2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT Power Train Problems

THE TRANSMISSION OF OUR 2002 EXPLORER STARTED SLIPPING, JUMPING, JERKING' SURGING, REFUSING TO SHIFT, SHIFTING SLOWLY AND OTHER ASSOCIATED THINGS APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS AGO. THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY, IT DOES IT WHENEVER IT WANTS, REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, DRIVING DISTANCE. I FEEL FORD OWES ME A NEW, REDESIGNED TRANSMISSION WITH INSTALLATION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT FORD IS DOING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR EXPLORERS.

STARTED MY VEHICLE IT MADE A CLUNKING NOISE THEN DIED. THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND BROKE ALL THE VALVES OFF THE MOTOR. *JS

WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT CAR FROM DRIVE INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN AND FELL OF IN MY HAND. THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. TO REPAIR THIS LINKAGE PART, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF OVER $1800. I CALLED FORD TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENING BEFORE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD ADD THE INCIDENT TO THEIR DATABASE. I TOLD THEM THAT I FELT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE REFERRED TO ENGINEERING OR QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR INVESTIGATION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED. I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT FORD WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING WITH THIS INFORMATION. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT ON 08/06/2011 SO THAT I HAD A VEHICLE THAT I COULD TAKE THE KIDS ON CAMPING TRIPS. ON 09/04/2011 ON OUR WAY TO DAYTONA BEACH I NOTICED THE CAR WAS PUSHING AND SWERVING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, I HAD JUST PUT BRAND NEW TIRES ON IT AND REPLACED BOTH THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND ALL 4 BALL JOINTS AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE, I THOUGHT THAT IT'S A BIGGER VEHICLE THAN WHAT I'M USED TO AND HAD BEEN A SLIGHTLY WINDY. ON THE WAY HOME ON MONDAY 09/05/2011 IT WAS EVEN WORSE, I COULD FEEL THE BODY ROLLING THE CAR PUSHING ECT.. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THERE APPEARED TO BE NOTHING WRONG. I CRAWLED HOME A NERVOUS WRECK. WHEN WE UNLOAD THE CAR AT HOME I NOTICED THE CAR WAS SAGGING IN THE LEFT REAR.I CRAWLED UNDER THE...

OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF, AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. WOULD STAY IN A LOWER GEAR DURING ACCELERATION AS THE RPM CONTINUED TO CLIMB. HAD STORED CODES DIAGNOSED WITH THE FOLLOWING: P0732 (GEAR 2 INCORRECT RATIO), P0733 (GEAR 3 INCORRECT RATIO), P0734 (GEAR 4 INCORRECT RATIO). WAS ADVISED NOT TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. REQUIRED COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD (BY AN INDEPENDENT INCLUDING UPGRADES) INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER DUE TO EXCESSIVE METAL FILINGS THROUGHOUT. TOTAL COST $2581.60. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING (NO HITCH) AND IS NOT ABUSED. . INVESTIGATION ON THE WEB REVEALS THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO BE QUITE COMMON, CITING WEAKNESSES IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. CREATES A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITION BECAUSE THE FAILURE CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME AT WHICH POINT THE ERRATIC BEHAVIOR COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.

O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING SO TRANSMISSION IS GOING BAD I FIGURED IT OUT OR I CAN JUST JAM MY TRANSMISSION IN MIDDLE OF HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC AND RESULT IN CRASH..... *TR

O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS AN INDICATION OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CHECKED ON LINE FOR WARRANTY INFORMATION, AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD'S 2002 TRANSMISSIONS. FORD WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE COST OF REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER THE 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. EVERY THING POINTS TO A $ 2,000 / 3,000 REPAIR JOB. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN 10/08 AND NOW I HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO A MAJOR REPAIR BEFORE OWNING IT FOR A YEAR. I REALLY THINK THAT FORD SHOULD IN SOME WAY COMPENSATE ITS VEHICLE OWNERS FOR A DEFECT THAT THEY ARE APPARENTLY WELL AWARE OF. *TR

CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF HOW TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL OR HOW TO ADD TRANSMISSION FLUID.*AK *JB