2002 FORD EXPLORER Power Train Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION REFUSED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. I STARTED THE VEHICLE, DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE GEARSHIFT LEVER INTO REVERSE. THE GEARSHIFT LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE. AGAIN, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE GEARSHIFT LEVER INTO REVERSE. THE LEVER BROKE OFF AT THE JOINT WHERE IT COMES OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAD TO HIRE A TOW TRUCK. THE DRIVER HAD TO DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION TO LOAD IT ONTO THE BED OF THE TOW TRUCK. THIS HAS BEEN A MASSIVE INCONVENIENCE BOTH FINANCIALLY AND STRATEGICALLY. I EXPECTED THIS ISSUE TO BE IN THE RECALL MODE AS THERE ARE MANY INCIDENTS NOTED ON THIS SITE. I FEEL THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR ALL MY COSTS AS THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FLAWED METAL JOINT THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL WITH NORMAL USE. WE RESIDE IN A MOUNTAINOUS STATE AND USE THE GEARSHIFT...

THE DREADED GEARSHIFT IN HAND SO WELL KNOWN BY FORD AND ANYONE WITH THIS MODEL,AND FORD WANTS BIG MONEY FROM THE CONSUMER,FOR A TERRIBLY ENGINEERED PART. HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFTER FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT THE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000. *TR

BEARING KEEP HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AN THE REAR COIL SPRING IS CRACKED AN THE TIRE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK, HAVE REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING 3 TIMES ALREADY. AN I HAVE REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION 2 TIMES. *TR

LIKE MANY OTHER FRUSTRATED FORD OWNERS, I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPLORER. ITS REALLY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU TAKE IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DON'T EVEN NEED TO SEE IT TO KNOW THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT, DUE TO THE TRACK RECORD OF THE FAULTY PARTS FORD HAS USED. ITS REALLY SAD WHEN THEY KNOW THE TRANSMISSION WHERE NOT GOOD AND CONTINUED TO INSTALL THEM FOR MORE YEARS. I HOPE SOONER OR LATER THEY OWN UP TO THEIR FAULTS AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. WE SPENT GOOD MONEY FOR A QUALITY AMERICAN MADE CAR AND DID NOT EXPECT TO HAVE TO INVEST ALMOST $3,000 IN A NEW TRANSMISSION THE NEXT YEAR. FORD WILL LOSE A LOT OF LOYAL CUSTOMERS OVER THIS AND NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

BOUGHT A USED 2002 EXPLORER WITH 116,000 MILES ON IT, WENT THROUGH ALL THE WARE ITEMS AND REPLACED WITH NEW. I DROVE THIS VEHICLE TO WORK FOR A WHILE, ENOUGH TO GET THE MILEAGE TO 140,010 MILES THEN SUDDENLY STARTED TO SLIP INTO 3RD OR MISS ALL TOGETHER 3RD GEAR. 1ST TO 2ND WORKS FINE, 2ND TO 3RD IS GONE (ENGINE RAVES LIKE IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL) WHEN YOU LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR IT GOES INTO 4TH GEAR ON WILL PULL AGAIN, O/D WORKS ALSO. DANGEROUS FOR ANYONE IN VEHICLE, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, IF SOMEONE WAS TO HAVE TO GET INTO TRAFFIC AND THIS VEHICLE WAS TO THIS THEY COULD VERY EASILY BE RUN OVER BY A VEHICLE THEY ARE TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF OR HAD PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS NOW AND IS DOING NOTHING TO...

PULLED INTO PARK, WENT TO SHIFT VEHICLE INTO PARK (WAS FULLY STOPPED) AND GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF. I DID NOT APPLY ANY FORCE, JUST THE NORMAL TYPICAL ACTION OF SHIFTING THE GEAR. GOOD THING IT WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN IT SNAPPED. TOOK RUBBER SEAL OFF OF THE GEAR LEVER ARM AND THE PART WHICH THE LEVER ARM WAS ATTACHED HAD TOTALLY BROKEN OFF. THE METAL WAS NOT STRIPPED OR TWISTED BUT BROKEN. PART #905-104: COLUMN SHIFT REPAIR. *TR

TRANSMISSION TOOK A CRAP, IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 & 2003 EXPLORERS. GUESS WE SHOULD HAVE LOOKED INTO THE EXPLORER BETTER. *TR

MY FORD EXPLORER HAS HAD SO MANY RIDICULOUS PROBLEMS. THIS ONE IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT. THE CAR HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS, IT SPINS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND THEN I HAVE TO LET GO OF THE ACCELERATOR FOR IT TO SHIFT AGAIN, IT SKIPS 3RD GEAR ALTOGETHER AND JERKS INTO FOURTH AFTER PRESSING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR A SERIES OF TIMES. ONCE IT'S IN 4TH GEAR, IT DOESN'T GO PAST 50 MPH. MY MECHANIC SAYS HIS MONITOR DETECTED A FAULTY SOLENDER AND THE ENTIRE PACK HAS TO BE REPLACED, BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE ONLY PROBLEM. IF THAT DOESN'T DO THE TRICK (EVEN THOUGH IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED REGARDLESS) HE WILL HAVE TO OPEN THE TRANSMISSION AND POSSIBLY REBUILD OR REPLACE SOME OF THE PARTS. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2002 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ASIDE FROM THIS, I HAVE A LIST OF OTHER...

PULLING IN DRIVEWAY STOPPED THE VEHICLE GOING TO PUT IT IN PARK SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF INSIDE OF STEERING COLUMN WENT ON INTERNET FOUND 146 COMPLAINTS AS THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THEM ON FORD EXPLORER CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER ABOUT 25MPH WHEN I FELT THE REAR END DROP DOWN. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALL 5 STUDS HAD SHEARED OFF. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ONLY BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I PUT IT INTO DRIVE & STARTED TO ACCELERATE THE OPPOSITE SIDE STUDS SHEARED OFF. THIS TIME ONLY 4 STUDS BROKE SO I LIMPED THE TRUCK BACK ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15MPH GOING AROUND A TURN & 4 STUDS BROKE OFF AGAIN. IF I WAS GOING ANY FASTER THE TRUCK COULD HAVE FLIPPED OVER. *TR

MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. FROM PARK, WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THERE IS A SURGE THAT OVERCOMES THE BRAKES AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO MOVE ROUGHLY 4-5 FEET. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSIONS SHIFTS SO HARD THAT IT SHAKES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. WHEN SHIFTING THROUGH THE GEARS THE TRANSMISSIONS STALLS THEN SHIFTS SO HARD IT OVERCOMES THE STEERING WHEEL AND SOMETIMES CAUSES A CHANGE OF DIRECTION. WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 50MPH + IN OVERDRIVE THE TRANSMISSION WILL SURGE THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY AS IT ATTEMPTS TO STAY IN GEAR. AFTER REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE FORD DEALERSHIP THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED A SOLUTION OTHER THAN SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON ANOTHER TRANSMISSION THAT MAY CAUSE THE SAME RESULT. THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH OCCURS. *TR

WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STOP SIGN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING CAUSING THE EXPLORER TO BARELY PULL OUT INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHICH HAD TO STOP TO AVOID HITTING ME. THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND IT HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING. *TR

THREE MONTHS AGO THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING ON MY DASHBOARD. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN CHANGING GEARS. SOMETIMES THE RPM'S WILL REV BUT THE CAR WILL NOT INCREASE IN SPEED.THE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO SHIFT HARSHLY. *TR

MERGING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC ON US23 N. IN OHIO, TRIED TO ACCELERATE JUST AS I ALWAYS DO AND THE TRANSMISSION DECIDES IT DOESNT WANT TO SHIFT, THEN WHEN IT FINALLY DID (APPROX 5000 RPM) IT SLAMED INTO GEAR. NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING REAR-ENDED. TURNED VEHICLE AROUND, TRIED FLUID/FILTER CHANGE WITH NO SUCCESS. DID A SEARCH ON THE NET AND FOUND THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. CHECKED FOR RECALL AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS NONE. *TR

DRIVE TRAIN, BUCKS, GRINDS, IS SLIPPING. MAKES ALOT OF NOISE. HAD THE REAR END REPLACED AND IT DID NOT WORK, PAID $1000.00 OR SO AND DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN A PRIVATE SALE ON 11/09/12 AND ON 11/10/12 WENT TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO REVERSE ON A FLAT SURFACE AND MY SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF AND I AM NOT ABLE TO SHIFT MY VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BECAME DETACHED, LEAVING THE VEHICLE STUCK IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,000.

THE O/D LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING ON AND OFF. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION DOES NO LONGER WANT TO SHIFT GEARS; AND WHEN IT DOES IT SHIFTS VERY HARD. *TR

ON THE AFTERNOON OF OCTOBER 22ND 2012 MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS LEAVING THE SPEECH THERAPIST WITH MY SON WENT TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE SHIFTER SNAPPED OFF IN HER HAND. THE CAR EVERY SINCE WE HAD IT WHEN U PUT IT IN PARK AS A DELAY AND ROLLS FOR WARD A BIT I FEEL THAT THIS IS A RECALL THAT FORD SHOULD ISSUE FOR THIS CAR. ITS JUST NOT FAIR TO HAVE TO PAY OVER 1200 DOLLARS TO FIX SOMETHING THAT IS NOT MY FAULT.WHAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE STREET LUCKILY MY WIFE KNEW TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS PROBLEM REALLY COULD END UP IN SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN FATALITY TO AN INDIVIDUAL. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. FAILED ORIGINALLY AT 65,000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FAILED AGAIN 3 YEARS LATER AT 130,000 MILES AND HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. 10 MONTHS LATER AT 140,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING AND STARTING TO SLIP. I DON'T ANTICIPATE PAYING FOR A 4TH TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE DESIGN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WHEN I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP LIGHT AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO 3RD GEAR. THE ENGINE REVVED HIGHLY AND THEN SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION KICKED INTO GEAR WITH A SUDDEN JOLT FORWARD. *TR

WHILE COMING OFF A FREEWAY MY CAR SUDDENLY JERKED AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO STOP. WHEN TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD THE CAR BEGAN TO TRY TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO THE CAR BEHIND ME. I WAS LUCKY I WAS COMING TO A STOP RATHER THEN GOING FULL SPEED ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. THE TRANSMISSION NOW NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT ACCORDING TO 2 MECHANICS. *TR

WENT TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE FROM THE PARK POSITION AND THE SHIFTER COMPLETELY BROKE AND WAS HANGING. ALSO, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET MY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. WE WERE PLANNING TO MAKE AN OUT OF TOWN TRIP THE FOLLOWING DAY, HOWEVER, HAD TO CHANGE PLANS DUE TO THIS SITUATION. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, I HAVE DISCOVERED THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT DEFECT FOR THE EXACT TYPE OF VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THAT SINCE THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN SO MANY SAME SITUATIONS, THAT A RECALL WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE BY NOW. NOT HAS IT ONLY BEEN INCONVENIENT, BUT COULD ALSO BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS! *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH PULLED OFF EXIT AND CONTINUED ON CITY ROADS TO OUR JOBS PARKING LOT AND IS NO LONGER DRIVE ABLE. *TR

THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD THERE MIGHT BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AFTER THE SERVICE THE LIGHT WAS OFF AND I WAS GOING AGAIN. AT 107,000 MILES THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMANT AND THEY SAID THE #5 RING WAS HAVING PROBLEMS I COULD DRIVE IT AND IT WOULD GET WORSE. IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED THIS YEAR EXPLORER HAD MANY TRANSMISSION ISSUES. NOW THEY WANT A MINIMUM OF $3,500 TO FIX THE SUV AND THE TRADE-IN IS ONLY WORTH $3,500 DOLLARS. I NOW HAVE 117,500 MILES ON IT AND IT SHIFTS HARD AND GOES IN REVESERVES SLOWLY. I HAVE TALKED TO FORD TO NO AVAIL AT ALL. THE SAY SORRY BUT WE CAN'T HELP WITH FIXING IT AT ALL. THERE IS NO DISCOUNTED RATE FOR AN ISSUE THAT IS WELL KNOWN ON THE BLOGS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AGAINST THE FACT...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FAILED. THE CONTACT TRIED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN PARK BUT THE GEAR SHIFT REMAINED STUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ALUMINUM HOUSE THAT CONNECTED THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HAVE NOT RESPONDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE GEAR SHIFTER LEVER FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,549.

WHEN ACCELERATING ON A START, CAR DOESN'T SHIFT INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR....UNLESS THERE IS A PUSH OR JUMP INTO IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING FROM 2-3 GEAR AND I FOUND OUT WITH MY 2YR AND 3YR KIDS IN THE CAR IF I NEED TO PULL OUT ON TO A HIGHWAY WITH CARS COMING THE SUV DON'T WANT TO DO SO AND WILL REV UP AND MIGHT SLAM INTO GEAR WHEN YOU LET OFF THE GAS. I LOVE MY EXPLORER GREAT FAMILY CAR BUT WITH THIS PROBLEM I WILL NOT HAVE MY KIDS IN IT AT ALL. AND NOT KNOWING IF IT WILL MAKE IT OR NOT. FORD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. IM NOT THE ONLY ONE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT PASSED 3RD GEAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON A BUSY HIGHWAY BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID THE ENGINE WOULD EXPLODE. I LATER FOUND OUT, AFTER RESEARCHING, THAT THE RISK OF IT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PO745 ERROR CODE IN 2002 EXPLORERS. *TR

FORD IS A GREAT COMPANY. I LOVE THEIR F-350, MUSTANGS, AND VANS. BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SEEN AND RESEARCHED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS THE CITIZENS HAVE SENT TO FORD AND THROUGH YOURSELVES. AND YET TO NOW PREVAIL? WHAT RIGHT DOES A PERSON HAVE TO CREATE A VEHICLE AND NOT OWN UP TO ITS COMPLICATION. NOW I'M NOT SAYING THEIR ARE PERFECT CARS BUT A FORD EXPLORER HAS THEM. NOW I CAN SEND YOU A LIST OF WHAT I WANT. BUT I'M NOT GOING TO RANT LIKE SOME 5 YEAR OLD IN A CANDY STORE. BUT CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN. HUNDREDS OF THESE INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH OUT THEIR DAY DRIVING THIS VEHICLE NEED A BREAK. ACTUALLY THEY NEED A FIX. A "SHIFT"INTO THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND HUNDREDS MORE ARE FILING LAWSUIT AGAINST EVERYONE THEY CAN ABOUT IT. YOUR CANT TRADE THIS CAR...

I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT AND WITHIN 1 WEEK THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT....HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED AND STILL NO GOOD. *JB

THE O/D LIGHT FLICKERS ON AND OFF AND THERE APPEARS TO BE NO THIRD GEAR, ACCORDING TO THREE MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION INSPECTIONS. RESEARCHING WEBSITES INDICATES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PREVALENT PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. NEED TO KNOW: 1. WAS THERE A RECALL? 2. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, FORD IS WILLING TO DO TO FIX OR COMPENSATE FOR THE CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE INVOLVED TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT DETACHED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS FROM THE PARK TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 121,000.

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION HAS SUDDENLY QUIT AT ONLY 120,000 MILES. BECAUSE OF A CODE P0775 "PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID". SHOPPED THE FIX (WHICH ALL REPAIR SHOPS SAY IS VERY COMMON ON EARLY 2000 FORD'S) AND IT WILL NEED A $2500 REBUILD. DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND MORE COMPLAINTS ON THIS THAN I CAN ACCOUNT FOR. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT LINE AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO MY LOCAL DEALER. LOCAL DEALER SAID I FALL OUTSIDE OF ANY CUSTOMER APPRECIATION PROGRAMS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO THAN FIX IT FOR ME FOR $3200. WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ALONG WITH THE CRACKED TAILGATE THAT I SEE ON ALL FORD EXPLORERS I DRIVE BY, THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF FORCED RECALL. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. THE OVER DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FIRST AND SECOND GEARS OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHING AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON CONSTANT. TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD TIME SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 140,000 MILES WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED. I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER SO I AM UNSURE IF THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. *TR

OUT TRANSMISSION ISN'T OUT YET, IT'S ON ITS WAY OUT. WHEN ACCELERATING IT STOPS AT 25-35 MPH AND THE RPM REV UP TO THE RED LIMIT IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND IT WONT SWITCH GEARS FOR A MINUTE OR SO. SOMETIMES YOU HEAR A LOUD DROPPING SOUND AND THE ENTIRE CAR JERKS WHEN IT SWITCHES GEARS. THIS FIRST HAPPENED WHEN SPEEDING UP ON A BUSY MAIN ROAD NEAR DETROIT, ALMOST CAUSING US TO BE REAR ENDED. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION GARAGE AND WERE INFORMED IT WOULD BE $2,000 OR THERE ABOUTS TO FIX. HAD THE OTHER DRIVER NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION OR HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY MYSELF, MY FIANCE, OUR FOUR CHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORSE. APPARENTLY THE TRANSMISSION IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BLATANTLY...

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EB AND THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TRANNY IS SLIPPING LIKE CRAZY AND ITS HARD TO CHANGE FROM PARK TO DRIVE. I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND IT IS A CLOSED TRANNY SO I CANT EVEN CHECK THE FLUID IN IT BUT FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE I WILL NEVER OWN A FORD AGAIN. *TR

BEEN JERKY AND JUMPING FOR 2 YEARS BUT TODAY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT WHEN STARTING OUT OR DOWN-SHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE ENGINE WENT TO HIGH RPM WITH LITTLE OR NO FORWARD PROGRESS.ALL THIS WAS PRECEDED BY THE OVER-DRIVE LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF FOLLOWED NEXT BY THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT. NEXT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FORUMS ON THIS VEHICLE WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON THE V-8 ENGINES ARE JUST JUNK. WAY TO MANY COMPLAINTS. WILL FORD FIX THIS ON AN OUT OF WARRANTY VEHICLE? AFTER PULLING. *JS

THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD, ENGINE LIGHT AND O/D OFF LIGHTS ARE ON. LOCAL MECHANIC SAYS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE BAND ON THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN. THIS IS A SEALED UNIT WITH NO WAY TO SERVICE WITHOUT A REBUILD.

MY WIFE STARTED OUR EXPLORER AND TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE SNAPPED OFF IN HER HAND. ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS! UNBELIEVABLE! SO NOW I HAVE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THIS "FORD PROBLEM" FIXED! AND ALSO SHELL OUT OVER $1000 DOLLARS JUST SO I CAN GET MY EXPLORER BACK ON THE ROAD!!! AND WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD GARAGE TO ASK ABOUT THIS DEFECT, THEY ACTED AS IF THIS PROBLEM HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE! BS! *TR

THE TRANSMISSION IS JUNK. FORD KNOWS THIS. REBUILDING OR REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION IS INEVITABLE...AND NOT JUST ONCE, BECAUSE THERE ARE KNOWN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING ISSUES THAT WILL ONLY CAUSE THE FAILURES TO REPEAT THEMSELVES. UNLESS THESE FAILURES ARE DEALT WITH, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE ON THE ROADS WHO ARE AT THE MERCY OF LUCK THAT THE CAR THEY ARE DRIVING OR THE CARS THAT OTHERS ARE DRIVING NEAR THEM WONT STOP DEAD, STOPPING THEM DEAD. HOW IS THIS KNOWN PROBLEM NOT A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE? HAVE YOU COUNTED THE NUMBER OF FORD EXPLORERS ON THE ROAD?? ITS SCARY. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION DIED FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER I HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE IT, 75,000 MILES AGO. I AM NOW SITTING AT 156000 AND IT IS DOING THE SAME THINGS AGAIN. THIS GIVES ME SUCH A BAD TASTE TOWARD FORD, AND I HAVE BEEN A DIE HARD FORD GUY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE OVER DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SKIP GEARS. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

SHIFTER BROKE OFF WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE,CANNOT SHIFT VEHICLE. I READ ONLINE THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ,THEY WERE ALL WONDERING WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. HAS THERE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE GEAR SHIFTER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT ODDLY FROM SECOND TO THIRD. THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING. SHIFTING THEN BEGAN TO BE ROUGH. I PROMPTLY TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO FOUND IT NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT UNIT. SECOND GEAR CASING HAD FAILED. *TR