I brought my 2002 ford explorer into mossy ford because the AC was not working and there was a whining coming from the front right side. I was told that the AC problem could not be found and that the whining was due to the tires. I was also told that another sound was noticed by the technician coming from the rear differential. I was charged $200 to diagnose it and was told that a new differential package was needed which would cost $1200. It is ridiculous that this would go out after 78,000 miles. I researched the internet and see that this is a common problem ford is aware of. They should replace these things for free. I am in the market for another car and now will not buy a ford if they don't address this issue.
2002 Ford Explorer transmission complaints
Page 41 of 51: complaints 1,181 to 1,210 of 1,502, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I bought my 2002 ford explorer limited edition used with less than 47,000 miles on it. It was recommended that I have the transmission fluid changed which only the dealer can do. Since then 2nd gear would slip and my gas mileage dropped 5 mpg. The dealership said nothing was wrong. Now my used warranty is up and 2nd gear went out. They replaced 1, 2, and 3 bands, a drum, and a valve. I had it back 3 days and the same troubles. This time they readjusted the bands. I have back and mileage is dropped even more, at 30 MPH it will not come out of 2nd gear and the engine sounds like it is really working, rpms are 2000 to 2200. The transmission feels like it is locking up or completely shifting as it should.
The rear end has gone out twice now in my 2002 ford explorer. The car has 85,000 miles on it.
I bought my 2002 ford explorer with 55,000 miles on it about 2 years ago. Every once in awhile I would get a loud thug when the car shifted between 25 and 35 MPH. The service places were never able to reproduce the problem. Last week, I was driving and the car just would not shift - the check transmission light came on and the od light started rapidly flashing. My car is of course out of warranty and the dealership is quoting me $3120 for a rebuilt transmission that they say I need. I have done some research and found that many people are having the same exact problem with the ford explorer 2002. There is even the following tsb issued for it that I found online 03-25-4 dec 03 a/t - 5r55w no 3rd gear/slipping 2-3 shift/dtc's set. However, the dealership will not acknowledge whether or not that is true.
The overdrive light is flashing and truck will not go into overdrive. I paid $1500 6 months ago to fix the problem and it is doing the same thing. I took it in again and the repair shop said it was electrical. I paid another $400 to fix it and 4 days later it is doing the same thing.
Loud humming noise coming from the rear of vehicle. Dealer said seals were leaking causing a low fluid situation that caused abnormal wear. Rear differential needs to be replaced. Researching the internet, it seems that this is a common and well know problem with ford explorers and needs to be addressed by the manufacturer.
Bought explorer xls 2002 in july 2001. Since owning vehicle have noticed an increase in gear slipping between 2nd and 3rd. Slamming into gear. Dealer unable to reproduce. Charged me $90 to check computer. In 2004 noticed a whining coming from engine, transmission pump failure, replaced. 2 days later, returned to the dealership, the replacement pump also failed. Transmission still shifting hard, increasingly getting worse. I have an extended warranty, worth the money so far. I've read over 160 complaints, all with the same problem. What is ford thinking? Do they think the problem will go away?
Transmission has failed on 2002 explorer v-6 with 76,721 miles. Has been to shop 3 times. Torque changed, then transmission rebuilt, now still jerking and lurching-will have to go back. No warranty.
I brought truck on 02/27/2004. The salesman at bill heard chevrolet made me sign some papers. In two weeks I had to go back to sign some more papers because they said they had made a mistake. They told me that I would finish paying for the car in three years the cost was supposedly $24,000. In two weeks after that I started having transmission problems. I told the dealership but they didn't want to fixed the problem so I had to pay out of my own money to fix the problem. After that they put an insurance on the truck which brought my payment to $518.00. My air conditioner didn't function since I brought it. My car has no direction at all. Also, when I run the truck more than 65 MPH it just starts shaking. In three months after I brought the car I read the papers and realize that the truck did not cost 24,000 like they had told me it actually cost 37,000.
I brought this SUV last year at bill heard chevrolet dealership. Even though this was a new vehicle. When I went to the dealership they told me that I could pay this car in three years but in reality it was five years. I signed all the paperwork I had to but they didn't give me any papers when I left. However when I went to apply to buy another car they didn't accept my application because they told me that I was already being finance a car for five years. This car has had many problems like the transmission would just make really loud noises when I drove the SUV; the transmission was simply not functioning properly. When I drove the car 60 MPH or more the vehicle would just start vibrating. I contact the dealership to make a complaint but they simply just ignore my complaint.
I have a 2002 ford explorer that has had many problems with the rear end. There is a constant leak, on the right side, that can't ever seem to be fixed. The first time I took it in to the dealership they said it was the axle seals and they replaced them. Then it happened again and they said it was my hub which they replaced. It happened again and they said that a groove had been worn in the axle and that was causing the leak. Less then a year later the other side of the rear end is leaking.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 15mph in snow the vehicles four-wheel drive would not engage. Several attempts were made to activate the four-wheel drive with no success. Therefore, no repairs have been made.
My 2002 ford explorer ltd's transmission failed on or about 20 january without any prior warning. The vehicle had apprx. 65,000 miles. The vehicle has been with the veterans ford dealership in metairie, la for over 3 weeks. They have informed me the transmission will have to be replaced at a cost of apprx. $3000. I now understand this is a widespread problem with the 2002 ford explorer and urge a recall.
The transmission on the car has problems and the 4x4 doesn't work with only 80000 miles.
Transmission has been making soft shifts and sounds as it shifts. Dealer has "reprogrammed" the transmission. Now transmission has completely failed. Dealer claims the 3 gear in this heavy duty transmission is broken and transmission must be replaced.
Transmission - gear band.
Vehicle was parked in a parking lot. Went to place the car in reverse to back out of the parking space and the shifter broke off. Fortunately the car was still in park, but would have been disasterous if the car had gone into reverse. We were finally able to turn off the ignition, but could not get the key out. Had to lock the car and leave it until the next morning when the ford dealership opened. Towed the car to the dealership and were told the entire steering column would have to be replaced at a cost of $961. I asked them to contact ford as it was obviously a vehicle defect. They responded that I would need to call ford myself. Spoke with a rep. Of ford, and they called the local service manager, then told me there was nothing that they could do. The problem was ours to fix at our cost.
Ltr fm consumer (ky) re the problems she's had w/the rear end of her 2002 ford explorer, want ford to buy back her vehicle. *ts in the summer of 2003 the consumer heard a whinning noise coming from the rear end. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who noticed oil was leaking from the rear end and replaced the seal. A few months later the noise returned the seal was replaced again. A few months later the noise returned again. The entire rear end had to be replaced. The consumer would like for ford to buy back the vehicle.
On january 16, 2006 while driving on the highway I noticed a shaking feeling under the driver's side floor. There was also loud noise. I slowed down and continued to drive. On saturday, january 21, 2006 I brought ford explorer 2002 to a ford dealer for them to drive and take a look. The result was vehicle all over the road, was unstable and needed all 4 wheel bearings, upper rear ball joints. Replaced. Not safe to drive for very long, must go slow and a $3,000 approximate cost to repair. I contacted ford to complain and to see if they could help out by reducing the cost of fixing it for free. Their response was sorry but they could not help. I cannot see how ford can tell me there was nothing they could do when every mechanic I have spoken to said it was unheard for all 4 wheel bearings to go at the same time, especially with only 73,000 miles on the truck. I drive my 6 year old sun to school, left to ford I'm supposed to take my chances with his safety while driving one of their poorly made vehicles. All this after I had to replace the transmission in october when than went while I was on vacation in new hampshire.
2002 ford explorer, when the car is at 30-40 MPH and shifting gears it lurchers forward. I spent $1000.00 for repair 2 months ago with ford dealer. I am back again now they say I need a full tranmission.
Transmission failure on 2002 ford explorer at 50,000 miles. Transmission jumps out of gear randomly, almost causing collision.
2002 ford explorer....rear end noise. Returned 3 times to deal for correction. After the 3rd time, the problem seemed to be corrected...10,000 miles later, the problem returned after warranty expired. Deal claimed that since the warranty expired, it is my responsibility to pay for repair.
The transmission sometimes slipped when we first bought the vehicle new. We were told that was normal. The vehicle now will not lock into second gear, told we needed a new transmission. It is only 4 years old and has 58,000 miles; too soon for this kind of expense for a well cared for car. We are out of warranty.
Recurring problems with transmission. Every now an then, the overdrive off light blinks, occasionally causing the check engine light to come on. 14854 miles the transmission was overhauled by the dealer. From about 50,000 miles the overdrive light would occasional flash but as long as I shut off the engine and restarted it, the problem wouldn't pop up for a few months. There didn't seem to be any consistent reason for it to flash. The dealer said the only thing they could do is to test it when the light was flashing so they could diagnose the problem. Since the problem was so intermittent it was difficult to get to a dealer at the particular time the light would flash. The truck seemed to be operating as it always did. Eventually the check engine light came on as a result of the o/d off light being on and at 63,329 the dealer replaced the solenoid body and serviced the transmission. The light still came on occasional, but only on long trips, more than 75 miles one way. At 66,274 miles the dealer took the truck and tried to duplicate the problem but was unable to. At about 73299 miles, like before, the service engine light finally kicked and the dealer replaced the o/d piston and rod. At 73,564 miles the transmission need to be completely overhauled. Now at 80,800 the service engine light is on again because of the o/d off light blinking and the dealer will be looking at it again on monday, january 20, 2006. For number of failures I'm guessing that 20 or more times the o/d light has come on. 5 times the check engine light activated and the dealer tried to fix the problem. Monday will be the 6th attempt to fix the problem.
Dt*: the contact stated without warning, the transmission would slip when shifting into second or third gear. The dealership determined the transmission needed to be rebuilt.
Drivetrain problems (rear differential, front driveshaft, transfer case). 1. Rear differential making whining noise. This was worked on twice with the pinion bearings replaced. Differential still making whining noise at first between 55-60 MPH and now is making this noise anywhere from 45 - 70 MPH. Vehicle was referred to local ford dealership. Was told that the pinion ring gear needed replacement. Have ford extended warranty for powertrain, but ford will not replace parts until they completely fail. They also consider this a update which they will not fix under a recall. 2. Front driveshaft causing vibration in front at speeds around 65-70 MPH. Ford considers this an update and will not repair under extended warranty until it completely fails. 3. Transfer case. Ford mechanic noted that he heard a clunking noise when shifting transmission from park to reverse. Ford has a tsb on this, to update the flange on the rear of the transfer case. Ford considers this an update and will not fix it until it completely fails. The transfer case would need to be drained, refilled, and then reprogrammed again. All these things are listed as covered items in my ford extended warranty (powertrain), but ford will not cover them since they consider them updates. They want me to fit the bill of the amount of $2400 this is how ford is getting by from issuing a recall. I have notified my wv attorney general office, who tried working out something. That is how I received the ford extended warranty. They could not get any results, so asked me to contact a lawyer and take them to small claims court.
While driving the SUV to work on 11 jan 2006 @0800 on the interstate, everything was operating normally then suddenly the overdrive light began to flash and the transmission began to slip and would not shift out of 2nd gear, with no prior warning light to this day or malfunctions. @ 0900 I took the SUV to a local near by transmission shop where they deemed after driving and running diagnostic testing that it needed to be rebuilt,they further stated that they have had several 2002 ford explorers with the same problem. After tearing the transmission apart further inspection revealed that it was in need of a total overhaul costing $2079.00. The SUV is a 2002 ford explorer eddie bauer with 64,000 miles .
2002 ford explorer xlt with 4.0l engine, 2wd: after 100,000 miles, the o/d light began flashing. Transmission service technician noticed chunks of brass and steel in the tran pan (this had been checked 6 months earlier and there was no sign of metal in the pan). Technician dropped the valve body, thinking that the valve body gasket was blown. However, the gasket was fine, but there was more metal found in the valve body. At this point it was determined that there was an internal problem with the transmission. The next day, the vehicle began to fail to shift into upper gears. After checking a couple of web-sites, it appears there is a fairly widespread problem with the transmission that is used in the 2002 explorers. Ford relayed to me that there are no recalls on the transmission.
I have had my vehicle in to ford for transmissions and differential problems over the last 2 years. They could not fix the problem while under warranty and now the transmission failed and left me stranded on a cross country move. I had the vehicle in for service right before the trip stating the truck was not right. They could not fix it.
2002 ford explorer 43k - rear tires shudder and feel like they are binding during turns. The inside tire spins/stops/spins as if the rear diff were locked. Repair shop can not isolate any problem - changed fluid, replaced 4x4 switch, problem persists. They are considering replacing the entire unit.
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