2002 Ford Explorer Suspension

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES TOOK A RIGHT INTO THE LIBIARY PARKING LOT AND MY FRONT SIDE DRIVERS TIRE SNAPPED THE BALL JOINT COMPLETELY SNAPPED AND IT BROKE THE SPRING, UPPER CONTROL ARM, SWAY BAR AND TYIROD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOCAL DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUB ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

INSPECTION FOUND BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND DRIVER FRONT COIL SPRING ALSO BROKE. 3 BROKEN SPRINGS. NEVER HEARD OF SPRING BREAKING, EVER. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLOYERS

MY FORD EXPLORER STARTED MAKING A SOUND LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING ROLLING AROUND IN BACK GATE. FIRST MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM. I WORKED ON THIS FOR THREE MONTHS. LOOKS AS IF IT IS THE BUSHINGS ARE WORN AND BODY IS TOUCHING FRAME. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THEY WERE ROTTEN AND FALLING APART, I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND EVERYBODY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THAT SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURED RECALL. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

REAR SPRING BROKE ON LEFT SIDE, NOT EVEN RUSTED. CAR ONLY HAS 32000 MILES ON IT. HAVE BEEN SEEING THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL BUT NO RECALL WAS EVER INSTITUTED. A TRAVESTY. *TR

HEARD A CLUNK NOISE IN THE REAR OF TRUCK...COME TO FIND OUT BOTH REAR STRUT COILS WERE ROTTED OUT AND BROKEN..TRUCKS HAS NEVER PULLED A TRAILER OR BEEN OFF ROAD! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE RUSTED AND CRACKING, PIECE FELL OFF. IT APPEARS THAT INADEQUATE OR DEFICIENT METAL WAS USED. MECHANIC SAYS VERY RARE FOR COIL SPRINGS TO RUST LIKE THIS, SPRINGS LOOK AS THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN IN A JUNK YARD FOR 30 YEARS.THIS VEHICLE IS A FAMILY CAR, NOT USED FOR OFF-ROADING AND KEPT IN A GARAGE. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, SOME HAVE EVEN HAD THE PIECES PUNCTURE TIRES CAUSING A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT FORD IS NOT CONCERNED WITH CONSUMER SAFETY, BUT ONLY WITH THEIR OWN PROFITS AND ARE WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL AND FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP. *TR

FORD DEALERSHIP AND LOCAL MECHANIC HAVE WITNESSED DOZEN OF CASES WITH FORD IN WHICH THE VEHICLE IS VIBRATING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WE HAVE TRIED REPLACING TIRES, BALANCING, AND WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLINE, BUT FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO EDUCATE THEIR STAFF OR PUBLIC ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MOST COMMON IDENTIFIED ISSUE HAS BEEN THE REAR DIFFERENTIALS, BUT THOSE WHO HAVE HAD THEM REPLACED HAS HAD THE VIBRATION COME BACK AFTER TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A SQUEALING NOISE AND BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE FROZEN AND THAT HE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE ON THEM UNTIL THEY FRACTURED, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FINE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE FROZEN TO THE AXLE, AND THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

I AM A MECHNICAL ENGINEER, AND DO A LOT OF MY OWN CAR REPAIRS, WHEN I WAS ADJUSTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE I NOTICED THAT MY REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN IN 2 PLACES AND RUSTED THROUGH, I WENT ONLINE TO BUY REPLACEMENT SPRINGS AND STRUTS, AND I CAME UPON A WEBSITE WITH OTHERS ALSO WITH THIS ISSUE OF BROKEN SPRINGS ON THIS FORD MODEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD DROP AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY AND FATALITIES. THE NHTSA SHOULD HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS SERIOUS MANUFACTURING FLAW I AM LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE SPRINGS WHERE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA. THE NHTSA SHOULD GET SOME GUTS AND EXPOSE THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AS A PERSONAL NOTE THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD . *TR

UPON TAKING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE FORD DEALER THAT MY LEFT REAR SPRING WAS BROKEN. MY EXPLORER ONLY HAS 26,116 MILES, HOW COULD THE SPRINGS BREAK? I NEVER CARRY ANYTHING HEAVY, USUALLY ONLY ONE PERSON IS IN THE VEHICLE. IV'E BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T NHTSA LOOKED IN THIS ISSUE SINCE IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM? FORD MOTOR CO. KNOWS THIS IS A DEFECT SINCE THEY CHANGED THEIR DESIGN AFTER IT WAS DISCOVERED. CAN NHTSA RE-EXAMINE THIS ISSUE AND ORDER A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE JETS INJURED. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE FRONT & REAR STRUTS REPLACED. THEY FOUND THAT ALL OF THE SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. ABOUT 1/2 TO 3/4 OF THE TOP COIL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE SPRING.

REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED FORD WOULD NOT WARRENTY. *TT

2002 FORD EXPLORER HUB ASSEMBLY/WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. THE LEFT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND HAD TO BE TOWED. UPON INSPECTION THE BEARING HAD RIPPED APART SO BAD YOU COULD SEE THE METAL COMING OUT OF THE REAR SIDE OF THE TIRE, WHERE THE AXLE SHAFT CONNECTS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, RIGHT REAR HUB ASSEMBLY WAS VERY LOOSE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. 2 WEEKS LATER, THE FRONT LEFT HUB IS SO BAD THAT IT'S ROARING AND THUMPING AND FEELS LIKE IT'S ALSO READY TO LOCK UP. 88K MILES ON EXPLORER, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE REAR HUB WERE REPLACED. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY EITHER A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OR JUST SUBSTANDARD DANGEROUS DEFECTIVE PARTS PRODUCED BY FORD. *TR

I RECENTLY HAD THE DEALER INSTALL 2 NEW REAR WHEEL BEARINGS (2ND TIME IN 2 YEARS) AND WAS TOLD THAT BOTH REAR SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BROKEN PIECES CAN COME OUT WHILE DRIVING AND PUNCTURE THE TIRE. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND OVER 100 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME BROKEN SPRINGS ON OTHER EXPLORERS. *TR

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ON MY 02 FORD EXPLORER BROKE. THERE WASN'T ANY INDICATIONS PRIOR FOR US TO KNOW IT WOULD HAPPEN.WHEN IT DID IT FELL ONTO RUBBER STOPS BUT TRACTED CROOKED AND SPRING ALMOST HIT TIRE.I WENT TO DEALER THEY SAID NO RECALL CALL FORD. I CALLED FORD REP SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO JUSTIFY A RECALL OR FIX MY EXPLORER. I WENT TO LOCAL PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT MONROE QUIK STRUT.. INSTALLED MYSELF.SAVED OLD PARTS JUST IN CASE BECAUSE FORD SAID GET RID AND SAVE MY RECEIPT FOR PARTS IN CASE OF FUTURE RECALL.VEHICLE MILEAGE AT TIME WAS ABOUT 46,000 MILES. *TR

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE TWO BALL BEARINGS IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS. FIRST THE BACK LEFT AND NOW THE BACK RIGHT. WITH THE LATEST, THE BACK LEFT, THE TIRE ON THE BACK LEFT WAS ALMOST SEIZING UP FROM THE PROBLEM AND MY CAR WAS LEADING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT FROM THE GRINDING. *TR

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPLACE REAR BRAKES WHERE A TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. REPAIRED BRAKES AND REAR SPRINGS. WAS INFORMED BY SHOP THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000. ADDED NOTE, THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO TOW OR CARRY HEAVY LOADS, ONLY USED AS PERSONAL TRANSPORT. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORE WITH 47,000 MILES. WAS TOLD BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKE DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION. DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY BROKE. DAILY DRIVER ONLY, NO TOWING. SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT 47,000 MILES SHOULD HAVE A RECALL WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITH SPRINGS. *TR

BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS (STRUT ASSEMBILES) BROKEN ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. BREAKS IN STEEL COIL SPRINGS DISCOVERED DURING DEALER INSPECTION IN 2010. VEHICLE IS USED FOR STANDARD DAILY DRIVING ON PAVED ROADS. RESULTED IN SAGGING REAR OF VEHICLE AND DEGRADED VEHICLE CONTROL IN BUMPY TERRAIN. PARTS LIKELY BROKEN FOR SOME TIME BEFORE DETECTION. REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. PHOTOS OF BROKEN PARTS AVAILABLE. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORER/MERCURY MOUNTAINEER MODELS (4 DOORS). I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4 DOOR XLS WITH 150,000 MILES. RECENTLY MY VEHICLE BECAME VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHEN I ACCELERATE AND THEN RELEASE THE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD "PUSH" TO ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER. ALSO GOING AROUND CURVES I WOULD GET A "DEATH WOBBLE" WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD "PUSH" FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN ALMOST A SWINGING MOTION AND WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO CORRECT IT, IT CONTINUES TO SWING EXCESSIVELY BACK AND FORTH. TONIGHT I WENT TO CHECK MY WHEEL BEARINGS THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM, AND I FOUND 3 OUT OF THE 4 COIL SPRINGS ON THE STRUTS WERE BROKEN. BOTH REAR COILS WERE SHATTERED (EASIEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT) AT THE TOP OF THE SPRING. I COULD LITERALLY PULL PIECES OF COIL SPRING OUT OF THE COIL. THE FRONT RIGHT SPRING WAS ALSO CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH, NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL. I HAVE SPENT ALOT OF TIME WORKING ON CARS AND I HAVE NEVER SEE 3 COIL SPRINGS FAIL AT THE SAME TIME ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY ARE LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD!!! I ALSO DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND READ WHERE OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD SPRING FAILURES AS LOW AS 75,000 MILES!! PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE THERE ARE SO MANY OF THESE ON THE ROAD. I WORK IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THIS I FEEL IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK AFTER EXPERIENCING THE LOSS OF CONTROL YOU HAVE WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE ILLINOIS WINTER WITH ICE ON THE ROADS IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. I WILL BE REPLACING THE ENTIRE STRUT/COIL SPRING ASSEMBLY SING THE REAR SPRINGS HAVE COLLAPSED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE SPRING IS RUBBING ON THE STRUT BODIES. ONE OF THE ISSUES IS, WITH EXCEPTION OF THE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS, THE VEHICLE SITS LEVEL AND CLOSE TO ITS NORMAL RIDE HEIGHT AND ITS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TELL 3 SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. I WILL BE TAKING PICTURES TO DOCUMENT THIS FAILURE AND I WILL BE WILLING TO PROVIDE THIS TO YOU. I MAY ALSO SAVE THE OLD PARTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING WAS FRACTURED, CAUSING THE EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ALSO FRACTURED SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.