Model Year Problem Record
The complete public record for the 2002 Ford Explorer: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.
Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.
The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.
1,582 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
490 complaints; 2 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 03V094000, 04V442000.
461 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
214 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
164 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
158 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
155 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 09V399000.
151 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
141 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
137 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
79 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
74 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
62 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
50 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
44 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
39 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 01V171000.
35 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
30 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
25 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.
Tires. Recall covering the tires system, reported to NHTSA on May 24, 2001. The campaign covers an estimated 52,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Vehicle Structure. Recall covering the vehicle structure system, reported to NHTSA on March 7, 2003. The campaign covers an estimated 3,674 vehicles across all affected models.
Vehicle Structure. Recall covering the vehicle structure system, reported to NHTSA on September 13, 2004. The campaign covers an estimated 955,732 vehicles across all affected models.
Vehicle Speed Control. Recall covering the vehicle speed control system, reported to NHTSA on October 13, 2009. The campaign covers an estimated 4,500,000 vehicles across all affected models.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
MIS-ASSEMBLED AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
REAR LIFTGATE GLASS ASSEMBLY. Resulted in recall campaign 04V442000.
STUCK ENGINE THROTTLE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
STUCK ENGINE THROTTLE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
STUCK ENGINE THROTTLE. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
INOPERATIVE AIR BAG SYSTEM. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.
Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.