2002 Ford Explorer: engine overheating

Filed Jul 9, 2025 · Body · OR · 1 injury

September 2, 2023 at about 6 pm I pulled over to grab a couple water bottles from the rear of my 2002 Ford Explorer Sport cause my engine was overheating. I got out walked to the rear of my vehicle pushed my unlatch button on the tailgate and I lifted the glass part of the rear hatch. Both air hinges were not working correctly to keep it up so I gently rested the glass on my hair that was put up in a bun and just a little bit of the glass was resting on the very top of my head where my hair was slicked back for my bun so my hands were free to grab the bottles of water. (My hair was the softest of resting place's). As I reached in the back to grab the water bottles I heard the loudest bang and hundreds of little pieces of glass fell everywhere around me. I was in so much distrot that I actually thought someone had shot at me with a fire arm but missed me and hit the rear glass instead. The top of my head was stinging and it felt like I had just been smacked with a tree branch and the glass had went all over me causing a few minor cuts and scrapes as I fell to my knees in shock my heart racing faster than I had even imagined a heart could beat while histaraclly crying from the trauma that just occurred I fell to the ground and for a full 15 minutes i sat there surrounded by glass and tears in so much shock, dazed and confused before I stood up and looked around at everything that then I only realized I WASN'T shot at because there was no bullet or bullet hole nor did a vehicle drive by nor was there any people closer than a mile to me when I realized that the glass had shattered for some UNKNOWN reason ON ITS OWN that it scared me so bad it traumatized me. After that day I was pulled over multiple times by numerous police agency's (sheriff, Medford PD, Central Point PD and State Police) because I didn't have the money to fix it let alone have the knowledge that it had a recall so I could get it replaced. I have pictures but it will not allow me to upload them.

Filed Sep 4, 2019 · Electrical · IL · fire

The consumer stated the home fire hazard created by faulty design of non ul approved personal snow plow use for SUV manufactured by western products. Snow plow electric motor was unfused and overheated not responding to the comman controller shorting out and causing a serious expensive fire.

Filed Jan 23, 2015 · Engine · 191,000 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the temperature gauge displayed signs that the vehicle was overheating. The contact shut the vehicle off, and restarted it but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician diagnosed that there was a crack on the intake manifold. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure was 191,000.

Filed Nov 24, 2014 · Engine · 183,000 miles · AL

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer sport. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the engine light illuminated as the vehicle started to overheat and stalled. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician diagnosed that the water pump and heating core needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 183,000. Updated 1/16/15*cn updated 9/7/2017

Filed Feb 13, 2014 · Engine · 25,000 miles · NJ

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.

Filed Mar 15, 2012 · Engine · 189,000 miles · CA

The problem is a sudden cracking of the intake manifold causing slow coolant loss. When the intake fails the engine coolant pours out and the engine quickly overheats.

Filed Sep 10, 2010 · Transmission · 121,000 miles · MD

Got a transmission overheated error and o/d was off. Looks like its a common occurrence on my explorer.

Filed Aug 21, 2010 · Brakes, Engine · 179,000 miles · NC

Purchased 2002 explorer xlt v6 4.0l already transmission slipping solenoid or whatever out.. I have read reports and wonder why this transmission is not recalled? I have it in shop now having to have it rebuilt and everything changed. Also right wheel bearings bad, upper and lower ball joints bad, suspension shot. And the records show the previous owners maintained everything well. But also had transmission replaced and had problems at 99,000miles. Please doing something for all of us out here. Also coolant leak, engine leak, power seat failure, and on.

Filed Jan 8, 2008 · Engine · 103,000 miles · AL

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that there was a coolant leak in the intake manifold. There is an extended coverage program that was initiated in class action lawsuit number 05n04. The contact is currently experiencing the same failure mentioned within the lawsuit. Ford stated that the VIN was not included in the recall and the repair would cost $800. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 103,000. Updated 03/05/08.

Filed Mar 2, 2006 · Transmission · 63,000 miles · MA

Transmission overheating and not shifting correctly while on highway at 65 MPH 63000 miles on 2002 ford explorer xlt complete overhaul needed on transmission approx cost $2600.00 to repair.

Filed Jul 8, 2005 · Transmission · 7,390 miles · GA

2002 4x4 explorer limited with v8. At 7390 miles (3/12/03, invoice # w40836) two issues; the transmission never shifted properly and it started leaking fluid everywhere. Two weeks later the dealer admitted they didn''t know the cause and replaced the transmission with a new one. Engine severely overheated (invoice 3w47852). At 20k miles the truck will once in a while stop (as if I hit something) as I start to back out of the garage - problem discovered at 31k brake job - rear shoes on parking brake broke loose on drivers side (both) and only one on passenger side. Loose shoe on pass. Side would wedge with good one and lock up wheels when moving slow. Lot's of arguments and ford finally replaced shoes (4/25/05 invoice # 99323). At 26k (11/05, no invoice) one tire went flat and upon inspection by a tire shop, that tire and a second tire had tread separation - running goodyear''s. Ford quickly replaced both tires without any questions. At 29k, my family and I moved from mi to ga. Each time I stopped for gas the explorer sounded like the front end was grinding metal to metal on the gears. The 4x4 was in auto for the trip and once I got back on the highway above 20 MPH the noise went away. However, it continued to shift poorly and it started to surge (shake) or thump like something was catching in the drive train every time I would let off the gas pedal and allowed the truck to decelerate without braking. Even after new brakes and rotors, the problem got worse and worse - now at 34k, (5/30/05, invoice # w50821) the truck is in the dealership for the 3rd time on this issue. The first time, they replaced the "module-transfer sh" which did pretty much eliminate the shifting issue. They also replace the "drive shaft flange per ssm 16824" whatever that means. But a major problem in the drive train still exists and it still unresolved. Here's my point, ford has a major drive train problem with the redesigned 2002 explorer.

Filed Nov 4, 2003 · Engine · 35,000 miles · PA

Vehicle was taken to dealer on four previous occasions to address an overheating problem that occurred suddenly while driving. Temperature gauge would spike and then return to almost normal levels. On the fifth trip to the dealer 10/24/03, was then told the problem is a cracked cylinder head., this was later diagnosed as a piston problem. Vehicle is still with dealer with compression problems.