Oh where to start!! I have a 2002 ford explorer that has had numerous problems, mostly the transmission. Something needs to be done to correct this problem. I have around 75k miles and I'm on my 4th transmission, including the one that came with the car. Now, one a cold day my passenger side window has broken. I am very upset with the quality of this vehicle. One transmission went out while I had my kids in the car with me. It was fine one moment and then the next moment I couldn't do anything. That is very dangerous and something needs to be done to correct this problem. After much research I have found that this is the #1 problem with ford cars, or explorers and nothing has been done about that.
2002 Ford Explorer transmission complaints
Page 31 of 51: complaints 881 to 910 of 1,502, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I have a 2002 ford explorer and like numerous other people, I have transmission problems with this vehicle. The o/d light blinks off and on and it does not shift properly when this happens. If you turn the vehicle off and then back on, it usually shifts ok for a while before it starts all over again. I believe ford should recall this problem because obviously the large majority of these vehicles have this or similar problems with the transmission. Sometimes you have to shift to neutral, shut off the vehicle, then restart before it shifts properly again! This is dangerous!
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving 50 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise from what she believed to be the middle of the vehicle. She parked the vehicle for a while and then restarted the engine. The noise went from a loud humming noise to a loud whistling noise. The vehicle became difficult to steer, and began to pull. The contact pulled over and realized that the rear axle on the passenger side failed. The vehicle was towed to her residence because she could not afford the repair. Ford was not notified. There were no recalls available and the vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 80,000.
Currently own a 2002 explorer xlt with only 65k miles on it. The transmission is in need of a rebuild because is slip from time to time. The rear differential seals are leaking. The entire rear of the vehicle makes a humming noise so I suspect that a rear bearing is going bad. Not to mention the 4wheel drive system has not worked since I bought it a little over a year ago. I've had intermittent issues with the air bag control module and also the backup alarm system. There is nothing but poor write-ups about this truck all over the internet. All the same problems I'm experiencing are problems many other drivers have also had.
"o/d off" light began flashing rapidly. Apparently tripped by a failed solenoid b valve body. The valve body of solenoid b (the one controlling 1st and od, which together constitute 3rd gear) is a known faulty part. This can also be associated with a failed epc valve, which is usually replaced at the same time as the solenoid. According to auto professionals, this is a common issue with ford light truck automatic transmissions. The average cost of resolution is approximately $1200.
Transmission overdrive light is blinking and illuminated and jerks between 2nd and 3rd gear. This problem is clearly a defect as the identical problem is posted all over the internet. The error code for the service engine light points to the solenoid. There should be a recall issued before somebody's transmission fails and causes a death.
The transmission on my 2002 ford explorer has failed. It will not shift from second to third gear, and the top speed I can go it 20 to 30 MPH. Though transmission problems happen frequently, I know that this is not an isolated incident. I have made this complaint not so much for myself but on behalf of all owners of ford explorers. While I was researching 2002 ford explorer transmission problems, I came across the website www.carcomplaints.com. On this website there are 247 complaints about the 2002 explorer's transmission http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/index.shtml more specifically, there were many transmission failures that involved the third gear or the entire transmission. Http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2002/transmission/ this all seems like it makes sense, but when we look to the 2001 explorer's complaints there are far fewer http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2001/index.shtml and the 2003 has fewer transmission complaints as well. Http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2003/index.shtml additionally the 2003 has no complaints about the switch from second to third gear like the 2002 does. Http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2003/transmission/index.shtml additionally, the home page of www.carcomplaints.com has the top 5 complaints of the past 90 days, and the ford explorer's trasmission ranks 2nd. There is a problem. A huge problem. Http://www.carcomplaints.com/index.shtml my explorer is currently being fixed, and I researched this once the mechanic gave me the quote. All of this being said, with all of these links as proof, I think it's time that ford recalls the 2002 explorer due to severe and costly transmission problems. Please help in this worthy cause.
The transmission in my 2002 ford explorer has a history on intermittent problems that the ford dealer was not able to replicate. Therefore no repairs have ever taken place. This has bee a safety issue as the car fail to shift in the middle of an intersection, or when I attempt to pass another vehicle. At other times the car will lurch forward or backward when placing or removing the car from park. Recently the transmission lost 5th gear and I am told by the dealer that I need to re-build the transmission at my cost despite the long history of problems I have experienced.
2002 ford explorer xlt 4wd transmission is slipping shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. The o/d light and service engine soon light are on. There are only 66,000 miles on the car. All maintenance has been done as directed. Many complaints of this have been found and noted. I had a licensed mechanic "adjust" the bands on the transmission and that stopped the problem for about a month.
Noticed harsh shifting into reverse and from 3rd to 4th gears on 02 ford explorer 2wd with 48,000 miles. Required rebuilt transmission at cost of $2124.00.
Wheel bearing failures-4 in a 6 month period of time-cost over 1700.00 too have these repairs-ford will not help out and there customer service is a joke. I have a child that is always with me and 2 times it could have been bad.
I tried to put my 2002 ford explorer xlt, 4wd, 4door in the "p" park position and my lever broke, part # 5l2z-3cs29-a I am a 47 year old stay at home mom that does not abuse my vehicle. I maintain my vehicle on a set schedule.
Transmission failure. After research, it appears there are several issues dealing with this similar item.
Whine from rear differential, was fixed once by plantation ford of florida when car was bought used in 2005. Problem is back and was told my mechanic that if not rebuilt it may cause rear end to lockup possibly causing a crash and even death.
At 65,000 mi. The check transmission light came on and o/d light flashed while accelerating. I called dealer they said to wait until light stayed on. At 72,000 lights came on again as well as check engine. Brought it to dealer and need new transmission. I have found many posts regarding new transmissions for this vehicle at low miles. Cost of transmission was 3200 out of pocket. There should be a recall on this.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While approaching a stop light, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the engine light illuminated. The dealer stated that there was transmission failure and it needed to be rebuilt. Ford stated that the contact would have to pay for the repairs. The VIN was invalid. The current and failure mileages were 97,000.
2002 ford explorer transmission slippage, issues with transmission over-revving between gears and then shifting gears at high rpms causing vehicle instability, o/d off light on console blinks consistently, "check transmission" notified on display screen on console, occurs even after engine restart, internet research shows that this is a common problem with the ford explorer with a 5r55w transmission. Extremely dangerous event because of sudden nature in failure, occurred to me at approx. 55mph when the rpms ran high during the slippage and then the vehicle jerked when the gears suddenly shifted even after taking my foot off the accelerator. No parts replaced/repaired as of yet, but again research shows that transmission rebuild is imminent.
Was driving my 2002 ford explorer with only 55k miles, overdrive light suddenly started flashing and now the transmission will not shift from second gear into third gear. The RPM`s rev very high and then it clunks into third gear. I understand there have been a lot of problems with this transmission. Something needs to be done about this immediately.
The transmission in my 2002 ford explorer began to slip at 57,000 miles. From first gear into second it would rev high and then with a clunk and a grinding noise reluctantly go into second gear.
My 2002 ford explorer transmission failed. O/d off light blinks constantly. Hard shifting and slipping is constant. Dealer wants $3,000 to repair. This has happened to hundreds / thousands of explorer owners. Someone can get killed if the transmission slips on the highway and the driver loses control the way I did. I was lucky. Someone else may not be. Ford ignores the issue altogether.
I drive a 2002 ford explorer xlt 4.0 v6 . My over drive light begun flashing and shortly after that my transmission failed. I own many fords and this is an issue that defiantly needs to be recalled. Perfect maintenance.
Operator approached the entrance to a parking lot and placed automatic transmission in park. When the operator attempted to shift out of park, the gear lever broke off of steering column, immobilizing the vehicle in the entrance; blocking traffic flow. The vehicle had to be towed. The failed part is a component of the steering column that connects the gear selector lever to the transmission shift cable. The part is die-cast alloy. The part that failed is not sold separately necessitating the replacement of the entire steering column assembly. The msrp of the column assembly is approximately $600.00.
2002 ford explorer xlt transmission failure at 45,000 miles. Had to have a new one installed for $3,000.00.
I first noticed a grinding when I would turn sharply with my 2002 ford explorer. I took it in and it was noted that I needed to have my rear differential rebuilt to replace to ring and pinion gears and clutch packs. After 1 day of having the vehicle I was notified that a bearing had fused to the axle assembly and could result in my rear axle seizing up while driving. The total repair is going to cost $1500.
Purchased the vehicle new at 2002. It always has a little bit oil on the parking lot but I did not pay attention. Now I found out it is the rear differential leaking. Apparently it has been leaking for a long time.
Went to shift into drive and gearshift lever snapped off. $900.00 for new steering column.
I have a 2002 ford explorer xlt 4l 6cyl. Will not shift into 3rd gear smoothly. O/d light flashes.
2002 ford explorer transmission started failing at 80,000 miles. Overdrive light constantly flashes, transmission does not shift into od, hard shifts between 2-3, 3-4, sometimes misses 3rd, clunks in reverse. All scheduled maintenance was performed on transmission.
Transmission seized after approximately 75k on car 5 years old. Luckily my husband was driving slowly on local streets when it occurred so he was uninjured. Transmission was repaired at dealer costing $3546.23 this happened to our previous ford explorer and if you look online at carcomplaints.com seems to be an extremely common occurrence with 2002 ford explorers. Ford doesn't see a need to repair this problem since it conveniently happens after warranty is up.
My 2002 explorer transmission started slipping as shifting and putting in reverse and drive. This vehicle has 76000 miles on it. Took to the ford garage, all test came out ok, tech stated I need a new transmission at a cost of 3500.00. After doing some research and reading complaints of other explorer owners, I feel this expense should be covered by ford.
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