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.
Engine · Power Train · Steering
When accelerating on a start, car doesn't shift into 2nd and 3rd gear....unless there is a push or jump into it. *tr
ODI 10467725
Steering
I was backing up in a costco parking lot and the steering column where you shift gears broke in half. There was no way to drive or shift the car. The car was in neutral and there were pedestrians in front of me and cars behind me. I yelled for everyone to stay clear, had a few men help push me back to a parking bin and pulled the emergency break. The engine would not shut off, i had to have car towed to my house. I…
ODI 10462565
Engine · Fuel Gauge System · Service Brakes · Steering
As i was driving home from work my fuel gauge went from full to empty and the check gauge light came on then the vehicle died and i lost power steering and the power brakes. *js
ODI 10458608
Power Train · Steering
Shifter broke off while shifting from park to drive,cannot shift vehicle. I read online there are numerous people that have had the same problem ,they were all wondering why there hasn't been a recall on this problem. Has there? *tr
ODI 10449629
Power Train · Steering
[xxx] got behind the wheel of her 2002 ford explorer, intending to pick up her son from school. When she tried to shift the car into reverse, she says the entire gear selector broke off and fell in her lap. It turns out she's not alone. Team 4 investigator jim parsons reported that the national highway transportation safety administration has been investigating similar complaints around the country -- some of which…
ODI 10428138
Steering
In the evening, i was about half an hour from home when i pulled up to a gas pump at a station and attempted to put the vehicle into park. I did not do anything different than normal. The steering gear shift broke off into my hand. It was attached by a wire. I could not tell what happened except that it was broken off the steering column. The service department of the dealership was closed but the receptionist said…
ODI 10423170
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While moving the gear shifter from park to reverse, the gear shifter fractured and detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technicians stated the steering column had to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
ODI 10420001
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that upon shifting the vehicle into reverse, the gear shifter separated from the steering column. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer denied assistance with the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 183,000.
ODI 10413268
Steering
My 2002 ford explorer (automatic transmission) was parked in my driveway. I attempted to shift out of park when the gear shift broke off in my hand. I now have to pay $1360 for a replacement (used) steering column. After doing research, i have discovered that this problem is very common with 2002 ford explorers. Ford motor company should voluntarily do a recall, before a class action law suit is brought against…
ODI 10409288
Power Train · Steering
While my wife was backing up in my son's driveway, the gear shift broke on my 2002 ford explorer. The charge to repair by a ford dealer was roughly $2,000.00 (including tow charges). After doing research on this issue, it apparently is way too common, however ford refuses to acknowledge responsibility or issue a recall. *tr
ODI 10408581
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving approximately 65 mph, the front and rear end of the vehicle began to shake violently. In addition, there was severe vibration in the steering wheel which caused difficulty in steering the vehicle normally. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000. The vin was…
ODI 10422643
Steering
After starting the car (leaving my son's baseball game with my 2 year old daughter in car!), i attempted to put the car in reverse and the gear shift broke off in my hands. The key was stuck in the ignition and could not be removed. It required a special tow truck to get this to the dealership. They quoted me $1600 to replace the entire steering column. If you search online there are literally hundreds of complaints…
ODI 10402435
Power Train · Steering
Please do something about this !!!! The explorer gear shifter is defective and unsafe. There is a common thread with gearshift selector breakage on ford explorers which indicates that recall is urgently needed. After parking, i tried to move the gear shifter from drive to park to exit the vehicle. To my absolute astonishment the gear shifter broke like a dangling broken arm in the reverse position. The vehicle was…
ODI 10396044
Power Train · Steering
When putting car into park or reverse, car would sometime still be in drive for seconds after putting car in gear. Several times now, occasionally car will simply shut off. Recently, the car would not go into park and shifter separated from steering column. *tr
ODI 10402007
Steering
My husband was driving our 2002 ford explorer when he went to back out of a parking spot and the entire gear shift fell off the steering column. The vehicle will not shift gears and the key can not be removed from the vehicle. Luckily he was in a parking spot. Had he backed out and this happened as he was trying to put the car in drive her could have in a major accident. It is very very very unsafe. The car is…
ODI 10386120
Power Train · Steering
While backing up, the gear shift broke on my 2002 ford explorer. It was good that i was not in traffic because i could not get the car back in gear and could have gotten hit and or caused an accident. The steering column was replaced and the parts were in my opinion over priced. My fear is that it may happen again because it may have been replaced with the same defective part. *tr
ODI 10400849
Steering
While picking up my pastor at the dulles airport, i shifted my 2002 ford explorer into park. Before i could even reach park, the shift handle detached itself from the steering column and was limp in hand. The only thing left attached, was the wiring cable. I couldn't get the keys in or out of the ignition, most likely because it wasn't in park nor in reverse. Of note, because of that, it was very hard to get a tow…
ODI 10369253
Power Train · Steering
The gear shift lever fell off the steering column while putting the car into park. It is held on only by the electrical connection. *tr
ODI 10367841
Steering
I was picking up a family friend, an while waiting for her to come to my 2002 ford explorer, i put my truck into park, when she got in, i then attempted to put it back into drive, an the gear shift handle broke off into my hand, it basically dangled there an i had no choice but to call a two truck driver. I got an estimate for over $600 for a used column, cause apparently ford doesn't make the little piece that…
ODI 10361112
Air Bags · Power Train · Steering
Air bag warning light came on,pulled plug apart under drivers ,seat sprayed cleaner on it put it back together, took care of that problem. Gear shift lever sheared off. Ford says you need to replace steering column. Went online found a man in sweden that made a replacement part,ordered it ,put it on ,works great. (why couldn't ford supply one?) the transmission is starting to act up, you shift in to drive it…
ODI 10377297
Steering
While putting my 2002 ford explorer into park at a drive up atm machine, my gear shift just feel into my hands. I was stuck blocking the drive way and had to be towed to a shop where they say the ford dealership wanted about 1500.00 to replace steering column. The shop told me that was too much for just a small part that was broken. The dealership said it could not replace just the small part that was broken. My…
ODI 10352494
Automatic Transmission · Cooling System · Front · Parking Brake · Rear · Seats · Steering · Suspension
Purchased 2002 explorer xlt v6 4.0l already transmission slipping solenoid or whatever out.. I have read reports and wonder why this transmission is not recalled? I have it in shop now having to have it rebuilt and everything changed. Also right wheel bearings bad, upper and lower ball joints bad, suspension shot. And the records show the previous owners maintained everything well. But also had transmission replaced…
ODI 10350869
Steering
My wife and i and our 8 year old twin boys were on vacation this summer driving through the rocky mountains in a rain storm. It was august 13th, 2010. There was a huge single lane traffic jam because of an accident. We pulled over to the side of the road because my wife needed to get out and stretch. When i put the 2002 ford explorer back into drive, the shift lever broke off in my hand like it was made of butter.…
ODI 10360396
Power Train · Steering
I have a 2002 ford explorer and this morning i was going at work when the gear shift arm broke off in my hand. I had to call my wife for go at work and i was unable to remove my keys from the ignition. My car is completely un-drivable. *tr
ODI 10348906
Steering
Very loud noise in tires while driving and in steering column when driving my 2002 ford explorer . It is most likely a wheel bearing issue. This issue in this truck should be a recall item. *tr
ODI 10352047