2002 Ford Explorer: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 5, 2018 · Electrical · 175,098 miles · NY · fire

Well I have a 2002 ford explorer xlt. It has the trailer brake which I never have used yet. I have a couple issues with it. The theft light blinks as long as the vehicle ain't running. Some times it doesn't like to start and has a brand new battery. Sometimes when put in gear while running it will shut it's self off. I also noticed when I bought it from another private sell that when I was driving the explorer that I kept smelling a burning smell like plastic and wires as well as smoke and heat admitting from the center console area. I dropped a piece of plastic in the center console area. I pulled up the center console area plastic and witnessed the factory wiring that runs to the center console lighter and else where sparking and smoking. I got it to stop and noticed that the fiberglass cloth thing the factory put around it was badly burned as well as almost halfway through all the center console are wires about an inch long as well as the plastic bottom area to the center console cup area. The burned plastic area is also started to melt. I have pictures on my cell phone. I showed the pictures to the reception guy at the jamestown ny 14701 ford dealer service desk. He gasped and looked genuinely scared that , that happened. I'm scared that this happened. I don't want it to catch fire going down the highway with my kids and newborn baby in it. This is a manufacture issue which I feel should be fixed at fords expense not ours.

Filed Sep 17, 2016 · Transmission · 283,000 miles · MI

Transmission, jerked, stalled and had difficulty shifting while driving on freeway/ highway. Additionally, the o/d (overdrive) light came on and continually flashed prior to the transmission starting to noisily grind with a burning smell. I've had 5 professional diagnosis all stating it's a different transmission problem. A class action lawsuit and ford motor company recall is needed on the transmissions, this is a widespread problem and issue for nearly 20 years.

Filed Apr 6, 2015 · Acceleration, Suspension · 220,000 miles · CA · fire

I got a knock on my door by the fire department telling me that my car set on fire I filed a claim with my insurance and they told me to file a claim with ford because they have reason to believe it was the cruise control button that set the car on fire .

Filed Aug 10, 2014 · Transmission, Wheels · NV · fire

Was driving on the highway and felt a sharp jerk/pull to the right. At first thought it was a flat tire so got off on next exit. Wasn't a flat tire but could smell something awful. Made grinding sound and still had bad smell, knew we had to drive it back to the place we are staying at. Had hazard lights on and only drove 10-15 MPH because of the sound and because of how scary it was. Knew something bad was happening to our car. Brakes at this point practically went out. Would not have to press brakes to stop vehicle at a red light, the car would just stop. Steering wheel was not even, but more or less 90 degrees to the right. Pulled into the neighborhood and into the driveway and a car leaving the street saw that our vehicle at this point was on fire! Extinguish fire (since it was a gas fire) and looked at the damage. Looks like the front driver side wasn't even connected to anything. Do not know how or when fire started but the flames when we noticed were about 1 foot tall and wide by the internal driver side wheel.

Filed Jan 3, 2014 · Acceleration · 130,000 miles · NY · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact smelled a burning odor while sitting at a traffic stop, and then noticed that there was smoke and flames coming from the engine without warning. The contact was able to exit the vehicle without injury. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic but there was no diagnostic performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control ). The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure and current mileage was 130,000.

Filed Oct 6, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 189,294 miles · OK · fire

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 forcefully from the car, and then called the fire department. It was a total loss when the entire hood caught fire and melted. My garage mechanic, who had just seen the car, told me that he could see no reason why it would have caught fire. Can you help me?

Filed Sep 20, 2013 · Engine · 180,000 miles · TN · crash · fire · 1 injury

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. The failure mileage was 180,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Mar 15, 2013 · Airbags, Engine · 291,000 miles · ME · fire · 3 injuries

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 not corrected. The contact and two passengers suffered injuries but they were unknown. The vehicle failure and current mileage was 291,000.

Filed Jun 23, 2012 · Transmission · 124,000 miles · CA · fire

This is an update to complaint no. 10459987. After looking at the car records, we discovered that during a service of my transmission, ford factory required the dealership to cut the metal transmission line and installed a rubber line with a filter. If they did not install the filter, then the warranty would have been void. After installing, no one ever inspected or replaced the line or filter. It was simply forgotten. 75,000 miles later the rubber line was resting on the exhaust, which burned a hole and caused transmission fluid to leak and spray onto the catalytic converter and caught fire. We were lucky in that we saw the smoke early and no one was injured. I am concerned there are more cars out there with this retro-fit filter on the transmission that no one is inspecting or maintaining because it is not on an official maintenance schedule.

Filed May 30, 2012 · Engine · 125,000 miles · CA · fire

I was driving on the freeway when I looked back in my rear view mirror and noticed smoke billowing out the back of my car. I pulled over. My husband got out of the car and looked under the front. I smelled fire and he said it's on fire. My husband saw a liquid dripping from the car that was clearly on fire. I turned the car off. We immediately got ourselves and our 2 young children, ages 7 and 5, out of the car. The fire stopped once the car was off. Fortunately, no one was injured. I was told by the tow truck operator and the mechanic that fixed the car that a transmission hose was sitting on the exhaust pipe, causing a leak in the hose and the resulting fire. I am also concerned that my car may be subjected to a recall regarding a faulty cruise control after reading on the internet.

Filed Mar 22, 2012 · Electrical · 160,000 miles · KY · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked at an independent repair shop when it caught on fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact was informed that the fire originated due to a wire under the dashboard. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 160,000.

Filed Sep 14, 2011 · Electrical · TX · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While parked, the contact noticed flames around the radio console and the dashboard. The fire department reported to the scene and a report was filed. The cause of the fire was determined to be a failure within the radio console wires. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for repairs. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.