2002 Ford Explorer Tires Problems
- Complaints
- 38about this part
- Share
- 1%of 3,295 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 58,600miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 38 complaints about the tires of the 2002 Ford Explorer, 1% of the 3,295 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 58,600 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Tried to put the vehicle into reverse from park and the column shifter broke off. Vehicle could not be driven and was towed to a transmission business. Cost to repair is $1300. I bought this vehicle in 2004 used. I've had the rear transmission seals, shocks, tires, front window and the entire steering column replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10158201, filed 2006-05, 72,010 miles“Around march 2005 on a spring break, took my 2002 Ford Explorer in about 15 miles out my town, one of the tires, the rubber just separated from the tire , causing the truck to move in different directions, but thank god I was able to steer to the right side of the road since I just started to speed up the vehicle it did not flip the truck,but caused damaged inside the truck where the wheel is located, all because a piece of the rubber separated from the tire. …”
NHTSA complaint #10163441, filed 2006-07, 59,000 miles“I have a 2002 Ford Explorer xlt with 96,000 miles on it and around 60,000 the noise started. First the front right wheel started to vibrate and then the hub went. While driving my front tire just collapsed. 2nd issue the rear end started to make noise is more like vibraing. And after searching on google, I find that im not the only one with this issue. This is a very expensive issue $1200. Just to start the Ford company is aware of this issue and nothing is being done about it. This is not a joke, this is serious, someone can get hurt. …”
NHTSA complaint #10202116, filed 2007-09, 60,000 miles“It started very early after buying the 2002 Ford Explorer...electrical prob..couldn't get veh started...100 miles away from home dealership....towed to closest Ford dealership...fixed; or so we thought. Same thing happened a week later. …”
NHTSA complaint #10253399, filed 2008-12, 68,000 miles“Tire stem failure on 3 of 4 stampede radial SUV tires. I got 2 flat tires in the span of 5 days and caught the 3rd stem before a flat tire occurred (it was cracked at the base).”
NHTSA complaint #10280759, filed 2009-08, 90,000 milesRelated recalls
- 01V171000May 24, 2001Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The right side tires may have horizontal cuts on the edge of the tread that could have occurred during vehicle…Covers: Ford Explorer 2002, Mercury Mountaineer 2002
Tires: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | 1% |
| 2021 | 2 | 0% |
| 2020 | 2 | 0% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% |
| 2018 | 10 | 1% |
| 2017 | 22 | 1% |
| 2016 | 15 | 1% |
| 2015 | 3 | 0% |
| 2014 | 4 | 0% |
| 2013 | 2 | 0% |
| 2011 | 2 | 0% |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 21 | 10% |
| 2006 | 4 | 1% |
| 2005 | 10 | 2% |
| 2004 | 19 | 1% |
| 2003 | 15 | 1% |
| 2002 | 38 | 1% |
| 2001 | 62 | 17% |
| 2000 | 217 | 23% |
| 1999 | 370 | 27% |
| 1998 | 696 | 36% |
| 1997 | 669 | 39% |
| 1996 | 570 | 39% |
| 1995 | 205 | 24% |
| 1994 | 331 | 27% |
| 1993 | 243 | 26% |
| 1992 | 128 | 20% |
| 1991 | 102 | 17% |
| 1990 | 2 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2002 Ford Explorer
1,502 complaintsBody and structure
486 complaintsSuspension
422 complaintsEngine cooling
163 complaintsAir bags
162 complaintsSteering
155 complaintsVehicle speed control
152 complaintsElectrical system
148 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
138 complaintsBrakes
132 complaintsWheels
78 complaintsFuel system
72 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology