2002 FORD EXPLORER Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN JULY 220 I HAVE HAD NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF CAR. THERE ARE OCCASIONALLY LOUD CLANGS COMING FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. NOW, THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY AND IT LOOKS AS IF THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH 65,000 MILES ON IT. *JB THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT HIS COMPLAINT BE DELETED. UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND THEN WOULD ACCELERATE QUICKLY UP TO O 80 MPH. THE TRUCK WOULD DECELERATE AND ACCELERATE RANDOMLY. THE TRANSMISSION KNOCKED WHEN GOING INTO GEAR. THE OWNER HAD REQUESTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE CHECKED PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRING ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. AT THIS POINT, THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 25,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONSUMER WAS OUT OF TOWN AND HAD A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN THE INSTALLMENT OF A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN REACHING HOME. CURRENTLY, THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING PROBLEMS GOING INTO GEAR. THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN THE GEARS WERE CHANGING. THE CONSUMER WAS CONSTANTLY DEALING WITH THE DEALERSHIP GENERAL MANAGER, WHO IN RETURN, WAS DEALING WITH THE FORD REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING...

2002 FORD EXPLORER, 5R55W TRANSMISSION. 84K ON VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION NO-SHIFT/LATE SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. OD LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY, OCCASIONALLY NO POWER, TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 1-2 AND 2-3. *NM

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER THAT IS NOW HAVING ITS TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME I WAS AT 77000 MILE, JUST OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED 75000 MILE WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED, WHEN THE CAR BEGAN SHIFTING WITH A HARD JERK OR SLIP WHEN IT WAS TRYING TO CHANGE FOR SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. AFTER FURTHER DRIVING THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHICH DID NOT SEEM TO BE SURPRISED THAT I HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND COST ME $3600. HE SAID HE COULD TAKE IT DOWN THE ROAD TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP THAT THEY USED SO THAT MAYBE HE COULD GET IT DONE FASTER. WELL, I DECIDED TO TAKE IT THERE MYSELF. I GOT THE SAME REPORT, BUT...

1.) NO INDICATION OF IMPENDING FAILURE 2.) TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY GONE. 3.) $4000 LATER A NEW TRANSMISSION IS BEING INSTALLED. *NM

2002 4 DOOR EXPLORER 4X4 EDDIE BAUER TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES NOW THE REAR END HAS A HUMMING NOISE AT 50,000 MILES. *NM

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILING IN 2ND GEAR. SEEMS TO BE A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE V-6 2002 EXPLORER. STARTED ACTING UP AT 60K, AS SOON AS THE WARRANTY WAS OUT.*JB

BEGAN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE BUT NOTICED "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT ON; A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE IN THIS CAR, AND LIGHT DOESN'T INDICATE WHICH DOOR IS THE PROBLEM. SO, FINISHED BACKING CAR OUT OF GARAGE AND PARKED IT IN DRIVEWAY, PLACING CAR IN PARK AND APPLYING EMERGENCY BRAKE. LEFT CAR RUNNING. EXITED CAR, LEFT DRIVER DOOR OPEN, AND HAD SOME TIME TO STAND, TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT BACK DOOR BEHIND DRIVER'S SIDE FIRST. DETERMINED IT WAS CLOSED BY VISUAL CHECK. BEGAN TO MOVE TOWARD REAR OF CAR TO CHECK HATCH NEXT (HATCH PROBLEMATIC; HAD IT FIXED AFTER BOUGHT THE CAR THEN IT WAS JUST RECENTLY RECALLED AGAIN. BUT MUCH TO MY SHOCK THE CAR SLIPPED OUT OF PARK AND RAN OVER ME. TRIED TO DIVE OUT OF WAY; CAR RAN OVER ME AT BOTH KNEES. SUFFERED CRUSH INJURY. HAD CAR EXAMINED; FORENSIC SPECIALIST THOUGHT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH LOTS...

TRANSMISSION 3RD GEAR SLIPPING CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY RE BUILT. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN #03254 . HOW COME FORD HAS NOT DONE ANY THING? BECAUSE THIS IS A WELL KNOWN FACT . FORD SHOULD HAY TO PAY FOR ITS MISTAKE OR HELP THE CONSUMER IN SOME WAY. THEY NEW IN 12/13/24 THERE IS FAILURE IN THIS TRANSMISSION # 5R55W . I CHECKED ON THIS AT WWW.CAR REVIEW.COM AND THERE WAS MANY COMPLAINTS THANKS. JB

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 AND WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE O/D LIGHT BEGIN TO FLASH AND AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGED TO DRIVE. FINALLY AFTER TURNING OF THE VEHICLE AND RE STARTING IT AND PROCEEDED TO GO. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DROP THE PAN AND IF THERE WAS METAL IN IT I WOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED ME A FEW HOURS LATER TO INFORM ME THAT THE TECHNICIAN SAW LOTS OF METAL AND THE COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE 3400.00 DOLLARS. I SAID ARE YOU SURE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED PROPERLY WITH A TRANSMISSION WITH 50,000 MILES AND HE SAID THE TESTS DON'T LIE. WELL, I SAID I WOULD BE UP TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE THIS METAL AND 2 MINUTES LATER HE CALLED SAYING THAT...

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 AND WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE O/D LIGHT BEGIN TO FLASH AND AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGED TO DRIVE. FINALLY AFTER TURNING OF THE VEHICLE AND RE STARTING IT AND PROCEEDED TO GO. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DROP THE PAN AND IF THERE WAS METAL IN IT I WOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY CALLED ME A FEW HOURS LATER TO INFORM ME THAT THE TECHNICIAN SAW LOTS OF METAL AND THE COST OF A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE 3400.00 DOLLARS. I SAID ARE YOU SURE THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED PROPERLY WITH A TRANSMISSION WITH 50,000 MILES AND HE SAID THE TESTS DON'T LIE. WELL, I SAID I WOULD BE UP TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE THIS METAL AND 2 MINUTES LATER HE CALLED SAYING THAT...

5 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT FAILED AT 43000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED AT 40000 AND PROBLEMS BEGAN AFTER FLUSH. NO FINANCIAL HELP FROM DEALER. SERVICE REP TOLD ME PISTON STRIKING TRANSMISSION CASE WAS COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS TRANSMISSION AND WARNED ME NOT TO REPLACE IT WITH A USED 2002 FORD 5 SPEED AUTO TRANNY. *JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO SHIFT PROPERLY INTO REVERSE AND BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS AFTER NORMAL USAGE FOR 38 MONTHS AND 66,00 MILES. REPAIR FACILITY STATES THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR BETWEEN 60 AND 80K MILES. TRANSMISSION REBUILD AND REMILLING OF TRANSMISSION CASE IS REQUIRED. *NM

HARD SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION. ESPECIALLY GOING INTO 3RD GEAR. SOUNDS & FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN AT ANY TIME. IN TURN, LEAVING ME & MY CHILDREN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *NM

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE CAUSES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE JERKS FORWARD. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TR

DT: THE CALLER SAID VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IN SEPTEMBER 2002 AT 4775 MILES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE MADE NOISE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IN NOVEMBER 2003 AT 34,114 MILES THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. SHE COULD SMELL SOMETHING. BOTH TIMES SHE WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. CURRENTLY, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AGAIN. WHILE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD ONLY GO 20 MPH. DEALER TOLD HER THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE CALLER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. *AK

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, OPERATING AT A REDUCED SPEED, AND THEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CAR COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING. GOT BACK INTO VEHICLE ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER THE OCCURRENCE, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO A DEALERSHIP ABOUT 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR WAS MAKING FUNNY NOISES. DEALERSHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD A SOLENOID PROBLEM THAT CAUSED IT TO LOCK. DEALER KEPT CAR ABOUT WEEK AND A HALF. THE SOLENOID VALVE SHIFT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND GASKET. THIS LASTED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND AGAIN THIS PROBLEM RECURRED . THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT LOCK AT THIS TIME BUT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER FOR AN IGNITION PROBLEM. THE DEALER COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY DO...

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER APPEARS TO HAVE REAR-END PROBLEMS. HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND IT STARTED OUT WITH A WHINING NOISE IN THE REAR-END AND HAS PROGRESSED TO A HARD SHIFT AND ON OCCASION A CLUNKING WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS AROUND THIRD GEAR.

LOUD NIOSE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 THAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AFTER REPEATED COMPLAINTS OR TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT HAS COME ON PERIODICALLY AND BLINKS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. I TOOK IT TO LINDSAY FORD IN WHEATON, MD AND THEY CHARGED ME $180 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THEY CALLED TO TELL ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE IS 4 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT I HAVE TO SPEND ALMOST $3,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE ON MY CAR. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION TO ME. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR END. THE REAR END MADE AN EXTREMELY LOUD ROARING SOUND. TOOK THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE TO THREE DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS. ONE SAID IT WAS THE TIRES, AND THE OTHER TWO MAINTAINED THAT IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE REAR END PROBLEM. SHE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THEY ALL HAD THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, HAD A RING AND PINION REPLACED IN THE REAR END NOT LONG AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THEY TOLD HER THAT THIS WHAT WAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS , INCLUDING THE REAR AXLE. THIS NOISE ORIGINALLY STARTED AT 55-65 MPH, AND NOW IT WAS MAKING NOISE AT 40-70 MPH. AFTER GOING OVER 70 MPH COULD NOT HEAR IT AS BADLY. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE...

DT: THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE OWNER'S CAR AND PULLED OVER TO PARK. HE SWITCHED THE CAR INTO DRIVE JUST TO PULL UP A FEW FEET AND THE CAR LEAPED FORWARD. HE HIT THE BRAKE AS HARD AS HE COULD BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, AND HIT THE BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS HAPPENED ON 8-5-05. THE OWNER OF THE CAR NOR THE CONTACT HAD ANY PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS SINCE 8-5-05.*AK

DT: CONTACT STATED 2002, FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. HE NOTICED THE PROBLEM OCCURRING AT 26,000 MILES . IT WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD. HE WILL BE DRIVING WHEN THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND OR THIRD GEARS, IT WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL, THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD. HE HAD THE TRANSMISSION RE PROGRAMMED. IT HELPED IT TWICE; BUT THEN IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. THE THIRD TIME THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT REPROGRAM IT AGAIN. HE THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. SECOND AND THIRD GEARS GEAR WERE NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. FOUND IDENTICAL PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET. THERE WAS 62,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 2003 AND HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.*AK

MY WIFE WAS UNLOADING TWO GRANDSONS FROM OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER. SHE HAD REMOVED THE YOUNGEST ONE WHEN THE FOUR YEAR OLD GOT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT ON HIS KNEES AND PRETENDED TO DRIVE. THE IGINITION WAS OFF AND TRANSMISSION IN PARK. HE PULLED ON THE SHIFT LEVER, THE AUTOMOBILE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. MY WIFE OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS FASTER AND THE OPEN DOOR STRUCK HER KNOCKING HER TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE STRUCK TWO TREES SHHORTLY AFTER THAT CAUSING $5675.77 IN DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY 0N AUGUST 5, 2005AND SPOKE TO TIFFANY EXPLAINING THAT THE "BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK' HAD FAILED CAUSING THE INCIDENT DESCRIBED ABOVE. HER QUESTION TO ME WAS, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO DO ABOUT THIS." I REPLIED THAT I WANTED COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGES AND THE DEFECT CORRECTED. SHE SAID...

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING. I HEARD THE COOLANT AND COMPRESSOR STILL WORKING, BUT NO FAN BLOWER ON LEVELS 1,2 AND 3 LEVEL 4 STILL WORKED LUCKILY. I ALSO HAVE A HOWLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION AND HARD SHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING AND LETTING OFF OF THE GAS DURING A SHIFT. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY RESISTOR, THE REST HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. I NOTICE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE FOR THE SAME SYMPTOMS, A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.*JB

I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER REBUILT BY A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AT 53,000 MILES AND A FORD RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT THIS DEALERSHIP AT 69,000. THIS LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE TWICE, DRIVE AXLE, AND UNIVERSAL JOINTS BETWEEN 69,000 AND 74,000 TO CORRECT AN ONGOING REPORTED SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 109,000, AGAIN, MUCH TO MY DISMAY. THE DEALERSHIP RESPONDED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S ISSUE AND SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT FORD. UPON CONTACTING FORD MOTOR COMPANY, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DEALERSHIP ISSUE AS THE DEALERSHIP HAD INSTALLED THE TRANSMISSION AND MAY HAD DONE SO INCORRECTLY. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND INDICATED THAT THE PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION WAS, IN FACT, DEFECTIVE. *JB

TRANSMISSION CASE WEARING TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR APPROXIMATELY $3000. *JB

APRIL 04 PURCHASED 2002 FORD EXPLORER; JUST OVER 60,000 MILES. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY;SOLD AS IS. DAY AFTER PURCHASE, NOTICED KNOCKING SOUND. RETURNED TO DEALER. STATED SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR AC. REPAIRED, DID NOT HEAR AFTER REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASE, NOTICED DELAY IN GEARS ENGAGING WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE , PARK TO REVERSE ALSO GEAR SHIFT SEEMED TO BE LOOSE. RETURNED TO DEALER; TOLD IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL. ADVISED TO KEEP IN OVERDRIVE. LATE JULY 2004, NOTICED DELAY SEEM TO BE GETTING LONGER AND JERKING SUDDENLY WHEN FINALLY ENGAGED. WHILE DRIVING ,OD LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF ERRATICALLY. PROBLEM WITH OD LIGHT INTERMITTENT. SPOUSE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER; TOLD THAT IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WE COULD MAKE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. SPOUSE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP HAD DONE BUSINESS IN THE PAST. THOUGHT THAT IT COULD NEED TRANSMISSION FLUID....

I HAVE RECEIVED ONLY ONE RECALL NOTICE ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER RELATING TO PROBLEMS WITH THE TAILGATE WINDOW. TONIGHT, AFTER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS THAT CAUSED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO JUMP TO A HIGHER RATE OF A MARKEDLY HIGHER RATE OF REVOLUTION, I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THESE PROBLEMS COST OVER $815 TO REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO HAD TO REPLACE A SOLENOID SWITCH ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I QUICKLY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE RECALL DATABASE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAD EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS I EXPERIENCED. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF RECALLS THAT I FAILED TO RECEIVE ANY NOTIFICATION FOR. I AM FILING THIS TO REQUEST: (I) FORD TO REQUIRE DEALERSHIPS TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS PERSONALLY IN WRITING OF RECALLS...IF NHTSA OR THE MANUFACTURER DEEMS AN ISSUE IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE, SHOULDN'T THE DEALER BE REQUIRED...

2002 FORD EXPLORER [XXX] TRANSMISSSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. REAR END NOISY AT 40 MPH. NOT REPAIRED. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1) BEGAN WITH WHIRLING NOISE COMING FROM REAR END, ENDED WITH A LEAKING REAR END COMPONENT. BOTH REAR END PINION SEALS REPLACED,NEW SYNTHETIC OIL ADDED AND RE-PACKED WITH ALL NEW GASKETS.(NEW SEALS WERE ORDERED DIRECTLY FROM FORD) I WAS TOLD THAT THESE PARTICULAR PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE IN AFTERMARKET. *NM

2002 4X4 EXPLORER LIMITED WITH V8. AT 7390 MILES (3/12/03, INVOICE # W40836) TWO ISSUES; THE TRANSMISSION NEVER SHIFTED PROPERLY AND IT STARTED LEAKING FLUID EVERYWHERE. TWO WEEKS LATER THE DEALER ADMITTED THEY DIDN''T KNOW THE CAUSE AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW ONE. ENGINE SEVERELY OVERHEATED (INVOICE 3W47852). AT 20K MILES THE TRUCK WILL ONCE IN A WHILE STOP (AS IF I HIT SOMETHING) AS I START TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE - PROBLEM DISCOVERED AT 31K BRAKE JOB - REAR SHOES ON PARKING BRAKE BROKE LOOSE ON DRIVERS SIDE (BOTH) AND ONLY ONE ON PASSENGER SIDE. LOOSE SHOE ON PASS. SIDE WOULD WEDGE WITH GOOD ONE AND LOCK UP WHEELS WHEN MOVING SLOW. LOT'S OF ARGUMENTS AND FORD FINALLY REPLACED SHOES (4/25/05 INVOICE # 99323). AT 26K (11/05, NO INVOICE) ONE TIRE WENT FLAT AND UPON INSPECTION BY A TIRE SHOP, THAT TIRE AND A SECOND...

THE "O/D" LIGHT OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIT UP WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS TURNING. ENGINE "REVVED" BUT DIDN'T ACCELERATE. ONCOMING CARS SWERVED TO AVOID ME. THIS WAS AN UNSAFE SITUATION, AS I EXPECTED THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE TOTALLY REBUILT, FOR $2,400, SINCE I WAS 4000 MI OUT OF WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH <3 YEARS. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IF FORD WOULD COVER IT. THE ZONE PERSON, ADVISED NO. I PHONED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE DEALER/FIELD DISCRETIONARY FUNDS TO PAY FOR REPAIRS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, BUT ONLY FOR "LOYAL" CUSTOMERS. I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW AND HAD MY MAINTENANCE DONE AT THE DEALER. I ASKED WHAT MAINTENANCE SHOULD BEEN DONE ON THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NONE. I SPOKE WITH A...

DT: PROBLEM WITH BACK END, TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER,AND DEALER SAID THEY FIXED AXLE, THEN, TOOK BACK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FIXED HUB, AND REPLACED THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. IN LAST 3 MONTHS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP 3 TIMES. CURRENTLY, IN THE SHOP. WENT TO GET OIL CHANGE LAST FRIDAY, AND MECHANIC NOTICED OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE AXLE. CURRENTLY VEHICLE IN SHOP TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE. THEY GAVE CONSUMER AN EXTRA 5 YR WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND THIS WAS 8 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP KEPT SAYING VEHICLE WAS SAFE EVEN THOUGH DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. *AK

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT TRANSMISSION WENT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. WHILE SHE WAS AT HER DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO TALK TO SOMEONE AND THE CAR JUMPED FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. SHE HAD SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. SHE WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ANYTHING FROM FORD ABOUT ANY TYPE OF PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT PRINTED OUT A TSB FOR HER, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS; TRANSMISSION: 03-25-4 DATED 12-22-03, AND GEAR SELECTOR:04-22-12 DATED 11-15-04. THE VEHICLE IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED.*AK

WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE OD LIGHT STARTED FLASHING THEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. HAVING NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. MANY OTHER THINGS HAVE FAILED TOO. THREE WEEKS PRIOR SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF IN MY HANDS WHEN I SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE. HAVE CHANGED RIGHT REAR BEARING WHICH "BLEW OUT". THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE QUIT WHILE THE TRUCK WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I FIRST GOT THE TRUCK AND COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION WORKED HE GAVE ME A PRINTOUT FROM FORD STATING THE TRANSMISSION WAS PROGRAMMED TO ADJUST TO THE DRVERS STYLE OF DRIVING.

TRANSMISSION FAILED. HAD TO BE REPLACED. ONLY 50,300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THIS IS THE 5TH FORD EXPLORER HE'S HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS MONTH ALONE. HE SAID THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THE EXPLORERS ARE FAILING BETWEEN 50K AND 60K MILES.

DT: TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE, AND THERE IS NO NEUTRAL. THERE IS ONLY 57,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND CHECKUPS. TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING CLANKING NOISE WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE SINCE 2002. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS CHECKED. DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE, AND IT STARTED JUMPING. THEN IT WENT AND STOPPED IN REVERSE. THEN, VEHICLE WAS PUT IN PARK AND T SWITCHED TO REVERSE. THERE WAS NO REVERSE. IT WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL, AND IT WENT FORWARD. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO DRIVE, IT WOULD GO FORWARD.*AK

TRANSMISSION AND REAR-END. SEALED TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP AT 29,000 MILES. SINCE THEN TRANSMISSION HAS A WHIRR AND THEN A CLUNK WHILE DECELERATING BACK INTO FIRST GEAR. WHINING NOISE FROM REAR-END SINCE 12,000 MILES. FORD REPLACED FAULTY REAR-END SEAL 6 MONTHS AGO, WHINING STILL THERE. I FEEL THAT FORD IS STRINGING ME ALONG UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRES. FORD KNOWS THERE ARE PROBLEMS BUT WONT FIX UNTIL PART FAILS COMPLETELY.

THE TRANSIMIISON BEGAN TO SLIP AAT 30 MPH, 37, 000 MILES. ON 10/02/03- WAS SERVICED, BUT PROBLEM RETURNED FROM TIME TO TIME. IN 2005 PROBLEM WORSENED AT 48, 000 MILES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE. $DEALER REPORTED NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED @ COST OF 3,222. THE REPAIR WAS DONE ON 4/22/05.*AK

1.TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING, BANGING IN REVERSE, PROBLEMS GETTING THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. . VEHICLE BECAME UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF 2ND, TRANS LIGHT AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON AND FLICKERING. . TAKEN TO MILLER FORD, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING NO 3RD GEAR AT ALL, BOTH BANDS, SERVOS AND SOLENOID NEED REPLACE. 4.SPENT 2 DAYS IN SERVICE, RENTED A VEHICLE AT A COST OF $50. WORK WAS COMPLETED AT A COST OF $1523.28. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE. WOULDN'T MOVE IN DRIVE BUT IN SECOND GEAR. ENDED UP REPLACING WITH NEW TRANSMISSION. 4 MONTHS LATER REAR END WENT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MILEAGE AT TIME OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS 100,000 MILES, AND REAR END FAILURE 114,000. *AK

BOUGHT THE 2002 XLT 4X4 EXPLORER IN JULY OF 04 WITH 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR. AT 60,00 MILES HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED. AT 63,000 MILES O/D LIGHT FLASHED. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. THANK GOODNESS WE BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRENTY SO THE WORK SHOULD BE COVERED BUT AFTER READING ALL THE REPEAT PROBLEMS I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT BECOME A CONSTANT PROBLEM. ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME ROUGH SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPAGE BETWEEN GEARS. *AK

DRIVER NOTICED WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION FORWARD OR BACKWARD THE GEARS ARE HARD AND A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT. DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PLACED ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE FOR ANALYSIS. *AK THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME STUCK IN REVERSE GEAR UNLESS IT WAS PULLED FIRMLY TOWARDS THE DRIVER. *BF *NM

O/DLIGHT FLASHING ON PA PIKE, WAS TOLD BY SELLING DEALER TO STOP DRIVING. TOOK TO A FORD DEALER AN HOUR FROM MY HOME . HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK AND SPENT $700 TO FIX TRANNY. 3 MONTHS LATER 4 HOURS FROM HOME HAPPENED AGAIN. LOST A WEEK WORK WHILE IT TRANSMISSION WAS TORN DOWN AGAIN, STILL UNDER 12,000 WARRANTY FROM MARCH. SINCE THEN O/D LIGHT HAS FLASHED 4 DIFERENT TIMES, FORD DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LAST TIME WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, HAS SAID $2,000 TO FIX, ALSO THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN A BIG LEMON AND FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND IT. I HAD ANOTHER BAUER EXPLORER THAT I TRADED IN WITH 150,000 AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT, THIS IS WHY AFTER A CAR I WENT BACK TO THE EXPLORER. HUGE MISTAKE. IT IS TIME TO SEEK AN ALTERNATE FORM OF JUSTICE.*AK

4X4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLETE FAILURE. LOST 3RD AND 4TH GEARS AND REVERSE. THIS TRUCK NEVER TOWED OR WAS WORKED AT ALL. 47000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION MELTED. DEALER ADVISED TO COMPLETELY REPLACE, NOTHING LEFT TO REBUILD. THE ONLY HINT WAS THE TRUCK HAD A PAUSE OF 3-4 SECONDS BEFORE IT WENT INTO A FORWARD GEAR.*AK

FORD EXPLORER IS 2002. HAD TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION AT FORD SERVICE TRANSMISSION IN JUNE 2004. THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY APRIL 1, 2005. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS ACCEPTABLE TO HAV TO PUT $3700 ON ONE MAJOR REPAIR AND ONE COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION INSIDE OFTHREE YEARS ON THE TRANSMISSION OF A NEW VEHICLE.*AK

GEARS BEGAN TO SLIP AT 59,000 MILES ON THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLE. ONE DAY OD LIGHT WENT OFF AND TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP. WE HAD GIVEN VEHICLE REGULAR SERVICE. THERE WAS NO WARNING UP UNTIL THE DAY THE TRANNY WENT OUT. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN OUTSIDE SOURCE WHO CONCLUDED THAT THE SEAL LOOKED LIKE IT HAD NEVER BEEN BROKEN ON THE TRANSMISSION PLUG. THIS LEADS US TO BELIEVE THAT FORD NEVER EVEN CHECKED OUR FLUID WHEN WE DID TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. THIS CONSTITUTES FRAUD IN MY OPINION, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NO PROOF. *JB

THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 02 EXPLORER, AND AT 39000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING JUST A BIT. A WEEK LATER, THIRD GEAR COULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL, AND I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE TO THE REPAIR SHOP IN SECOND GEAR, WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, AND WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. MY REPAIR PERSON DROVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HE KNEW BECAUSE HE HAD JUST FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM LAST MONTH ON AN 02 EXPLORER WITH LESS MILES THAN MINE. HE STATED THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF EXTENDED WARRANTIES, THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE WHO WOULD EXPECT THAT A TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REBUILT AT 39000 MILES (INCIDENTALLY 3000 MILES PAST MY WARRANTY COVERAGE). LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED BECAUSE I PARKED THE...

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS, 4.0 ENGINE, THAT HAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 59,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE AND HAVE NOTICED A HIGH NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES AT LOW MILEAGE SUCH AS MY VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR AND THEY SAID NO AND DENY ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THOSE TRANSMISSIONS. I AM NOW FACED WITH HAVING TO PAY $1500 - $2000 FOR A MAJOR REPAIR OF A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP UNDER THE ADVICE OF FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I AM NOW GOING TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND TAKE IT TO AN OUTSIDE REPAIR STATION BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $600 TO TEAR DOWN THE TRANSMISSION AND DO FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. I AM UPSET AT THE POOR QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS A MAJOR INVESTMENT FOR ME...