2002 FORD EXPLORER Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND A NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONVERTER WAS REPLACED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. ALSO, WHILE THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING THE OIL IT WAS NOTICED A WIRE FROM THE BATTERY WAS BARE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY AND DURING ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE STILL VIBRATES. UPON INSPECTION THE 02 SENSOR WAS FOUND DAMAGED. THE SENSOR WAS COVERED IN GLUE AND WRAPPED AROUND TO THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT. UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

TRANSMISSION OUT. *NM

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS, 85,000 MILES, STARTED WITHOUT WARNING TO FLASH THE O/D LIGHT AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER - OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING, TRANSMISSION HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING. WINDS UP TO EXCESSIVE RPM'S BEFORE SHIFTING. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 57,000 MILES. *NM

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BOTH IN/OUT OF PARK AS WELL AS BETWEEN GEARS. CYLANOID REPLACED TWICE WITHIN 2 YEARS. LOUD WHINE IN REAR ASSEMBLY/AXLE FLUID LEAK. NHTSA RELECTS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS/SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS ISSUE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHO DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

VEHICLE O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. STOPPED VEHICLE AND TRIED TO GET IT TO GO OFF - WON'T GO OFF. STARTED HOME AND VEHICLE SHIFTED "VERY HARD" INTO 3 OR 4TH GEAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP THE NEXT AVAILABLE DAY - TRANS MISSION NEEDS PRESSURE SOLENOID, VALVE BODY AND OTHER PARTS - $2000 WORTH OF REPAIRS. VEHICLE IS 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 75,000. NOW TAKING TO ANOTHER DEALER TO GET RESOLVED. CALLED FORD - WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. ADVISED THEM OF THE MULTIPLE NTSB COMPLAINTS, SAID WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.

OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORE XLT. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER - TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 63,884 MILES - NO WARNING - JUST WENT OUT. AFTER REVIEWING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THIS WILL DEFINITELY BE MY LAST FORD PRODUCT. *NM

MY 2002 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER REVVED AT 30 MPH THEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE 3RD GEAR WAS GONE. NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED. VERY SADDENED. *JB

O/D LIGHT FLICKER. ON RESTART WENT AWAY. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS INTERNAL TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE REBUILT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE IN SHOP THEY DISCOVERED PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END AS WELL. CAR HAS 72,000 MILES AND NEEDS TRANSMISSION AND NEW REAR END. I WAS SHOCKED. *JB

I BOUGHT BY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FROM BOARD FORD ON 07/24/2004. IT HAD 57051 MILES ON IT. AT 77117 MILES THE TRANSMISSION GEARS WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE 91 FWY. I THEN HAD IT REPAIRED AT CERRITOS FORD. IT ONCE AGAIN WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 92120 MILES. IT WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WHILE DRIVING FOR YOUR GEARS TO GO OUT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BOTH TIMES SAFELY. *NM

MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 EXPLORER IS SLIPPING FROM 2ND TO 3RD AND MAKING A HISSING NOISE. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THESE TRUCKS. I WANT IT FIXED OR REPLACED. I HOPE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS AUTOMOBILE FROM FORD. *NM

TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER. DEALER TELLS ME THAT 2ND GEAR IS FAILING AND WHEN IT FAILS MY TRANSMISSION WILL FREEZE AND LOCK UP CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHICH IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD: I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION ON 5 OCCASIONS. EACH TIME THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT REALLY HARD AND THUMP. FORD FIXED IT AND A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM. ON THE LAST OCCASION, I BROUGHT IT IN BECAUSE IT WOULD STUTTER IN 2ND GEAR LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING (IT FELT LIKE A STALLING VEHICLE). FORD REBUILT THE TRANNY AND I GOT IT 2 DAYS LATER. IT IS NOW 3 DAYS AFTER THE FIX AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD AS LONG AS I LIVE. *JB

BEGINNING LATE JULY, 2006 MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT BEGAN EXHIBITING HALTING OR DELAYED SHIFTING. AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE O/D WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND THE SHIFTING BECAME NOTICEABLY WORSE. A READING THE DTCS CODES BY MULTIPLE SOURCES CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF $3,400. A MONTH FOLLOWING THIS COMPLETE REBUILD, I NOW HAVE A MAJOR FAILURE IN THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL AND ANOTHER ESTIMATED $1500-$2500 REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 82820 MILES. FORD IS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION, DRIVELINE AND DIFFERENTIAL COMPONENT DEFECTS ON THIS SERIES OF EXPLORER AND HAS ADDRESSED THEM IN MULTIPLE TSB'S TO THEIR DEALERS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. THEY HAVE FAILED TO ADVISE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS OF THESE PROBLEMS, AND THE MAJOR DRIVELINE COMPONENTS ARE DESIGNED SO THAT THEY ARE NOT USER SERVICEABLE. I URGE ALL OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO CONTACT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP...

TODAY THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HANG IN 1ST GEAR, THEN SLAMMED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. IT JERKS AND SLIPS CONSISTENTLY. THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT IS FLASHING, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CAR SAYS "CHECK TRANSMISSION" ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I CALLED 4 FORD DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CAR IS A 2002 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER 4X4 WITH THE 6 CYLINDER. I KNEW IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AS IT HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, THIS IS LOW MILEAGE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS, AND FORD DOESN'T CARE. I AM STUCK WITH THE CAR THAT CANNOT BE SAFELY DRIVEN NOW. OWNERS OF THESE CARS NEED HELP TO GET FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *NM

AT A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE SURGES (ACCELERATES). HAVE TO PLACE IN NEUTRAL AT STANDING STOPS TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED, HAD REPLACED, ALSO THE WINDOW WHINES WHEN ROLLING UP. PASSENGER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR(CABLE) SNAPPED?? WHEN REAR WINDOWS ARE DOWN AT A SPEED OF 20 MPH+ IT SOUNDS LIKE A HELICOPTER IS IN THE BACK SEAT(ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY HURTS YOUR EARS!!!) <<<<NO FIX OR REPAIR?? ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM? 55-65 MPH STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. REPAIR ATTEMPT BALANCED AND ROTATED TIRES AND SUSPENSION WAS INSPECTED. STILL SHAKES. REAR SPARE TIRE ACCESSORIES COVER HANDLE BROKE. <<NOT ABUSED. HOW DO YOU CHANGE A FLAT WITH NO JACK OR NO TOOLS?? (SPARE TIRE CAME DOWN ALRIGHT THOUGH). EGR VALVE FAILURE @ 40,000 MILES. 4X4 INTEMITTENT SHIFTING ISSUES FROM LOW>AUTO AND AUTO>HIGH. CAN NOT PIN POINT PROBLEM. THAT ABOUT WRAPS UP MY LOVELY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I AM A...

2002 FORD EXPLORER 71,000 MILES....TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND WHINING FROM REAR END WITH SOME VIBRATION....FORD SHOULD RECALL AS I HAVE READ MANY OTHERS HAVE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH 60,000 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND NOW I AM FINDING OUT THAT IT MAY BE JUNK. IT IS EXPERIENCING MANY OF THE PROBLEMS YOU READ ABOUT THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT SHIFTS REALLY HARD INTO 3RD AND THE REAR END MAKES A WHINING NOISE/GRINDING TYPE NOISE. *NM

I PURCHASED MY 02 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 IN OCT 2005. THIS VEHICLE HAS A CLEAN TITLE AND 71K MILES. IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND NOTICED THAT MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I NOTICED AT THE SAME TIME THAT MY EXPLORER WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. WHEN TRAFFIC WOULD COME TO A STOP, IT WOULD SHIFT INTO 3RD, THEN 1ST, THEN 4TH AND BACK TO 2ND. NEVER BEFORE HAD I EXPERIENCED SUCH A BIZARRE ACT WITH ANY PREVIOUS VEHICLE. MY EXPLORER WAS IN THE SHOP FOR THE NEXT 45 DAYS AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT NOT EVEN A LOCAL AUTHORIZED FORD DEALERSHIP COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. FINALLY THE PRIVATE SHOP THAT I TOOK IT TO FIXED IT AFTER REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION 2 TIMES. VERY DISAPPOINTING, SINCE IN THE PAST I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL VEHICLES...

THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE ENGINE WAS WHINING AND RUNNING BETWEEN 3K TO 5K RPM. THE TRANSMISSION BAND BROKE AND CAUSED A SYSTEMATIC FAILURE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND SLIPPED BETWEEN GEARS. THE VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE THE CONTACT ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE, AT 53000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT, I BOUGHT IT ON NOV. 29 2005. AFTER I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE THERE WOULD BE A DELAY AND THEN A LOUD BANG OR CLUNK. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY GOT A LOT OF EXPLORERS WITH THAT SAME PROBLEM. SO I HAD IT REPAIRED AND THE TOTAL CAME TO $ 3,855.13. THE CAR HAD A WARRANTY BUT IT DIDN'T COVER EVERYTHING, SO I HAD TO PAY $ 1,800.00 FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE MASTER KIT/PISTONS, FILTER, O/D DRIVE BAND, 2ND BAND, BYPASS VALUE, SOLENOID PACK, REVERSE BAND, O/D SERVO,2ND SERVE, SONNAX UPDATES, WHOLE CASE, RECONDITION VALVE BODY, RB CONVERTER, FLUID AND FLUSH THE COOLER SYSTEM. *NM

WE HAVE 2002 FORD EXPLORER SUV WITH ONLY 68K MILES AND WE HAD TO HAVE AN ENTIRELY NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN IT,JUST A YEAR AND A HALF EARLIER WITH LESS THAN 59K MILES WE HAD A NEW SHIFT SOLENOID REPLACED. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER THE TRANSMISSION STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN WHICH PROMPTED THE NEW TRANSMISSION .AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP WE WERE INFORMED THAT THEY HAVE DONE NUMEROUS COMPLETE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULS ON THESE EXPLORERS AND JAGS, WITH VERY LOW MILES, JUST IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. THIS EXPLORER HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND NOT DRIVEN THAT MUCH THAT IT WOULD HAVE NEEDED SUCH A MAJOR UNDERTAKING WITH SUCH LOW MILES. WE HAVE BEEN CHECKING AROUND AND TRANSMISSION SHOPS HAVE TOLD US THEY HAVE SEEN ALOT OF THE EXPLORERS LIKE OURS WITH LOW MILEAGE NEEDING COMPLETE REPLACEMENTS DON'T KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A RECALL INTO EFFECT...

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THE MILES ON IT ARE 69,013. THE TRANSMISSION WENT. I HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT FOR 2129.60. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. COULD SOMEONE CHECK INTO THIS. I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE FOR A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILES TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *JB

BOUGHT 2002 EXPLORER IN 2003 WITH 12,000 MILES. SERVICNG DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY @ 32,000 MILES AFTER O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. NOW NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION @ 54,000 MILES. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED, DRIVEN LIGHTLY, NEVER TOWED, NEVER ABUSED. DEALER WILL NOT PAY OR HELP OUT ONE BIT. FORD KNOWS 2002 EXPLORERS HAVE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS AND REAR ENDS, IS IGNORING PROBLEM, LEAVING CONSUMER TO ABSORB COST! HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY, AIR CONDITIONING UNIT UNDER WARRANTY. FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACING- OUT OF WARRANTY. REAR END IS MAKING CLASSIC "HUMMING" SOUND THAT FORD IS ALSO IGNORING-PINION GEARS. *NM

PERSISTENT QUALITY PROBLEMS: ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, POWER STEERING, AIR COMPRESSOR, AND RELATED SAFETY HAZARDS SUCH AS DEFECTIVE REAR HINGE. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER W ABOUT 65000 MILES. JUST HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, THE NEXT DAY OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS..DRIVE IT HOME, CALL FORD DEALER TAKE IT IN.. HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION @ $3500. SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE 2002'S

VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN SHIFTING, WHINING NOISE FROM REAR END AS WELL. OVER DRIVE LIGHT ON, THEN FINALLY VEHICLE STOPPED ENGAGING GEARS. 2002 EXPLORER HAS BEEN SITTING IN DRIVEWAY FOR ONE YEAR DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. FORD NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS 58000 MILES. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT REAR HATCH WINDOW BLEW OUT TWO TIMES WITH THE SECOND TIME GLASS BLEW OFF SO VIOLENTLY IT DAMAGED PAINT ON NEW VEHICLE (DEALER AND FORD MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPAIR AND INSTRUCTED ME TO FILE INSURANCE CLAIM) DAMAGE TO OTHER CAR WAS CLEARLY DUE TO DEFECT IN WINDOW HATCH MECHANISM AND THEY SHOULD PAY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. *JB

OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, THEN SHIFTING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT BECOMING INCREASINGLY WORSE TO THE POINT OF NOT SHIFTING AT ALL. NOTICEABLY JERKS WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. LOTS OF WHINING NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. ALSO REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAKES LOUD WHINE/ROAR AT SPEEDS ABOVE 30 AND AT ACCELERATION. I UNDERSTAND THESE ARE VERY COMMON COMPLAINTS AMONG EXPLORER OWNERS AND CAN BE VERY COSTLY. MOST TRANSMISSION REPAIR PEOPLE TELL ME THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT FORD SHOULD FIX IT. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT, 56,000 MILES. WHINING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN 40-60 MPH. WHINING GOES AWAY IF PRESSURE IS REDUCED FROM ACCELERATOR OR IF SPEED IS GREATER THAN 60 MPH. SOME LEAKING OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL FLUID AROUND DRIVESHAFT PINION SEAL. ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT 54,000 MILES DUE TO ROUGH SHIFTING FROM 3 TO 4. TRANSMISSION WAS NOT COVERED UNDER 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. IN MY RESEARCH, I HAVE UNCOVERED MANY OTHER 2002/2003 EXPLORER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR WHINING REAR DIFFERENTIAL ISSUES. WOULD SEEM THAT SINCE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THAT THERE IS SOME DESIGN/MATERIALS FLAW IN THE REAR END GEARBOX CAUSING THIS ISSUE. I WILL BE FORCED TO REPLACE THE REAR END IN ADDITION TO THE TRANSMISSION IF THERE IS NO REMEDY FROM FORD. *JB

TRANSMISSION WENT BAD WHEN ONLY 3 YEARS OLD, FORD TOLD ME THAT IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM. *JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4WD EDDIE BAUER AT 85450 MILES - 3RD GEAR CLUTCH OUT AND REQUIRES REBUILD. *JB

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 65,000 MILES. NOW ITS COSTING ME $3500 PLUS TAX TO HAVE A REFURBISHED ONE INSTALLED. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS AND I HAVE SEEN A HUGE NUMBER OF FORD TRANSMISSION FAILURES FOR THIS VEHICLE. FORD NEEDS A RECALL AND TO REIMBURSE US THAT HAVE ALREADY PAID. *NM

ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 3, 2005, I PURCHASED A BREAK MODEL USED FORD EXPLORER XLT 2002 FROM NORM REEVES HONDA CAR DEALER IN CERRITOS, CA. THE CAR HAD 78,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I SIGNED THE PAPERS AND TOOK THE POSSESSION OF THE CAR. IT HAS NOT BEEN MORE THAN 2 MONTHS THAT THE CAR STARTED GIVING ME TROUBLE ON THE PICK UP OF THE SPEED, TRANSMISSION, GEAR ADJUSTMENT, OVER USE OF THE GAS, DIFFICULT HIGH ALTITUDE DRIVING EVEN AFTER CHANGE OF GEARS, AIR SUCTION INTO THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, ACCELERATOR AND SIGNS LIKE SERVICE ENGINE SOON ON THE FRONT PANEL, ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN GETTING REGULAR LUBE AND TUNE ON THE CAR AFTER EVERY 3000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING THE, OCCASIONALLY, THE CAR GIVES A THUNDERING NOISE ON THE TIRES AS IF IT IS DRAGGING ITSELF AND RUNNING ON THE ROAD. THIS MAKES ME FEAR THAT...

O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING ON DASH, FOLLOWED BY SERVICE ENGINE SOON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO FORD WHERE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES ON IT. KNOWN DEFECT ACCORDING TO FORD TSB. *NM

MY 2002 EXPLORER IS ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY NOTED BY OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS. THE WHINING WHEN REACHING 50-60 KM/HR, WHICH GOES AWAY WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, THE SLIPPING AND SHUDDERING OF GEARS AND SOMETIMES PASSING GEAR NEVER KICKS IN, THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON (USUALLY AFTER THE TRUCK HAS WARMED UP AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN WHEN THE WEATHER IS REALLY COLD), THE ABS IS NOW STARTING TO ACT UP, WHEREIN IT RANDOMLY ACTIVATES ITSELF EVEN WHILE ON DRY PAVEMENT AND THE BRAKES FEEL MUSHY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. NOW THE LOCKS ARE RANDOMLY NOT WORKING. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ONE INSTANCE ABOUT THE PASSING, SHUDDERING, SLIPPING WAS WHEN I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS, I PULLED OUT TO PASS, AND WHEN I STEPPED ON IT THE TRUCK SHUDDERED SO HARD, THAT MY DAUGHTER, WHO WAS COLORING...

REPEATED REAR AXLE AND SEAL FAILURE, TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *JB

WE OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4...5-18-06 OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES...5-19-06 IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR...WILL ONLY DRIVE IN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. MECHANIC SAYS THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT FOR $2200.00. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 EXPLORER AND SHOULD BE RECALLED...PERIOD. *NM

CAR HAS BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, GOT IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS ON THE COMPUTER, THE OD LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS FLASHING. AT THE TIME OF THE SERVICE IT WAS WORKING CORRECTLY BUT LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. IT FINALLY WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR STRANDING MY WIFE AND INFANT SON. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH A JASPER TRANSMISSION. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 65,000. TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD. THIRD GEAR BAND IS BROKEN. ALWAYS DRIVEN IN LIGHT CITY AND HIGHWAY MILES. NEVER TOWED A TRAILER. FORD DEALER SAYS THAT TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

SOON AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. THE BEGAN OVER-REVVING BEFORE SHIFTING ON FLAT ROAD. AT APPROXIMATELY 80K THE OVER DRIVE BEGAN LIGHT FLASHING ERRATICALLY. WOULD RESET IF I TURNED ENGINE OFF, SAT FOR FEW MINUTES, AND RESTARTED ENGINE. BEGAN SLAM SHIFTING ON FLAT ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 100K. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE LEAVING ME STRANDED AT APPROXIMATELY 107K. * REPAIR SHOP SAID 02 EXPLORERS ARE #1 FOR NEEDING TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS. GOING TO COST OVER $3000 TO FIX. *JB

LAST YEAR I HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE FORD DEALER SAID IT WAS THE REAR AXEL AND TRANNY AND FIXED THE ISSUE. THIS YEAR THE SAME SYMPTOMS OCCURRED PLUS THE OD LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING SIGNALING TRANNY PROBLEMS. OF COURSE I AM OUT OF THE WARRANTY NOW AND I KNOW THAT THE TRANNY ON THIS MODEL FORD IS "SEALED" MEANING I CANNOT CHECK TRANNY FLUIDS AND ONLY THE DEALER CAN SERVICE THE TRANSMISSION. I HEAR MANY HORROR STORIES OF THE TRANNY GOING OUT PREMATURELY AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THAT WITH SO MANY ISSUES AND THE IRREPARABLE DESIGN, THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. I FEEL CHEATED AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS FIX CAN BE OVER $2000. PLEASE HELP. *NM

GRINDING NOISE SOUNDING LIKE IT IS FROM FRONT END, ESPECIALLY ON ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND TURNING SLOW. TOLD TO REPLACE TIRES AND FRONT HUB. BOTH DONE AND STILL MAKING SAME NOISE. CANNOT FIGURE WHAT IS WRONG. THINK THE SOUND IS FROM TRANSMISSION OR REAR END. ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRUCK DOES NOT SWITCH GEARS PROPERLY. IT TAKES TO LONG AND SOMETIMES REACHES 4 RPMS BEFORE FINALLY SWITCHING ON FLAT ROAD SURFACE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHED AND THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT.

2002 FORD EXPLORER. FAILED TRANSMISSION, STARTER, REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, AIRBAG, PINION, ELECTRIC WINDOW. NOW LOUD SOUNDS FROM REAR OF CAR. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND REAR AXLE NOISES AS WELL AS REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. *JB

2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY HAD TO BE REBUILT AT 85,000. THE SHOP WE TOOK THE CAR TO SAID HE SEES A LOT OF 2002 FORD EXPLORERS BECAUSE IT WAS A NEW MODEL AND FORD DID NOT BUILD THE TRANSMISSION CORRECTLY. THE MECHANIC SAID FORD DID NOT RECALL THE TRANSMISSION'S BUT THEY SHOULD AS IT SEEMED TO HIM TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM, AND NOT FROM ABUSE (IN OUR CASE ANYWAY). *NM