On the back liftgate, the middle body piece has cracked again after being replaced around the ford symbol. Dealer has replaced once and will not replace again. The axle housing is leaking next to the differential.
2002 Ford Explorer transmission complaints
Page 38 of 51: complaints 1,091 to 1,120 of 1,502, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I bought this vehicle with 60,000 thousand miles on it and now I am finding out that it may be junk. It is experiencing many of the problems you read about that are associated with this vehicle. It shifts really hard into 3rd and the rear end makes a whining noise/grinding type noise.
I purchased my 02 ford explorer 4x4 in oct 2005. This vehicle has a clean title and 71k miles. In june of this year, I was driving home from work and noticed that my overdrive light was flashing and check engine light was on. I noticed at the same time that my explorer was having difficulty shifting gears. When traffic would come to a stop, it would shift into 3rd, then 1st, then 4th and back to 2nd. Never before had I experienced such a bizarre act with any previous vehicle. My explorer was in the shop for the next 45 days and come to find out that not even a local authorized ford dealership could figure out what was going on. Finally the private shop that I took it to fixed it after rebuilding the transmission 2 times. Very disappointing, since in the past I have driven several vehicles past 200k miles and oil changes and tires were required. Once I received the vehicle back after 2 transmission rebuilds, new torque converter and new egr value, the explorer check engine light came on after only 1 day or normal driving. Ridiculous. Come to find out after doing some research to see if ford had any recalls on the transmission, I discover that not only does ford not have any recalls for this problem, but they are aware of the situation and have yet to issue a recall. I came across several websites that had 100's of complaints about the very same thing going on with my vehicle. Apparently, ford is aware of the faulty 3rd gear shift failure and has refused to issue a recall. My husband found a ceo's number to ford, left her a message and has not heard back from anyone. Now after $3k in total repairs, we are faced with the decision to try and trade the vehicle and eat our losses. Needless to say, I will not be buying another ford built vehicle. Please help all of us in finding out why ford is ignoring this costly and disappointing issue. Please help others out and get ford to face the fact and issue a recall. Thank you for reading and your time.
I have a 2002 ford explorer xlt, I bought it on nov. 29 2005. After I bought it I noticed that when I would put the transmission in reverse there would be a delay and then a loud bang or clunk. I took it to a transmission place and I was told that they got a lot of explorers with that same problem. So I had it repaired and the total came to $ 3,855.13. The car had a warranty but it didn't cover everything, so I had to pay $ 1,800.00 for the repairs. They had to change the master kit/pistons, filter, o/d drive band, 2nd band, bypass value, solenoid pack, reverse band, o/d servo,2nd serve, sonnax updates, whole case, recondition valve body, rb converter, fluid and flush the cooler system.
The overdrive warning light started flashing and the engine was whining and running between 3k to 5k RPM. The transmission band broke and caused a systematic failure.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle's automatic transmission was slipping and slipped between gears. The vehicle had transmission problems since the contact acquired the vehicle, at 53000 miles. The vehicle was not taken to a service dealer. Updated 9/15/2006 -
Dt*: the contact stated the transmission slipped at variable speeds, sometimes not engaging the next higher gear or at times the engine would race, then slam into gear with a banging noise. The vehicle was taken to a service dealer where computer diagnostics would not recognize the 5th gear in the automatic transmission. The transfer case was rebuilt, but the problem continued. The vehicle has been inspected on 7 occasions. The rear lift gate window hinge was replaced, but continued to fall out of the hinge. The manufacturer was notified.
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was in park, it jumped gears, accelerated forward and hit a tree. The vehicle was identified to be still in park after the accident. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who could not determine or duplicate the problem. The dealer recommended that the contact should use the parking brake in the future.
2002 ford explorer xlt. Whining noise from rear differential. Whining goes away if pressure is reduced from accelerator. There was some leaking of rear differential fluid around driveshaft pinion seal, it was fixed (ford repair said it would also fix the noise, it didn't!) I have uncovered many other 2002 explorer owners with similar rear differential issues. Would seem that since there are many others having the same issue that there is some design/materials flaw in the rear end gearbox causing this issue. This is a definite safety issue and should prompt a safety recall due to potential of the differential locking up.
I have 68k miles on my 2002 explorer and felt I was in need of new brakes and dropped off the vehicle at midas. I was contacted by the mechanic that afternoon and was advised: "sir I'm happy to report that your brakes are in excellent condition; however, I'm sorry to be the bearer of very bad news. Your rear differential seals are bad and leaking and the differential is close to 'falling off' of your vehicle! He further states, "he has been an authorized mechanic for 25 years and feels this is an inherent flaw from ford as this is not the first one he has seen and that I proceed to the nearest ford service department for them to correct this dangerous "safety issue." the mechanic also gave me a copy of the tsb from ford. I called a local ford service department the same day in a state of panic! A service manager assured me that not only was the mechanic who alerted me of this "flaw" not authorized by ford, but he was only over-reacting! I took my explorer in today with the notice printed by midas and it was only discounted as being a "service bulletin for technicians." I paid $55 for them to run the same tests as midas had done, was told by the service manager; "the right rear bearing needs replacing, the seals of the differential needs are bad and leaking and need replacing, there was no recall on my vehicle, you're out of warranty, and the repairs would be $700+ and service should be done very soon as the damage will worsen. No one at the dealer would admit that this was a recall. I paid a $55 diagnosis charge for them to tell me what parts had failed which I already knew. I declined the repairs, advised the service manager I would be calling my attorney for further instruction. I am now seeking legal advice as I see I am not the only person who has experienced this "inherent ford flaw" and will do my best to see that ford addresses this safety issue. This is a serious flaw from ford!
I have a 2002 ford explorer with about 57,000 miles. I recently had an oil change at a place called the oil well and they noticed oil leaking from the rear differential and advised I should take it to the dealer as it appeared that the seals were leaking. The oil well advised that I take it to the dealer to get the seal replaced but the leak did not appear to be bad. I just took my explorer to the dealer on aug 4, 2006 and was told it was leaking badly and they replaced the seals. After waiting several hours , I was told the car was ready but the is a whining noise coming from the rear which they advised that the rear differential bearings are bad and that it will cost about $1400.00 to repair. It appears I am not alone in this problem which I am told by the dealer if it is not fixed that the rear could lock up and then I could have even worst problems. It appears that the 2002 ford explorer had a rear differential problem that ford needs to correct judging by the other complaints for the same exact problem.
Classic rear differential. Humming at speeds between 55 to 65 MPH under load and leaking seals and my vehicle has 57k miles on it. It is a ford defect.
Rear end noise on 2002 ford explorer.
Dt*: the contact stated that there was a roaring noise coming from the vehicle's rear axle. The dealership determined the differential was leaking and there were also metal flakes in the differential.
Explorer makes whining noise in rear end at speeds between 45 and 70 MPH. The ABS light stays lit continuously even after having the brake system services. Have also had front wheel bearings replaced all this since the vehicle reached 60,000 miles it now has 86,000 and mechanic says it need a new rear end.
My 2002 ford explorer with only 40,000 original miles was making noise when it was going up a hill or during acceleration. Since it was no longer under warranty I took it to a transmission repair shop. It needed the transfer case to be replaced which cost me over $1600.
I own a 2002 ford explorer the miles on it are 69,013. The transmission went. I had to have it rebuilt for 2129.60. When I brought it in for service the mechanic said that this has been a problem with this model and that nothing has been done. Could someone check into this. I find it very hard to believe for a vehicle with such low miles to have transmission problems.
We have 2002 ford explorer SUV with only 68k miles and we had to have an entirely new transmission put in it,just a year and a half earlier with less than 59k miles we had a new shift solenoid replaced. A year and a half later the transmission started doing the same thing again which prompted the new transmission .at the transmission shop we were informed that they have done numerous complete transmission overhauls on these explorers and jags, with very low miles, just in the last six months. This explorer has been well maintained and not driven that much that it would have needed such a major undertaking with such low miles. We have been checking around and transmission shops have told us they have seen alot of the explorers like ours with low mileage needing complete replacements don't know what it takes to get a recall into effect but I am hoping this might be a step that needs to be taken by individuals. We have spent over $3500 in the last year and a half on our eddie bauer and regret the day we purchased it. Our 1986 chevy wagon with 133k never has given us any problem this big.
2002 ford explorer xlt 4wd rear end troubles, third time having work done on the rear axle and assembly, troubled started at about 40000 and now at 72000 miles. Seals, bearings, rear axle. Humming and whining noise from rear end at both highway speed and city driving. Dealer quoted over the phone could run in excess of $2000 for parts and labor, took it to a local garage spent $1032 dollars for repairs. Replaced with dealer only parts, no savings there. Ford claims no problems with rear end. All indications is the problem will return. I'm not convinced the problem is fixed.
Bought 2002 explorer in 2003 with 12,000 miles. Servicng dealer replaced transmission and torque converter under warranty @ 32,000 miles after o/d light started flashing. Now needs another transmission @ 54,000 miles. Car has always been serviced, driven lightly, never towed, never abused. Dealer will not pay or help out one bit. Ford knows 2002 explorers have defective transmissions and rear ends, is ignoring problem, leaving consumer to absorb cost! Have also had to replace timing chain tensioner, rear windshield wiper assembly, air conditioning unit under warranty. Front and rear wheel bearings needed replacing- out of warranty. Rear end is making classic "humming" sound that ford is also ignoring-pinion gears.
Persistent quality problems: engine, transmission, power steering, air compressor, and related safety hazards such as defective rear hinge.
2002 ford explorer w about 65000 miles. Just had the transmission serviced, the next day overdrive light blinks..drive it home, call ford dealer take it in.. Have to replace transmission @ $3500. Seems to be a pretty common problem with these 2002's
Vehicle started to hesitate when shifting, whining noise from rear end as well. Over drive light on, then finally vehicle stopped engaging gears. 2002 explorer has been sitting in driveway for one year due to transmission failure. Ford not willing to fix the problem. Vehicle has 58000 miles. Prior to this incident rear hatch window blew out two times with the second time glass blew off so violently it damaged paint on new vehicle (dealer and ford manufacturer refused to pay for repair and instructed me to file insurance claim) damage to other car was clearly due to defect in window hatch mechanism and they should pay. Nothing has been done.
Transfer case failure. Dealer-ted britt, fairfax, va refuses to cover under power train warranty.
I just bought a 2002 ford explorer with 74,000 miles on it. I have had it for just long enough to discover a few problems with it, and have done enough research to know that I am not the only one by far with the same problems. I am not sure what causes the problems that I am experiencing, I just know that lots of other people are also having these problems. First of all, there is a leak in my rear differential. My truck is currently in the shop for that now - however, the shop mgr refuses to fix the leak until the rear end breaks.... Which will cost more and cause more repairs than necessary at the current time. My second problem - which the service mgr again refuses to fix until it breaks is with the timing chain tensioner - which leads to transmission problems which are also very costly. I have done my homework on this situation, since I have been forced to, and I am seeing over and over and over again, replaced the rear end on my 2002 explorer (multiple times on the same vehicle), and I am seeing over and over and over again, new transmission on my 2002 explorer (again, multiple times on the same vehicle). I don't know if anyone else knows about this site, or I'm sure that hundreds of the same kind of complaints would be filed with you.... Someone really needs to look in to this problem, because ford is awful proud of their vehicles and I am paying a hefty chunk of money for mine, as are the tons of other people out there with the same problems who just may not know how to go about getting something done regarding this problem... I'm speaking not only for myself, but, for loads of other people with the same problems. Please look into this problem, I beg you!! I don't want to be on the side of the road with my babies (4 & 5 yrs old) praying that the right person stops to help me and not the one with bad intentions!! Something needs to be done about this - ford has got obvious drive train problems!!! Thank you for your attention in this matter!
2002 explorer has problems picking up speed and over use of gas. *ts the consumer also had problems with the transmission, gear adjustment, difficult high altitude driving even after gear change, air suction into the engine and transmission, accelerator and ses light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they refused to provide any assistance. *nm updated 07/06/06.
Overdrive light began to flash, then shifting became very difficult becoming increasingly worse to the point of not shifting at all. Noticeably jerks when shifting into reverse. Lots of whining noise from under the vehicle. Also rear differential makes loud whine/roar at speeds above 30 and at acceleration. I understand these are very common complaints among explorer owners and can be very costly. Most transmission repair people tell me that it is a manufacturing defect and that ford should fix it.
Transmission went bad when only 3 years old, ford told me that it's a known problem.
2002 ford explorer xlt, 56,000 miles. Whining from rear differential between 40-60 MPH. Whining goes away if pressure is reduced from accelerator or if speed is greater than 60 MPH. Some leaking of rear differential fluid around driveshaft pinion seal. Also had transmission rebuilt at 54,000 miles due to rough shifting from 3 to 4. Transmission was not covered under 36,000 mile warranty. In my research, I have uncovered many other 2002/2003 explorer owners with similar whining rear differential issues. Would seem that since there are many others having the same issue that there is some design/materials flaw in the rear end gearbox causing this issue. I will be forced to replace the rear end in addition to the transmission if there is no remedy from ford.
Automatic transmission on 2002 ford explorer 4wd eddie bauer at 85450 miles - 3rd gear clutch out and requires rebuild.
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