is a recall that ford should issue for this car. Its just not fair to have to pay over 1200 dollars to fix something that is not my fault.what…
ODI 10481485
Power Train · Steering
Went to put car in drive from the park position and the shifter completely broke and was hanging. Also, i was not able to get my key out of the ignition. We were planning to make an out of town trip the following day, however, had to change plans due to this situation. After searching online, i have discovered there has been numerous complaints for this exact defect for the exact type of vehicle. It seems that since…
ODI 10475485