2002 Ford Explorer Engine Problems
- 47
- 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 47 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 5 indicate fire
What owners report
- failure mileage · 6 records
- repaired notified · 5 records
- light came · 5 records
- fire department · 5 records
- transmission failed · 5 records
- smoke started · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 150–400k mi | 18 |
| 100–150k mi | 15 |
| 60–100k mi | 7 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
| 30–60k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine
My 2002 ford explorer, since 2013 have blew out sparks plugs three times. The threats of the head are damage . *tr
ODI 10676143
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
I bought a used 2002 ford explorer in april of this year at a used car lot. It was a beautiful blue suv in remarkable good condition. I had it four months, and it caught on fire while at a stop sight on my way home from a shopping strip twenty miles from my home. It started smoking and while i was fumbling for my purse to get my cell phone to call for help, it caught fire and bystanders on the thoroughfare pulled me…
Fire reported
ODI 10546922
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
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the vehicle burst into flames and the contact crashed into an embankment. The contact suffered injuries to the back. The vehicle was destroyed during the crash. The fire department was called to extinguish the fire. The fire department stated that the fire had started from the engine. The contact did not call the manufacturer.…
Crash reported · Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10544594
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the engine intake manifold failed due to defective plastic that fractured and caused fluid to leak. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for inspection where the intake manifold was replaced with a steel manifold. In addition, the spark plugs rubber and gasket was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The…
ODI 10541780
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that there was a rattling noise heard from the engine as soon as the vehicle was started. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that the timing chain plastic tensioner was fractured. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. The vin…
ODI 10501332
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that while traveling 45 mph, the vehicle made a loud popping noise and the vehicle shook. The also contact stated that the check engine light, over drive, and message centers lights illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle had not been to the dealer or a mechanic. The failure and current mileages were 126,000.
ODI 10496714
Electrical System · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
My ford explorer has had so many ridiculous problems. This one is extremely inconvenient. The car has trouble shifting gears, it spins from 1st to 2nd gear and then i have to let go of the accelerator for it to shift again, it skips 3rd gear altogether and jerks into fourth after pressing and depressing the accelerator a series of times. Once it's in 4th gear, it doesn't go past 50 mph. My mechanic says his monitor…
ODI 10493405
Engine
Was driving car along local road when the engine started to make noise and the car would not go over 5 miles and hour. Many cars severed to avoid truck and was lucky there was no accident. Truck was towed to local facility and had ford tech look at vehicle. The timing chain tension broke. Tech and dealerships( called two for quotes ) said this was a common problem. After finding out the engine needed to be pulled…
ODI 10554253
Engine · Power Train
Three months ago the overdrive light began flashing on my dashboard. The automatic transmission made a loud noise when changing gears. Sometimes the rpm's will rev but the car will not increase in speed.the light will not turn off and the transmission continues to shift harshly. *tr
ODI 10489204
Engine · Power Train
While coming off a freeway my car suddenly jerked and the transmission failed. Causing my vehicle to stop. When trying to move forward the car began to try to roll backwards into the car behind me. I was lucky i was coming to a stop rather then going full speed on the freeway. After much research i have found that this is an all too common problem with this make model and year. The transmission now needs to be…
ODI 10477337
Engine · Power Train
Transmission failed on the highway at 70mph pulled off exit and continued on city roads to our jobs parking lot and is no longer drive able. *tr
ODI 10471653
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
Engine · Power Train
While driving car would not shift passed 3rd gear. I had to pull over on a busy highway because i was afraid the engine would explode. I later found out, after researching, that the risk of it shifting into reverse is a common problem with the po745 error code in 2002 explorers. *tr
ODI 10463294
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
Engine · Power Train
Transmission failed for the second time. Failed originally at 65,000 miles and had to be replaced. Failed again 3 years later at 130,000 miles and had a rebuilt transmission installed. 10 months later at 140,000 miles the transmission is leaking and starting to slip. I don't anticipate paying for a 4th transmission on this vehicle. Obviously there is something wrong with the design. *tr
ODI 10481036
Air Bags · Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that after shifting into reverse, there was an explosion under the hood. The air bags deployed and the engine caught fire. The fire department was present. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the gears slipping where the transmission was rebuilt but the failure was…
Fire reported · 3 injuries
ODI 10503102
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the engine temperature gauge fluctuated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was stated that the thermostat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 69,000.
ODI 10534052
Engine · Power Train
In [redacted] to our family vacation our transmission failed. We had it towed and the transmission replaced with a ford rebuilt transmission with a warranty purchase. In 2012 this rebuilt transmission failed and we had it taken to a ford dealer and the transmission replaced with another transmission. This current transmission is exhibiting the same symptoms as the last two did prior to failure. *tr
ODI 10702092
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the timing chain belt tensioner failed and caused the vehicle to sound like a diesel truck while driving. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated the noise had been a problem for over four years, but the dealer could not find anything wrong with the vehicle. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10480647
Engine
None - just driving and engine stops without a sputter on highway at 55-65 mph or just idling, 2/3 dealer determines idle air bypass defective, 2/3 - driving home from dealer it does the same thing, 2/8 - dealer gets vehicle back and reprograms power control module, now it runs rougher than before and dies out more frequently. 2002 ford explorer 49k miles [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of…
ODI 10114672
Engine
The engine overheated without any warning from the dashboard. I bought this car with 18,000 miles. The engine overheated when it had approximately 25,000 miles. *tr
ODI 10564180