2002 Ford Explorer Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 422 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the 2002 Ford Explorer, 13% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 80,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “rear coil” (23% of reports).
- 422suspension complaints
- 80,000median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 39%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rear coil: mentioned in 99 of 422 complaints (23%)
- Wheel bearings: mentioned in 89 of 422 complaints (21%)
- Springs broken: mentioned in 32 of 422 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical suspension repair on the 2002 Ford Explorer at $1,100, and half of them between $770 and $2,000.
Based on 29 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 345 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 422 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 1 an injury.
Ford Explorer suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Explorer | 3 | 3% | 2,289 |
| 2024 Explorer | 3 | 14% | 7,352 |
| 2023 Explorer | 14 | 13% | 3,000 |
| 2022 Explorer | 13 | 5% | — |
| 2021 Explorer | 15 | 3% | 6,010 |
| 2020 Explorer | 35 | 3% | 43,000 |
| 2019 Explorer | 11 | 4% | 88,086 |
| 2018 Explorer | 23 | 3% | 62,500 |
| 2017 Explorer | 57 | 3% | 43,500 |
| 2016 Explorer | 73 | 3% | 67,000 |
| 2015 Explorer | 83 | 5% | 76,000 |
| 2014 Explorer | 103 | 6% | 82,500 |
| 2013 Explorer | 79 | 4% | 96,500 |
| 2012 Explorer | 22 | 3% | 135,500 |
| 2011 Explorer | 24 | 2% | 125,525 |
| 2010 Explorer | 4 | 3% | 35,000 |
| 2009 Explorer | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2008 Explorer | 3 | 2% | 76,000 |
| 2007 Explorer | 6 | 3% | 52,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 5 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2005 Explorer | 15 | 3% | 62,376 |
| 2004 Explorer | 37 | 3% | 65,950 |
| 2003 Explorer | 63 | 6% | 72,203 |
| 2002 Explorer | 422 | 13% | 80,000 |
| 2001 Explorer | 43 | 11% | 92,000 |
| 2000 Explorer | 62 | 7% | 57,000 |
| 1999 Explorer | 65 | 5% | 113,850 |
| 1998 Explorer | 111 | 6% | 90,000 |
| 1997 Explorer | 105 | 6% | 117,500 |
| 1996 Explorer | 97 | 7% | 140,000 |
| 1995 Explorer | 93 | 11% | 127,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists suspension for the 2002 Ford Explorer. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The rear toe arms came unhinged or disconnected from their placement and sank down to continuously rub a groove in the inner rim. The suspension was affected, the steering was effecting especially when turning, it made the brakes stick, and made loud crunching and rolling noises. It is quite…
Makes a rattling noise when a bump is hit driver side seat stop working
The car always feels like is about to jump off the road or the lane im in whenever i drive over any rough road or pot holes. %ģ
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Ford Explorers have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 422 owner complaints about suspension for the 2002 Ford Explorer (13% of the 3,295 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Ford Explorer suspension?
No recall currently lists suspension for this vehicle.
At what mileage do suspension problems start?
The median reported mileage is 80,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix suspension problems on the 2002 Ford Explorer?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,100 (half paid between $770 and $2,000), from 29 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the 2002 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “rear coil”, in 99 of 422 complaints, followed by “wheel bearings” (89).
Other 2002 Ford Explorer problems
- Power Train problems (1,502)
- Structure problems (486)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (163)
- Air Bags problems (162)
- Steering problems (155)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (152)
- Electrical System problems (148)
- Visibility problems (129)
See all 2002 Ford Explorer problems or suspension problems across all Explorer years.