2002 Ford Explorer Lighting problems

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

The door locks lock and unlock all by themselves dozens of times in a row while I am driving. With this the dome light flashes off and on and the door ajar light flashes and the interior chime goes off constantly. All of this happens at the same time. This is a huge and common issue with thousands of forum posts by other owners who have spend countless $$ at mechanic's to no avail. This can cause wrecks at night it is very distracting. Especially the dome light.

The door locks lock and unlock all by themselves dozens of times in a row while I am driving. With this the dome light flashes off and on and the door ajar light flashes and the interior chime goes off constantly. All of this happens at the same time. This is a huge and common issue with thousands of forum posts by other owners who have spend countless $$ at mechanic's to no avail. This can cause wrecks at night it is very distracting. Especially the dome light. Why is ford ignoring this obvious safety design flaw?...

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While entering the vehicle, the interior lighting remained illuminated and leaked water into the vehicle. The contact noticed water stains by the visors. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 133,748.

Brake lights and turn signals stopped working. Problem traced to tilt steering and multi-function switch wiring harness. Broken retainer clip allows wires to be pulled from connector breaking connection for brake light and turn signal. Once tilt steering is engaged connection is broken and wires do not stay connected and loss of brake lights and turn signal is the result. This could lead to accident, injury and or loss of life due to poor design. The brake light problem had eluded me until I did a google search...

I can not drive with all the alarms and locks and overhead light going off and on the whole time I'm driving. It is torture, loud and scary!!! *Tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that sporadically, the brake lights would not illuminate when the brake was depressed. The dealer did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The manufacturer was aware of the failure. No repairs were performed. The current mileage was 111,000. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear tail lights and both turn signals stopped illuminating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who inspected the lights and stated that the wires were corroded and needed to be repaired. The mechanic performed the repairs. The failure recurred approximately three weeks later. The manufacturer was notified, and offered assistance. The failure mileage was 111,000.

My left turn signal went out. Replaced bulb...No change. Went to dealership. They repaired steering wheel harness issue. Worked until I drove my aunt to det. Metro for a flight to dallas. Spent the whole drive trying to make other drivers remember hand signals from there to center line, mi on freeways. This time the dealership claimed the wires needed to be covered with a melt-wrap to stop the tilt wheel from pinching the wires. I think it should have been right from day 1 and ford's should pay us back for both the...

The side curtain airbag spontaneously deployed upon side door closure of a ford explorer. The vehicle was sitting after re-fueling. Concurrent with and immediately prior to the deployment of the airbag, the door alarm system was chiming that a door was ajar, and after inspection by a mechanic it was determined that the security/door warning system module has failed. Ford was sent the airbag module for inspection, and has yet to provide the results of the module inspection - after a period of more than 5 months. ...

Brake light switch inoperative (stays stuck on). *Tr

No left turn single or brake lights, when the steering wheel is tilited down we found the turn singles do not work or brake lights. *Tr

Part # e6db-14489-da. This is a wiring harness connector located in the steering column that becomes unplugged when you tilt steering downward. Result is brakes lights and turn signals no longer function. ** My sister-in-law was nearly rear-ended while waiting to make a turn. This is a major safety issue. Many other people with same issue. Also, have seen similar complaints for other ford vehicles (taurus). Serious accidents will happen if public is not notified. Dealers charging $200+ to fix. *Tr

I bought my 2002 ford explorer used but also have a father-in-law with a ford and he has the same problem. When we bought it the door ajar light was on all the time and the dome light would stay on but as we drove the light would turn off but the light would stay on. Recently last week the light stays on like normal but not the lights goes on and off, it dings constantly, and the doors lock and unlock while going down the road. It is very distractive as well as annoying. We got online to see what other people have done and there were lots of complaints. We tried the wd40 but they say that only works for a day or so. *Tr

Left rear blinker and brake light quit working. Bulbs and fuses were changed but did not correct the problem. Problem was found in tilt steering column. A wire pulled itself free of the wire connection harness due to usage of the tilt steering feature. This problem could have led to a very serious traffic accident since drivers behind the vehicle had no idea the vehicle was preparing to make an left hand turn and it compounded the problem because only one brake light worked. My husband took the steering column off and reinserted the wire into the harness and applied epoxy to secure it. *Tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer sport trac. The contact stated that the light switch that controls the headlights has been replaced four times. The failure occurred once while driving 25 mph. He feels that the vehicle is unsafe to drive because the light switch may not work while driving at night. The current and failure mileages were 22,000. Updated 01/06/09. *Lj updated 01/06/09. *Jb

Door ajar light comes on. Recycled engine checked all doors and again light comes on. Or while driving, the doors automatically unlock. The alarm sounds for no reason sometimes. Sometimes the interior lights comes on and stays on usually when I have trouble with the door ajar issues. *Tr

Where to start... Broken cruise control, headlight switch has a short, driver side passenger window doesn't roll down, trouble going into gear, car suddenly dies at interstate speeds, loud grinding sound from the engine bay (like an electric knife sharpener) that is getting increasingly more frequent, service engine soon light will not go off, brakes squeal and don't stop the vehicle properly, support for the hatch (which is cracked 8 inches or so in two places) doesn't lift hatch completely, and the fuel economy is down to 4-6 mpg in the city. I hate it! I don't feel like my girlfriend is safe driving it, and I think ford should be forced to make their wrongs into rights! *Tr

2002 Ford explorer caught fire. Consumer stated that the vehicle caught fire while his mother was visiting his sister in a different state. No attempt was made to repair her vehicle and rental cost them $600.00 Out of pocket. *Kb prior to the fire, the consumer asked the mechanic to inspect the vehicle, because warning lights were coming on and going off intermittently. The consumer had a list of documentation relating to electrical issues. The vehicle had to get a jump several times, the vehicle would hesitate...

Repeat failure of brake light switch, cruise control won't disengage when brake pedal depressed ,an unsafe situation. Also intermittent inability to shift out of park and brake lights not operating. *Tr

The dome light on the 2002 ford escape 3.0L caused burning on the sunroof sliding cover when the cover was opened. This has the potential to starting a fire, although now therewas only a slow burn. *Ak

Every time it rains water leaks through the rear tail light on the top rear of the vehicle. On some occasions, the bulbs short out. Vehicle is out of warranty at 72,000 miles. Water always pools in the rear area.

Dt*: the contact stated the brake light switch had malfunctioned. The original switch was no longer available. Updated 12/28/06. *Jb

The headlights continues to go on and off. Most of the time it is the passenger side light but the drivers side also does the same thing. I have replaced the passenger side pigtale but the problem is still there. *Nm