I have a 2002 ford explorer v6 and in the past 2 years I have replaced both left and right rear wheel bearing and about to replace the one on the right side again. I called ford and they told me they could only recall a vehicle if you ladies and gentle call for a recall. I have spent over $1200 dollars on this problem and about to spend another $600. I checked on line and realized I was not the only one with this problem. Hundreds of others have had this problem with the explorer but still no recall. I was just wondering what should I do about my problem. I'm tired of spending money on a truck that barely six years old and had less than 70,000 miles when this problem first occurred.
2002 Ford Explorer suspension complaints
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2002 ford explorer front and rear wheel bearing replacement. Back right wheel bearing failed causing damage to the axle, breaks and wheel drum. Front left wheel bearing failed. In both occasions noises were heard. In regards to be back wheel bearing the tire almost came off and the wheel froze. This occurred while on a major interstate traveling at a speed of 65 miles an hour. Back wheel bearing, axle, drum and brakes replaced at a ford dealer, costing over $1700 dollars. Front wheel bearing began making a thumping noise and was replaced at a local mechanic costing $500. In contacting ford I was told there was nothing they could do.
Currently own a 2002 explorer xlt with only 65k miles on it. The transmission is in need of a rebuild because is slip from time to time. The rear differential seals are leaking. The entire rear of the vehicle makes a humming noise so I suspect that a rear bearing is going bad. Not to mention the 4wheel drive system has not worked since I bought it a little over a year ago. I've had intermittent issues with the air bag control module and also the backup alarm system. There is nothing but poor write-ups about this truck all over the internet. All the same problems I'm experiencing are problems many other drivers have also had.
Wheel bearing went bad.
Wheel bearing failures-4 in a 6 month period of time-cost over 1700.00 too have these repairs-ford will not help out and there customer service is a joke. I have a child that is always with me and 2 times it could have been bad.
I bought an 02 explorer. Was driving and started making weird grinding noises. Took it to the mechanic and its costing me 1000! Dollars to replace the wheel hubs and bearings. He said the wheel on the back was ready to fall off!
Front and rear bearing for the 2002 ford explorer fails while driving. Ford is aware of the problem but will not recall until your approval, repairs are made at the owners cost....please help.
Have replaced 3 wheel bearings at the cost of $400 a piece.
Wheel bearing defective.
I own a 2002 ford explorer xlt. Vehicle has @ 57k miles on it. Wheel bearings had to be replaced. My understanding this is factory sealed and should not need replacing this quickly. Normal lifetime of wheel bearings should be over 100k?
I started hearing something that sounded similar to a having a low or bad tire. Tires were replaced and the vehicle is still making sound. After hearing that this was the explorer's downfall, the wheel bearings, I researched the topic online to now see that in the near future I will be trying to replace all bearings more than likely. As documented by other owners, when one bearing goes, they all seem to go. My husband was driving the vehicle yesterday and he said the wheel popped, grinded, and started squeaking; assuming the bearing went out completed, the vehicle is parked to get fixed. I do not have the money that is suggested by other owners to fix this vehicle. If this is a problem with the explorers at this mileage, which seems to happens around 70,000-80,000 miles; this is a safety issue that is affecting the lives of owners. Why is the product not recalled? I drive this vehicle with my 4 and 6 year old children in the back seat, if I do get this bearing fixed, what happens when the others go out. I am just very disappointed in ford motor company. My granddad and dad both retired from ford motor company and I have always upheld their name and value; but this is a disgrace and a huge disappointment. View more owner complaints at: http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/wheels_hubs/wheel_bearing_failure.shtml
I heard a whining sound coming from the front of my SUV. Took it to a friend who works on fords and he said it was the left front wheel bearing. He fixed that and the sound continued, so he replaced the right front. The sound went away. Two days later same sound coming from the rear. My SUV only has 51,000 miles on it. This is a major safety issue especially since I am driving with 3 children. I see that this is way too common. I am lucky that I was not driving my kids when the bearings totally failed and a tire fell off. I still have to old parts, I am considering sending them to ford. They told me in order for them to acknowledge there is a problem I must put the bad parts back on my car and take it to a dealership. Risk my life and the lives of my children so I can take it to a dealership? No thanks. I will send them the parts so they can see how bad they are.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. During a routine inspection, the mechanic stated that the rear coil springs broke. The dealer inspected the vehicle and stated that the rear coil springs were defective. The mechanic replaced the rear coil springs and there had been no further occurrences. The current and failure mileages were 61,000. The dealer information is not available. The VIN was unavailable. Updated 11/06/07
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle made roaring noises while driving. A mechanic stated that the wheel bearings failed. No repairs were made. The VIN, engine size, and speed were unknown. The current mileage was 93,000 and failure mileage was 85,000.
1. Rear wheel bearing failure, manufacturer sealed part 2. Failed 3 times, passenger tire broke free from wheel while driving down road with 2 young children in the car. 3. Fix both rear wheel bearings three times at a cost of $800 each time totaling $2400 in wheel bearings. This part is not suppose to fail....I have been told it is a manufacturer's sealed part, but I have 6 different ones for this vehicle and they all fail!!! All bought at the dealership, but no warranty applies as they last long enough to out live that!
Grinding noise sounding like it is from rear end, especially accelerating at high speeds, and turning. Told to replace rear hub assembly.
Had to replace three wheel bearings at the same time. One went bad while on vacation. Luckily we pulled off the highway for a break and heard a lot of grinding. Took it to a repair shop and they wiggled the tire like a loose tooth. Technician said the wheel was about to come off and could have at highway speeds. With only 67,000 miles on this vehicle this must be a manufacturers defect that could have cost me and my family our lives! Now I am told the transmission is failing. Ford needs to do something about this.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The dealer informed the contact that the coil spring on the rear passenger side suspension failed. The dealer did not state the cause of the failure. As of august 1, 2007, the vehicle has not been repaired. The contact stated that the coil spring on the rear driver side suspension failed june 2005. He also stated that the transmission failed at 79,835 miles. The current and failure mileages were 79,835. Updated 02-04-08. *kb the consumer discovered he didn't have 3rd gear. Updated
Broken rear coil springs on my 2002 ford explorer. Noticed when changing the brakes.
Rear coil spring on drivers side is cracked through. Talked with my mechanic and he said that this is not the first time he has seen this. Probably every third explorer he has seen has this problem. He questioned local ford dealer on this and was told there is no recall on this problem.
Broken rear coil spring.
Both rear coil springs broken. Vehicle drove normally to dealer for wheel bearing replacement. However, mech. Found both coil springs broken while replacing left wheel bearing.
Rear spring failure.
Grinding noise progressively increased over the last several weeks. Took the car to local mechanic. In early 2006 he had replaced a rear hub assembly for noise. He diagnosed that there were three bad wheel hub assemblies and they were the same three replaced in 2006. He stated that this was a very common explorer problem. I felt 6 wheel hub replacements in 2 years was excessive at $450 a pop, including labor. This was a problem that ford needed to address. Luckily, two of the three parts were covered under warranty , napa, but I did have to pay for the labor.
My problem is with the rear differential as well as the hub bearing assembly in the 2002 ford explorer, 60,000 miles on the vehicle. Terrible grinding sound in rear wheels, both rear bearings in wheels were bad, as well as differential noise and leaking of fluid, e no recall on these issues, but I have found thousands of complaints for this same issue. It was a safety violation not to recall these. If the rear wheels lock it would send vehicle into a spin, or travel off the road, why have you not remedied this with ford? You were taking a great legal risk, by not looking out for the safety of consumers.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle began to vibrate. A sears mechanic diagnosed the failure as the front wheel bearings and performed the repair. The left front and left rear wheel bearings were also replaced. The current mileage is 92,000 and failure mileage was 50,000. The rear coil spring were weak. The end bushing were replaced. Updated 06/08/07.
Passenger side rear coil spring broke.
Rear wheel axle bearings. I have a 2002 ford explorer that had 85,000 miles on it. I had to have the rear wheel axle bearings replaced. I drove the vehicle about 20,000 and it was just over a year and the rear bearings went out again. Ford would not cover these. I had to pay full price again to have them replaced. Numerous people I have spoken with said there have been many problems with the bearings. Also a very close friend of mine also has a 2002 explorer and she has had to have her bearings replaced too.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. On february 21, 2007, the contact replaced the rear driver side hub assembly. Currently, the vehicle is in the shop a second time for the passengers side hub assembly. On april 18, 2007, the contact heard a loud rumbling noise while driving 65 MPH. The vehicle began to operate as if the alignment had failed. Someone driving beside the contact informed her that the rear wheels appeared as if they were about to detach from the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 65,000.
Rear axle seals and wheel bearings. We have had to replace the rear axle seals on june 4, 2004 with 4, 000 miles, and on jun 16, 2006 with 69.600 miles. Also had to replace rear hub bearings and assembly on april 17, 2007 with 74,000 miles. *ak this is obviously a recurring issue, and I have been told this is a common explorer problem. All work on this vehicle has been performed by reputable ford authorized dealers/service, and would expect work to last longer than 1-2 years.
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