Check a VIN

2002 Ford Explorer transmission complaints

Page 24 of 51: complaints 671 to 700 of 1,502, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 2002 Ford Explorer transmission problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Nov 3, 2008 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · OH

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.

Filed Oct 31, 2008 · Transmission · 65,690 miles · PA

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.

Filed Oct 30, 2008 · Transmission · 108,644 miles · CT

Transmission started to slam into gear. Transmission failure. Had to have a complete rebuild/overhaul of transmission.

Filed Oct 29, 2008 · Transmission · 89,000 miles · IN

Rear differential.

Filed Oct 21, 2008 · Transmission · 64,350 miles · CA

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.

Filed Oct 19, 2008 · Fuel system, Transmission · 82,000 miles · PA

Throttle stuck and car would not slow down, almost caused an accident, put car in neutral but engine kept on racing, searched internet on found that the throttle cable is defective, ford changed design from 12 to 9 wire design, saw alot of posts on internet with similar experiences, can't believe no recall. Car accelerated on its own.

Filed Oct 18, 2008 · Transmission · AL

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.

Filed Oct 17, 2008 · Transmission · 51,619 miles · HI

On the day in question I was pulling out of the staff parking lot from the prison that I work at as an adult corrections officer, upon shifting the automatic gear shift stick from park to drive the shifter snapped and broke right into my hand hanging by a wire. Was able to drive home and park it but had to disconnect the battery terminals to get my key out of the ignition. Upon removal of the under steering column cover I could see where the connecting bolt that connects the gear shift stick to the steering column had broken off. The mental connecting piece appears to be made of soft aluminum. The cost to repair I know will be expensive !!! I think its a defect and there should definitely be a recall on this and ford should cover the repair and or replacement cost for its loyal ford customers, thankyou !!!!

Filed Oct 14, 2008 · Transmission · 99,000 miles · GA · crash

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. This is definitely a safety issue and a severe traffic hazard. Please help all motorists by forcing ford to recall these transmissions and replace them.

Filed Oct 14, 2008 · Transmission · 140,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Oct 14, 2008 · Transmission · 40,000 miles · CA

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.

Filed Oct 13, 2008 · Transmission · 82,000 miles · NJ

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.

Filed Oct 13, 2008 · Transmission · OH

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.

Filed Oct 11, 2008 · Transmission, Visibility · 26,000 miles · FL

Within four months from date of purchase my 2002 ford explorer xlt 4wd start having problems. They are: 1. Vibration inside including physical movement inside when driving with rear window crack over 30 MPH. The faster you drive the grater the vibration. I took the explorer to several dealers, they inform me that this is normal and it's refer to as helicopter effect. 2. The digital keypad stop working. 2. The keys don't open the door 3. The transmission slip, kick and delays when put in drive or reverse. 4.transmission delays going into overdrive. 5.the passenger side quarter panel glass shatter twice, at first I taught someone had broke it and my son reported it to the police. The insurance company replace it and few months later in my garage it shatter again and that's when it all came together. This time my son fix it for me. 6.theres also a winding some coming from under the SUV and my son thinks it have something to do with the diff, keeping the vibration in mind. 6. The latch that secure the rear where the jack handle is located broke.

Filed Oct 10, 2008 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · CT

Transmission failure. Overdrive light flashing and erratic shifting. Dealer diagnosis is that transmission needs to be replaced.

Filed Oct 8, 2008 · Transmission · 153,000 miles · TN

Check transmission messaged appeared and od off light started blinking.

Filed Oct 8, 2008 · Transmission · 103,000 miles · MI

I bought my 2002 explorer with 80,000 miles on it from a respected local ford dealer. 20,000 miles later, my o/d light won't go off and my gears won't engage properly. This happens for 2 days before I sputter into a dealership for service. I'm now being told that I need to replace the whole transmission at a cost of $2,500. The kelley blue book trade-in value is only $2,100 and I still owe $4,000! I feel duped and scammed by ford: a company my father has worked for 34 years. Ford insists there's nothing they can do about this cost. My question is: why hasn't there been a recall when I've found hundreds of complaints filed about the very same problem I'm having? Why am I just supposed to eat this cost when it's an obvious manufacturer's defect?! Help!!!

Filed Oct 6, 2008 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · IL · crash

Parked in the driveway ahead of my wife's car. Started the ford explorer and put it in reverse, nothing happened, it did not engage. Then all of a sudden it engaged and leaped backwards into my wife's car. Since this it has happened several more times. I hope that a person isn't standing behind me when it happens.

Filed Sep 26, 2008 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · FL

Transmission failure.

Filed Sep 24, 2008 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · NY

My ford explorer transmission started slipping, it is starting to fail. It seem that this is a big problem with these vehicles, there should be a recall. There have been recalls for less.

Filed Sep 23, 2008 · Transmission · 64,042 miles · CA

The overdrive light was blinking, and the check engine light was on. After having the car scanned by a mechanic, we were told that the pc solenoid in the tranny was out. We brought it to the dealer it was purchased at, and they performed the same test and fixed it at a cost of $1058.18. A week later it is shifting hard. Plus after using the 4wheel drive only twice, it would not go into 4 wheel drive. When I took it to the dealership they told me the 4x4 modular had failed this after a 140.50 check, and they wanted 600.00 to fix, this while putting brakes on it. And when I asked what would cause it go out, the service manager told me " how would I know?"

Filed Sep 19, 2008 · Transmission · 67,000 miles · NY

My wife was in the left lane of a busy hwy and the transmission went out. There was no shoulder to safely pull off on. I own a 2002 ford explorer, there are numerous complaints for the exact same failure. How can ford not recall this problem? My wife was lucky that she was not seriously hurt. It could have been alot worse.

Filed Sep 12, 2008 · Suspension, Transmission · 80,000 miles · NC

Rear spring broken on 2002 ford explorer with 80,000 miles.

Filed Sep 11, 2008 · Transmission · 75,880 miles · NJ

The o/d off light came on my 2002 ford explorer 2 days ago. It has 75,880 miles on it.this seems to be a typical problem with these vehicles.how can ford motor corp not know about this problem?who can afford to pay $2600 to $3500 for a transmission repair!!!!!like always the middle class gets the short end of the stick again.....

Filed Sep 11, 2008 · Transmission · 51,000 miles · FL

Car had no accidents or unusual usage. I had both city and highway driving with predominantly city driving, no hauling heavy loads or off road driving. The shift lever broke off and the entire steering column had to be replaced, car could not be started, gears engaged or moved and had to be towed. This event occurred during hurricane evacuation as well. After research on the internet there seems to be a large number of the same (similar)complaint. If this occurred during highway or high traffic driving a serious accident most likely would have occurred.

Filed Sep 10, 2008 · Transmission · 157,000 miles · GA

2002 ford explorer transmission problems. Ford is aware that the transmission solenoid they use in their transmissions are faulty.

Filed Sep 10, 2008 · Transmission · 78,517 miles · VA

I pulled into the driveway at my house and went to put my 2002 ford explorer xlt into park when the gear shift lever broke off in my hand. I still cannot believe that anyone with any sense would engineer and/or design a product that gets so much use out of such shoddy material. If you want to know why our auto companies are going out of business - ask ford engineers.

Filed Sep 2, 2008 · Transmission · 102,000 miles · NC

2002 ford explorer! Getting on interstate, on the ramp, hit 30 MPH's, and nothing! The RPM's shoot straight up, and the car acts like its in neutral!! I have 2 children in the car with me, and almost create a pile-up because the car would not move on entrance ramp! Come to find out, a new transmission is needed. I could not believe the number of complaints on this topic. Somebody is going to get killed with this mess up. I was about ran over!! Ridiculous!

Filed Aug 30, 2008 · Transmission · 99,000 miles · TX

Stuck in 4x4 mode and cannot turn. Almost caused an accident.

Filed Aug 28, 2008 · Transmission · 125,000 miles · VA

Driving on highway 60mph - car began to shift randomly and than would not shift at all (automatic transmission) - had to coast across several lanes of traffic and try to pull out of danger. Transmission was replaced for the cost of 3,400.00.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2002 Ford Explorer?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history