2002 Ford Explorer Suspension:rear Problems

NHTSA component category: SUSPENSION:REAR · data through 07/12/2026

192Suspension:rear complaints

5.8%Of all 3,293 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How suspension:rear ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION887 · 26.9%

POWER TRAIN286 · 8.7%

SUSPENSION:REAR192 · 5.8%

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS166 · 5%

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT160 · 4.9%

Share of the 3,293 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2002 Ford Explorer overview page.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR DUE TO SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN.”NHTSA complaint 8009311 — filed 05/07/2002

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Suspension:rear complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Ford Explorer have suspension:rear problems?

Suspension:rear is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2002 Ford Explorer: 192 of 3,293 complaints on file (5.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2002 Ford Explorer have in total?

3,293 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 144 involved a crash, 57 involved a fire, 186 reported injuries, and 5 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's suspension:rear category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the SUSPENSION:REAR category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.