2002 Ford Explorer Differential Unit Problems
- 160
- 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.
What owners report
- rear differential · 86 records
- coming rear · 15 records
- whining noise · 14 records
- noise rear · 12 records
- noise coming · 10 records
- needed replaced · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 63 |
| 60–100k mi | 44 |
| 1–30k mi | 21 |
| 100–150k mi | 5 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Differential Unit · Spindle
My problem is with the rear differential as well as the hub bearing assembly in the 2002 ford explorer, 60,000 miles on the vehicle. Terrible grinding sound in rear wheels, both rear bearings in wheels were bad, as well as differential noise and leaking of fluid, e no recall on these issues, but i have found thousands of complaints for this same issue. It was a safety violation not to recall these. If the rear…
ODI 10190594
Differential Unit
2002 ford explorer, rear end humming and made a great deal of noise. Mechanic said rear end needed to be replaced. Claimed this was a common problem, where was the recall?? Now i am supposed to eat the $3000.00 to repair, i should have bought the highlander. I tried to support usa and got burned, not again!! *ak
ODI 10190003
Differential Unit
I have a 2002 ford explorer that began making excessive road noise from the rear of the vehicle. My mechanic told me the seals on the differential needed to be replaced. I have become aware that this is a recurring problem with these vehicles. *jb
ODI 10189076
Differential Unit
REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. *AK
ODI 10188295
Axle Hubs · Differential Unit
Humming, whining noise coming from rear at interstate driving speeds, especially when accelerating. *tr
ODI 10198820
Differential Unit
2002 ford explorer xls 4x4 man trans. Rear differential noises. Fluid change did not help. *tr
ODI 10195449
Differential Unit
Explorer xl, v6, automatic transmission, with 88,000 miles. Differential problem. Our mechanic determined that the bolt broke on a piece of metal holding the pinion in place. We were going down the interstate, 70 mph, the speed limit. All of a sudden we heard a noise. The sound resembled a flat tire. We pulled off on the shoulder and looked at all 4 tires. No flat. We then called aaa to tow to our first mechanic. He…
ODI 10185019
Center Support Bearing · Differential Unit
I just had to replace the gear and pinion assembly, axle differential gear on my 02 explorer, a very costly repair on a 02, 47k miles vehicle. But the reason why i'm making a complaint is because i found over 100 complaints over the internet for the same year/make vehicle. I talked to a couple of different mechanics that told me that if i didn't notice the noise and replaced the parts, my rear wheels could lock…
ODI 10184708
Differential Unit
I began hearing an odd noise coming from the rear of my 2002 ford explorer. We took the vehicle to our mechanic and requested that he check the brakes. He said our brakes were ok, however we had a real problem with the rear differential. We were on the verge of losing our wheels. Because of the severity of this issue and the possibility of injury had we not discovered the problem, we requested that our mechanic keep…
ODI 10182042
Differential Unit
Tsb 05-12-6 rear-end noise in a 2002 ford explorer. I have found that there are thousands of others with the same situation. This is a known defect and obviously a flaw on ford's part. The cost of this fix should clearly be placed on ford. *jb
ODI 10179525
Differential Unit
Noise coming from rear differential on 2002 ford explorer. *jb
ODI 10182852
Differential Unit · Hub · Tires
I have a 2002 ford explorer xlt with 96,000 miles on it and around 60,000 the noise started. First the front right wheel started to vibrate and then the hub went. While driving my front tire just collapsed. 2nd issue the rear end started to make noise is more like vibraing. And after searching on google, i find that im not the only one with this issue. This is a very expensive issue $1200. Just to start the ford…
ODI 10202116
Differential Unit · Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
Drive train problems, holing noise from under vehicle, rear differential problems and transfer case noises, rough shifting from 2wd to 4wd. Have checked on line for a long time and heard nothing but the same problems, why wasn't anything done to ford to get these things put on a recall. We buy their product and now they didn't care about any of our problems. Something has got to be done.*ak
ODI 10187430
Differential Unit
My 2002 ford explorer has a rear differential which has worn out. The vehicle boards online are filled with complaints regarding this particular problem, if there is any relief available by ford for this problem, i would like to be made aware. *nm
ODI 10176826
Differential Unit · Suspension
Fix for chattering and rear whine on 02 explorer. When the car was new 25,000 the dealer replaced the rear pumpkin, very loud whine.. Last month with 85,000 miles on the car, during a turn the rear would chatter and shake the car. I was told the rear needed a special lube for the rear to keep the rear clutches free, i had a local shop replace the rear differential oil with a special blend and it has been fine since.…
ODI 10177522
Differential Unit · Hatchback/Liftgate
Well....here is the 2nd complaint that i'm filing on my vehicle. I purchased my explorer brand new with only 10 miles. I thought i would get the brakes checked since i had 68,000 miles only to find out the rear differential was bad and needing repair. Ford dropped the ball on that!!! Now i discovered that the rear panel has cracked. I will never buy another ford again!!! There needs to be a class action lawsuit…
ODI 10173177
Automatic Transmission · Differential Unit
11/7/03 at 20,272 miles unit in for rear axle whine dealer replaced the drive shaft but rear axle whine not fixed. 11/13/04 at 34269 miles vehicle taken to dealer for rear end howl again replaced rear differential unit. Next morning wife went to take child to day care and vehicle would not go over 35 mph without resistance. Had towed to the dealer and the was told a faulty differential unit. Put the old one back in…
ODI 10173149
Differential Unit
I have a 2002 ford explorer with 52,000 miles on it and the rear differential is starting to whine very loud. The whining started at about 30k miles. It has the 3.73 limited slip differential. I have talked to other explorer owners and they told me about this site to file a complaint as this seems to be a growing problem
ODI 10172378
Differential Unit
Ford explorer 2002. Rear differential whining and leaking axle seals. The seals have been replaced once already and now it is back in the shop to have replaced again. 66,000 miles on vehicle. *jb
ODI 10169534
Differential Unit
2002 ford explorer. Whining noise from rear differential. Whining goes away if pressure is reduced from accelerator. There was a lot leaking around the rear axle seals, it was fixed under warranty the first time at 17500 miles and was just fixed again at 54500 miles on my dime. Have uncovered many other 2002 explorer owners with similar rear differential issues. Would seem that since there are many others having the…
ODI 10167899
Differential Unit
I have a 2002 ford explorer that had a noise in the rear end within the 1st 30,000 miles. Ford refused to do anything. They said it was the tires. We replaced all tires and the noise continued. After 3 rear ends/differential being replaced and paid for by myself, i think it is time to start a class action suit against ford motor com. *nm
ODI 10167750
Differential Unit
At roughly 45k miles, my 2002 explorer also had the whining noise from the rear end at 55-65 mph, oil drip marks on the driveway - took it to the dealer and they stated that i needed a right wheel bearing, replaced for $800. Next time was just this summer (76k miles) - again had the whine return, drips on the driveway and this time it was the entire rear end - all bearings were shot. Spent another $1600. On repairs,…
ODI 10167624
Differential Unit · Driveshaft
Rear end roar at highway speed and reduced gas mileage. *jb
ODI 10179488
Differential Unit
At 80,000 miles the vehicle had 'whine' or 'roar' from rear end. I decided it was not worth fixing and 'lived with it'. The vehicle now has 136,000 miles, still 'roars', and has two seals (that reside in differential case) that are now leaking. I will now have to spend at least $1200 to fix and have already spend $200 to diagnose. *jb
ODI 10199669
Differential Unit
I have a 2002 ford explorer with about 57,000 miles. I recently had an oil change at a place called the oil well and they noticed oil leaking from the rear differential and advised i should take it to the dealer as it appeared that the seals were leaking. The oil well advised that i take it to the dealer to get the seal replaced but the leak did not appear to be bad. I just took my explorer to the dealer on aug 4,…
ODI 10164575