2002 Ford Explorer Sport Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport, and owners have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Vehicle speed control
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.
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…
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Recliner (seats)
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.
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…
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Recliner (seats)
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…
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…
133 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport have filed 133 complaints with NHTSA; 10 describe a crash and 7 describe a fire. Reports cite 14 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 72,540 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 18 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Suspenion and or traction was and the electrical system didnt work good”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 24, 2025 · Electrical system
“Rear window hinges failed on one side of the vehicle requiring both hinges that holds the rear window glass in place to be replaced. Dealer was able to repair hinges but the rear window is now unable”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 13, 2017 · Unknown or other
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 Ford Explorer (Explorer 2WD, Explorer 2WD FFV, Explorer 4WD, Explorer 4WD FFV, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 14–39 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 13–45 / 17–33 |
| Fuel | Electricity, Gasoline or E85, Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4/4.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Explorer Sport model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Explorer Sport model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 5 |
| 1997 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 37 |
| 1998 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 121 |
| 1999 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 93 |
| 2000 Ford Explorer Sport | 1 | 71 |
| 2001 Ford Explorer Sport | 5 | 188 |
| 2002 Ford Explorer Sport | 3 | 133 |
| 2003 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 65 |
| 2004 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 18 |
| 2005 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 5 |
Checking a specific 2002 Ford Explorer Sport
How do I know if my 2002 Ford Explorer Sport has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V281000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.