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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002 Ford Explorer is hands-down our worst vehicle on record. "Avoid like the plague" is putting it lightly.
The 2002-2005 Explorer has a very well-established record of expensive transmission failure at under 100k miles. The Explorer has an enclosed transmission which is typically replaced with a rebuilt transmission at a cost of almost $3,000.
Another common problem for the 2002-2003 Explorer is wheel bearing failure at around 90k miles, with a typical repair bill of $500 to $1000 depending on how many wheel bearings failed.
Adding insult to injury, the 2002-2005 Explorer also has a massive problem with the rear panel cracking. While it's a minor annoyance compared to transmission failure, ironically the crack usually goes right through the Ford logo.
9.0
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $1,050
- Average Mileage:
- 109,500 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 163 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
- not sure (67 reports)
- replace / rebuild entire steering column (54 reports)
- repair / replace shift lever (19 reports)
- rigged it so I could drive (4 reports)
- goodwill repair and upgrade manufacture of part (3 reports)
- new steering column (3 reports)
accessories - interior problem
Helpful websites
- Ford Explorer Shifter Fix - Here is a thread I have found useful in fixing my neighbor's truck.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I prepared to back out of the garage, shifted into reverse, and the gear shift lever was dangling in my hand like a broken arm. I pulled off the rubber gasket, thinking I could use vice grips to get it to the dealer. No such luck; who has ever heard of such a thing? The service manager at the dealership gave me a $900.00 estimate to fix with a used steering column. When I asked how this could happen, all I got was "Well the car does have 157,000 miles." My response: "Puh...leez; there have to be millions of cars in junk yards across America with more miles and more problems to keep them out of service, and I would guess that no more than 4 have had the gear shift lever fall off." the service manager said that he had never heard of this. After reading the posts, I find this hard to believe.
- Emily D., Bettendorf, IA, US