RecallRepo

2002 Ford Explorer Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 Ford Explorer has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,511,406 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 4,096 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 09V399000 2009-10-13 4,500,000 affected
Defect

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 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED…

Consequence

A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27,…

STRUCTURE 04V442000 2004-09-13 955,732 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

IF THE HINGE SHOULD FRACTURE, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE GLASS TO FALL AND ULTIMATELY BREAK AND PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL HAVE THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT BRACKETS AND GLASS HINGES REPLACED. FOR THE VEHICLES BUILT FROM AUGUST 1, 2000 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2002, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HINGES AND LIFTGATE STRUT BRACKET. ON VEHICLES BUILT FROM MARCH 3, 2002 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2003, THE DEALERS WILL ONLY REPLACE THE HINGES. THE…

STRUCTURE 03V094000 2003-03-07 3,674 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

TIRES 01V171000 2001-05-24 52,000 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

OVER TIME, THE TIRE COULD FAIL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIRES AND, IF ANY SLICES ARE FOUND, THE CUT TIRES WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 7, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
887
16crashes2fires8injuries
POWER TRAIN
286
5crashes1fires5injuries
SUSPENSION:REAR
192
1crashes
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
166
42injuries
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
160
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
115
3crashes14fires
SUSPENSION
115
1crashes1fires
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
112
9injuries
STEERING
110
7crashes2fires2injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
110
3crashes2fires4injuries
Total complaints4,096

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that while her fiancã© was driving 45 mph, the driver’s side and passenger’s side air bags inadvertently deployed without an impact or a crash, causing the contact’s fiancã© to swerve and drive down into a ditch. No warning lights…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2024-06-14

“The contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to coast off the freeway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called an independent mechanic, but the mechanic declined to service the vehicle. The local…”

ENGINE · reported 2023-11-23

“September 2, 2023 at about 6 pm I pulled over to grab a couple water bottles from the rear of my 2002 ford explorer sport cause my engine was overheating. I got out walked to the rear of my vehicle pushed my unlatch button on the tailgate and I lifted the glass part of the rear hatch. Both air…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2023-09-02

“September 2, 2023 at about 6 pm I pulled over to grab a couple water bottles from the rear of my 2002 ford explorer sport cause my engine was overheating. I got out walked to the rear of my vehicle pushed my unlatch button on the tailgate and I lifted the glass part of the rear hatch. Both air…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2023-09-02

“The contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the hood latch independently released, causing the hood to strike the windshield. The contact was able to get to the side of the roadway and closed the hood. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer. The…”

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH · reported 2022-07-06

“Overdrive light flashes after driving a little bit hard shifting doesn't shift into overdrive 4x4 lights indicate that it's working when the buttons are pushed but doesn't go into 4x4”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2022-06-14

“The contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated while entering the highway at approximately 45 mph and accelerating to overtake the next vehicle, the accelerator pedal went to the floorboard however, the vehicle did not respond. The contact was able to pull over safely off the highway.…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL · reported 2022-03-29

“The contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the steering wheel intermittently seized while driving at various speeds without warning. After finding a replacement part at a salvage yard, the contact had the steering wheel replaced by an independent mechanic; however, the failure…”

STEERING · reported 2022-03-01

Defect investigations

Investigation DP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…

Investigation DP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…

Investigation DP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…

Investigation EA02010 Opened 2002-07-02 · closed 2003-02-25

MIS-ASSEMBLED AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING

IN JULY 2001, FORD ISSUED A SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE ANNOUNCING THAT SOME AIR BAGCLOCKSPRING DEVICES MAY PRODUCE NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED FULL LEFT OR RIGHT.FORD WAS AWARE THAT SOME CLOCKSPRINGS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED.THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION MAY ALSO CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT AND THE AIR BAG…

Investigation EA09013 Opened 2009-08-18 · closed 2013-02-12

Vehicle Rollaway Allegations

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure…

Investigation EA09013 Opened 2009-08-18 · closed 2013-02-12

Vehicle Rollaway Allegations

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure…

Investigation EA09013 Opened 2009-08-18 · closed 2013-02-12

Vehicle Rollaway Allegations

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure…

Investigation EA09013 Opened 2009-08-18 · closed 2013-02-12

Vehicle Rollaway Allegations

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure…

Investigation EA09013 Opened 2009-08-18 · closed 2013-02-12

Vehicle Rollaway Allegations

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure…

Investigation PE04045 Opened 2004-06-02 · closed 2004-09-28

REAR LIFTGATE GLASS ASSEMBLY

COMPLAINTS REPORT FAILURE OF THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS SUPPORT WHILE THE OPERATOR IS OPENING OR CLOSING THE GLASS.THE FALLING GLASS CAN STRIKE THE OPERATOR OR BYSTANDER.THE INJURIES REPORTED ARE BRUISES TO THE HEAD, NECK OR BACK, CUTS TO THE FACE, ARM OR HAND.ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2004, FORD NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL…

Investigation PE05037 Opened 2005-07-07 · closed 2005-11-02

STUCK ENGINE THROTTLE

ON JULY 7, 2005, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STUCK THROTTLE COMPLAINTS IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE STANDARD AVAILABLE 4.0L SOHC V6 ENGINE.AT THAT TIME, ODI WAS AWARE OF 15…

Investigation PE05037 Opened 2005-07-07 · closed 2005-11-02

STUCK ENGINE THROTTLE

ON JULY 7, 2005, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STUCK THROTTLE COMPLAINTS IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE STANDARD AVAILABLE 4.0L SOHC V6 ENGINE.AT THAT TIME, ODI WAS AWARE OF 15…

Investigation PE05037 Opened 2005-07-07 · closed 2005-11-02

STUCK ENGINE THROTTLE

ON JULY 7, 2005, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STUCK THROTTLE COMPLAINTS IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE STANDARD AVAILABLE 4.0L SOHC V6 ENGINE.AT THAT TIME, ODI WAS AWARE OF 15…

Investigation PE09020 Opened 2009-04-21 · closed 2009-08-19

VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS

IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT…

Investigation PE09020 Opened 2009-04-21 · closed 2009-08-19

VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS

IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT…

Investigation PE09020 Opened 2009-04-21 · closed 2009-08-19

VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS

IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT…

Investigation SQ01015 Opened 2001-12-12 · closed 2002-07-02

INOPERATIVE AIR BAG SYSTEM

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Ford Explorer as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.