I had my explorer parked in my driveway, I was walking past it and heard a buzzing/humming sound from the front end. The car was not started though it was making this noise. I called the dealer and asked for service and asked them to hear the noise over the phone. The call was passed around the department and no one could figure it out. I was told to turn the car off and to their surprise I said I had not turned it on. The said bring it in immediately but before we hung up they wanted to see it if would start. It did, we hung up & I was on my way. On the drive there, the buzzing would stop when I would step on the brake, turn on the turn indicator or hit the hazards (didn't need them, just figured I would try them). At the dealership, everyone came out to experience this noise. I have been their customer who brings problems to them before the masses. The technician tried to stop the noise by changing out the fuses, which wasn't the problem. I ended up waiting about an hour while they unassembled the dash to find a short in the steering column. An electronic sensor was having a meltdown. I ended up leaving the explorer with them while they ordered the new peice. The service rep also didn't want me with the vehicle since it was a fire hazard as well. They took care of it and I have not heard of any other owners who have experinced this.
2002 Ford Explorer electrical complaints
Page 6 of 6: complaints 131 to 148 of 148, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The automatic gear shift broke. Could not change gears. Electric windows stopped working both driver and passenger. Air conditioner broke - air conditioner clutch make rubbing noise when engaged.
Alternator caught on fire without warning.
Trailer towing wiring is fused at 40 amps to the trailer plug. A short in the signal wiring caused the trailer wiring insulation to melt off before the fuse blew. I was fortunate to have it happen with my boat trailer where the wiring is enclosed in the iron channel of the trailer. Had this been a camper, it could have caused a fire. The wires going to the trailer plug should be fused at 7.5 amps as in previous model explorers. See the email I recently copied your department for full explanation of this incident. This problem exists in the 2002 and 2003 explorers and possible other ford products.
I've owned the vehicle for approx. 10 months. The vehicle hasn't started 7 different times. I've had minor hesitations when accelerating from an idle. The vehicle has felt like it was going to stall several times when coming to a stop or accelerating from a stop. The horn, on occasion, has not made the proper sound. The door locks do not always lock or unlock with the remote. I've had a burning smell eminating from vents with heat on. I've been to the dealership, jim keim ford, 3+ times, had a diagnostic exam done, had the ford flight recorder installed to attempt to register problems. Nothing ever found. I've documented everything from the time of the initial problem, just went through the dispute settlement board and have been awarded a refund of money or replacement of vehicle. Document everything and don't give up!!
I have had my vehicle into the ford dealer for the same problem at least 4 times with no success it is still under manufacturer warranty and is a 2002 ford explorer.
The vehicle's tailgate glass exploded while the consumer attempted to close it. The dealer was notified. *nlm broken liftgate glass and wiper motor and arm were replaced. There were squeaks when going over bumps. Sway bar bushings replaced. Ignition switch hard to insert key at times. Cylinder and tumbler rekeyed. Bottom door molding (passenger side) peeling off. Rubber grommet on antenna base off. Resecured rubber grommet for antenna base. *tt pe04045_pco
Last summer (july 2002) during a military move from ga to az I noticed that my windshield had a large piece of glass missing on the outter right edge that you could not see until you actually got right up on the windshield. Part of it was visible to and part of it was hidden behind the rubber seal that is around the windshield. This windshield was actually installed with this piece missing from it when the vehicle was built and sent to the dealership. Also, the rear glass hatch, gas shock twisted from its original position and caused the window to be off center by about an inch or more. After fixing it three times it had to be replaced. Both of these problems (the windshield and the gas shock) have been fixed by my local dealership and thus far have held up. There are numerous other complaints that I have on my vehicle that include the elecrical system not functioning properly. When you turn the truck on sometimes all the dashboard lights stay on as well as the interior lights and you have to shut the truck down and back on several times in order for them to go out. The truck will sometimes stall at take off or will lurch while shifiting into a higher gear and has totally shut down while driving down the road on a few occasions. The trim paint on the doors, both front and passenger has faded there are rusted spots in the paint on the top of the vehicle, and the hood has a very bad orange peel effect on it with grit in the paint. The left rear speaker has busted and the panel on the rear hatch below has broken loose as well as one of the plastic bracket covers on the back of the passenger seats. Pe04045.pco
I bought a 2002 explorer on may 23,2002. In the past 8 months, the vehicle has been towed in because it woudn't start--acomputer chip was replaced. My A/C made a high pitch squeal and after at least five times of trying to repair the existing A/C clutch, a new one was finally put on. My front end suspension has been fixed. My midlift gate cracked in november and a new one was put on. I have had daily problems with the driver's side seat not fully going into position when I start my truck and this problem has not been fixed as the service dept. That I deal with nevers seems to be able to see the problem. Funny how it does it every day for me, though. My blinkers will sometimes stick and stay on without blinking--this also has not been fixed. At the beginning of january,2003, on the way home from a trip, my husband and I noticed that every time we slowed the truck down, there was a blast of air from the upper vents in the vehicle. This happened no matter what setting we had it in (ie. Defrost or floor vents). This past thursday, jan.16, the suspension was repaired and supposedly the heating system was as well. Now the air doesn't seem to leak out the top vents, but continuosly comes out of the floor vent, no matter what setting the heat is on. I have a rental vehicle once again, while they keep the vehicle overnight tonight to see if they can hopefully fix this problem. Needless to say, we are currently checking into the lemon law for our state!!!
Vehicle brought to dealer after craking noises behind dash and driver pillar. Found 15 plus bolts loose, hoses installed incorrectly, all panels/door/grills assembly on vehicle front and rear are dropped or racked out of alignment. Dealer unable to conclude why so many defects exist. Dt
Faulty anti-theft module(shorting) making vehicle unable to operate. At this time ford is unable to repair or replace module leaving owner stranded. Ford has told us that they are working on a solution but at this time there is not one. How many others are driving witht his unsafe module?
Main computer module malfunctions, causing other major components, such as transmission/ power window, and doors not to work.
Mounting bracket on glass liftgate became detached from strut-lift mechanism joint upon reaching maximum extension causing glass to fall onto my head. Reported to dealer but not repaired/replaced due to parts n/a. Often have difficulty turning ignition switch after inserting either of the factory keys. It requires a "jiggling" motion to engage and turn ignition. Pe04045.pco
Minor traffic accident, damage to left front bumper and fender, near battery. Result was instant flame under hood and vehicle destroyed.
When driving in snow horn does not work, or makes a very muffled sound. When weather warms up and vehicle sits in the sun, horn will operate again. *jg
Truck stalled after puting it in drive, at red light, after starting, at low speed on several occasions. Regaped the spark plugs and reprogrammed the computer.
Dealership lost keys. On board computer/security system would not allow remake of key. Ford issues a tsb (ignoring issue hoping warranty would expire before a new key was requested.) 4-wd inoperable. No 4-wd related indicator lamps on dashboard at engine start. Vehicle has been at dealership for over a week "waiting for a back ordered solenoid". "93 other 2002 owners are waiting for parts" to fix same problem.
The drivers side tail light wiring malfunctioned causing a fire after on 28 days of owmnership, the vehicle was declared totaled by the insurance company, the vehicle was not in motion at the time the fire occurred. Nlm
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