2002 Ford Explorer Reliability
The 2002 Ford Explorer has 3,613 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and body structure. Compared with nearby Explorer model years (2000–2004), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Explorer's typical year, while the 2001 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
3,613
NHTSA owner complaints
10
Recall campaigns
163
Complaints citing a crash
71
Complaints citing a fire
2002 Ford Explorer complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 model year, filed between 2001 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 1,576 | 44% |
| Body structure | 532 | 15% |
| Suspension | 444 | 12% |
| Engine & cooling | 194 | 5% |
| Speed control / throttle | 181 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 179 | 5% |
| Air bags | 171 | 5% |
| Steering | 162 | 4% |
2002 Ford Explorer recalls
10 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2002 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01I010000 | Apr 10, 2001 | Visibility / wipers — 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… |
| 01V171000 | May 24, 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. |
| 03V094000 | Mar 7, 2003 | Body 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… |
| 04V442000 | Sep 13, 2004 | Body 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. |
| 06E026000 | Mar 23, 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… |
| 06E049000 | May 24, 2006 | Exterior lighting | 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 not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to… |
| 07E104000 | Dec 11, 2007 | Visibility / wipers — glass, side/rear | 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 break into small pieces as expected of… |
| 09E012000 | Apr 7, 2009 | Exterior lighting | 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 conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
| 09E025000 | May 11, 2009 | Exterior lighting — headlights | 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 conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
| 09V399000 | Oct 13, 2009 | Speed control / throttle | 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, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and… |
How the 2002 compares with nearby Explorer years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Explorer analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,078 | 15 | Tires | Caution |
| 2001 | 730 | 12 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2002 (this page) | 3,613 | 10 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2003 | 1,313 | 7 | Body structure | Caution |
| 2004 | 1,408 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2002 Ford Explorer
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 10 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2002 Ford Explorer can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2002 Ford Explorer reliability FAQ
Is the 2002 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2002 Ford Explorer has 3,613 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and body structure. Compared with nearby Explorer model years (2000–2004), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Explorer's typical year, while the 2001 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2002 Ford Explorer problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Ford Explorer are powertrain / transmission (1,576), body structure (532), suspension (444), engine & cooling (194). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2002 Ford Explorer have recalls?
NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2002 Ford Explorer, including 01I010000 (visibility / wipers — glass, side/rear) and 01V171000 (tires — sidewall). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2002 Ford Explorer compare with the 2001 and 2003 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2001 has 730 complaints and 12 recalls (solid); the 2003 has 1,313 complaints and 7 recalls (caution). The 2002 has 3,613 complaints and 10 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2002 Ford Explorer?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Explorer research
Other Ford Explorer model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2002 Explorer, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.