2002 Ford Explorer: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 4095 complaints
4095
Total Complaints
79,000mi
Median Mileage
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Top Issue
178
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

51,809 25th Percentile
79,000 Median Mileage
108,037 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
887
POWER TRAIN
286
SUSPENSION:REAR
192
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
166
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
160
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
115
SUSPENSION
115
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
112
STEERING
110
STRUCTURE:BODY
110

Severity Assessment

178
Crashes
71
Fires
211
Injuries
6
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"PLUNGER THAT HOLDS HATCHBACK WINDOW OPENED/ FELL OFF DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT, CAUSING WINDOW TO COME CRASHING DOWN ON CONSUMER, RESULTING IN HEAD AND NECK INJURIES.*AK PE04045.PCO"
"WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT HAD TO APPLY BRAKES HARD TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. THIS HARD BRAKING ENGAGED ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM AND BROUGHT VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. HOWEVER, WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BRAKES WOULD NOT RELEASE, AND BRAKES WERE GRABBING. ..."
"THERE IS A NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN STEERING COLUMN. MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER , AND DEALER REFUSED TO FIX VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PURCHASED THERE. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28