MYRModel Year Report

2002 Ford Explorer

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2002 Ford Explorer
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
3,295
Recalls
10

Campaigns on file for 2002

Investigations
7

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Power train

48% of complaints

Complaints per year

1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 1 complaint 1986: 3 complaints 1987: 3 complaints 1988: 4 complaints 1989: 1 complaint 1990: 12 complaints 1990 1991: 616 complaints 1992: 640 complaints 1993: 944 complaints 1994: 1,231 complaints 1995: 843 complaints 1996: 1,450 complaints 1996 1997: 1,731 complaints 1998: 1,959 complaints 1999: 1,348 complaints 2000: 952 complaints 2001: 375 complaints 2002: 3,295 complaints 2002 3,295 2003: 1,131 complaints 2004: 1,304 complaints 2005: 497 complaints 2006: 630 complaints 2007: 208 complaints 2008: 148 complaints 2008 2009: 33 complaints 2010: 115 complaints 2011: 1,197 complaints 2012: 826 complaints 2013: 2,233 complaints 2014: 1,679 complaints 2014 2015: 1,786 complaints 2016: 2,455 complaints 2017: 1,690 complaints 2018: 727 complaints 2019: 296 complaints 2020: 1,224 complaints 2020 2021: 432 complaints 2022: 267 complaints 2023: 110 complaints 2024: 21 complaints 2025: 100 complaints 2026: 39 complaints 2026 2027: 0 complaints
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 1 complaint 1986: 3 complaints 1987: 3 complaints 1987 1988: 4 complaints 1989: 1 complaint 1990: 12 complaints 1990 1991: 616 complaints 1992: 640 complaints 1993: 944 complaints 1993 1994: 1,231 complaints 1995: 843 complaints 1996: 1,450 complaints 1996 1997: 1,731 complaints 1998: 1,959 complaints 1999: 1,348 complaints 1999 2000: 952 complaints 2001: 375 complaints 2002: 3,295 complaints 2002 3,295 2003: 1,131 complaints 2004: 1,304 complaints 2005: 497 complaints 2005 2006: 630 complaints 2007: 208 complaints 2008: 148 complaints 2008 2009: 33 complaints 2010: 115 complaints 2011: 1,197 complaints 2011 2012: 826 complaints 2013: 2,233 complaints 2014: 1,679 complaints 2014 2015: 1,786 complaints 2016: 2,455 complaints 2017: 1,690 complaints 2017 2018: 727 complaints 2019: 296 complaints 2020: 1,224 complaints 2020 2021: 432 complaints 2022: 267 complaints 2023: 110 complaints 2023 2024: 21 complaints 2025: 100 complaints 2026: 39 complaints 2026 2027: 0 complaints
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 1 complaint 1986: 3 complaints 1986 1987: 3 complaints 1988: 4 complaints 1988 1989: 1 complaint 1990: 12 complaints 1990 1991: 616 complaints 1992: 640 complaints 1992 1993: 944 complaints 1994: 1,231 complaints 1994 1995: 843 complaints 1996: 1,450 complaints 1996 1997: 1,731 complaints 1998: 1,959 complaints 1998 1999: 1,348 complaints 2000: 952 complaints 2000 2001: 375 complaints 2002: 3,295 complaints 2002 3,295 2003: 1,131 complaints 2004: 1,304 complaints 2004 2005: 497 complaints 2006: 630 complaints 2006 2007: 208 complaints 2008: 148 complaints 2008 2009: 33 complaints 2010: 115 complaints 2010 2011: 1,197 complaints 2012: 826 complaints 2012 2013: 2,233 complaints 2014: 1,679 complaints 2014 2015: 1,786 complaints 2016: 2,455 complaints 2016 2017: 1,690 complaints 2018: 727 complaints 2018 2019: 296 complaints 2020: 1,224 complaints 2020 2021: 432 complaints 2022: 267 complaints 2022 2023: 110 complaints 2024: 21 complaints 2024 2025: 100 complaints 2026: 39 complaints 2026 2027: 0 complaints

2002: 3,295 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19841
19851
19863
19873
19884
19891
199012
1991616
1992640
1993944
19941,231
1995843
19961,450
19971,731
19981,959
19991,348
2000952
2001375
20023,295
20031,131
20041,304
2005497
2006630
2007208
2008148
200933
2010115
20111,197
2012826
20132,233
20141,679
20151,786
20162,455
20171,690
2018727
2019296
20201,224
2021432
2022267
2023110
202421
2025100
202639
20270

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Power train

48% · 1,583 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and differential unit.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Structure

15% · 490 reports

Most commonly citing hinge and attachments and hatchback/liftgate.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

September 2, 2023 at about 6 pm I pulled over to grab a couple water bottles from the rear of my 2002 Ford Explorer Sport cause my engine was overheating.

NHTSA ODI report, 2025-07-09

The rear window exploded. It was unoccupied parked in the carport.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-08-06

While opening the rear top hatchback, the rear window exploded in my wife's face while my 4 year old sat in the rear seat. My wife received minor scratches from the flying glass.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-08-23

Suspension

14% · 461 reports

Most commonly citing rear and wheel bearing.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The rear toe arms came unhinged or disconnected from their placement and sank down to continuously rub a groove in the inner rim.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-09-09

Also filed under Service brakes and wheels

Engine and engine cooling

5% · 165 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I was driving on the freeway when I looked back in my rear view mirror and noticed smoke billowing out the back of my car. I pulled over. My husband got out of the car and looked under the front. I smelled fire and he said it's on fire.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-05-30

Air bags

5% · 164 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

I was driving down the road and my airbag instantly deployed in my face without cause or notice. I became completely disoriented as it hit my hand and face with severe force and was extremely loud and shocking.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-07-20

My truck rolled at 35 MPH 2 times and did a 180 the airbags never went off. Causing me to suffer injuries to my head chest and legs. Mr

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-10-22

While driving consumer was involved in a collision and the air bags did not deploy. Consumer sustained substantial injuries.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-25

Safety timeline

10 recalls · 7 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2001-06-07Tires01V171000 Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The right side tires may have horizontal cuts on the edge of the tread that could have occurred during vehicle assembly.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tires and, if any slices are found, the cut tires will be replaced. Owner notification began June 7, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. I
    2001-12-12SQClosed 2002-07-02 Inoperative air bag system
  3. ▮
    2002Complaint volume 3,295 complaints filed for this model year.
  4. I
    2002-07-02Engineering analysisClosed 2003-02-25 Mis-assembled airbag clockspring
  5. R
    2003-03-07Structure03V094000 Certain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc.…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began March 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. I
    2004-06-02Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-09-28 Rear liftgate glass assembly
  7. R
    2004-09-30Structure04V442000 On certain sport utility vehicles, the liftgate glass strut may become disengaged or the hinge may fracture allowing the glass to fall and possibly break.

    Remedy: Dealers will have the liftgate glass strut brackets and glass hinges replaced. For the vehicles built from August 1, 2000 through March 3, 2002, the dealers will replace the hinges and liftgate…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. I
    2005-07-07Preliminary evaluationClosed 2005-11-02 Stuck engine throttle
  9. I
    2005-09-22Defect petitionClosed 2006-01-04 Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
  10. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are…

    Remedy: Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2008-01-15Visibility07E104000 Certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., identified as DOT-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and…

    Remedy: Safelite will notify its retail customers and replace the glass free of charge. Retail customers can contact safelite toll free at 1-888-843-2906. Safelite will notify its wholesale customers and…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. I
    2009-04-21Preliminary evaluationClosed 2009-08-19 Vehicle rollaway allegations
  14. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. I
    2009-08-18Engineering analysisClosed 2013-02-12 Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
  17. R
    2009-10-27Vehicle speed control09V399000 Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 Windstar, 2000-2003 Excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 F-250 SD through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 E-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 Explorer, 1997 and…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 Windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  18. R
    Date not on fileVisibility01I010000 This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Vehicle description: 2002 Ford Explorer and Mercury montaineer sport utility vehicles.

    Remedy: Ford dealers will inspect the vehicles for the position of both the left and right liftgatge glass lift cylinder brackets. If the brackets are in the proper position, the bracket retainers will be tightened to a higher torque.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2002 Ford Explorer — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Power train: 1,583 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 490 reports on file for this year.
  • Suspension: 461 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 01I010000 · Visibility
  • Recall 01V171000 · Tires
  • Recall 03V094000 · Structure
  • Recall 04V442000 · Structure
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E104000 · Visibility
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09V399000 · Vehicle speed control
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2002 Ford Explorer reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Ford Explorer is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford Explorer?
The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 48% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Explorer have?
10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.