2002 Ford Explorer: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Mar 5, 2018 · Suspension · 221,210 miles · NY

"takata recall" I was driving about 10 miles took a right into the libiary parking lot and my front side drivers tire snapped the ball joint completely snapped and it broke the spring, upper control arm, sway bar and tyirod

Filed Dec 29, 2015 · Electrical, Suspension · VA

Both rear coil springs broke. Replaced front and rear wheel bearings replaced ball joints replaced transmission has now failed and is now undependable. May fail with out warning no accidents, any of the above could have resulted in an accident ford is aware of all of the mentioned problems and refuses to rectify the problems. This is a wide spread problem with all 2002 ford explorers.

Filed Jun 20, 2015 · Brakes · 118,000 miles · PA

Rear pads and rotors failed june 8, 2015. O/d light blinking with check engine light on, on june 12, 2015. Transmission shop got the codes and stated I don't have 2nd and 5th gears. $2000.00 cost. Please force recall! Help! Many other repairs including u-joints, tie rods, front axle, front rotors with pads etc. Since I bought it in april 2013.

Filed Dec 12, 2014 · Acceleration · 217,000 miles · NJ · crash

Drove car to tire dealer for wheel alignment. Parked and left for them to work on. The next day,dec 10,2014, the service tech drove the car for a test ride to check the alignment before he adjusted. He then drove into the bay and applied foot pressure to the gas peddle to get onto the alignment ramp. The peddle stuck at high rpms , 4000+, . As such the car ran off of the ramp , he applied brakes, to no avail, shut car off at same time. Which stopped the car, but not before it crashed into the alignment machine and tires. Car was hung up on part of the ramp had to be jacked off of ramp. Front bumper damaged, cross member under trans pan bent, left rare lower control arm bent..tire dealer has sent the car to ford dealer, on dec 11,2014 I spoke with ford dealer and the have never had a problem like this before. Told him of your report pe 05037 and your letter to ford. . Since your letter to ford the internet has at least 25 reports of this same problem most with accidents. There may only be 240,000 of this cars ,as your report notes, but this problem can cause a death .this car was made with in the time period stated in you report. The fix is to replace the cable. I told ford that I would not accept the car unless the cable was replaced. On the other hand I would expect you to follow up on this deadly problem.

Filed Sep 9, 2010 · Suspension · 172,000 miles · DE

Noticed fluid on rear passenger side lower control arm. Upon closed inspection, noticed fluid coming from rear shock and both rear coil springs were broken. Repair estimates to replace both rear coil spring assembly range from $655 to $800.

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 Feb 11, 2010 · Suspension, Transmission · 157,000 miles · FL

Event/situation: hesitates and chokes at 40-45 miles per hour when trying to accelerate, along with a slight rubbing sensation felt through the steering wheel and gas peddle. They advised replacing the upper ball joints. They also stated a weak battery which was replaced. This did seem to fix various faulty false electrical issues: interior lights staying on and false light/dashboard readings. Faulty transmission, emissions or plugs/wiring have been possibilities. I've taken it to goodyear who recommended changing out the plugs and wires, along with a flush. I've been told that flushes can ruin parts on older vehicles and cause other expensive problems. I found a few websites were there are many other customers having these same issues with the 2002 ford explorer. Ford has been notified and aware of these transmission issues and expensive problems, covering up with other little recalls like the wiring harness. I, like many, are being forced to pay for faulty transmissions. I believe this needs to be investigated and make ford pay for recalls and repairs. It has been taken to the ford dealership for its oil change and a wiring recall approximately two weeks ago, in january 2010. Here is the website with many other ford explorer official complaints who demand a responsible/reliable recall fix from ford. Http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/transmission/o_d_light_is_blinking.shtml.

Filed Jan 3, 2010 · Transmission · 109,666 miles · KY

Started vehicle put into gear and car will not move won't go in reverse won't go into drive. Will go into gear but will not move forward or backward. I have had various problems with this vehicle just got it out of the shop for 1600.00 in the middle of november 2009 for wheel bearings , tie rods, and oil change. Now within less than 2mths I am stuck without a vehicle to get to work again. Please help bill collins ford doesn't seem to give me any help just constant repair work and high costs with no repairs really being done.

Filed Sep 20, 2009 · Suspension, Wheels · 116,000 miles · KY

I have had troubles with the wheel ends on my ford since I bought it in 2005. I didn't realize the problems that I am having are common in this vehicle. I started noticing more brake dust on some of the wheels than others. Then on my rear/passengers tire I hear a squeaking, grinding noise with a little wabble in the wheel. Take it back to the dealer -said they grinded something down. Didn't hear the noise anymore. My ABS light kicks on won't go off has something to do with defect in wheel end assembly apparently. Paid $150 to get it off comes right back on weeks later!! My entire wheel end almost falls off while on the hwy. Pull over all 4 studs had come completely off of the wheel except 1, the wheel was literally hangin. Had to have all studs replaced. Have had to have wheel studs replaced frequently at some point on all four tires. Paid to have rear passenger wheel bearings replaced finally $300+. Front, drivers wheel bearings went out while driving 70-80 MPH on hwy, loss control, barely made it off hwy in the middle of nowhere! 1-2months later front passengers wheel bearings go bad have to be replaced-$300+ each time. Had front brakes & rotors replaced march '07, rear brakes & rotors jan '08. This month sept '09 had to have rear brakes & rotors replaced. Could only afford to have brake pads replaced. Only put 30,000miles on it since had b/r changed in '08. Why am I having to have them both changed a year later. Something in the wheel end assembly is causing increased wear & tear on rear brakes, rotors and everything else! Now my brake pads are burning insanely crazy, alot of smoke comes from the wheel. New brake pads shouldn't burn that fast even with somewhat bad rotors. (that shoudn't be bad), have to go back to the shop this week. All are common issues apparently. Please review link w/complaints on this '02 model. & they tell me my ball joints are going out! Thank you. Http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/wheels_hubs/wheel_bearing_failure.shtml.

Filed Sep 11, 2009 · Steering, Suspension · 107,912 miles · KY

Have a 2002 ford explorer have had several problems, but while I was out driving today my car began to pop as I turned the wheel. I have gotten my tie rods replaced and there seems to continue to be a problem with my vehicle. My husband drove the car home for me slowly but will not drive for fear that the wheel may pop off. Contacted ford and am waiting on a response, this problem has been noted on the internet by several owners of this model and year. This is a suspension problem and I would like this further investigated so that noone is riding down the highway with their children in vehicle and the wheel pop off. I was very lucky that my child was not in the truck with me at the time this incident happened.

Filed Aug 4, 2009 · Suspension · 79,000 miles · OH

After hearing several different noises coming from the explorer, I took it in to have it checked out. I was told that the front struts were broken and needed replaced. I paid to have those replaced. After leaving, I continued to hear a second noise. I took the vehicle back to have it checked out again. I was told that they couldn't find any problem. After another week I didn't hear the noise anymore. I then started having problems with a chugging occurring in the engine. While having this serviced, I was told that the rear springs were broken and the struts also need replaced. The first estimate for the rear springs and struts was $780! So far on the 2002 explorer I have had to have the transmission rebuilt (50k miles), od sensor replaced (45k miles), ABS sensor replaced (45k miles), rear control arm replaced (75k miles), front struts (78k miles), and rear latch replaced (recall). The emergency brake (75k miles) also needed replaced. When the control arm was replaced, the emergency brake crumbled apart. I was told by the dealership that I am luckily the broken spring did not pierce the tire and cause a blowout. The springs/struts and the transmission are common problems and should be recalled. Between paying out of pocket and the issues covered by an after market warranty, over $5000 have been spent on a vehicle 7 years old with only 79000 miles. This vehicle has never towed anything or been driven off road.

Filed Jun 4, 2009 · Transmission · TX

O/d off light flashing, find out solenoid pack needs to be replaced. Also needs all 4 ball joints replaced. Found out these are very common problems to 02 explorers. Not sure if we will repair because it looks like we'll end up doing it again or the transmission will go out. We've already replaced rear end, window motor and have faded window panels and a cracked back panel on lift gate. Why is the gov't not addressing these problems. This was not a cheap car - why is it acceptable to have this many problems with a vehicle?