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#BS-2002-FOREXP-33C9

2002 Ford Explorer

Based on reports from 1,000 owners and 10 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
1,000
Crashes
58
Fires
14
Recalls
10
TSBs
258
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 1,000 complaints, 58 crashes, 14 fires, and 10 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

cracked panel below the rear window

622 complaints • Severity 6.5/10

$X,XXX
2

transmission failure

441 complaints • Severity 9.3/10

$X,XXX
3

o d light is blinking

386 complaints • Severity 8.5/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Power Train:automatic TransmissionHIGH

157 owners reported power train:automatic transmission issues — failures commonly reported around 44K miles.

!Inspect the Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge And AttachmentsMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

144
0–30K
265
30–60K
131
60–90K
20
90–120K
2
120–150K
1
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (265 reports) • Median: 44K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Power Train:automatic Transmission (157 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Power Train:automatic Transmission157 (16%)
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge And Attachments108 (11%)
Power Train:driveline:differential Unit71 (7%)
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate30 (3%)
Speed Control25 (3%)
Airbags23 (2%)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip22 (2%)
Air Bags:frontal21 (2%)

2002 Ford Explorer: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Explorer, with 157 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 43,500 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 44K-mile mark.

Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge And Attachments Issues

Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge And Attachments complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Explorer, with 108 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Power Train:driveline:differential Unit Issues

Power Train:driveline:differential Unit complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Explorer, with 71 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:driveline:differential unit-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate Issues

Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate complaints account for 3% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Explorer, with 30 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body:hatchback/liftgate-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

34
01
139
02
156
03
219
04
300
05
152
06

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2002 Ford Explorer. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (10 recalls)

01I010000

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

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. THE BRACKETS CONNECTING THE LEFT CYLINDERS TO EACH SIDE OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS COULD ROTATE OUT OF POSITION IF EITHER THE URETHANE BOND OR TORQUE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.

01V171000Jun 2001

TIRES:SIDEWALL

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.

03V094000Mar 2003

STRUCTURE

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. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

04V442000Sep 2004

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

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.

06E026000Apr 2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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 SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

+ 5 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Ford Explorer is the 2006 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2002 Ford Explorer vs. Class Average (Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD)

This vehicle

1,000

Class avg

867

Complaint volume is roughly in line with other standard pickup trucks 2wd vehicles from 2002.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1,000 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 10 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Ford Explorer Model Years

20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219811980197919781977
View all Ford Explorer years →

2002 Ford Explorer: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2002 Ford Explorer?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2002 Ford Explorer is related to the power train:automatic transmission, with 157 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2002 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2002 Ford Explorer has 1,000 complaints, 58 crash reports, and 14 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 2002 Ford Explorer problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2002 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes, the 2002 Ford Explorer has 10 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford Explorer problems start?
Based on 563 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 43,500 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,000 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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