2002 Ford Explorer: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Nov 27, 2020 · Acceleration, Electrical · IL

The issues that I'm having is the exhilaration (picking up speed) on a public street as well as in the expressway it hesitates to do so. When the vehicle is parked and I go to switch gears it does not want to switch. The gauge indicator comes on and the gas idle be stuck on empty when it has a full tank of gas. While the vehicle is in motion the radio volume goes up and down on its own. And the vehicle did not want to start for me one day the very next day it started right on up (like it want to start but didn't catch). All of this started happening at the beginning of october 2020

Filed Apr 6, 2016 · Body, Transmission · 110,000 miles · KY

My 2002 ford explorer 4.6l is having major transmission problems at only 110k miles. It hesitates shifting gears and slips while driving. The vehicle also stalls when stopping at a red light or stop sign. It has the infamous crack down the back hatch. Both are problems thousands of customers have complained about yet ford does nothing. The transmission problem is a very expensive cost to repair and it shouldn't be the customers responsibility when ford knew there was a problem.

Filed Jun 26, 2014 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · VA

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.

Filed Apr 15, 2011 · Transmission · 114,071 miles · PA

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.

Filed Mar 30, 2011 · 190,782 miles · CA

Over the years we have had repeated problems with the transmission. It jerks and struggles to change gears. When you travel at freeway speeds it whines and jerks when it changes gears and when you're stopped at a light it makes weird noises and hesitates when you put your foot on the gas. We have repeatedly had the transmission repaired over the years.

Filed Jan 10, 2011 · Airbags, Steering · 70,000 miles · CA

Air bag warning light came on,pulled plug apart under drivers ,seat sprayed cleaner on it put it back together, took care of that problem. Gear shift lever sheared off. Ford says you need to replace steering column. Went online found a man in sweden that made a replacement part,ordered it ,put it on ,works great. (why couldn't ford supply one?) the transmission is starting to act up, you shift in to drive it hesitates and leaps forward, quite hard, same in reverse. Ford should recall this before someone gets hurt.

Filed Oct 17, 2010 · Transmission · 131,000 miles · AL

I have an 02 ford explorer eb edition. Not too long ago, my od light began flashing and my transmission was hesitating. I was 1.5 hrs from home at 9pm (sunday). Called my husband, he made a couple of suggestions and I was able to make it home. Same problem occurred twice the next day (monday). Contacted my ford dealership and dropped the truck off for a solution to my problem. Was told it was a solenoid body going bad. Thought my truck would be repaired in a day, but they had my truck for the entire week. I rec.'d a call on friday of that week and was told that they had dropped the pan on my transmission and found a "gear" laying in the pan. I was told I would need my transmission replaced. The following monday, I took the truck back (as is) and took it to a transmission shop for a second opinion. A broken wiring harness in my steering column was diagnosed as the problem and it was repaired for $230.88. I rec.'d my truck back on a thursday. It drove fine that day. I drove it out of town that friday and returned home saturday. Two weeks after this problem began, I left my home on a mid-sunday morning and the problem started again with the flashing od light and a hesitant transmission. I was able to run my few errands and get back home. I, just like everyone else who has encountered this problem, thinks ford should take responsibility. This is the first ford I've ever owned and I, personally, don't want to get rid of my truck. I rec.'d an exceptional deal on it and I truly believe it still has a lot of good left in it. I have no blame to place on my local ford dealership or the transmission shop. The responsibility lies with ford itself. A recall needs to be issued so that their dealerships can make the proper repairs to this vehicle. I have a 2yr daughter and I spend about 75% of my time in that vehicle with her. I need peace of mind that my vehicle is going to be there for me as I take care of it with proper service and maintenance. Thank you.

Filed May 11, 2010 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · CT

I have a 2002 ford explorer. When starting from a stop, the vehicle hesitates and then lurches forward. Other times the vehicle does not want to slow down. My o/d light is beginning to flash for no reason while driving or after warming up.

Filed Feb 20, 2010 · Transmission · 96,420 miles · KS

Shortly after purchasing our 2002 ford explorer xls, we began experiencing delayed shifting on occasion. The problem continued to get worse until occasionally, after making a turn, it would slip out of gear impeding acceleration in traffic situations. It also hesitates going into gear after backing up out of parking spaces. This almost caused us to be hit from behind one day when another driver backed out of a parking spot behind us without looking. Luckily it went into gear just in time so that I could move the vehicle back into the parking space and out of the way. Eventually the o/d light began to flash and now the transmission slams into high gear and downshifts hard when coming to a stop. My concern is that this in not an isolated problem with just our explorer as I have read numerous reports of the exact problems. Not being able to move the vehicle in traffic poses a serious safety concern that needs to be corrected.

Filed Feb 17, 2010 · Transmission · 66,500 miles · PA

2002 ford explorer transmission,4.0 v6. Od light flashes, check engine light,. Transmission hesitates then clunks into gear. I took car to garage, had the solenoids replaced, fluid and filter. Still have same problem.

Filed Feb 11, 2010 · Suspension, Transmission · 157,000 miles · FL

Event/situation: hesitates and chokes at 40-45 miles per hour when trying to accelerate, along with a slight rubbing sensation felt through the steering wheel and gas peddle. They advised replacing the upper ball joints. They also stated a weak battery which was replaced. This did seem to fix various faulty false electrical issues: interior lights staying on and false light/dashboard readings. Faulty transmission, emissions or plugs/wiring have been possibilities. I've taken it to goodyear who recommended changing out the plugs and wires, along with a flush. I've been told that flushes can ruin parts on older vehicles and cause other expensive problems. I found a few websites were there are many other customers having these same issues with the 2002 ford explorer. Ford has been notified and aware of these transmission issues and expensive problems, covering up with other little recalls like the wiring harness. I, like many, are being forced to pay for faulty transmissions. I believe this needs to be investigated and make ford pay for recalls and repairs. It has been taken to the ford dealership for its oil change and a wiring recall approximately two weeks ago, in january 2010. Here is the website with many other ford explorer official complaints who demand a responsible/reliable recall fix from ford. Http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/transmission/o_d_light_is_blinking.shtml.

Filed Nov 6, 2009 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · MI

Will hesitate when put into drive or will not move at all. Will make a big clunk and hesitate when put into reverse and may not move after gas pedal applied. Od light flashes constantly and service light remains on 95% of time. Transmission will tug hard while trying to accelerate gas pedal. While driving on highway transmission will constantly slip and gas pedal needs to be released and reapplied multiple times to stop auto from jolting/tugging. Must pull off road and turn off engine to reset od light which flashes about 15 minutes after the auto has been on the road. Unable to use cruise control due to the constant tugging and jolting. I will need to replace automatic transmission/power train. Purchased 2 years ago from a used dealership. I started having problems with transmission about 1 year ago. The od lights started to appear regularly 9 months ago. Service light has been on about 2 months now.