2002 FORD EXPLORER Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

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.

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT NO. 10459987. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR RECORDS, WE DISCOVERED THAT DURING A SERVICE OF MY TRANSMISSION, FORD FACTORY REQUIRED THE DEALERSHIP TO CUT THE METAL TRANSMISSION LINE AND INSTALLED A RUBBER LINE WITH A FILTER. IF THEY DID NOT INSTALL THE FILTER, THEN THE WARRANTY WOULD HAVE BEEN VOID. AFTER INSTALLING, NO ONE EVER INSPECTED OR REPLACED THE LINE OR FILTER. IT WAS SIMPLY FORGOTTEN. 75,000 MILES LATER THE RUBBER LINE WAS RESTING ON THE EXHAUST, WHICH BURNED A HOLE AND CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK AND SPRAY ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUGHT FIRE. WE WERE LUCKY IN THAT WE SAW THE SMOKE EARLY AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. I AM CONCERNED THERE ARE MORE CARS OUT THERE WITH THIS RETRO-FIT FILTER ON THE TRANSMISSION THAT NO ONE IS INSPECTING OR MAINTAINING BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON AN OFFICIAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. *TT

TRANSMISSION FAILURE - STUPID DESIGN DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO CHECK FLUID LEVEL, LEAK AT TRANSFER CASE SEAL SEEMS TO HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF FLUID AND CANNOT BE ADDED WITHOUT SOME SPECIAL PUMP TO FILL TRANSMISSION BACK UP BECAUSE IT'S A SEALED UNIT. DESIGNED SO ONLY FORD DEALERS CAN DO SERVICE AND THEN IT JUST GOES OUT AND YOU'RE DRIVING 65 MPH DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND UNABLE TO CONTROL SPEED. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE PIECE OF CRAP TRANSMISSIONS YET WON'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THERE'S A PROBLEM ALTHOUGH EVERY DEALER & TRANNY MECHANIC KNOWS OF THE ISSUES. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTER HANDLE FRACTURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 187,000. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ UPDATED 03/06/12

4X4 MODULE NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING INTO 2 GEAR HARD. *TT

MY WIFE WAS PICKING UP HER MOTHER AND SHE WENT TO PUT THE EXPLORER INTO REVERSE AND THE SHIFTER BROKE OFF IN HER HAND. SHE COULD NOT GET THE CAR INTO GEAR SO WE HAD IT TOWED HOME. I FOUND THE PIECE HOLDING THE SHIFTER WAS BROKEN OFF. FORD WANTED $1,000 FOR THE PIECE TO FIX IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS RECENTLY DRIVING BACK HOME FROM A TRIP IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA TO SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA. TWO DAYS AFTER HAVING MY CAR FULLY SERVICED AND MY OVER DRIVE LIGHT CAME ON AND AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENED MY CAR STARTED TELLING ME I NEED TO GET MY TRANSMISSION CHECKED. I SAT THERE THINKING TO MYSELF HOW CAN THIS BE HAPPENING I JUST SPENT 800 DOLLARS TO HAVE ALL OF MY FLUIDS FLUSHED, BRAKES CHECKED, EVERYTHING. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE AUTO REPAIR STORE AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND AFTER LABOR IT WOULD BE AROUND 5000 (I THINK I WAS QUOTED THAT PRICE BECAUSE I'M A YOUNG FEMALE, I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND MOST PEOPLE WERE QUOTED AROUND 3000). I'M A FULL TIME COLLEGE STUDENT PAYING FOR MY CLASSES WITH STUDENT LOANS...

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 2010, ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY; WAS REBUILT IN MARCH 2011, BUT TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AGAIN AND IT IS NOW AUGUST 2011. I HAVE BEEN CHECKING SEVERAL DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND I RECEIVED 1 RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL BUT HAPPENED TO NOTICE THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL. IF ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONTINUING TO HAPPEN, WHY IS A RECALL ON THE ENTIRE TRUCK NOT DONE? IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN, ONE WITH A MEDICAL ISSUE THAT HAS TO TRAVEL FOR HER DOCTOR VISITS. THESE PROBLEMS ARE GETTING OUT OF HAND. I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT HAS GONE THIS LONG AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THERE IS ALSO THE ISSUE WITH THE NON WORKING AIR COMPRESSOR AND THE BAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE ROARING IN THE BACK TIRES. AS MUCH AS I TRAVEL WITH MY CHILDREN...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH SHE NOTICED SMOKING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS A MINOR DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE DEFECT AND WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HER HOME AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD SINCE THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE CONTACT STATED IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, A CRASH COULD OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 131,000.

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM GETTING GROCERIES AND THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE. WAS AT A INTERSECTION SO IT WAS A UNPLEASANT SITUATION AS THEIR WAS ONCOMING CARS. PULLED THE CAR OVER AND SHUT OFF.. CHECKED FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID.. THERE WAS NONE. STARTED CAR AND IT WOULD ONLY DRIVE ABOUT 15 MPH THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. THE OVERDRIVE CONTROL ON THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. 2200 REPAIR.. CHECKED THE RECALLS AND THERE CURRENTLY IS NOT ONE EVEN THOUGH THIS SPECIFIC TRANSMISSION HAS THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINS (NOT OVER EXAGGERATING) THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATIONS CONSIDERING I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE OR A ON RAMP. THIS VEHICLE IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE AWAITING A RECALL OF WHEN MY FAMILY GETS THE FINANCIAL STABILITY TO REPAIR IT IN A NON FORD DEALERSHIP/REPAIR SHOP. THIS SUV GETS REGULAR FLUID FILLS/CHANGES AT THE CORRECT INTERVALS WITH DOCUMENTATION.. THIS TRANSMISSION IS "SEALED" WHICH MEANS IT...

TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AT 85,300 MILES, MUST HAVE IT REBUILT. *KB

2002 FORD EXPLORER-TRANSMISSION FAILURE-130,000 MILES-JULY 12, 2011 TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT 119,000 MILES ON JAN. 13, 2010 BY A LOCAL FORD DEALER- BOTH FAILURES CONSISTED OF THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR DURING NORMAL DRIVING. IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES SPEED AND PASSENGERS ARE SUBJECT TO REAR END IMPACT OR SUDDEN SURGES OF SPEED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BACK INTO GEAR, CAUSING A POSSIBLE REAR END IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION STICKS IN ONE GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION SINCE 2002. MY LOCAL DEALER SAYS THAT FMC FIGURES REVEALED THAT 30% OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF SOME TYPE. HOWEVER FMC OFFERED VERY LITTLE RELIEF TO ITS CUSTOMERS. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS TIME FOR AN IMMEDIATE FORCED RECALL OF THIS...

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSON SLIPPING GEARS, HARD TO SHIFT, AND NOT ACCELERATING IN APRIL 2008 AT 100K MILES. REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND SAME THING IS HAPPENING AGAIN AFTER ONLY 40K MORE MILES AND ONLY 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 20 MPH, AND THE OVER DRIVE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. DUE TO THE TYPE OF WARNING LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES, AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

I OWN A 2002 XPLORER, RECENTLY THE O.D LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING AND THE TRUCK STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM.I HAVE AN EIGHT YEAR OLD WHO WAS IN THE TRUCK WITH ME AT THE TIME.THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH FORD AND SHOULD DEFINATELY BE LOOKED INTO. *TT

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER'S TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION IN THESE MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLES. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME RECALL FOR THIS. *TR

WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO PARK THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM PLEASE LOOK AT WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND LOOK UNDER THE 2002 EXPLORER AND UNDER THE SUB HEADING INTERIOR ACCESSORIES PROBLEMS. OF THE 180 COMPLAINTS UNDER THIS SUB HEADING, 126 ARE FOR THE BROKEN SHIFT LEVER PROBLEM AND THESE WERE ALL REPORTED SINCE 2008. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS CLEARLY DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN AND FAULTY PARTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR DETACHED FROM THE HINGE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE GEARS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ONCE BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,797 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 75,846. UPDATED 07/27/11*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOMETER BEGAN TO FLASH AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN HOME AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 84,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC SHOP WHO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60K MILES. HARD SHIFTING, JERKING, SUDDEN SHIFTS INTO 4X4 HIGH. REPLACEMENT COST OF 2800 DOLLARS. THREE VISITS LATER AND IT STILL ISN'T RIGHT. *TR

TRANSMISSION HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE CAR WAS BOUGHT. HAVE HAD WORK DOWN ON IT AND FINALL Y HAD TO REPLACE IT IN MAY 2011, COST $5000. *TR

OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 109,000 MILES HAS SERIOUS TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. THE LOCAL DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP STATE THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST BETWEEN $2,500 AND $3,500. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND BALL BEARINGS ALSO NEED REPLACED ACCORDING TO 2 SEPARATE MECHANICS. THERE IS A RANDOM THUMPING COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE DAILY. THE COST TO REPAIR IS BETWEEN $2,000 AND $5,000. THEY CANNOT TELL US EXACTLY UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY GET IN THERE TO DO THE REPAIR. *TR

MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WONT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO EXHIBITED SEVERE HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,071.

DRIVING 2002 FORD EXPLORER WHEN O/D LIGHT FLASHED AND WARNING CAME ON TO CHECK TRANSMISSION. WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD AT TIMES, STALL, AND SHIFTING WOULD BE DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER NOR BEEN WAS IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER THAT THE TRANSMISSION MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE BUILD UP HAD CAUSED THE TORQUE CONVERTER TO POP OUT AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE OR REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. A PRIVATE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SUV WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL/LOSING POWER IN TRAFFIC. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION! FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. *TR

GOING OUT OF TOWN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC AT 65MPH. O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF. TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING ERRATICALLY AND I FELT THAT I LOST 5TH AND 2ND GEARS. SHOP RAN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CODES P0732, P0735 AND P0775. CODES CONFIRMED PROBLEMS WITH 2ND AND 5TH GEARS AND SOLENOID B MALFUNCTION. *TR

TODAY IS 2/21/2011 AND JUST HAD THE CRAP SCARED OUT OF ME, THREE CHILDREN (AGES 4, 2, AND A 10 MONTH OLD) AND 4 OTHER VEHICLES WHEN GUESS WHAT---MY TRANSMISSION BLEW THE SERVO PLUG!!!! GEE IMAGINE THAT ANOTHER PIECE OF JUNK THAT CHINA/JAPAN OR WHATEVER YOU CALL THEM PEOPLE, ASSEMBLED!!! THANKS AGAIN FORD FOR SELLING OUT!!! FORD CEO'S WHOM I'M SURE ARE FILTHY RICH ARENT TRUE AMERICAN PEOPLE OTHERWISE THEY WOULDNT HAVE SOLD US OUT TO ANOTHER COUNTRY!!!!! DRIVING TODAY AT A LEGAL 45 MPH MY SERVO PLUG BLEW OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND CAUSING NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT 4 OTHER VEHICLES TO END UP OF THE ROAD CAUSING A NEAR PILE UP!!!!! WHAT ARE YOU (FORD) GOING TO DO FOR US PEOPLE THAT WERE CONNED INTO BUYING A PIECE OF CRAP FROM A PUSHY SALESMEN THAT FORD TRAINED!!!! DID THESE SALESMEN KNOW THAT THESE...

2002 4 X 4 FORD EXPLORER, WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE TIMING CHAINS WENT ON THIS TRUCK. OF COURSE THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING AND I HAD THE HUGE PROBLEM OF PUSHING IT OFF THIS 3 LANE BUSY HIGHWAY. DID GET IT OFF AND NOW WAITING TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY FOR REPLACEMENT ENGINE. YES THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3200 - 3400 MILES, DEFAULT WITH THE FORD ENGINES, PLASTIC SPROCKS. SO I AM WITHOUT A TRUCK UNTIL MONEY IS RAISED OR FORD DOES A RECALL. I KNOW! THERE WAS NO SIGN OTHER THAN A SLIGHT NOISE STARTING AND CALLED THE GARAGE AND NEVER GOT THERE. MY TRUCK IS IN GREAT SHAPE, NO RUST, NO ACCIDENTS AND I LOVE TO DRIVE IT! THE GAS IS NOT BAD AT ALL IF YOU DON'T HORSE IT! *TR

I AM ANOTHER VICTIM OF THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND ITS TRANSMISSION WOES. ALERTED BY A FLASHING OD YELLOW WARNING LIGHT, AFTER A TRIP TO THE GARAGE AND RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I DISCOVER THIS IS A SIGN THAT I WILL NEED A $3000 TRANSMISSION REBUILD ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 99K MILES THAT WAS CAREFULLY USED AND DEALER SERVICED. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY IF WITH CONSUMERS. *TR

O/D LIGHT FLASHES FOR A FEW DAYS THEN AT AROUND 25 MPH THE GEAR SWITCHES INTO NEUTRAL AND RUNS VERY ROUGH THEN THE CAR IS THROWN FORWARD. HAD A REBUILT TRANSMISSION (WE WERE TOLD WE WERE GETTING A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AND PAID EXTRA FOR IT!) AT 83K MILES ON OCT 15, 2010 THEN FEB 5, 2011 THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENS. THE DEALER CANNOT TAKE THE TRUCK FOR ANOTHER 5 DAYS AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME A LONER CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. PLEASE NOTE: BELOW I PUT IN THE FIRST INCIDENT DATE, FEB 2011 IS THE SECOND INCIDENT DATE. IN MAY OF 2009 I WAS TOLD MY ENGINE FAILED AT ABOUT 76,000 MILES. WE DID BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WE WERE COVERED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD US WE WERE NOT COVERED. THEY HAD OUR TRUCK FOR 3 WEEKS UNTIL THE WARRANTY PEOPLE CALLED THE...

AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FAILED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. FORD HAS NOT RECOGNIZED THE DEFECT. THIS POSES SEVERAL HAZARDS SUCH AS A LOCKING TRANSMISSION ON THE HIGHWAY, SLIPPING TRANSMISSION WHEN IN PARK, NO ABILITY TO MOVE WHEN IN TRAFFIC. *TR

THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED SHIFTING CORRECTLY, STARTED MAKING BAD NOISES, WON'T SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR, AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT IS FLASHING SPASTIC. THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST UNDRIVEABLE, AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM FROM WHAT I HAVE READ. I AM ABOUT TO TAKE IT INTO A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. *TR

I HAVE 2 ISSUES WITH MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER..THE FIRST ISSUE IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I BOUGHT THIS LAST YEAR AND TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT 2 DAYS LATER AND THEY HAD THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THEY DEAL WITH LOOK AT IT AND WAS TOLD THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. WHEN I GO TO PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE THE VEHICLE WONT MOVE. ONCE I START DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING AND WHEN STOPPED AT RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS BECAUSE IT WONT GO AND WANTS TO DRIFT BACKWARDS AND WANTS TO STALL AND I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BY DRIFTING INTO SOMEONE. I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS EVERYDAY AND IT'S GETTING OLD NOW. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE REAR HATCH/DOOR.. TODAY I TOOK NOTICE THAT THERE IS A CRACK RIGHT UNDER THE WINDOW WHERE THE REAR FORD EMBLEM IS...

I WAS DRIVING MY EXPLORER YESTERDAY AND IT WAS ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS AND INSTEAD SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION OR A TIRE GETTING BUSTED. THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON AND START FLASHING. IT WOULD RESET ITSELF EVERYTIME THE CAR WAS RESTARTED BUT IMMEDIATELY CAME BACK ON. LATER IN THE EVENING, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I'M NOT ONE TO WAIT AND LET SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPEN TO MY VEHICLES SO I TOOK IT TO AAMCO AFTER FORD TOLD US THEY WERE TOO BUSY TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS ON IT. AAMCO EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR THE SOLENOID PACK. UPON OPENING THE PAN UNDERNEATH, THEY EXPLAINED THAT IF THERE WERE METAL CHUNKS IT WOULD BE THE TRANSMISSION; IF NOT, THE SOLENOID PACK. SURE ENOUGH, THERE WERE BIG METAL CHUNKS. NOW, AFTER HAVING THE CAR ONLY TWO MONTHS, I'M HAVING TO COME UP WITH MONEY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION...

MY ISSUE STARTED LATE IN 2009. THE O/D LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND FLASHING AND FOR A FEW MONTHS MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY INTO 3RD GEAR AND OVERDRIVE. IT WOULD SLIP AND CLUNK INTO GEAR. THEN WHILE DRIVING UP HILL ON A MAIN ROAD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. IT WOULD NOT PROPEL MY VEHICLE AND SHUT DOWN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD WHICH NEARLY CREATED A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. BOTH FORWARD AND REVERSE DID NOT WORK MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET MY CAR OFF THE ROAD. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE BACK YARD SINCE I CAN NOT AFFORD THE COSTLY REPAIRS. I FEEL THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FORD SHOULD RECALL THIS ITEM. *TR

AT 105K MILES, OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER STARTED SHAKING AS IT SHIFTED THROUGH THE GEARS. WE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER WHO CHARGED $2,000 FOR "FIXING" THE PROBLEM. DRIVING AWAY FROM THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THERE WAS ANOTHER ERROR CODE THAT COST US $30. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND TODAY FORD SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. AT JUST OVER 100K MILES, THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD COMPLETELY GO OUT. WE ARE NOW LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT WE CAN'T SELL AND CAN'T DRIVE. LOOKING AT SEVERAL OTHER DESCRIPTIONS ON THIS WEBSITE, IT IS APPARENT THAT FORD CONTINUES TO IGNORE THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY O/D OFF LIGHT HAS STARTED FLASHING AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT. THAT IS A $2800 JOB. THIS IS AFTER A YEAR AND HALF AGO I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. WHICH WAS A $2400 JOB. I DON'T SEE EXACTLY HOW I COULD HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO TRANSMISSIONS IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AT 36,000 MILES AND IS NOW NEEDING TO BE REBUILT AGAIN AT 74,000 MILES. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP AND AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE SOME OF THE COST ABSORBED BY PURCHASING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING ROUGH AGAIN A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THEN QUICKLY PROGRESSED TO FULLY SKIPPING 3RD GEAR. WE ARE NOW FACING REBUILDING IT AGAIN. WE HAVE READ UP ON THE PROBLEM AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THE EARLIER BUILT 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. WE HAVE EVEN DISCOVERED A POSTING ON A FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN EXPLAINING EXACTLY OUR SITUATION (HTTP://216.198.221.184/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=2595868) TSB 04-24-17. THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING IS THAT FORD IS AWARE THEY BUILT A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT WILL NEED TO BE REBUILT EVERY 35,000-40,000 MILES AND THEY ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT....

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EXT WAGON. THE CONTACT THAT STATED THAT UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT IN AN AWKWARD MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE SUDDENLY RECURRED AND HE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO STATED THAT 3 OUT OF 4 WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED. THE WINDOWS ARE NOT WORKING NORMALLY. THE LIFTGATE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE 3 WINDOW REGULATORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING, AS MANY OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS I AM AFRAID THIS IS A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, I WANT FORD TO BE LIABLE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM OF SUCH A BIG MAGNITUDE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE OVERDRIVE AND SERVICE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONVERTER BODY WAS REBUILT. IN ADDITION, REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE OVERDRIVE PISTON, OVERDRIVE SPEED SENSOR, OVERDRIVE BAND, CARRIER PLANTER, AND REVERSE BOARD BUSHING. THE MECHANIC ALSO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,411 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,445. UPDATED 2/28/11 *CN UPDATED 06/03/11*JB

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS TRAVELING ON AN ON RAMP. WHEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN POWERFUL JERK. IT WAS SIMILAR TO GETTING REAR ENDED. THE FAILURE OCCURS ABOVE 35 MPH. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE SUDDEN UNCONTROLLABLE JERKS. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REBUILT FOR A VEHICLE UNDER 80,000 MILES. *TR

WE PURCHASED A USED 2002 EXPLORER LTD. IN JULY 2010. THE CAR HAD 62,500 MILES ON IT AND LOOKED TO BE IN GREAT SHAPE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ALL THE SERVICE PAPERS AND WE CHECKED CARFAX AND WE SAW NO REASON NOT TO PURCHASE THE CAR. WE SHOULD HAVE CHECKED CARCOMPLAINTS.COM THOUGH. AS I WRITE THIS, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. ACCORDING TO WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR EARLY 2000'S FORD EXPLORERS. HOW CAN I SHELL OUT $2500 OR MORE FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION?? FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCING THIS LEMON'THAT I HAVE ONLY OWNED 5 MONTHS. ARE THERE ANY CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS BEING FILED AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR THIS PROBLEM? I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS, DRIVING O/D LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION STARTED FAILING TO SHIFT CORRECTLY, NEEDS COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD. *TR