The Lemon Index2002 Ford Explorer.
The 2002 Ford Explorer is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 914 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 207, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 10 recalls, and it gets 14 to 17 mpg combined. The best Ford Explorer year is 2008.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 3,294 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Ford Explorer year. 2002 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 53K to 108K miles on the car (2,521 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 57K–110K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 41K–98K miles
- suspension complaints mostly came at 61K–95K miles
Recalls 10
- speed control 2009
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 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER…
- lights 2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- lights 2009
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.
Show all 10 recalls
- visibility 2007
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 FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BRE…
- lights 2006
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
- lights 2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
- body structure 2004
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.
- body structure 2003
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.
- tires 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES.
- visibility 2001
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 258 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- On some vehicles, including sport and sport trac, the front axle leaks fluid from the vent tube
- Primary chain rattle noise (sometimes described
- Tinny rattle noise coming from the center steering column area while driving over
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedVehicle rollaway allegations2009–2013
- ClosedVehicle rollaway allegations2009
- ClosedSpark plug ejection from cylinder head2005–2006
- ClosedStuck engine throttle2005
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★☆☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3800–4600 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 4.0L 6-cyl, 4.6L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
O/d light flashing on a 2002 Explorer. Resulting in a new transmission after only 50,000 miles. It's a known problem, and I have to suffer and pay for Ford's failure to provide a recall or compensation for owning their equipment.
2002 Ford Explorer owner · NHTSA complaint 10112707
More owner reports
Bracket and spring that holds hatchback window up broke completely off, causing left side of the window to almost drop into frame. Please give any further details.
NHTSA complaint 890770
2002 Ford Explorer [xxx] transmisssion not shifting properly. Rear end noisy at 40 mph. Not repaired.
NHTSA complaint 10131685
Quick answers
Is the 2002 Ford Explorer reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2.1× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 207; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Explorer year by this measure since 2010 is 2024.
What are the most common 2002 Ford Explorer problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (36%), body structure (21%) and engine (8%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Explorer have?
10 safety recalls (latest: speed control). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2002 Ford Explorer get?
14 to 17 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Explorer problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 53,000 and 108,000 miles. The middle report was at 79,000 miles, from 2,521 complaints.
Does the 2002 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 36% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2002 Ford Explorer cost in fuel a year?
About $3800 to $4600 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2002 Ford Explorer have?
4.0L 6-cyl, 4.6L 8-cyl.
What Ford Explorer year is better than the 2002?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2018 and 2010.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works