VehicleVerdict

2002 Ford Explorer Sport problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 160 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 1.7 times the median Explorer Sport year — the 2002 model ranks #2 of 10 Explorer Sport years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 2 deaths and 18 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across transmission (33), body & structure (29), and visibility & wipers (17), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

160

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

5

Investigations

12

Crash-involved

7

Fires reported

18

Injuries

2

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2002 compare to other Explorer Sport years?

Explorer Sport NHTSA complaints by model year, 2002 highlighted243 complaints1993: 5 complaints1997: 44 complaints1998: 145 complaints1999: 127 complaints2000: 102 complaints2001: 243 complaints2002: 160 complaints2003: 85 complaints2004: 23 complaints2005: 5 complaints
Explorer Sport NHTSA complaints by model year, 2002 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Explorer Sport years to avoid →

What are the most common 2002 Ford Explorer Sport problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission3321%
Body & Structure2918%
Visibility & Wipers1711%
Electrical System96%
Engine85%
Suspension85%
Latches & Locks85%
Seats85%
Speed Control74%
Brakes64%
Tires & Wheels53%
Airbags43%
Lighting43%
Other43%
Steering43%
Seat Belts32%
Fuel System32%

Does the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

07V336000Speed ControlAugust 3, 2007 · 3,600,000 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

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.

06V114000SeatsApril 10, 2006 · 8,585 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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).

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

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.

03V281000SeatsAugust 5, 2003 · 1,552,880 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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.

01X001000Tires & WheelsMay 22, 2001 · 13,000,000 units

Defect

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.

Consequence

SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy

THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT SLIPS ALL OF THE TIME, MAKES GRINDING NOISES AND AT TIMES DOES NOT LET ME DRIVE (GOES NO WHERE WHILE STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. SIMILAR TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. IT HAPPENS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · October 14, 2009

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BUT ITS WORTH A SHOT. MY MOTHER OWNED A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING IT HOME TO KANSAS CITY FROM ST. LOUIS MISSOURI. THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT, THE ROADWAYS WERE PERFECT, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, THE AIR…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · April 12, 2004 · crash

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN STARTED AND IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS BEFORE THE WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED.…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · December 24, 2005

LEADING UP TO THE EVENT OF THE FIRE, OCCASIONALLY THE "DOOR AJAR" BUTTON WOULD FLASH DURING DRIVING, THE ALARM WOULD RANDOMLY GO OFF, AND THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WOULD FLASH AT RANDOM TIMES. THIS WAS NEVER A PATTERN, AND THE CAR WENT PERIODS OF TIME WITH NOTHING HAPPENING TO IT. ONE MORNING,…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · October 2, 2010 · fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR INTERIOR CHILD LOCKS FAILED IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Latches & Locks · May 1, 2015

2002 Ford Explorer Sport — common questions

Is the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 160 complaints put the 2002 model at #2 of 10 Explorer Sport years. It is one of the Explorer Sport years to avoid.

What are the most common 2002 Explorer Sport problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (33 complaints), body & structure (29 complaints), visibility & wipers (17 complaints).

Does the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 5 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Ford Explorer Sport years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Explorer Sport years to avoid are 2001, 2002, 1998. The cleanest record among Explorer Sport years belongs to 2005.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.