2002 ford explorer experiencing problems with the 4wd, the over drive light illuminates on the dashboard and the vehicle is giving off a rotten egg smell. *mr there were front end problems. The 4wd module wasn't working. The driveshaft and both front wheel bearings were replaced. The rotors were out of round. The service engine light illuminated along with the over drive light. The transmission experienced the same problem on two occasions and possibly a third time. A large puddle of transmission was found under the vehicle. The torque converter was noisy. The acceleration pedal would pull back. When the vehicle was accelerated, it would whine. The left rear wheel bearing was gone and caused damage to the axle, brakes and the tire was barely holding on. The error code for the service engine soon light was due to the solenoid which had been changed before. The A/C was inoperative. *sc
2002 Ford Explorer acceleration complaints
Page 5 of 6: complaints 101 to 130 of 152, newest first, as owners wrote them.
2002 ford explorer concerns regarding cruise control fires. *mr *sc
While pulling into parking space vehicle accelarated and crashed through wall of a doctors office. Vehicle stopped after shifting into park and front end was inside building. Had vehicle towed to dealer for inspection. Found throttle body sticking which made gas pedal stick causing engine to accelarate out of control. Dealer filed claim with ford. Still waiting for ford to respond.
While the cruise control was set at 72 MPH, the vehicle would not decelerate. The consumer pulled over, restarted the vehicle, but the cruise control was still engaged. The vehicle was towed. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak the vehicle was shut off as the manual suggested in order to reset, but it did not. The consumer said that her husband experienced this problem numerous times. *sc
Vehicle is a 2002 ford eddie bauer explorer. Vehicle was driving on expressway when will changing lanes to pass a slower moving vehicle, our vehicle began to uncontrollibly excellerate and continue to excellerate pushing the car toward speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour. Engine continued to race. An emergency stopping of the vehilce was brought under control after putting car into neutral, applying brakes and getting off of the road. The vehicle had to be towed to westfiled ford dealer ship where they are inspecting the throddle and other parts estimated cost to repair $400. Have not picked up vehicle yet for full description of problem.
The consumer was stopped at a light, removed his foot from the brake pedal to go, when the vehicle accelerated to 50 MPH. Drove home with brakes applied to slow the vehicle down. The dealer replaced the throttle cable.
The consumer's 2002 ford explorer sport was parked when it suddenly caught on fire. *nm
When applying the brakes to disengage the cruise control vehicle would speed more instead of disengaging. Disengaged the cruise control using the hand button. Dealer changed the brake lamp switch.
This has been a wonderful vehicle! It is a 2002 ford explorer equipped with automatic 4-wheel drive as well as full 4-wheel drive with high & low transfer case, 5-speed automatic, 4.6l v8 with double overhead cams, limited slip rear differential, towing package, leather seats, etc. However, this problem has the potential of causing harm or even death to its passengers and/or those in other cars and especially pedestrians. The problem has been extremely intermittent such that the technicians cannot experience it themselves. It usually happens on a cold day. The first time it did it, I was pulling a small trailer and I had driven a couple of miles to a plant nursery and on the way back as I neared my house, I drove down a long grade toward a stop sign. When I began to apply the brakes, the engine accelerated with such force that the transmission downshifted so that I had to stand on the brakes with both feet to keep from running clean across the road into a tree. It happened 2 more times that day. I then had it towed to the dealer and they replaced the idle valve. However, that did not fix the problem. It has happened several times sense. It has happened while traveling up a hill, down a hill, and on level ground. But it always happens when you apply the brakes. The last time it happened, it threw me out into a busy intersection but fortunately I was not hit. The time before that it tried to run over the little car in front of me but I was still able to stop it. I'm thinking about naming this SUV christine. My brother has an early 2002 explorer equipped the same as mine and his has done it once. My mother has a 1998 crown victoria with this same engine and it has done it twice. There's no telling how many "christines" out there waiting to kill and there poor owners may not be totally aware of the problem.
Gas pedal went to the floor, as a result consumer experienced sudden acceleration on its own. Consumer had to turn off the vehicle in order to stop. The vehicle was not in cruise control mode. Dealer said that the throttle cable seized.jb...while making left hand turn through an intersection the gas pedal went to the floor and rpms went to the top. Used both feet on brakes to stop. However, vehicle won't stop. Turned vehicle off in drive, then put it in neutral , rpms lncreased. Turned vehicle off, couldn't put vehicle back into park or pullkey out of ignition. Called aaa to tow vehicle to dealer. It was fixed without charge to consumer because of extended warranty.
The consumer came to a stop at a red light. When he pulled off, the accelerator pedal jammed down to the floor. The consumer had to physically pull the gas pedal up with hands.
While driving the vehicle the throttle cable became stuck in the open position causing the vehicle to increase speed to dangerous levels. Application of the brakes did little to slow the vehicle down. Immediately stopped at service station which identifed the problem as the throttle cable, noting the there was an exisiting service bulletin regarding this problem. New parts were ordered and repair was effected - cost approx $200.00.
While driving, the vehicle accelerated suddenly without warning. The consumer applied the brakes, but the vehicle continued to accelerate. Please fill in additional information.
At a stop light, in slow moving, stop and go traffic, my 2002 ford explorer accelerated when I applied the brakes (speed at the time I applied brakes was under 5 miles per hour). The throttle was obviously engaged, a loud whining noise came from the engine. I put the car in park and shut off the engine to get it to stop moving. This vehicle virtually accelerated while the brakes were applied to the floor! I hit the car in front of me, who hit the car in front of her. All three cars were damaged and all three drivers have been treated for injuries. The explorer is in the dealership now being repaired. I am concerned that a mechanic may not know enough about this to diagnosis the problem correctly. The vehicle is not safe to drive because of this problem.
My ABS light came on. When serviced, they said a speed sensor needed to be replaced. Of course this occurered one week following the expiration of the warranty. Talking with others, this seems to be an often occurance, and seems to be a defect. Some poeple have had their's replaced several times within a year.
While driving speedometer would be off by 6 MPH. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak the vehicle was not in compliance with federal law 49 cfr chapter iii section 393.82 for the speedometer which states reasonable accuracy is within +/- 5 MPH at a speed of 50 MPH. The consumer notified ford customer service of the problem and asked them to comply with the above code. The customer was denied this service.
When the brakes were depressed, the vehiclesurged forward. This also occurs when the acceerator pedal is being depressed. The vehicle was serviced several times but the technician was unable to determine the cause. Please provide any additional information.
I was getting onto i90, floored the accelerator to catch up to speed. The accelerator got stuck in that position, and I couldn't get it to stop. I had both feet on the brake, and my truck was still doing 80 MPH. I couldn't get it to stop. I finally put the vehicle into neutral, pulled over to the side, and finally got my vehicle to stop. While I was in the stopped position, my speedometer still was reading 80. Finally it quit on its own. I definitely do not feel safe driving it anymore.
While driving 50 MPH, the throttle pedal became stuck in the open position. The driver slammed on the brakes but the vehicle continued to accelerate up to 65 MPH. The driver tapped on the throttle pedal until it released and was able to stop the vehicle without incident. The dealer mechanic could not determine the cause of the problem but will further assess the problem by trying to duplicate the problem. *nm
While traveling at about 45 MPH, the throttle on my 02 ford explorer suddenly would not return to idle. The cruise control was not on at the time. The cause was a plastic sheathing between the throttle cable and the exterior housing of the cable. I believe this material is used for lubrication? The material appeared to pull out of the housing and bunched up inside the driver footwell. When my foot was removed from the pedal, it would not return fully to idle because this tan material bunched up at the base of the housing where the cable comes through the firewall. By cutting the excess material away, I was able to get the pedal to respond properly. The dealer replaced the throttle cable under warranty.
While accelerating pedal is hard to push and it makes a loud hissing noise. Dealer attempted to repair the problem four times, but was unable to resolve the problem.
Sticking throttle cable. Caused engine to idle high.
On occasions, the vehicle had been inching forward at stops with the brakes applied. The dealer repaired the accelerator cable. Then about a week later, while traveling at about 70 MPH, the vehicle would not decelerate. My husband shifted the gear in neutral and stopped the vehicle. The dealer admitted that the accelerator cable housing was defective. I finally traded in the vehicle.
Cruise control, vehicle keeps accelerating after cruise control set button is released also when coast button is pushed vehicle will accelerate. Buttons are free and not sticking. This is an intermittent problem. Almost rearended cars on two occasions. Just bought car and have not had a chance to get to delear.
Went to apply brakes and the vehicle started to accelarate. I thought I had hit the gas pedal with the side of my foot, but after getting the vehicle stopped I tried to put my foot on the brake pedal and the gas pedal at the same time since that upset me. I could not do it because they are too far apart for that to happen. This could have been very bad because I could have gone into the store in front of the parking space.
When driving at any speed and pressing on gas pedal there was a loud thumping sound coming from the engine. When the vehicle heated up there was a strong sulfur odor. Dealer and manufacturer have been informed of this problem.
While driving, and after setting the cruise control, vehicle would accelerate beyond the set speed. Problem occurred five times. Manufacturer and the dealer had been informed of the problem.
When I am trying to put the explorer into park I have a hard time. It takes me several minutes and much frustration to get it into park. It seems to be getting worse, harder to get into park. This could be a safety issue.
The consumer was slowly merging when the gas pedal had gotten stuck and the speed increased. The cruise control was not on. The brakes did not stop the vehicle from driving forward. The consumer shifted to reverse but that didn't stop the vehicle until it hit the vehicle in front. Later I lifted the gas pedal up with my foot.
My husband was driving home and the car started accelerating on its own. The gas pedal was stuck and he tried braking and it would not stop. He even tried the emergency brake and it would not stop. It finally popped up and stopped. He was very frightened by the incident. We have two small children and he refused to let them ride in it again. Then next day we traded it in on a new car at a huge loss to us. I now find out that ford has this problem and refuses to do anything about it. The rug did not catch it was nowhere close to it. They won't do anything until many people die and they get sued. Please investigate this before others are hurt.
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