2001 Ford Explorer vs 2002 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 Ford Explorer | 2002 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 375 | 3,294 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 115 | 258 |
| Investigations | 2 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 64 | 144 |
| Fire reports | 21 | 57 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–18 | 14–17 |
| Median reported mileage | 90,500 mi | 79,300 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 42 | 1,502 |
| Structure | 29 | 486 |
| Suspension | 43 | 421 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 39 | 163 |
| Air Bags | 28 | 162 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 152 |
| Electrical System | 29 | 148 |
| Steering | 21 | 155 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 21 | 138 |
| Vibration / shaking | 19 | 98 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 77 |
| Clunking / rattling | 7 | 74 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 5 | 66 |
| Rust / corrosion | 5 | 47 |
2001 Ford Explorer
2002 Ford Explorer
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.