2002 FORD EXPLORER Power Train Problems

I GOT IN IT AFTER 15 MINUTES OF IT WARMING UP, PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVE AND THE RPM WENT TO 3000RPM BEFORE IT SHIFTED IN SECOND GEAR. THEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF, NEXT THE CHECK TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. WENT HOME AND CALLED A MECHANIC, TOOK IT TO HIM AND THEN BAD NEWS. IT HAS WORKED PERFECTLY UP TO THIS POINT. *TR

OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON. CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STARTED SCREECHING LOUDLY, NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHILE GOING TO THE AIRPORT ON AN EXPRESSWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFT FRACTURED AND ONLY OPERATED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL, THE SHIFTER HANDLE BROKE OFF. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON AND EXPENSIVE FAILURE. *TR

PARKED IN PARKING LOT ON LEVEL SURFACE. STARTED ENGINE WENT TO PUT IN REVERSE AND SHIFTING LEVER FELL OFF. CONTACTED FORD INSTEAD OF SELLING BROKEN PART WANTED TO SELL COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

THE HANDLE TO SHIFT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO REVERSE BROKE OFF AT THE METAL PART INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF I WAS DRIVING! FORD STATES THEY NO LONGER PRODUCE THE PART. *TR

WENT TO PUT VEHICLE IN RESERVE AND GEAR SHIFT ON THE COLUMN FELL IN MY HAND, COMPLETELY SNAPPED. *TR

WHEN IS THE NHTSA GOING TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC ISSUES WITH THE 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS? IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ( INCLUDING BY FORD) THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS ALL FAIL ANYWHERE FROM 50,000 MILES UP TO LESS THAN 150,000 MILES. TOWING WITH THIS VEHICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE.THE MARKET IS FLOODED WITH THESE BROKEN EXPLORERS AND THEY ARE THE REGULAR CUSTOMERS AT THE REPAIR SHOPS IF PEOPLE DON'T JUNK THEM AND CAN AFFORD TO HAVE THEM FIXED. THEY ARE A HAZARD ON THE ROAD WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILS TO MOVE IN TRAFFIC OR FROM A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED WHEN MY VEHICLE STARTED INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED LEAVING ME COASTING IN TRAFFIC. I AM SURE THAT MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LODGED AGAINST THESE VEHICLES AND THAT SERIOUS INJURY HAS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSMISSION...

I PURCHASED THIS TO USE AS A SECOND VEHICLE FOR CAMPING TRIPS SO THE MILEAGE ON IT IS VERY LOW FOR ITS AGE. SUDDENLY ONE DAY OF NORMAL LOCAL DRIVING, THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN VERY ROUGH. IT COULDN'T SEEM TO ACCELERATE AND RPMS WERE HIGH. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON SINCE THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE ANY MOMENT. SINCE O/D FLASHING MEANS SOMETHING WITH TRANSMISSION, I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS WHO BOTH DIAGNOSED A BAD TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $3,500. I WAS SHOCKED THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 43000 MILES ON VEHICLE DESPITE ITS AGE. BOTH SHOPS INFORMED ME THAT THE 2002 FORD EXPLORERS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BAD TRANSMISSIONS. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE WITH THIS REPAIR. THEY WOULD...

I WAS DRIVING MY 02 EXPLORER ON THE THRUWAY FOR 2 AN 1/2 HOURS AND WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION THE TRANSMISSION BUCKED AND SHUDDERED AND REVVED UP WHILE I WAS TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT I ALMOST HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING WHEN I LOOKED AT MY INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE DASH THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING SO AFTER I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND WOULD YOU KNOW THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM... FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME MIGHT HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE WITH DEADLY RESULTS... I TALKED TO MY TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND HE SAID IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION THE TRUCK DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 150,000 ON IT SO I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY CAN'T HELP ME BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL FOR...

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND FELT A SHARP JERK/PULL TO THE RIGHT. AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE SO GOT OFF ON NEXT EXIT. WASN'T A FLAT TIRE BUT COULD SMELL SOMETHING AWFUL. MADE GRINDING SOUND AND STILL HAD BAD SMELL, KNEW WE HAD TO DRIVE IT BACK TO THE PLACE WE ARE STAYING AT. HAD HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND ONLY DROVE 10-15 MPH BECAUSE OF THE SOUND AND BECAUSE OF HOW SCARY IT WAS. KNEW SOMETHING BAD WAS HAPPENING TO OUR CAR. BRAKES AT THIS POINT PRACTICALLY WENT OUT. WOULD NOT HAVE TO PRESS BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT, THE CAR WOULD JUST STOP. STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT EVEN, BUT MORE OR LESS 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. PULLED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND A CAR LEAVING THE STREET SAW THAT OUR VEHICLE AT THIS POINT WAS ON FIRE! EXTINGUISH...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE SHIFT SELECTOR FRACTURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE (FLAT SURFACE) AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND THE GEARSHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF INTO MY HAND. THE SAME THING HAPPEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND OUR MECHANIC REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

MY GEAR SHIFT BROKE AS I WAS PUTTING INTO GEAR AND IT JUST FELL INTO MY HANDS IT BROKE INTO TWO HALF A PIECE THAT SHOULD NOT BROKE AND AS I WAS GOING SOMEWHERE THE TRUCK JUST STARTING GOING CRAZY THE LIGHTS WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF THE ALARMS WAS GOING OF THE LIGHTS FLASHIN,SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT THE ALARM JUST GOES OFF ON IT ON WE SEE ALL THIS HAPPEN AND NO ONE IS BY THE TRUCK NO CATS DOGS NOTHING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY HESITATE AND THE SPEED WOULD DECELERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE CHECK TRANSMISSION SENSOR LIGHT AND OVER DRIVE LIGHT HAD ILUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGH. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK ON I-94 NEAR I-275. *TR

FIRST OF ALL THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY NEED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. IT JUST CAME ON. I READ ONLINE THAT IF THE LIGHT IS ON AND I AM IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WONT DEPLOY. THIS SEEMS REALLY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE COVER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS; BACK CHAIN 'PLASTIC' TENSOR BROKE AND AFFECTED CRITICALLY ENTIRE ENGINE. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PROBLEMS; SHIFT ROUGH FROM 1ST TO 2ND. PUT NEW SOLENOID BLOCK, PROBLEM STILL THERE. FORD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I GOT MY EXPLORER NOT TOO LONG AGO. IT WAS RUNNING GREAT THEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE O/D LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND MY TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SLIP. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND I THINK FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS BECAUSE I HAVE KIDS AND THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I AM ON A FIXED INCOME. IF FORD DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS OR RECALL THEM THEN NEVER WILL I BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR

I WAS AT THE SCHOOL TO PICK UP MY KIDS,I TURN ON MY FORD EXPLORER 2002 XLT V6 4.0 TO DRIVE AND THEN THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE ON NEUTRAL POSITION, THAT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE, HOW WILL I PARK MY CAR? IF IT HAPPENED ON A DOWNHILL, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PARK IT.IS THAT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A RECALL A FORD COMPANY TO FIX THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE RECENT VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JULY 2013 AND DROVE IT APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH WHEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING ALONG THERE WAS A SUDDEN DECLINE IN MY SPEED WHILE THE RPMS CONTINUED TO INCREASE. I SLOWED TO A STOP AS I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CHECKED THE VEHICLE FOR ANY OUTWARD SIGNS OF DAMAGE HAVING FOUND NONE I ONCE AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE MY TRIP. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE MANAGED TO ACCELERATE TO A BLISTERING 5 MILES AN HOUR WHILE HAVING TO MAINTAIN A 4-6 THOUSAND RPM RANGE. I PROCEEDED ALONG THE GRASS OF THE ROAD UNTIL I REACHED HOME. IT SITS NOW IN MY YARD COVERED WITH MY "TARP OF SHAME". THIS PIECE OF WORTHLESS CRAP SURELY FITS IT ACRONYM (FORD) FOUND ON THE ROAD DEAD....MY SPELLING MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST, BUT IT IS BETTER THAN...

EXPLORER O/D LIGHT BLINKS AND SHIFTS ROUGH FROM 1ST TO 2ND.

I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND SOLENOID, COSTING OVER $2500. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REVVED UP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED HER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 179,000.

PURCHASED 2002 FORD EXPLORER NEW IN APRIL 2002. HAD LITTLE PROBLEMS HERE AND THERE. THE REAL SMACK IN THE FACE CAME IN 2007 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD. WAS SHOCKED THAT A 5 YEAR OLD CAR WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HAD TO PAY OVER $3,000 (THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS). THIS SHOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN A RECALL AND NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. PERFORMED RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC AND FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS OF 'TURN OF THE CENTURY' FORDS, ESPECIALLY EXPLORERS, WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN OUR CAR WAS READY FOR REPAIRS, WE HAD TO WAIT TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THERE WERE TEN OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT THE DEALER WHO WERE AHEAD OF US. THERE WAS ONLY ONE TRANSMISSION TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER - WHICH IS WHY THERE WAS SUCH A LONG WAIT. CALLED AROUND TO DIFFERENT DEALERS IN THE AREA. ALL WERE HAVING THE SAME...

THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILURE SINCE 2010. BOUGHT A FORD REMANUFACTURED TRANS AS THIS IS MY SECOND 2002 WITH A FAILED TRANS. THE FIRST ONE I BOUGHT FAILED SEVEN MONTHS LATER. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 17,000 MILES LATER. FAST FORWARD TO LAST SATURDAY. SAME FAILURE AS THE LAST TWO. NO HELP FROM FORD, PROBABLY SURPRISED I MADE IT THROUGH THE WARRANTY. *TR

AFTER DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPOT I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND THE GEARSHIFT FELL. AFTER IT FELL AGAIN I TRIED ONCE MORE AND IT BROKE COMPLETELY OFF. WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHOM JUST TURNED IT OFF AND LATER INFORMED US THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WHICH WOULD COST $1700 JUST BECAUSE ONE PIECE WAS POORLY CONSTRUCTED AND MADE OF SOFT METAL. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A MONTH AND NOW WE'RE BEING TOLD THE PART IS ON BACK-ORDER SO WE STILL HAVE NO CAR. WE'VE READ WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS BUT YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BY THE FORD COMPANY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR AS THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY AND BEYOND 7000. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE SHIFT SENSOR CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

IT IS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. ENGINE REVS UP TO AND OVER 4,000RPMS AND SLAMS INTO THE GEARS. *TR

AFTER HAVING DRIVEN ABOUT 20 MILES FROM HOME, I NOTICED SEVERAL INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHING ON MY DASH AND THE CAR WAS NO LONGER SHIFTING PROPERLY. I MANAGED TO RETURN HOME WITH THE CAR NOT WANTING TO PROPERLY UP SHIFT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP, ABOUT 5 MILES FROM HOME, I ALSO LOST REVERSE GEAR. TRANSMISSION ENDED UP NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE HAVE TO LET GAS TO MAKE IT SHIFT CHANGE SCREEN TIRED TO CORRECT PROBLEM ANOTHER PROBLEM FORDS GOOD IDEA TO PUT CHEAP TIMING CHAINS IN THE 4.0 V6 ENGINES THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

TRANSMISSION IS JUNK, IT SLIPS REALLY BAD, WHINES AND CHATTERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. *TR

THIS 5R55W TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 108,890 MILES FOR $3500 WHILE MY DAUGHTER LIVED AT COLLEGE. I PURCHASED A 3-YEAR 36,000 MILE FORD WARRANTY AS I WAS CONFOUNDED THAT A TRUCK TRANSMISSION MIGHT FAIL AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE. 3-YEARS 16-DAYS 35,652 MILES LATER THIS FORD REMAN FORD INSTALLED TRANS ALSO FAILED AND FORD IS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR COST OF REPAIR REPLACE, 16-DAYS BEYOND A 100% FREE REPLACEMENT. THE LOCAL DEALER QUOTED $4500 AND THE PREVIOUS DEALER (100 MILES AWAY) QUOTED THE SAME $3500. I OPTED FOR AAMCO AT $2500 AND 3-YEAR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, SINCE FORD CAN'T RE-ENGINEER THEIR OWN TRANSMISSION TO LAST A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS JUST ON THE 2002 EXPLORER TRANSMISSION, AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS FOR 5R55W TRANSMISSION. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT FORD IS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO ACCELERATION. AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

TRANSMISSION SEALS FELL OFF IN THE DRIVEWAY, TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. *TR

YESTERDAY EVENING, I GOT INTO MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND NOTICED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS STUCK IN PARK. I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE IN ORDER TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THIS MORNING I FIGURED I WOULD GIVE IT ANOTHER ATTEMPT AS I NEEDED TO HEAD OUT FOR WORK. AS I TRIED AGAIN, I SIMPLY APPLIED THE BREAK, GRABBED THE SHIFT LEVER AND AS I PULLED THE TOWARDS ME AND BEGAN TO PULL DOWN TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE THE LEVER COMPLETELY BROKE AND IS NOW HANGING. I DID NOT APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE AT ANY POINT. NO MORE PRESSURE THEN I NORMALLY DO WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE TO REVERSE, ETC. I LOOKED UP THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION VIA INTERNET AND NOTICED MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME EXACT DESCRIPTION. HOPEFULLY FORD WILL RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE AND ISSUE A PART RECALL. *TR

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED HE PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE WHEN THE GEAR ASSEMBLY DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE GEAR ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000. DA

AS I WAS DRIVING IN SNOW, I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO GO AROUND ANOTHER CAR. WHEN I PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. I WAS STUCK IN MY CAR UNABLE TO SHIFT, IF I TURNED IT OFF I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. I HAD TO SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT BACK INTO GEAR WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. *TR

I BOUGHT THE 2002 EXPLORER NEW FROM A FORD DEALER. AT 86,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION PROVED TO BE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED COSTING $3,000. JUST TODAY 11/19/2013 AT 134,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN $4,200.00. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH HUNDREDS OF POSTING TELLING ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH FORD TRANSMISSIONS. HERE IS ONE SUCH SITES WEB ADDRESS: HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/FORD-EXPLORER/TDMGQ44C3JTCJSR03/P26#LASTPOST FORD KNOWS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS BUT REFUSES TO TAKE ACTION OTHER THEN PROFITING FROM CONTINUED SALES OF MORE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS AND PARTS. I BOUGHT THE EXPLORER IN GOOD FAITH FOR ABOUT $31,000.00 AND WILL HAVE PAID $7,200.00 (APPROX 23%)IN TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS. THE DANGER HERE IS THAT THESE FORD TRANSMISSIONS COULD AND MAY ACTUALLY HAVE ALREADY SEIZE WHILE DRIVING THUS CAUSING UNTOLD SAFETY ISSUES. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS AND CREATE A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS NOTICED AS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SEIZED WITHIN MOMENTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH E MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

DRIVING FORWARD AT 20 MPH IN A TRAILER PARK WHEN OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING HARD. WAS TOLD ITS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND THOUSANDS OF 02 EXPLORERS HAD THIS ISSUE. GARAGE WANTS 3500.00 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED FORD WHO HAD NO ANSWERS FOR ME AND WONT FIX EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW ITS A BIG ISSUE WITH THESE. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS TO DATE. ALSO CLOCK SPRING JUST FAILED AND HORN STOPPED WORKING AND AIR AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING. *TR

WHILE MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE LEVER BROKE AWAY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND COULD NOT BE RETURNED TO PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN REVERSE, ENGINE RUNNING, AND BRAKE APPLIED. WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, STILL IN REVERSE. THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED UNTIL A SMALL WIRE CONTACT INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS SHORTED TO THE METAL IN THE COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRAGGED ONTO A TOW VEHICLE AND TAKEN TO AIKINS FORD IN WINDER, GEORGIA. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE PART PLUS LABOR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1500. AIKINS ORDERED THE PART AND IS STILL WAITING AFTER DISCOVERING THAT THERE WERE 221 STEERING COLUMNS ON BACK ORDER WITH THE AFTER MARKET MANUFACTURER LICENSED TO PROVIDE THE PART. THE DESIGN OF THE SHIFT LEVER INCLUDED A "POT" METAL DISK HOUSING...

HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE WENT TO MECHANIC. WAS TOLD I BLEW A TWO HOLES THROUGH TIMING CHAIN COVER. WENT ONLINE FOUND THAT IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THAT YEAR OF FORD. VERY UPSET THERE IS NO RECALL. WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST AT LEAST 2000 TO FIX. FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. I WANT TO GO TO MEDIA TO LET EVERYONE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM KNOW THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. APPARENTLY EVERYONE HAS TO PAY OUT THE [XXX] TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I'M NOT ONE OF THEM. I WANT MY CAR FIXED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE CODE READS BAD SERVO WHEN READ BY THE NH INSPECTION STATION. INVESTIGATION ON INTERNET AND THROUGH DEALER INQUIRIES STATES THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH EXPLORER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS MANUFACTURING TIME PERIOD , EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE STATES THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD FOR THE 2002-2004 EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

HAD A FEW SLIPS PRIOR BUT NOTHING MAJOR.. AND NOW WONT MOVE IN DRIVE!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE OVER-DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS A MESSAGE APPEARED STATING TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD DEFECTIVE RINGS AND BUSHINGS. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID BLOCK WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 233,577.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.