Model year record

2002 Ford Explorer Sport

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 163 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V336000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
3,600,000
Reported to NHTSA
2007-08-03
Owners notified
2007-08-13

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Safety risk

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Recall campaignNHTSA 06V114000

Seats: front assembly: recliner

Component
Seats: front assembly: recliner
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
8,585
Reported to NHTSA
2006-04-10
Owners notified
2006-04-10

Defect description

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.

Safety risk

THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT UPPER BOLT WITH A METAL SPACER AND BOLT. IN ADDITION, SEATS WITH TUBULAR BACK FRAMES WILL HAVE THE FULLY THREADED LOWER RECLINER BOLT REPLACED WITH A PARTIALLY THREADED BOLT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN (03V281).

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V281000

Seats: front assembly: recliner

Component
Seats: front assembly: recliner
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
1,552,880
Reported to NHTSA
2003-08-05
Owners notified
2003-08-29

Defect description

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.

Safety risk

THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT UPPER BOLT WITH A METAL SPACER AND BOLT. IN ADDITION, SEATS WITH TUBULAR BACK FRAMES WILL HAVE THE FULLY THREADED LOWER RECLINER BOLT REPLACED WITH A PARTIALLY THREADED BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Power train: automatic transmission1892,318 mi
Structure: body1089,000 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments971,000 mi
Power train890,500 mi
Electrical system779,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear781,853 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate553,800 mi
Suspension570,000 mi
Vehicle speed control5100,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages492,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner455,000 mi
Structure488,676 mi
Tires415,600 mi
Unknown or other480,000 mi
Visibility488,676 mi
Air bags315,600 mi
Seats385,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip332,000 mi
Steering392,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling2146,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine22,500 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights21 mi
Fuel system, gasoline2
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch26,000 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit237,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor229,701 mi
Suspension: rear225,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element235,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls26,000 mi
Air bags: frontal159,900 mi
Electrical system: wiring1
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood176,000 mi
Engine180,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system1
Equipment137,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.150,000 mi
Exterior lighting1
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch144,850 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system1
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock111,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: tailgate: latch1500 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift140,000 mi
Power train: axle hubs180,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly142,000 mi
Power train: driveline144,000 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft1500 mi
Seat belts1
Seat belts: front1
Seat belts: rear/other113,864 mi
Seats: mid/rear assembly1
Service brakes1
Steering: column locking: anti-theft device1
Structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments1215,260 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: upper arm118,266 mi
Suspension: front: hub175,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal1
Vehicle speed control: cruise control1
Visibility/wiper1280,433 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer170,000 mi
Wheels127,000 mi

The 2001 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2003 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.