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 $1000 depending on how many wheel bearings failed.
Adding insult to injury, the 2002-2005 Explorer also has a massive problem with the rear panel cracking. While it's a minor annoyance compared to transmission failure, ironically the crack usually goes right through the Ford logo.
This happened right after the gear shift coming off in my wifes hand. I got the plunger out and the machinist at work made a new one made of good block aluminum. In the old one the hole was not centered and one wall was thin and that is what caused it to break off. That's where the spring and center pin go in. That's the spring tension you feel when you change from ie; Drive to park when you pull toward you. Made from the cheapest pot metal in the world. Would not even weld because of being full of air pockets and dirt in the aluminum. Now the key won't come out of the ignition when turned off now.)&^$^%#E)&(+(^)*&%%$ one thing after another.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
This happened right after the gear shift coming off in my wifes hand. I got the plunger out and the machinist at work made a new one made of good block aluminum. In the old one the hole was not centered and one wall was thin and that is what caused it to break off. That's where the spring and center pin go in. That's the spring tension you feel when you change from ie; Drive to park when you pull toward you. Made from the cheapest pot metal in the world. Would not even weld because of being full of air pockets and dirt in the aluminum. Now the key won't come out of the ignition when turned off now.)&^$^%#E)&(+(^)*&%%$ one thing after another.
- Gary C., Seattle, WA, US