2002 Ford Explorer consumer reviews

This car has been through three drivers over fifteen years and its been a good family car. its been used for everything from road trips to driving the kids to practice. its only had problems in the last two years and they are mostly due to salt rusting the body and parts getting old.

It is a good reliable car. I have the XLT with a V8 and it great for towing things and it is very comfortable ride.

In the year and a half (27,000 mi) I've owned my 2002 Explorer XLT, I've put well over $2,000 into it. It has next to NO heat in the winter season and goes to the repair shop WAY too frequently. I do not recommend this vehicle to anybody.

I replaced the rear end 2x - transmission work 4 times and wheel hubs all the way around twice - just used to take boys to hockey..... so sad was the first Ford product ever owned. Paid for it twice with repairs; Best day of my life when I got rid of the blood sucker!

We purchased our 2002 Ford Explorer from the car dealership store manager in 2004. Reoccurring problem is that differential. As far as space, we do a lot of traveling over long distances, this is a good 1st SUV for a growing family. I think with 3 older kids we've kind of outlived it's comfort and usefulness as a family vehicle. The third row seat is supposed to seat another 2 passengers however we find there is not enough leg room. After 14 winters, there is rust to the undercarriage and I'm concerned about how my children step into the vehicle. There is minor superficial damage to the back where the window lifts from. That happened on a hot day. It caused a crack and nearly every explorer I've seen in this area has at least one of those cracks in it. Positives: It does ride well whether or not the noise from the differential is roaring from the back. Regular maint. from a reputable mechanic has been keeping this vehicle running very well the 12 years we've owned it and I don't want to trade it in anytime soon, especially with winters in the mountains, it's great to drive in the snow with 4 wheel drive. Hauls a lot, especially when there are no other passengers since everything lays flat. Since there are so many options for car buyers, this is a good small family get-around-town vehicle, especially for those who are involved in sports and activities. I've enjoyed the 2002 Explorer and will keep it until it runs no longer.

Just after the first 6 months it needed a new differential cause it was making noise lucky it was still under warranty. Keeping in mind that the vehicle is not under heavy duty usage and sticking to the preventive maintenance schedule. Less then 50,000 mi couple of engine control sensors needed to be replaced , several door switches and heater blend door actuator too. Backup sensor stoped working. With a little less then 60,000 mi inspection mechanic told me the rear springs needed to be replaced and front upper ball joints. Hearing another humming noise from the rear area again could be a wheel bearing though. Keeping my fingers crossed with the transmission so far so good.

I have had so many problems with this truck. I have had to replace each bearing twice. Its cost me a fortune. It's not user friendly. Lots of stuff require special tools.

Bought a 2002 Explorer Limited 4WD with the 4.0L V6 used in 2010 with 110K miles and now I have 150K miles on it with no problems at all. All I've done is changed the oil every 3K miles, the tires at 134K miles and that's it. No problems. The comfortable leather seats provide all-day comfort in the first and second rows. The third-row seats are actually usable and are very roomy and comfy, not always common with three-row SUVs and vans. Ford's 4.0L V6 pulls strong and sounds great. The 4WD system works very well in snowy Ohio winters, this past winter was like the storm of the century so it was definitely needed! I love the stereo, I can play my favorite albums with exceptional sound quality! It is loaded with everything you could want in an SUV, like leather (as mentioned above), heated seats which are great in the winter, 6-disc in-dash CD changer, dual-zone AC, and lots of in-vehicle storage including pockets for the second row and a big center storage bin for the front driver and passenger. I could not be any happier with my baby, my Explorer! Made in the USA!

Good vehicle with a good price ,Clean and decent vehicle, good ride runs great. Satisfied with purchase.

I bought my 2002 Explorer in 2006 with 60K miles on it. Since then I have put 120K miles on it. This is an excellent vehicle - very comfortable, great gas mileage and low, low maintenance. Previously I only had Japanese cars. The 3rd row seat and price point convinced me to try an American vehicle - I'm glad I did. These vehicles are tough - built to last. The 3rd row seat comes in handy when we have to offer rides to others. We have toured all over the US in this wonderful vehicle and not a single complaint from anyone in the family - everyone loves this vehicle. The 120K miles we put on this vehicle have been a pleasant experience. HIGHLY RECOMMEND to anyone looking for a good SUV with good gas mileage and low maintenance. The 3rd row seat is a bonus in case you have to offer a ride to extended family or friends.