Vehicle taken to dealer for state inspection. Both rear suspension coil springs were cracked through. Parts are being replaced by dealer. Old parts are available.
2002 Ford Explorer suspension complaints
Page 7 of 15: complaints 161 to 190 of 422, newest first, as owners wrote them.
On 10-14-2008, took vehicle in for routine nys veh inspection. Midas mech informed me that a 5 inch piece snapped off at the bottom of the pass side rear coil spring . You could see that the coil spring wasn't seated right anymore. Vehicle mileage was approx 66,400. Never used off road. Mech informed me that 2002 ford explorers are notorious for defective wheel hubs (which is true because I recently just replaced both about 1000 mi ago at $1400) and for the strut coil over springs snapping. Enough already!! When will the gov make ford own up to design and safety failures !!!??? I could have been traveling on the highway when this coil spring piece snapped off and could have punctured the tire or the brake line or the fuel tank!!
2002 ford explorer used for non business driving. No heavy loads or trailers. No off road use. No incidents with objects in road, pot holes, obstacles etc. Both rear suspension springs broken. One spring broken in 3 places. Noticed @ 56,500 miles. Springs had been broken for a while(rust on breaks). Didn't notice it until recently broken spring on other side asymptomatic. The only immediate consequences to me were a large repair bill. It could have been a lot worse if I was presented with a need for an emergency maneuver and the faulty suspension caused an accident. I replaced both rear springs and struts. Parts in repair shop trash. Won't last there too long. Repair shop reports seeing similar problems with explorer and related ford models. Internet search revealed many people had same problem with no history of abuse reported. Had rear brakes serviced at the same time. Had to replace shoe pads on parking brake because the pads both fell off. Use parking brake infrequently. Repair shop reported seeing this problem previously also.
My 2002 ford explorer rear springs broke just the other day. Mine had rusted out and broke at the bottom and top of the springs from rusting out.
Wheel bearings on 2002 ford explorer are wearing out without any notice. I never had a car that experienced this issue. This is a sever problem as I drive my small children around in. Knowing that a wheel could eventually come off scares the life out of me. There is no recall from as this is a manufacture defect.
2002 ford explorer badly rusted cracked rear coil springs. While doing brake job noticed how rusted and cracked rear coil springs where. Car has less than 75,000 miles on it never towed no heavy weight springs should not crack like that. Could have shot out and caused major damage (ie shot through tire or gas tank loss of control of vehicle etc.)
Normal driving car with very little light towing had rear coil spring failure. I was able to drive the car to the mechanics to get fixed however there is absolutely no reason this part should fail at only 80,000 miles. I have driven cars with factory springs that had 200k on them. And someone could have been hurt, including myself.
My 2002 ford explorer has broken rear suspension springs. My vehicle has 75,000 miles on it. I have noticed that there are numerous customers with this same problem. This may be due to bad steel or heat treatment of the parts. I am requesting action on this item. I do not do any hauling or towing to cause the problem.
Premature failure of all four wheel bearings in my 2002 ford explorer as well as the pinion gear and clutch packs with less than 50,000 miles.
2002 ford explorer, wheel bearings went out (pre-maturely as on thousands of this model car)and airbag disconnected (ford made cable too short under driver's seat.) lucky we caught it before wheel flew off and airbag didn't deploy!
Brought our 2002 ford explorer xlt into the dealer with 75,000 miles on it to check out a noise in the rear end. Was told it needed a new wheel bearing. This is the second wheel bearing that we've had to replace. The dealer also found that both rear coil springs were broken. Said they may have been broken for some time. Will cost $250 for the wheel bearing and $500 for new springs. Was told ford will not pay for the defective springs. Have never towed anything with the vehicle. Have read on the internet about lots of other people experiencing rear spring failures as well.
Brought my 2002 explorer (59k miles) to dealer for repair and was informed I had a broken rear spring. On discussion board on-line found allot of other people with same problem. Very costly to fix can't understand why spring would break on low mileage vehicle.
Rear coil spring broke and damaged the strut. Dealer repaired both at cost to consumer, also suggested I replaced the other side before it fails. This ford explorer has never towed anything or has never been off road. All four wheel bearings have been replaced on truck at 50,000 miles. But truck was under extended warranty.
Heard grinding noise which mechanic diagnoses as rusted and broken rear coil spring. Shortly after, the other rear coil spring broke into several pieces. Metal used in coil springs seem to be defective and should not need to be replaced after 5 years. No off road driving. Normal use.
Rear spring broken on 2002 ford explorer with 80,000 miles.
I purchased a 2002 fore explorer xlt 10/2004 with 69,500 miles. I now have 17,500.00 miles. I have owned this vehicle for approx 4 years and have had to replace the wheel bearings for all 4 wheels. The first time was 12/05. All four times the repairs were done at a ford dealership. They offer no reason why this might happen. This was my first ford vehicle.
Broken rear springs, two uppermost coils collapsed on both drivers and passenger sides. I noticed it when I was changing the brake pads and rotors in august 2007. From the rust, it appears that the springs have been broken for a while. Have yet to replace since it doesn't seem to have effected handling, but intend to do it this fall just to be safe.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. In the process of getting an oil change, it was discovered that both rear coil springs failed. The failure did not rupture the tires. The current and failure mileages were 140,000. Updated 10/14/08 *bf updated 10/24/08.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving 35 MPH, the contact heard a grinding noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. He examined the vehicle and noticed that the tire was rubbing against the a frame in the front end of the vehicle. Prior to the failure, the contact noticed that the brakes were taking a longer period of time to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the cv joint and bearing hubs needed to be replaced. The vehicle has been repaired by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 119,000.
First the back (both) wheel bearings went. Sounded like a nasty grinding noise, very loud. I had them replaced at 750.00 to replace them and that was not including the fact that they destroyed my brakes and they had to be replaced also..very expensive.. No warranty..than replaced the drivers front bearing and not the passenger side bearing is going..will replace very soon.
Rear spring breakage both rear springs were broken vehicle not used for rough duty the dealer it was purchased from said there was no recalls or campaigns but parts manager stated he has sold seven sets of springs for theses vehicles I believe this needs to be addressed being it is a safety and handling issue.
Vehicle was purchased in november 2007 where a complete inspection was made of the vehicle and its components. Since that time, the vehicle was not driven off-road, had any heavy loads, towed anything, or an unusually hard driving. Strange noise was heard coming from the rear suspension, found to be the rear coil springs both snapped at the top. The vehicle is kept outside during new england winters.
I'm reading many, many, many and multiple complaints about the same things for the 2002 ford explorer. Mainly the wheel bearings going which can cause the wheels to fall off with the potential for severe injury or death and the rear differential going out. Ford needs to recall these vehicles and fix this matter!
Just found out rear coil springs are both broke. With simple search on web, found numerous other owners of 2002 ford explorers have same issue. This is a factory defect, I shouldn't have to pay for it. Plus, its unsafe!
1. Roaring noise in rear end 2. Left and right rear bearings shot 3. Replace left and right bearings and hubs.
Both rear springs are broken at the top. Also, driver rear tire blew out on inside sidewall with about 50% tread left (suspect broken spring gouged the tire). Also had to replace right rear wheel bearing (noisy and wobbly) and parking brake shoes (completely worn off from tilted axel hub). 110,000 miles. Also both front wheel bearings were replaced at 95k miles (making noise). Where is the safety recall?
Wheel bearings eroded after only 75k miles; tires in danger of falling off.
Right rear wheel making noise and is loose. Wheel hub/bearing is loose and wobbly. Parking brake pads worn completely off from wheel being tilted. Failed wheel bearing!!! 106,000 miles. 2002 ford explorer. Also replaced both front wheel hubs for same reason at about 95,000 miles (noisy and rough bearing).
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. After a routine inspection, the mechanic stated that both rear coil springs failed. After being informed of the diagnosis, the contact remembered hearing clunking noises and odd suspension-related behavior. He called ford to find out if his vehicle was included in any recalls and was informed that there were none. The manufacturer has not been notified. The current mileage was approximately 80,552 and failure mileage was approximately 80,500.
2002 ford explorer - both rear springs rusted and cracked. One in 2006 and the other in 2007. This vehicle driven by wife and not off road or for towing. On the net there are many, many owners with same exact problem. Dealership says it is a safety concern but manufacture won't do anything about it.
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