The noise was the indication of a problem, took the car in for noise coming from the wheels. Was told by ford garage all four wheel bearings needed to be replaced I was very shocked. When ford mechanic said this was a recurring problem and common in this year and model I was angry. Not soon after that the four wheel drive module went out and needed replaced. This car is five years old with at the time 82,000 miles on it. Now the transmission is slipping. Earlier we had to replace the automatic driver's window power motor which was also expensive. Had to replace rear axel bushings too.
2002 Ford Explorer suspension complaints
Page 10 of 15: complaints 251 to 280 of 422, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have ford explorer and have replaced three of four wheel hub assemblies in 3 years. Each time I took the car to a repair shop I was told the wheel was close to coming off the car because of the poor condition of the wheel hub assembly( bearings).
2002 ford explorer wheel bearing failure with under 80,000 miles on the vehicle. I have replaced the front wheel bearing and now both rear wheel bearings due to failure. The first was a rear hub assembly in 06 then a front in 07 and now the driver side rear in 08. I was told by a ford dealer this is a common problem with a tsb addressing it. The dealer told me if not caught soon enough the tires could actually come off the vehicle while traveling. While this has not happened in my case there is the potential for an accident. Also this vehicle has a known defect in the transmission which ford has done nothing about. I have had to replace my transmission at under 70,000 miles and many others have had the same problems I have had with my vehicle as found by searching the web for these problems.
Loud grinding noise from front and rear wheels, the front wheel bearing failed along with the front carrier bearings were spun replaced them at 82,000 miles and at 86,000 miles the rear did the same thing but the rear did not spin the carrier bearings (not yet anyways) the front repair cost me and my wife over 600 dollars (would have been over 900.00 if I didn't do the work my self) the rear we had to buy the parts from the internet to save money and it cost us 350 for the new wheel assembly's and 62 dollars to have the new bearings installed to the spindals. Again if I would have had ford do the work it would have cost us around a 1,000.00 that is a total of 1,025.00 to do it my self and 2,000.00 to have ford do the work. I do still have one old wheel bearing the rest have been discarded for scrap to help pay for the damages. On other thing my wife drives this truck to work every day and when the rear wheel bearing let loose the right rear wheel nearly fell off the wheel was sitting about 15deg inward.
Front wheel bearings shot at 80k miles.
I found an ~3" long piece of unknown steel in my garage. Noticed the right side of the vehicle was about 2" lower than left. The unknown steel was part of the top of the coil spring. Also, the bottom of the spring was broken and the spring had come to rest on the lower swing arm. Total of 3 breaks on the right side spring. When the vehicle was placed on a lift the right side was found to have two breaks, also near the opt of the spring. Called local dealer and was told they have repaired 'a few of them'. Repair garage could not obtain aftermarket springs, they were told they were on national backorder. Local dealer was out and received 2 today, which were installed. I have placed ~95% of the ~62,000 miles and vehicle was not abused in any form. Old parts and pictures are available upon request.
Noise coming from rear end of vehicle. Mechanic states both rear bearings are bad. Also states this is a very common problem with 2002 ford explorers. Cost estimate of 700.00-800.00. Problem can lead to wheel falling off vehicle while under way.
2002 ford explorer caught fire. Consumer stated that the vehicle caught fire while his mother was visiting his sister in a different state. No attempt was made to repair her vehicle and rental cost them $600.00 out of pocket. *kb prior to the fire, the consumer asked the mechanic to inspect the vehicle, because warning lights were coming on and going off intermittently. The consumer had a list of documentation relating to electrical issues. The vehicle had to get a jump several times, the vehicle would hesitate when first starting up. The brake lights were stuck, the dealer replaced the brake pedal switch. The cruise control was inoperable so the dealer replaced the brake light switch. The alternator and wheel bearings were replaced.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving 40 MPH, the right wheel turned outwards and the vehicle rolled in a ditch. The contact stated that the stabilizer bar failed. He sustained injuries. The current and failure mileages were 160,000.
2002 ford explorer xlt, car will not shift out of 2nd gear. Over drive off light flashes and shifting stalls. No replacement has happened yet, but seems like everyone else who has had this happen to them needed a transmission rebuild. I don't have the money to shell out for a rebuild. Also 5 months after purchasing the car, I had to replace the rear ball baring hubs and bearings. The total cost was 1,000 dollars usd. We need ford to recall the transmission.
After normal driving I began to hear a loud grinding and humming noise coming from the rear drivers side tire of my 2002 ford explorer. After going to my mechanic he had said my rear bearing and hub are bad which also made my rear tire unstable. He began to tell me it is a major problem with this vehicle and the bearings, hubs, and brakes were defective due to the fact that they cannot handle the braking load of this vehicle. After researching the problem online it would seem he is correct. This is a major safety problem in that all the bearings and hubs eventually go bad and can fail at anytime making the tires unstable and could fall off during driving. This is obviously a defective design and /or parts installed in this vehicle. There are many complaints of the same events happening to other owners. Since this is a major safety issue and a very expense fix for unsuspecting owners I hope you look into this issue and make ford issue a recall. Thank you.
I, too am apparently a ford explorer loose wheel bearing victim. Unlike most of the complaints I've read, I only have 42,000 mi. On my truck. My mechanic also indicated that he's seeing many of these cases and that ford should be stepping up in the name of safety to recall this defective item before serious injury occurs and the tsa should be forcing them to do so. It is outrageous that a part that should last a minimum of 100,000 mi is going to cost me in excess of $700! Is ford simply using less expensive parts because most people do not carry an extended warranty after 5 years? In addition to filing a complaint here, I strongly encourage you to discuss this with your insurance company. They are a much louder voice since they do not want to pay out unnecessary claims. Ford does not want to alert the public to a safety issue prior to someone being killed, nor do they voluntarily wish to assume this expense if the public simply goes out and pays $700 to fix it. I'm so fired up, I may attempt to reach out to the media. Ford & tsa. My insurance company just called back and they are concerned that claims are being paid out on this and it's neither the owner's nor the insurance companies fault. Please take the time to do what's right here.
1. Humming noise coming from vehicle, went to dealer got it looked at dealer said it was hub assembly in 3 of four wheels that needed replaced. 2. Asked if I could drive it until I had the money, was told it is not recommended because (if) (when) it fails completely it could damage the braking system or the wheel could fall off, searched online and found car-complaints.com and discovered numerous explorer drivers with the same problem and was told the same thing about the wheel falling off. 3. Wheel hub assembles will be replaced, I could get the old parts back if requested. Just kind of scary that the wheel could fall of when this part fails, and it failed on 3 out of 4 wheels.
02 ford explorer, bad wheel bearing, go on internet and find out very high failure rate of these bearings that could cause wheel to come off and potentially kill someone. Ford will not recall these bearings.
The hub on the driver side went bad, causing damage to my axel, rotor, and brakes. Almost caused me to have an accident due to this manufacturing problem.
I own a 2002 ford explorer, and I have had it for nearly 3 years. I recently started hearing a familiar noise from my truck, another wheel bearing needs replacing! This is the third one over the past year and a half! Ford has to fix this problem, there is no reason a vehicle should have this many problems with the bearings!
I have a 2002 ford explorer and replaced the right rear wheel bearing in 2004, again in oct. Of 2006, and now in feb. Of 2008. The right front was also replaced in dec. Of 2006.
My complaint is that I've had to replace all four wheel bearings on my 2002 ford explorer....it only has 90,000 miles on it and it is a very costly repair. It seems to me that these bearing are defective and if I don't replace them the car would be in serious jeopardy of an accident.
Wheel bearing failure for third time almost flipped truck I have had it repaired again.
My 2002 ford explorer had rear and front howling noises similar to a jet during take off. Also was very unstable at higher speeds. Ford dealership found both rear wheel bearings and rear differential bearings need replacing. They also stated that the rear had such a wobble that it would dangerous to drive in its current condition. Just the rear wheel bearings cost me almost $600. On further investigation they found the front hubs and ring and pinion noisy and also in need of replacement. The total for these repairs is nearing $3000. No wonder ford is heading into bankruptcy! This vehicle still has well under 100,000 miles, has never towed, plowed or used off-road, all highway mileage. Is this why they say ford is fix or repair daily? My next vehicle will not be ford for sure. Ford needs to have these issues recalled and fixed before somebody gets hurt.
Recently purchased a 2002 ford explorer for my 17 year old daughter, it has 79,000 miles on it. Within the first three months of owning the vehicle I have had to replace 3 of the 4 wheel bearings. The tire was practically falling off the vehicle by the time it made enough noise for anyone to notice.
This vehicle has been maintained per manufactures recommendations. It is not used off road and run under normal conditions. With no warning and no previous noise the right rear wheel hub/bearing failed. The bearing came apart and the wheel was so loose it was walking 1-2 inches side to side. Had my wife not been driving slowly there could have been a horrific wreck. Luckily she was close to a shop when it happened. I have not fixed it as of yet but am in the process now. I know I will need a hub, bearing and the brakes were knocked out by the walking motion. There should have been a recall on this. I see on the internet where a lot of individuals have had the same issue.
Potential lost left wheel due to failing wheel bearing.
I have a 2002 ford explorer and my problem first started with the 4x4 case. The dealership stated it was covered under the warranty and it was fixed. A month or so later my truck began doing the same things, weird noise when driving now I have to get the wheel bearing changed on the left side and that is not covered by warranty. The cost for this repair is estimated. $600.00.
2002 ford explorer xlt replacing 3rd wheel bearing in 2 years.
Grinding noise from rear especially driver side rear humming and swaying brought to dealer replaced rear hub and bearing assemblies both sides replaced front sway bar links and bushings both sides.
Heard loud roaring noise coming from back rear tires. Had explorer checked to find out that right rear tire was almost ready to come off explorer. After doing some looking around on the web I found out that many other ford explorer owners are also having these hubs/bearings wearing out very early (50-70k miles). This is a very dangerous problem and ford needs to recall these explorers before someone gets hurt. Thank you
Noise like unbalanced tire coming from left front tire/wheel. Noise increases until it becomes a roar like an airplane taking off. Steering wheel begins to vibrate. Feels like wheel is going to fall off car. Mechanic tells me left front hub and bearings must be replaced. The three other wheels are also symptomatic but not as immediately pressing as left front he does not think but won't know until repair is completed later today. Repair ball park cost at this time is $600-$700. Still, other three wheels bearings/hubs will need to be replaced. Car has 70,000 miles, has received all recommended maintenance and has had city driving. Ford is aware of this problem. They have issued technical service bulletins about it. They say that only you can issue a recall. There is an internet board at this link http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/wheels_hubs/wheel_bearing_failure.shtml where 47 other consumers of this issue model have faced the same issue....repetitive failure of wheel bearings/hubs...to the point where wheels have fallen off. Even when replaced the new factory made replacement bearings wear out! Please issue a recall for this before somebody is killed when a wheel flies off on a highway!
Vehicle mileage: 69,000. Loud grinding noise from rear of vehicle while driving on the highway. No previous warning. Required tow. Replaced 2 cracked rear springs, 2 damaged struts, 2 rear wheel bearings. Unusual and dangerous incident for this mileage. We now know it is a "notorious problem" - old parts available.
While driving home from work after having my front bearings done on my 2002 ford explorer I heard a grinding noise from the back of my truck. It felt as though my left rear wheel was going fall off. Took the car to the dealer and they want to charge me $705 dollars. I could have died from this and there are a number of people who have the same problems with the bearings. With a very limited budget I am not able to have the part fixed and this will lead to me missing time at work. Please look into this problem because ford refuses to do so and there is going be a serious injury from this. Please lets not wait until someone loses their life when we can do something about this.
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