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2002 Ford Explorer transmission complaints

Page 6 of 51: complaints 131 to 160 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 Jul 25, 2012 · Engine, Steering · 203,000 miles · TX

When accelerating on a start, car doesn't shift into 2nd and 3rd gear....unless there is a push or jump into it.

Filed Jul 6, 2012 · Transmission · 156,000 miles · NC

I have a 2002 ford explorer and the over drive light started flashing and the check engine light is on and the transmission started slipping from 2-3 gear and I found out with my 2yr and 3yr kids in the car if I need to pull out on to a highway with cars coming the SUV don't want to do so and will rev up and might slam into gear when you let off the gas. I love my explorer great family car but with this problem I will not have my kids in it at all. And not knowing if it will make it or not. Ford do something about this. Im not the only one.

Filed Jun 27, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 155,000 miles · IN

While driving car would not shift passed 3rd gear. I had to pull over on a busy highway because I was afraid the engine would explode. I later found out, after researching, that the risk of it shifting into reverse is a common problem with the po745 error code in 2002 explorers.

Filed Jun 25, 2012 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · SC

Ford is a great company. I love their f-350, mustangs, and vans. But the main problem is the 2002 ford explorer transmission. I have seen and researched thousands of complaints the citizens have sent to ford and through yourselves. And yet to now prevail? What right does a person have to create a vehicle and not own up to its complication. Now I'm not saying their are perfect cars but a ford explorer has them. Now I can send you a list of what I want. But I'm not going to rant like some 5 year old in a candy store. But change needs to happen. Hundreds of these innocent people who go through out their day driving this vehicle need a break. Actually they need a fix. A "shift"into the right direction. And hundreds more are filing lawsuit against everyone they can about it. Your cant trade this car because of the problem and who has the money to dish out almost over $3,000 for a headache that could have been prevented from the start. All I need if you. Yes you is to send this message to anybody. Or everybody and help push for a new tomorrow a sunny day. A fixed problem. But I am filing a lawsuit for everything their worth. Or at least a new transmission for all explorer owners. Regardless of the year or sub model.

Filed Jun 23, 2012 · Transmission · 124,000 miles · CA · fire

This is an update to complaint no. 10459987. After looking at the car records, we discovered that during a service of my transmission, ford factory required the dealership to cut the metal transmission line and installed a rubber line with a filter. If they did not install the filter, then the warranty would have been void. After installing, no one ever inspected or replaced the line or filter. It was simply forgotten. 75,000 miles later the rubber line was resting on the exhaust, which burned a hole and caused transmission fluid to leak and spray onto the catalytic converter and caught fire. We were lucky in that we saw the smoke early and no one was injured. I am concerned there are more cars out there with this retro-fit filter on the transmission that no one is inspecting or maintaining because it is not on an official maintenance schedule.

Filed Jun 16, 2012 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · TN

I bought my 2002 ford explorer xlt and within 1 week the transmission had gone out....have had it repaired and still no good.

Filed May 11, 2012 · Transmission · 154,000 miles · MI

The o/d light flickers on and off and there appears to be no third gear, according to three mechanical transmission inspections. Researching websites indicates that this is a known prevalent problem for this vehicle. Need to know: 1. Was there a recall? 2. What, if anything, ford is willing to do to fix or compensate for the considerable expense involved to repair this obvious defect.

Filed Apr 19, 2012 · Transmission · 109,000 miles · AZ

Transmission failure - stupid design doesn't allow you to check fluid level, leak at transfer case seal seems to have caused loss of fluid and cannot be added without some special pump to fill transmission back up because it's a sealed unit. Designed so only ford dealers can do service and then it just goes out and you're driving 65 MPH down the mountain and unable to control speed. Ford needs to recall these piece of crap transmissions yet won't even acknowledge there's a problem although every dealer & tranny mechanic knows of the issues.

Filed Apr 17, 2012 · Transmission · CA

Vehicle transmission has suddenly quit at only 120,000 miles. Because of a code p0775 "pressure control solenoid". Shopped the fix (which all repair shops say is very common on early 2000 ford's) and it will need a $2500 rebuild. Did some online research and found more complaints on this than I can account for. I contacted ford customer support line and was transferred to my local dealer. Local dealer said I fall outside of any customer appreciation programs and there is nothing they can do than fix it for me for $3200. With the amount of complaints on this issue along with the cracked tailgate that I see on all ford explorers I drive by, there should be some sort of forced recall.

Filed Apr 17, 2012 · Transmission · 121,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated the gear shift detached while shifting gears from the park to drive. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 121,000.

Filed Apr 13, 2012 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact was driving 10 MPH when the vehicle failed to shift gears properly. The over drive warning light illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the first and second gears of the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.

Filed Apr 5, 2012 · Transmission · 140,000 miles · PA

O/d off light flashing and service engine light on constant. Transmission has a hard time shifting from first to second gear. It had approximately 140,000 miles when it first happened. I am not the original owner so I am unsure if this has happened before.

Filed Apr 3, 2012 · Transmission · 155,550 miles · MI

Out transmission isn't out yet, it's on its way out. When accelerating it stops at 25-35 MPH and the RPM rev up to the red limit if you don't take your foot off the gas and it wont switch gears for a minute or so. Sometimes you hear a loud dropping sound and the entire car jerks when it switches gears. This first happened when speeding up on a busy main road near detroit, almost causing us to be rear ended. We took it to a transmission garage and were informed it would be $2,000 or there abouts to fix. Had the other driver not been paying attention or had this happened on a highway myself, my fiance, our four children would have been seriously injured or worse. Apparently the transmission is a recurring problem with this model of vehicle and the manufacturer should be made responsible for this blatantly dangerous defect.

Filed Apr 2, 2012 · Transmission · 166,000 miles · IN

I have a 2002 ford explorer eb and this car is a piece of crap after I bought the car the tranny is slipping like crazy and its hard to change from park to drive. I have looked it up and there are many people with the same issue and it is a closed tranny so I cant even check the fluid in it but ford is not doing anything about the issue I will never own a ford again.

Filed Mar 31, 2012 · Transmission · 119,483 miles · CA

Been jerky and jumping for 2 years but today the transmission would not upshift when starting out or down-shift when slowing down. The engine went to high RPM with little or no forward progress.all this was preceded by the over-drive light flashing on and off followed next by the check transmission light. Next the check engine light came on. The forums on this vehicle will tell you that this 6 speed automatic transmission on the v-8 engines are just junk. Way to many complaints. Will ford fix this on an out of warranty vehicle? After pulling.

Filed Mar 29, 2012 · Transmission · 117,000 miles · PA

The transmission is having trouble shifting from 2nd to 3rd, engine light and o/d off lights are on. Local mechanic says that the intermediate band on the transmission is broken. This is a sealed unit with no way to service without a rebuild.

Filed Mar 16, 2012 · Transmission · 148,000 miles · OH

My wife started our explorer and tried to put the vehicle in reverse and the gear shift handle snapped off in her hand. Only to find out that this problem has happened to many other ford owners! Unbelievable! So now I have to have my vehicle towed to a repair shop to have this "ford problem" fixed! And also shell out over $1000 dollars just so I can get my explorer back on the road!!! And when I called the local ford garage to ask about this defect, they acted as if this problem has never happened before! Bs!

Filed Mar 15, 2012 · Transmission · 140,000 miles · PA

The transmission is junk. Ford knows this. Rebuilding or replacing the transmission is inevitable...and not just once, because there are known design and manufacturing issues that will only cause the failures to repeat themselves. Unless these failures are dealt with, there are many people on the roads who are at the mercy of luck that the car they are driving or the cars that others are driving near them wont stop dead, stopping them dead. How is this known problem not a public safety issue? Have you counted the number of ford explorers on the road?? Its scary.

Filed Mar 14, 2012 · Acceleration, Transmission · FM

2002 ford explorer transmission died for the second time after I had the dealership replace it, 75,000 miles ago. I am now sitting at 156000 and it is doing the same things again. This gives me such a bad taste toward ford, and I have been a die hard ford guy.

Filed Mar 2, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 228,000 miles · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While attempting to shift from park to the reverse, the contact noticed that the column shifter had separated from the steering column. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The current and the failure mileage was 228,000. Updated 04/11/12*lj the hear shifter broke and the key would not come out of the ignition. The serpentine belt was cracked and had to be replaced. Updated 04/20/12

Filed Mar 2, 2012 · Transmission · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the over drive warning light illuminated as the vehicle started to skip gears. There was an abnormal increase in engine rpms and the vehicle would not shift into gear. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic but the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The failure and the current mileage was unknown.

Filed Feb 28, 2012 · Steering, Transmission · 110,000 miles · NY

Shifter broke off while shifting from park to drive,cannot shift vehicle. I read online there are numerous people that have had the same problem ,they were all wondering why there hasn't been a recall on this problem. Has there?

Filed Feb 27, 2012 · Transmission · 120,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer eddie bauer edition. The contact stated that at engine startup, the gear shifter detached from the vehicle while attempting to shift into gear. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 120,000.

Filed Feb 18, 2012 · Transmission · 55,000 miles · CO

The vehicle began to shift oddly from second to third. The overdrive off light began blinking. Shifting then began to be rough. I promptly took it to my mechanic who found it necessary to replace the transmission with a rebuilt unit. Second gear casing had failed.

Filed Feb 17, 2012 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the gear shifter detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 130,000.

Filed Feb 16, 2012 · Transmission · MD

Aside from continuing transmission problems, the hatch of this ford explorer was recalled some years ago. However, the area below the window of the hatch on many explorers made in or around 2002, has begun to crack and extend to the edge of the hatch area. When closed, this can be a hazard that leads to further cracking, which can further lead to more cracking and then breaking of the area. This can lend itself to material projecting into someone's eye or projecting into a part of the body that requires surgical removal. Please recall or issue a warning. Ford has been contacted via their 1-800 number and this concern was documented. Please recall...

Filed Feb 6, 2012 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · ID

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact started the ignition and immediately, the 4wd high and 4wd low warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact attempted to depress the brake pedal and shift into the neutral gear, as specified in the owner's manual however, the warning indicators failed to disengage. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was waiting upon a response pertaining to the malfunction. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Jan 31, 2012 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · VA

Complete transmission failure. Slipping in-and-out of gear, failure to shift between gears, unable to stay at idle without shifting to park. Almost caused a collision when gear slip occurred in the middle of a major intersection.

Filed Jan 30, 2012 · Transmission · 187,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the shifter handle fractured while attempting to exit a parking lot. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 187,000. Updated 03/05/12*lj updated 03/06/12

Filed Jan 30, 2012 · Transmission · OR

I was putting my car in gear when the gear shift snapped off in my hand.

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