Flat tire; after taking tire off I noticed that the coil spring was broken in half and the wheel bearing was bad, causing the wheel to wobble. There was no apparent reason for the part failures. After consulting others with the same vehicle type this is a very common problem for 2002 ford explorers - wheel bearings and coil spring failure. Ford may want to recall these before it causes accidents.
2002 Ford Explorer wheels complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 78, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Wheel hubs especially the rear - constantly going bad usually 12 months or less- rear differential vented with hose over rear tire. Causes water to get into gears - major problem. I keep catching the problem but only because I now look for them but it has been close - recently I had to have it taken to the repair site as it was too dangerous to drive.
Purchased a 2002 ford explorer for my 17 yr old daughter. A few weeks later she drove home from college and said she thought it needed an alignment because car vibrating. She had scheduled an appointment to have this done. A couple days later she was driving at 70 MPH on the interstate when her and the passenger heard a loud noise in the back passenger side of the car. The car than began to shake very hard and loose control. She could not keep on the road and rolled across the interstate and into the median. The rear passenger side tire had broken off the car. Thankfully there was no traffic and the two survived the crash with non life threatening injuries. I can only hope the next person this happens to is as lucky. Upon researching this problem on the internet I realized this seems to be a common cause of accidents with this type of vehicle. What is it going to take to make ford recall and fix this issue. How many people have to be hurt or killed? I hope this is addressed before someone else is injured.
I recently had to have the bearings replaced due to problems that many have experienced with the same make, model, and respective years. Once the bearings were replaced I noticed more issues with the "slipping" transmission that many many many more have already lodged complaints against. What is being done? When can we expect answers?
Felt a wobble while driving, found out that the right front wheel bearing is out. Had to order a front wheel bearing and hub assembly. If bearing went out while driving, the wheel will come off. This could result in an accident and possible death. Ford is aware of the issue but declines to take action.114 other complaints listed at carcamplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/wheels_hubs/wheel_bearing_failure.shtml.
Rear bearings go out on vehicle while driving on the interstate - no crash occurred, but it very well could have in heavier traffic.
I purchased a 2002 explorer new late in 2001. Every wheel bearing has failed and now my passenger front has failed a second time so I am on my 3rd set of wheel bearings if you include the factory bearings and I only have 112k on the car. The bearings are clearly defective on these cars and if left alone are also a safety hazard.
Had to have both front wheel bearings replaced.
This 2002 ford explorer has only 62,153 miles and the wheel assembly hubs have failed. The problem is in the design of this part because it has no axle and is assemble to the frame by three bolts. If this part goes bad on the interstate and the wheel will come off , god help the driver and the people on the same path. This SUV needs to be recall!
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving 75 MPH, the contact heard a grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The mechanic stated that the noise was due to the routers from the brakes, and advised the contact not to worry. As the contact left the mechanic, the sound from the rear of the vehicle continued. The contact took the vehicle to another mechanic and was informed that the wheels were being held on by the brakes and the bearings were destroyed. After having the wheel bearings replaced one year later, the contact noticed that the tires had poor tread marks. The contact took the vehicle in for a wheel alignment and the mechanic informed the contact that two of the wheel bearings were destroyed. The current mileage was 75,000 and failure mileage was 60,000.
Transmission in 2002 ford explorer failed w/o warning. Directly (3 days) after getting it back from transmission shop, both rear hub assemblies went. Again, seemingly overnight. My wife said, "it feels like the wheels are going to fall off." service shop said, "it's a wonder the wheels didn't fall off." did this thing just self-destruct or what? Ford needs to be held accountable for these untimely failures. I have three small children. Updated 06/25/08
I have had 4 wheel bearing/hub assembly units fail on my 2002 ford exployer. The first to go was after only 20k miles. The car now has ~70k miles and in the shop now for the same repair. A very costly repair and very dangerous situition. Ford will not even acknowledge it is a probelm but understand is has been an on-going problem with many customers.
A couple of years ago, my 2002 ford explorer 4.0 xls started to make a roaring sound from the rear wheels and the gas mileage seemed to be a couple mpg less. I think I had about 25k miles at the time. I took it to the dealer and asked them to check it out, I thought it could be the bearings, they found nothing. I was very concerned since I was going to take my family on vacation... Now, still concern I did an internet search seeing if anyone else was having the same problem. I found http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/wheels_hubs/wheel_bearing_failure.shtml and now I am even more concerned. I think I am sitting on a time bomb. There were so many complaints, that I believe that there is truly a design flaw that needs to be corrected. I have had identical issues and I don't abuse the car. Could you please investigate before I end up in an accident? Thank you.
Transmission shifted hard into 2nd gear from day one, took it to dealer and they said it was normal, whining in rear end also said normal. Had to replace 2 wheel bearings, 2 more bad now, replaced wheel hub, now transmission will not shift.
I heard like a airplane right over the head of my truck and it ended up being my hub bearings, the ford dealer said we have alot of these problems with the 2002 ford xlt explorer. He told me as many as these that he gets in it should be a recall. He proceeds to tell me your tire can fall off and there can be serious accident someone can get killed or hurt really bad. Now I had to shell out 1,0000. At a local dealer to get this problem fix. I finally got done paying for the [xxx] car and now I have to throw money in constantly first it was my rear end 10 days after warranty expired now its hub bearing what's next maybe ford would be # 1 if they made a better truck. That is why the american consumer are buying foreign cars and trucks because at least they do recalls and the cars and trucks last. Maybe our economy would be better if people bought american stuff but as you see why when you have to shell out money all the time to fix it! Plus warranty's on foreign cars are better too 10 yrs or 100,000miles .see american companies like ford don't have a warranty like that because they know there crap will break before 10 yrs. I feel bad to complain but I supported ford for along time and anything I buy usually has some kind of problem and the sad thing I always buy new. This is my 3rd new ford I bought just to keep the money in united states. There should not have to be a death or crash for a recall! *tr information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
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.
Loud vibrating noise from tire...right rear wheel bearing failed in june of 2007, replaced. Front left wheel bearing is failing now, january 2008.
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.
I have a 2002 ford explorer xlt with 96,000 miles on it and around 60,000 the noise started. First the front right wheel started to vibrate and then the hub went. While driving my front tire just collapsed. 2nd issue the rear end started to make noise is more like vibraing. And after searching on google, I find that im not the only one with this issue. This is a very expensive issue $1200. Just to start the ford company is aware of this issue and nothing is being done about it. This is not a joke, this is serious, someone can get hurt. Maybe that's what it will take for the ford company to resolve the issue, the issue that ford is aware of. Please help!
2002 ford explorer xlt 4x4, I have been getting a humming sound. I have replaced one front wheel hub bearing and both rear will bearing hub. One at a time, couldn't afford to do all. Humming still being heard. I have 125,000 miles and its in good shape. I bought it in 2002 a certified vehicle. Ford needs to recall rear of 2002 explorer.
Rear wheel bearing failure at 80,000 miles, both rear bearings.
Tl*- the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started vibrating and pulling to the right. A lug nut hit the windshield and the vehicle came to a sudden stop because the front passenger side tire was lodged underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to replace the new lug nut and stems and repair the damage to the vehicle. The failure mileage was 71,000. The current mileage was 81,000. This failure has occurred on tow occasions.
Tl*- the contact took the 2002 ford explorer to get new tires where she observed that two of the rims were cracked, the passenger side front and the rear driver's side. The crack almost dissected the rim. Kmc the specific wheel she had was the king pin 20 inch chrome wheel. She called the distributors for kmc wheels and they stated if she didn't have the original receipt there was nothing they could do. They faxed her the warranty. Structural damage would only be covered if she had a receipt. The name of the distributors waswheel pros 562‑921‑1237.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 MPH, a noise was heard and the rear driver wheel fell off. The vehicle was maneuvered off the road and towed to the dealer who could not determine the cause of the failure.
In feb of 2006 with 65,995 miles on my car I heard a whirring/grinding noise from the passenger side while driving. I made an appointment with my mechanic for later in the week (~4 days) to have the noise looked into. 1 day prior to taking my car to the mechanic the noise got much worse and I took it in immediately. I was told that the right rear wheel bearing exploded and damaged the brake and emergency braking system. I had this repaired and chalked it up to bad michigan roads. In may of 2006 the left rear wheel bearing also eroded/wore out and needed to be replaced (only 68,368 miles at the time). The warehouse/retail outlet where my mechanics purchased the replacement wheel bearings told me the person working the counter commented on how many requests ford has had for wheel bearings as of recent. My mechanics (as well as friends and family) told me I should contact ford as well as the federal safety agency with this information since the component failure effected the emergency braking system. I am following through on that request and have placed a letter in the mail to ford motor company and am awaiting their reply. I would appreciate an independent 3rd party's evaluation of this situation since I have been told by my mechanic as well as others the auto repair and industry that wheel bearings should last throughout the life of the automobile (or at least to 100,000 miles.
I own a 2002 ford explorer, with 69.000 miles on it. In the last few months I have had to replace ever wheel bearing on my car, the wheel have come loose, and the bearing were scraping. The cost for the bearing and the labor was over $1,400 , I am also have to replace my tires because of this, when I contacted ford on this matter, there commit was "that is your problem it is out of warranty, there is no reason all 4 wheel bearing would have gone bad with no more miles than there is on the car. My concern is that the next person may not know in time that there is flaw in the bearings and may have a wheel come off. This should be a very big safety concern. This could cause someone there life. I hope I can get someone to listen before it is to late and causes a child's life. Thank you.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 15mph the right rear wheel wobbled. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop for inspection. The mechanic determined that the lug nuts were broken which resulted in the loose rear wheel. The mechanic replaced the broken lug nuts.
We own a 2002 ford explorer. It was recently in the shop at 45k miles for a whining noise from the rear differential. The service guy said that they have had quite a few vehicles with this problem. The service manager said he was surprised it didn't start at 12k. We were told we needed to repair the rear differential ring and pinion in order to fix a leak and whining noise from the area. He said we would not necessarily see leaking fluid because it would leak while driving at higher speeds it is out of warranty and cost of 1300. We were also told that the rear wheel bearing is going out. 250.00 to repair this. The service guy also told me that until ford came out with a different repair part he had needed to replace it several times on at least one explorer. They had one in that day to repair other than mine if I am not mistaken.
1. I noticed a humming type sound that would increase as I sped up. I thought I had a wheel out of alignment, or tire off balance. I was due for my 36,000 mile maintenance check, so I took it to the dealership to have everything checked out. They performed a $400.00 maintenance package to my vehicle on may 4, 2004, of which I thought included inspecting tires, wheels, etc. They returned my vehicle to me and as I drove home, noticed the humming sound was still occurring, but I just had everything checked, and thought it was just a noise that was normal. 2. The noise continued on, getting worse (louder) and was bothersome, so I took it to a local mechanic for a second opinion. Upon review of my vehicle, he suggested replacing the right rear wheel hub assembly and bearings. 3. On july 3, 2004 the rr hub assembly and bearings were replaced at a cost of $360.52. The problem was solved. I don't believe the old part is still available. But, after speaking with other mechanics, I have heard this has been a problem with several vehicles of this type and wanted to let someone know I had a problem with this too.
We have had the wheel bearings replaced twice, beginning in 11/04 @ 61,528miles, than it needed it again on 8/05 at 79,000 miles. We also had to overhaul the transmission at 79000 miles!
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