2002 FORD EXPLORER Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

THIS IS MY WIFE"S 02' 4X4 V8 EXPLORER,WE BROUGHT IT NEW AND NOW HAVE 78,000 MILES IN IT,AT FIRST I HEARD SOME NOISE I THOUGHT IT CAME FROM THE TIRES THAT PRETTY WORN OUT SO I WENT TO CHANGE OUT THE NEW TIRES WHILE I WAS IN THE SHOP AND WAIT I ASK THE GUY CAN I GO IN THERE TO CHECK OUT THE BRAKE PADS I NOTICE THE REAR SPRINGS BROKE???? THE MORE SEARCHING I DID THE MORE THING I FIND OUT, WHEEL BEARING??? NO MORE FORD....... *TR

I LIKE MANY OTHERS WAS JUST INFORMED THAT MY 2002 EXPLORER NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT. I AM ON A FIXED INCOME, AND BOUGHT THIS CAR BELIEVING THAT IT WOULD LAST ME A LONG TIME IF I TOOK CARE OF IT WHICH I HAVE. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS EXPENSE AND VERY UNHAPPY TO FIND THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT, AND DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. I AM TRULY BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THAT FORD STANDS FOR FOUND ON ROAD DEAD. THIS CLEARLY INDICATES A "LEMON" PRODUCT TO ME, AND I FEEL THAT THE CONSUMERS ARE THE ONE PAYING FOR THE CEO'S RICH LIFE AT OUR EXPENSE. WHEN IS OUR GOVERNMENT GOING TO LOOK OUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FINANCE THIS COUNTRY? *TR

O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING DIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY - RPM'S RAN AT 3RPM'S NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I TRAVELED. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD AND I AM EXPERIENCING A TERRIBLE CLUNKING NOISE - PIECE OF'!@#$% TRANSMISSION - WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND I HAVE HEARD IT IS HAPPENING VERY FREQUENTLY WITH THE 2002 EXPLORERS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. ORIGINAL OWNER WITH 59K MILES. DEALER STATES I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION ONLINE. NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS TYPE OF CLOSED SYSTEM TRANSMISSION DESIGN. LOSS OF DRIVE POWER DURING ENTRY TO HIGHWAY OR LANE CHANGES COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. RECENTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING EXHIBITED A CRACK. IN ADDITION, THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. THE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

THE O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING FAST AND NOW IT IS BEGINNING TO SHIFT GEARS VERY ROUGH. ALL THE WEBSITES I HAVE SEEN MAKES THIS A COMMON ATTRIBUTE WITH THIS YEAR OF CAR. NOTHING REALLY LEAD UP TO THIS, IT JUST STARTED BLINKING ON MY WAY TO WORK. *TR

ACCELERATING FROM 0, FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, ENGINE REVS TO 4000 RPM AND FAILS TO ACCELERATE OR SHIFT. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN 2004 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING BAD. THE OD OFF LIGHT IS BLINKING AND THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 95000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACE. THE COST IS BETWEEN $2400 - $3700. I HAD THE CAR FOR 4 YEARS AND STILL OWE ON THE CAR. I GOOGLED FOR OD OFF LIGHT AND FOUND THAT MANY FORD OWNERS WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, EVERYONE CAN'T BE WRONG. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. I JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.0L V6. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT 10 DAYS AGO. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 10 DAYS DUE TO PROBLEMS THAT THE SHOP SAYS ARE CHRONIC WITH, AND KNOWN BY, FORD. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS INHERENT WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS YEAR MODEL. CONSUMERS ARE CONTINUING TO SHOULDER THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF A PROBLEM OF WHICH FORD AND THE NHTSA ARE BOTH AWARE AND ABOUT WHICH NEITHER ARE ADDRESSING. THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THE NHTSA TO SUPPORT CONSUMERS ON THIS ESTABLISHED AND KNOWN ISSUE? *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2004 AND SHORTLY AFTER THE O/D LIGHT WAS BLINKING SETTING OFF THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO FORD, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A SOLENOID THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY. AFTER A HIGH PRICED REPAIR, THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WITHIN A MONTH'S TIME. I RETURNED TO HAVE THEM REPAIR IT AGAIN ON THE REPAIR WARRANTY FROM THE PRIOR FIX AND THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON STILL AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN A MAJOR DRAIN ON MY FINANCES AND NOW I HAVE SEEN THAT THE O/D LIGHT IS THE SECOND-HIGHEST COMPLAINT ON THIS MODEL AND MAKE OF VEHICLE. FORD CONTINUES TO CLAIM THAT IT IS AN ODDITY AND UNRELATED TO THE MAKE AND MODEL. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE THAT WILL GET FORD TO MAKE GOOD...

MY EXPLORER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS EVERYONE ELSE. 82,000 MILES AND THE TRUCK WONT SHIFT INTO WHAT SEEM LIKE 3RD GEAR I REALLY WISH FORD WOULD HELP US OUT. THIS IS WHY THE ARE FAILING. I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE TO PURCHASE AMERICAN MADE BUT HOW CAN I KNOWING THIS IS THE SERVICE YOU GET. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING I HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLES EXPERIENCES AND THIS HAS LED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS AND NOW THAT I REALIZE THAT IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WELL I HOPE YOU CAN HELP I WAS EXPECTING FOR THIS VEHICLE TO LAST LONGER THAN MY 1994 DODGE RAM. AND ANOTHER THING THE SIDE OF THE WINDOWS STARTED PEALING OFF MY BACK DOOR IS CRACKED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT CLOSE RIGHT AND NONE OF MY THREE OF MY WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING AT ONE TIME. THIS CAR IS FULL OF MALFUNCTIONS AND I THING THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND PAID 25,000 FOR THIS PIECE OF JUNK. *TR

ON 1/18/09 I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER ON A 50 MPH ROAD AND NOTICED THAT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE - LIKE I HAD THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. 10 MINUTES LATER MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND I COULD NOT GET OVER 25 MPH. I MANAGED TO GET SAFELY TO A RELATIVES HOUSE BUT HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY - TO BE LOOKED AT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND AFTER GOING ON LINE HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND ONE MINUTE WAS DOING 45 MPH AND THE NEXT I WAS BARELY AT 25 MPH ON A VERY BUSY ROAD. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FLEW INTO 4X4 LOW AUTOMATIC WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. THE 4X4 MODULE PART HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY,AND IS THE CULPRIT OF THROWING IT INTO AN UNSAFE POSITION. THE ISSUE KEEPS COMING UP, AND THE DEALER HAS HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPLACING THE "KNOWN FORD PROBLEM" IN OVER 7 YEARS. THIS ISSUE IS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGERS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO FIRST SLOW DOWN BY THE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS OF THE TRANSFER CASE, AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE OUT OF CONTROL AND FLIP. IT'S SO PRESENT ON THE INTERNET NOW, I WONDER WHY NO ONE HAS GOTTEN FORD TO FACE THE ISSUE, EVEN THE DEALERS KNOW, BUT GET NO RESPONSE BACK FROM PARENT FORD. THE VEHICLE MENTIONED IS WELL CARED FOR, AS WELL AS ONLY IN THE LOW 80,000...

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, OD LIGHT FLICKERS, TRANNY SLIPPING. MY WIFE WAS PUT IN GRAVE DANGER TRAVELING AT A REASONABLE SPEED IN MODERATE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. SEARCHING THE WEB FOR OTHER ISSUES I FOUND A HOST OF THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. HERE IS A LINK TO THE SITE I VISITED...HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/O_D_LIGHT_IS_BLINKING.SHTML THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BY FORD! WITH SUCH A OVERWHELMING RESPONSE ON THIS SITE ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT FOUND THE SITE. *TR

FORD EXPLORER O/D FLASHING AND CHECK TRANSMISSION COMING ON IT WAS AT THE FORD DEALER FOR 3 WEEKS THEY SAID IT WAS MY PCM AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT A WIRING PROBLEM BUT MY CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING IT WAS BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM FLORIDA IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. I WAS TOWING A TRAILER AND PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SEE IF IT NEEDED COOLED OFF. THE O/D LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLASH, MEANWHILE WHILE I WAS TOWING THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING LIKE A HUGE HAMMER WAS HITTING THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT STARTED BLINKING, TOOK IT INTO A TRANSMISSION SHOP JUST IN CASE. THE OD UNIT WENT BAD CAUSING AN INTERNAL LOCK IN THE TRANNY. IT COST $3000 TO FIX, AND FROM WHAT I AM READING THIS IS HAPPENING QUITE A BIT TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT BOUGHT THIS YEAR OF EXPLORER. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE FORD PAY FOR THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *TR

THE O/D LIGHT ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER STARTED FLICKERING ABOUT A MONTH AGO. FOUR DAYS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY TRUCK WOULDN'T GO FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I WILL GET UP TO 25 MPH AND THE TRUCK WOULD REV UP TO 3500 RPMS AND NOT CHANGE GEARS. I HAVE TO EASE UP OFF THE GAS AND LET THE RPMS DROP AND THEN ACCELERATE AGAIN AND THAT'S HOW IT CHANGES GEARS. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER 2WD, SIX CYLINDER. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000 MILES AND I JUST SPENT $2,000 REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE REAR END CHECKED DUE TO A ROAR THAT IS SO LOUD IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HEAR THE RADIO. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE MANNER. I UNDERSTAND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS BUT WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE VEHICLE WITH SERVICE. WE ARE ON OUR OWN. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH BROKEN COIL SPRING, CRACK UNDER REAR WINDOW, AND TRANSMISSION SLIP, BROKEN PARKING BRAKE SHOES IN ASSEMBLY. SAME COMPLAINTS THAT SEEM TO BE COMMON. AND SAME WITH EVERYONE ELSE, NO HELP FROM FORD. *TR

IT STARTED VERY EARLY AFTER BUYING THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER...ELECTRICAL PROB..COULDN'T GET VEH STARTED...100 MILES AWAY FROM HOME DEALERSHIP....TOWED TO CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP...FIXED; OR SO WE THOUGHT. SAME THING HAPPENED A WEEK LATER. HOME DEALERSHIP ADVISED US THAT THE OTHER DEALERSHIP INSTALLED THE WRONG PART AND IT COULD HAVE CAUSED LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEMS....WE CONTACTED THE OTHER DEALERSHIP AND ADVISED THEM WHAT OUR HOME DEALERSHIP SAID...OF COURSE THE DEALERSHIP DENIED THIS...ANYWAY...HOME DEALERSHIP INSTALLED NEW PART...VEH OK....THEN WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FRONT 1ST LEFT SIDE-THEN RIGHT. (THIS WAS AFTER THE REAR END WAS REPLACED) BOY, WAS THAT A MAJOR FIGHT WITH THE HOME DEALERSHIP! NOW! THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE!!!!! ISN'T THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO? FORD HAS BEEN USING DEFECTIVE PARTS!!!!AND NOW ASKING FOR GOVERNMENT MONEY???!!!!FORD SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS! *TR

LIKE OTHERS ON YOUR BLOG, MY 2002 EXPLORER O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING. I WAS LUCKY AND HAD A FRIEND WHO COULD REBUILD THE BROKEN PARTS FOR $950 INSTEAD OF THE $3,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHEN I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS, IT WAS STARTLING HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LOGGED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT FORD IS UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. AFTER ALL, THIS IS THE SAME COMPANY WHO TRIED TO COVER UP THE FACT THE PINTO WAS A FIRE BOMB. *TR

I HAVE A '02 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 91,000 MILES AND THE 'O/D OFF' LIGHT NOW FLASHES CONSTANTLY. IN HAVING A AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND IN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION! BASED ON RESEARCH IT APPEARS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE AND FORD IS APPARENTLY DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. OBVIOUSLY WITH THE POPULARITY OF THE EXPLORER IT WOULD COSTS THEM MILLIONS TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. I FIND THIS DESPICABLE THAT A COMPANY FULLY KNOWS ABOUT AN ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES YET DOES NOTHING TO BACK UP THEIR REPUTATION (AND WE WONDER WHY CAR COMPANIES ARE CRYING ABOUT BAILOUTS?!?!?). I AM IN NO POSITION TO AFFORD A $2-3K REPAIR AND THIS IS THE VEHICLE I USE TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. *TR

I REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION IN 2005 WITH A BRAND NEW ONE. I OWN A FORD EXPLORER JEEP 2005 AND IT NOW NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL PERSONS AND FORD HAS A HISTORY OF NEEDING TRANSMISSIONS, WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

FIRST THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THEN THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING, THE O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND REVS THE ENGINE WHILE TRAVELING, SOMETIMES IT LURCHES FORWARD WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND AT LESS THAN 90,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. IT TAKES 5-10 SECONDS TO ENGAGE AND THEN 'CLUNKS' AND JUMPS BADLY. ROUGH SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. AFTER SOME WEB RESEARCH I SEE THAT THIS IS IN FACT A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL. THIS IS CRAZY. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR/REPLACEMENT IS OVER $3,000. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORE 4L SIX, STARTING IN 2006 I BEGAN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, MY INITIAL PROBLEM DEVELOPED WHEN THE EXPLORER HAD AROUND 57,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO DRIVE. IN NOVEMBER 2008, NOW WITH ABOUT 74,000, MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS DEVELOPED MORE PROBLEMS IT CURRENTLY JUMPS FORWARD WHEN I SHIFT TO DRIVE. AFTER CHECKING AUTOBEEF.COM, WITH OVER 500 COMPLAINTS POSTED, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. THE INITIAL REPAIR COST OVER $700.00 AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST THE SECOND TIME. I BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM SHOULD BE CHECKED BY YOUR AGENCY FOR POSSIBLE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE BURDEN IT PLACES ON CONSUMER TO KEEP REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. THIS MAY ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

AFTER BUYING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER USED IN 2006, I HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL AUG. OF 2008 WHEN O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. AT THIS POINT, VEHICLE WAS JUST UNDER 80,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGH BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. WHEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND WOULD NEED TO SPEND $2000 FOR A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE REGARDING THE EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING I STILL HAVE 3 1/2 YEARS LEFT ON MY LOAN. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH A V8 AUTO TRANSMISSION. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES SINCE I REACHED 60,000 MILES. IT WOULD TAKE OVER 5 SECONDS TO ENGAGE INTO GEAR WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF ON A STOPPED AND SWITCHING GEARS. THEN ONE DAY I AM DRIVING AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH. I WENT HOME AND SINCE IT WAS A SATURDAY NIGHT , I DECIDED TO DO A GOOGLE SEARCH ON 2002 OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING. OH BOY DID I WISH I KNEW THAT ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. FORD HAS PUT A SEALED TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS FLAT OUT DANGEROUS!! HOW CAN THEY PUT A TRANSMISSION INTO A VEHICLE THAT YOUR NOT EVEN ABLE TO CHECK YOUR FLUID LEVEL. YOUR TRANSMISSION COULD BE LOW CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT, AND THE OWNER WOULD NEVER KNOW....

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 81,000 AND TRANNY IS ALREADY ON THE WAY OUT. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 XLT EXPLORER WITH THE 4WD NOT WORKING. DURING MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT WHEN THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED FOR REPLACEMENT THE 4X4 CM UNIT FAILS AND THE 4WD SYSTEM BECOMES INOP. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND HAS UPGRADED THE MOTOROLA UNIT WITH THE END RESULT COSTING THE CONSUMER $500 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE RUNS IN 4X4 AUTO ADJUSTING THE DRIVETRAIN TO WEATHER CONDITIONS OPTIMIZING THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.. THIS COMPONENT REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE QUALIFIED AS A RE-CALL BY FORD AND THE COST SHOULD NOT EFFECT THE CONSUMER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 EXPLORER VEHICLES AND IS MORE SERIOUS THEN THE FIRESTONE TIRE COMPLAINT. SINCE FORD RECOGNIZES THIS DEFECTIVE MODULE THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I'M SHOCKED THAT THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT CONTROLS THE SAFETY PERFORMANCE OF THE 2002 EXPLORES...

VEHICLE PURCHASED IN JULY OF 07 FROM DEALER WITH 75,000K. CURRENTLY HAS 86,000K, AND TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. VEHICLE BEGAN SLIPPING A MONTH AGO, AND NOW SLAMS INTO GEAR. I'M AFRAID TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY. I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER TO HAVE THE FLUIDS CHECKED, AND THEY REFUSED UNLESS I WOULD PAY FOR THE SERVICE INSPECTION. THESE TRANNY'S ARE MADE SO AS I CANNOT CHECK THEM MYSELF DUE TO THE ENCLOSED CASING. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND OVER 300 INDIVIDUALS ON ONE WEB SITE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. CALLED DEALER ABOUT SERVICE INSPECTION AND THEY WANT $100+ TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK BEFORE THEY WILL EVEN TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY DIRECTLY AND THEY INFORMED ME VIA EMAIL THAT THEY COOPERATE FULLY WITH THE NHTSA DURING INVESTIGATIONS AND I SHOULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO HAVE IT SERVICED AND...

REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION TWO TIMES IN 30,000 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. O/D BAND. *TR

I BOUGHT MY EXPLORER USED WITH 67000 MILES ON IT I HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC BEFORE I BOUGHT IT BUT HE DIDN'T DO A VERY THOROUGH JOB. AFTER ABOUT 3 WEEKS I HAD A HARD TIME PUTTING INTO REVERSE BUT THEN SLAMMED INTO GEAR AND I DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR AWHILE THIS LASTED ON AND OFF FOR A YEAR AND HALF WHEN ONE DAY IT WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE AT ALL AND NO OTHER GEARS EITHER I HAD IT REPAIRED AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE THEN MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT FLASHED AND STOPPED WORKING THAT WAS SOMETHING ELECTRICAL , 1ST , 2ND AND REVERSE GEARS STARTED SLIPPING I HAD THOSE REPAIRED NOW MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS DEFINITELY MY TRANSMISSION AND PROBABLY ALWAYS HAS BEEN. I KNOW SOMEONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH...

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 140,000 HIGHWAY MILES. BOUGHT BRAND NEW BY OWNER IN 2005, AT 90,000 MILES TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING LOUD CLUNKING NOISES. TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED, BUT STILL CLUNKING NOISES. NOW AT 140,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND NOT GOING INTO 1ST OR SECOND GEAR. I HAVE BEEN ON NUMEROUS WEBSITES, AND HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH FORD'S ENCLOSED TRANSMISSIONS ON THEIR EXPLORERS AND OTHER VEHICLES. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS A REDESIGNED TRANSMISSION AND FAILING FOR THOUSANDS OF FORD'S CUSTOMERS. I OWNED A JEEP CHEROKEE FOR TEN YEARS, AND HAD OVER 350,000 MILES ON IT, AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I AM ONLY ONE OF THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. OUR ECONOMY IS NERVOUS BECAUSE OUR AMERICAN CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE FALLING APART. THIS IS THE REASON WHY....

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER APPROXIMATELY 69,000 MILES. FORD HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY COMPENSATION. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND WOUND UP REBUILDING MY TRANSMISSION - LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR. THIS COST ME OVER $3000. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN ANY INVESTIGATION INTO FORD AND ALL THE 2002 EXPLORERS WITH FAILED TRANSMISSIONS? *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 87,000 MILES. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ROADWORTHY. *TR

WE HAVE 02 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT HAS FAILED. I REVIEWED CAR COMPLAINTS.COM REGARDING THE 02 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND THE COMPLAINTS ARE ENORMOUS BUT YET THERE HAS BEEN NO SAFETY RECALL REGARDING THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION WHICH FORD HAS DISCONTINUED USE AFTER 2 YEARS. THIS TRANSMISSION OBVIOUSLY HAS PROBLEMS AS FAILURE IS BEING SEEN WITH 80,000 MILES OR LESS WHICH IS RIDICULOUS AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE ACTUALLY INJURES OR KILLS THEMSELVES DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

WAS DRIVING AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. O/D LIGHTS STARTED TO BLINK. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO ANYMORE THEN 5 MPH. WAS TAKEN HOME AND RESEARCH WAS DONE AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AAMCO AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $2748.69. *TR

TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLAM INTO GEAR. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HAD TO HAVE A COMPLETE REBUILD/OVERHAUL OF TRANSMISSION. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED GEARS AND "CHECK TRANSMISSION" MESSAGE CAME UP ON DASH. BOLT WAS LOOSE INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND PIECES OF METAL THROUGHOUT. THIS LED TO FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND CLOSE TO $3500 IN REPAIR BILLS AT 64K MILES. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER XLS 4.0L V6, THESE TRANSMISSIONS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED, YOU CANT CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL IN THEM WHICH IS NOT RIGHT ONLY TO BE DESIGNED TO BENEFIT FORD WHEN IT TEARS UP WITH HIGH REPAIR COSTS, MY EXPLORER HAD ONLY ABOUT 60000 MILES WHEN TRANS WENT OUT. I HAD IT REBUILT AT A LICENSED TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP FOR ABOUT $3000.00 IT DROVE GOOD FOR ABOUT THE SAME MILES AND STOP PULLING IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY TRAFFIC WITH CARS TAILGATING ME LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT. PLEASE HOW CAN THIS TRANS BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE MANUAL STATED TO BYPASS THE SHIFT INTERLOCK WITH A SCREWDRIVER, BUT THEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

THE O/D LIGHT STARTED COMING ON FOR NO REASON. THEN THE CAR STARTED SHAKE WHEN IT WAS SHIFTING GEARS. THEN IT WAS SHAKING A LOT AT ABOUT 60-65 MPH. *TR

IN LATE JANUARY, 2008 SOMETHING STRUCK THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION COOLER OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT AN OBJECT HAD PENETRATED BOTH OF THESE CAUSING COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE. THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER REPLACED MY ENGINE AND SOME PARTS IN MY TRANSMISSION. SINCE THEN MY TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES HAVING TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. WHEN THE FAILURES OCCUR, THE VEHICLE WILL RAPIDLY SLOW TO A STOP IN MID TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN ALMOST STRUCK IN THE REAR EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FORD DEALER THAT REPAIRED MY TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $2000 WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ESPECIALLY NOW THAT TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS A DEPUTY SHERIFF FOR 16 YEARS....

WINDSHIELD, WATER LEAKING FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON MY 02 FORD EXPLORER XLT, BESIDES THAT HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING GEARS, SOME TIMES GEARS GET STUCK IN BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. SOMETIMES I HEAR A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHEN GEARS FINALLY GO INTO REVERSE....HAVE HAD BOTH PROBLEMS CHECKED AND REPAIRED, BUT GEARS CONTINUE TO STICK. *TR

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). ACCELERATING FROM 2ND GEAR, THE ENGINE WOULD REV. THEN I FEATHERED OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, STEPPED ON PEDAL GENTLY, ACCELERATED AND VEHICLE MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE AND THEN LURCHED FORWARD AS IT WENT INTO 3RD GEAR. OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD VEHICLE TOWED ALMOST 100 MILES AND TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. BAND WAS BROKEN AND PLANETARY GEARS/BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED. TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR $2200. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING AND ERRATIC SHIFTING. DEALER DIAGNOSIS IS THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR