I was driving my 2002 ford explorer about 25mph when I felt the rear end drop down. Pulled over to the side of the road and all 5 studs had sheared off. The second time it happened I was only backing out of my driveway when I put it into drive & started to accelerate the opposite side studs sheared off. This time only 4 studs broke so I limped the truck back onto my driveway. The third time this happened I was driving about 15mph going around a turn & 4 studs broke off again. If I was going any faster the truck could have flipped over.
2002 Ford Explorer wheels complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 78, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Failure of rear wheel bearings on both sides. Time between onset of noise and near catastrophic failure was approximately 300 miles. Fearing a high probability that the front wheel bearings might fail without warning and possibly cause a serious accident and injuries, the only option was to incur the high cost to replace all four wheel bearings and related parts. This is a common problem with ford explorers across a wide range of model years and is clearly a manufacturing design defect. The federal safety agency has been made aware of this issue via a sufficient number of complaints from owners and must compel ford motor company to issue a recall of all ford explorers beginning with model year 2002 or earlier. The recall rightfully must include full reimbursement for reasonable and customary repair costs incurred by owners after warranty expiration.
Rear passenger wheel started shaking. Stopped and removed wheel cover and found three wheel studs sheared off. Had to have vehicle towed to tire store. Replaced wheel, hub and all studs.
I was on the highway doing 65 as posted, I started to feel shaking from the tires and it got to the point I couldn't control the vehicle, lucky I was able to get off the side of the highway and call aaa for a tow, a state police officer pulled behind me and said let me guess hub bearing. The police dept also has the same problem. This is my 8th repair I am doing and next week I am doing the opposite side. It is costing me 600.00 dollars for every side I am doing. I made a complaint to ford company and they told me there is no recall. Then why is my mechanic telling me he gets numerous repair jobs on the same vehicles. Plus I spoke to a co worker that has the same year and vehicle doing the same thing. When is something going to get done. Or is the company going to wait till someone gets killed. Bbb and bluminthau was told about and still no response from no body.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact was driving 60 MPH when the rear passenger side tire detached from the vehicle. The contact discovered that there were three lug nuts that had become loose and caused the failure. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic to have the wheel replaced. Less than one month later, the contact noticed that the lug nuts had become loose again. The contact stated that the lug nuts were becoming loose from the vibration of the vehicle. The contact did not take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostics or repairs. The failure mileage was 112,000. The VIN was not available.
My name is[xxx] and I own a 2002 ford explorer xlt (v6). I have owned it for almost a year now (will be in jan 2012) and loved every minute of it until recently. About 4 months ago, I heard a strange loud whining noise. I immediately took it to my mechanic and found that rear wheel bearing was going. I was also told that if I would have took the interstate to work that evening I could have possibly died or caused serious injuries to others on road. Very scary! Mind you this bearing went with no warning. Immediately after I heard the noise I took it in. Well the bearing got fixed and I couldn't have been happier. However, about a month ago I was on the interstate with my two year old daughter doing about 70mph when my truck began to shake violently. I assumed I was in the process of having a tire blow-out and began slowly breaking and losing control of the vehicle. Luckily I made it onto the shoulder of the interstate. My tire however was not as lucky. All 5 studs on my right rear tire snapped causing the tire to completely fly off and proceed down the road at a fast speed just passing the turn ramp and missing several other vehicles. In the process of losing the tire, it also caused damage to rear end of my SUV. It looked as if the tire got caught and caused the rear to dent in.replaced studs and everything seemed fine. Today (dec.15th) not even an entire month later, vehicle started shaking again. Oh how I remembered that scary shake. Examined tire and once again, studs snapped. 2 this time with a third one missing the cap. The tire was only held by 2 studs. Thank the lord I noticed this problem before going onto the interstate and once again having my tire fly off! I have been doing research this evening to find that this is a common problem with the 02-04 explorers. Please make a recall ford and others help me to get one made! This is a scary and dangerous situation! It can cause the loss of many lives as it has almost done mine and my daughters. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information a
I was driving in town at approximately 30 MPH when I drove over a crack and it felt like a large pothole. I heard a grinding noise and pulled over. My rear springs were both broken. The driver side one at the top and the passenger side one at the top in 3 places. When I turn now it feels like my vehicle is going to roll over. This is a common problem as stated by many others on many internet sites. This is going to cause a serious if not deadly accident. Ford needs to do a recall on this part and replace them for free, since they were the ones who used bad parts in their vehicles. This is a manufacturing defect and should be treated as such.
For the sixth time since 2009, I was driving and heard what sounded like a pop. My boyfriend noticed my right rear tire wobbling. I knew immediately a stud or studs had broken. When he popped off the cap, two studs were literally snapped at the bolt, clean break. This has happened six other times, one in which my tire was hanging on by one stud and nearly caused me to wreck into a telephone pole. I thought it was my mechanic making error after error but could never find an issue. Now, after doing some extensive research, I see it is fords error. This is a life threatening issue. I have spent thousands of dollars getting new rotors, new tires, etc. Thinking this was it. Clearly it's not. Ford needs to either reimburse or recall the vehicles. I'm done.
You need to seriously look into recalling all 2002 ford explorers for potentially dangerous wheel and hub assemblies. This happened on multiple occasions. The first time it happened, it happened in august 2008. I just moved into my dorm, and I had to go home for a little while. I was on the pennsylvania turnpike, and my truck began swerving to the point that I had no control over it, and I had to pull over. When I got out, I pulled the lug cover off the rear passenger side wheel to find that four of the five lugs were snapped. I had to pay $400 to have it towed, and when it got to the garage, they found that the wheel bearings and hub were damaged. The next time it happened, it happened on the driver's side rear wheel, and, again, the lugs snapped and they found the hub and wheel bearings to be the cause of it. This was about a month after the first incident. The third incident involved both front wheels, but luckily only the wheel bearings and hubs were damaged and my wheels stayed in place. This happened about november of 2010. In january of 2011, the rear went again. This time it was in the middle of a snow storm, so I had to wait in the freezing cold for two hours until the tow truck could come. Currently, my vehicle is sitting in a garage to have yet another wheel bearing replaced because it has failed. In total, in the last two years, the rear wheel bearings have been replaced three times each and the front wheels have now been replaced two times each. Every time it happens, it feels as though you are driving on ice, and the vehicle eventually gets to the point where it cannot be controlled any longer. I've had numerous incidents where I've began to fishtail. Every time it goes to the garage, they put it on the lift and the wheels just dangle there. The mechanic, one time, kicked it and it fell off. He did this to show how close I was to a major accident. These vehicles need to be recalled and equipped with superior parts. Ford will eventually kill someone.
I have had to have the rear differential changed and both wheel bearings. The problem occurred at 80000 miles for me but is so wide spread in this make and model that it occurs over and over.
2002 ford explorer. Consumer states problem with tires *tgw the consumer experienced a tire blow on the right rear tire. When triple aaa arrived, the consumer was informed the rear coil spring along with 3 lug nuts had failed. In july 2010, three more lug nuts broke again.
Chrome wheels disintegrating. Was told by dealer that it was cosmetic at the time. Now the aluminum has become porous and I believe it to be a safety issue.
We own a 2002 ford explorer. It has approximately 56,000 miles on it to date. We took it into the mechanic for an annual inspection and were told that 3 of the 4 wheel bearing assemblies needed to be replaced. We had been hearing a loud, almost grinding noise, while driving. These assemblies, being of poor quality, mean 3 of the 4 wheels on our vehicle were loose. I see a very large number of complaints online regarding this particular issue. Very dangerous.
Apparently there is a problem with the hubs and bearings on the 2002 ford explorer. I have a "rubbing sound", had it checked, and was told I have to replace them. It is approximately, $1000.00 (lowest I could find) to replace them. Ford is aware of the problem, there is a technical service bulletin issued by ford (tsb 05-25-8, and 051710) which clearly describes the bearing issue to mechanics. Unfortunately ford refused to address the issue.
Left rear wheel bearing failed doing 65mph, wheel lost stability, almost lost control of the car. Right rear wheel bearing also failed 5/3/2010.
Discovered the rear hub bearings on my ford 2002 explorer were totally gone, in january 2010, started with a loud roar in the back of the vehicle. The auto mechanic stated that the wheel was very dangerous and was about to come off this car. I had the repair work done immediately, then today, may 3 2010 noticed the same roar, the auto shop deemed it the same issue, the rear hub bearings were replaced again on may 3. This has to be stopped, this problem could be very dangerous. Fmc needs to own up to the problem. I was lucky today, the jan 2010 repair was under an extended warranty, but I might not be as lucky the next time. I just pray it's a safe vehicle to drive.
Ford 2002 explorer xlt limited. I have had a myriad of issues, which upon research appear common to the extreme. Front & rear bearings have been replaced multiple times. Springs had to be replaced. Now the transmission is slipping -- o/d light blinks, ses light activates, and vehicles over-revs, slips, and will not operate in overdrive. The transmission design is completely sealed, so I cannot even check for fluid levels, nor do any preventive maintenance whatsoever. There is no warning, just failure. Issues with this model year are so prevalent that local mechanics need only ask the model and year and can itemize the problems I have experienced, and public forums are full of similar complaints. Ford needs to recall this model year.
My first occurrence was approximately sept 2008 when I pulled into a driveway and felt an odd bump upon leaving the vehicle was wobbling when I stopped and took the cap off of the lug nuts I noticed the studs where broken on the drivers side rear. Thought we had it fixed by having the studs replaced. Wrong about 2 months later it happened again. Was told the hub and bearing needed replaced so we replaced them. Upon inspection the passenger side rear had started doing the same thing. So we replaced that side as well. That lasted about 4 months and we went to have new tires put on the vehicle the mechanic said that our bearings were bad again and needed replaced. So we did replace them. About 4 months later it started all over again with the studs breaking off. In one incident I lost all lug nuts but one on the drivers side at once with my kids in the vehicle. This is a serious problem for my family being that we depend on this vehicle and cant afford another but yet can't find why this problem isn't and apparently cant' be fixed. I've done everything the garage has told me to do. The local ford dealer says my problem is that I'm not putting good quality ford parts in there from them. Can any one help. Upon research I have found that there are others with the same type of vehicle having the same problem. I have never owned a vehicle that has done this.
Took the truck into have a vibration and noise checked out coming from the rear of the vehicle. Turned out to be a failure of passenger rear knuckle assembly and wheel bearing. Went on car complaints.com to see if a recall was issued for this. There were report of the same type of failure with the wheels actually coming off.
In 03/2008 I went in thinking I had brake problem and ended up with a right rear wheel bearing replaced. I was told this is a common problem on this year and model ford. Now its 12/2009 and I have the same noise, I go to the dealer and tell him I think its the left front bearing and after further inspection they say the noise was coming from the left front but the left rear is about ready to fall off. I am glad I went to get the truck checked before it fell off at 65 MPH on i80. I could have been killed. I have researched online and there have been many incidents with the wheel bearings/hubs on 2002 ford explorers they know there is a problem and ford is not fixing it. What does it take to get the problem recalled? Accidents with deaths?
Wheel bearing failed, was left stranded in snow outside jackson, wy. No warning of failure.
2002 ford explorer, replaced front left and left rear wheel bearings. Now the right rear bearing is going out. Mechanics at ford dealership said its a common problem. Ford needs to recall these.
Faulty bearings and hub in 2002 ford explorer. Apparently, a very common problem.
This complaint is concerning the wheel bearings on all 2002 ford explorers and the frequency in which they break or come lose causing lose of control of the vehicle. This has happened on my vehicle on 5 occasions, the last of which ford refuses to replace at their cost due to it being out of warranty. The first incident happened in february 2007 when my right front bearing broke while I was on an highway overpass driving at approximately 60 MPH and almost lost control of my vehicle as the wheel nearly comes off when this happens and the vehicle jerks. The truck was towed into the dealership for repair. The second incident happened in january 2008 when my left front wheel bearing broke. This time I was thankfully not on the expressway but once again the vehicle was towed into the dealership for repair as it was not drivable. When the vehicle was in for repair this time I requested that the rear bearings be checked and replaced if necessary and it was found that those two bearings also needed replacement. Now, in october 2009, once again my front left wheel bearing is lose and needs to be replaced. I called ford regarding the possibility that the bearings are faulty and that someone is going to be killed due to this issue but the customer service center just says to make a complaint. They also will not cover the cost of the repair as it is out of their 12 month or 12,000 mile warranty period. I have started researching this issue and have found 28 pages of complaints from people having the same issue and this is just one website. This seems to be a common occurrence with the bearings on 2002 explorers. This is supposed to be a sealed factory part that usually does not require repair and I am on my fifth repair. I am concerned for my own safety and the safety of others.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving 15 MPH the wheels locked; which caused the vehicle to stop without prior warnings. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, but the technician could not duplicate the failure. The current and failure mileages were 59000.
2002 ford explorer(xls)one by one each wheel(bearing) hub had to be replaced!the wheels on my truck were actually about to fall off it was scary and very dangerous! It starts out with a squeaking sound like the brakes need to be replaced but no it wasn't the brakes which repairs and parts together range from $60 to $90 it was the wheel bearing which repairs and parts together range from $300 to $400!I had to get every wheel repaired one by one within 6 months so you do the math.also my (od)light flickers and my transmission slips and jumps in to gear!!!
We have owned a 2002 ford explorer xlt for about two years now. On october 13, 2009 my husband was driving on a side street, thankfully at a slow speed, he turned a corner and realized that something was seriously wrong with the car, thought it was a flat tire. So he slowed down and started to pull over, he then looked out the window to see the tire rolling off the car and down the street. The rear driver-side tire fell off the car. It had sheared all the lug nuts off. If the tire were to fall off at high speeds this type of incident could cause serious injuries or death to the people in the vehicle and pose a threat to other drivers as well. This is not the first time it has happened either. About a year ago the lug nuts sheared off of the same wheel, we thought the first time was a freak accident but it was under similar conditions - slow speed, turned at a stoplight, thought something was seriously wrong, then pulled over to discover the rear driver-side tire falling off of the vehicle, all lug nuts were sheared off. We had no recent work on the tires or the vehicle that could have possibly loosen the lug nuts for either occurrence. To fix this failure we are having the car towed and the lug nuts replaced, again, along with a panel that was damaged by the tire coming off. I do not feel safe driving this car especially with our children as the tire can just come off without warning. Also, as I searched the federal safety agency website there are eight other complaints filed for the same problem for 2002 model explorers and seven similar complaints for the 2003 explorer year and two for the 2004 year as well. This needs to be investigated! I also found on the www.carcomplaints.com website other peoples experiences with the same problem in ford explorers for the years 2002, 2003, and 2004. Please look into this, it is a serious defect! -
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.
I heard a humming sound coming from the front tires about a year ago. I thought it was the tires humming because I had a brake job and tires rotated and I noticed the humming some time after that. Now I find out it wasn't tires but the wheel hub bearings went bad in the front. It is at the dealer now being repaired.
I had been told that my drivers side bearing was going bad and had it fixed and my car was still making a funny noise but was told by the mechanic that it was my brakes going bad and that they would need replaced, so we went and bought brakes and rotors to put on ourselves. As we were putting them on we noticed that my wheel was close to falling off!!! Now we have to replace the bearing in the passenger side rear and also the axel shaft. What if my wheel had came off and killed my 3 small children and my husband and I?
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