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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
105,461 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The transmission on my 2002 Ford Explorer failed at about 86,000 miles and required $3000 to repair. Ford acknowledged that it was a design flaw but would do nothing to cover any of the repair costs. After researching this online and talking to mechanics there are thousands of 2002 Ford Explorer transmissions that have failed. This is a textbook case of the need for a recall requiring Ford to replace the defective transmissions at no cost to the consumer.
I have a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT, my transmission just recently went out. It has about 142,000 miles. I took it to a transmission specialist, to get it fixed, they took it apart, and told me it was costing $3,786.60 to get it fixed/rebuilt! as of right now my truck is still in the shop, it has been there for 2 weeks now. There is no way can afford to pay that, I"M just a student. I did some research online and it turns out that there is thousands of people with the same problem; transmissions go out and the majority on the 2002 model. They rebuild the transmission, only for it to go out again. Some people have replaced/rebuilt their transmissions 4 or 5 times. I also read that these trucks can stop at any moment; anywhere. This is very dangerous, especially if on the freeway. I don't see why Ford, didn't recall this truck or this transmission. They need to take responsibility and fix the problem. I have no idea, what I am going to do to get my truck fixed.. or maybe even replaced.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact was driving 50 mph uphill when the vehicle began to stall. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and was unable to shift into park. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission would need replacing. The contact called the manufacturer and was told that a possible brake fluid leak caused the transmission to malfunction. The contact did not have the transmission replaced. The failure mileage was 129,000.
I bought my 2002 Ford Explorer in 2005. At about 85000 miles I noticed the transmission started to slip and often jerks real hard when shifting into 3rd. I had the transmission fluid changed by an authorized Ford dealer in my area and they told me there are no metal shavings in the fluid, however, they did tell me that the 2002 Ford are well knows for having transmission problems and they see it all the time in this make model and year. I called Ford and they told me there are no recalls on the transmission, however, reading all the problems on the internet about owners who have complained, I feel there should be a recall on this because it is a safety issue!
- Schoenchen, KS, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
While my wife was backing up in my son's driveway, the gear shift broke on my 2002 Ford Explorer. The charge to repair by a Ford dealer was roughly $2,000 (including tow charges). After doing research on this issue, it apparently is way too common, however Ford refuses to acknowledge responsibility or issue a recall.
Today I drove my 2002 Ford Explorer out and upon returning home I could not shift it into park. I switched it off thinking that if I crank it up and turn the wheels it would go into park but I couldn't even crank it up because I was not in the park gear. I played with it for 20 minutes and it finally went into park. I let it sit for a couple hours and went back out and cranked it, it went into gear. I drove it around the block came back and parked. Cranked it up about 10 minutes later to go out and it would not come out of park gear. I have no idea what the problem but if it's something serious the dealer can have it back. Something should be done to make Ford repair their malfunctions, we are talking some serious money on these repairs and a lot of people like myself is looking for work now. People we need to start protesting out side these dealerships. They are getting rich and we are suffering at their mishaps.
Transmission gear shift broke off steering column as the vehicle was put in park. Could have been a major safety issue had I been anywhere other than my home and shifting into any other gear than park. Thought this was an isolated incident only to find information online that this is a common occurrence with the 2002 Explorer (over 100 reported on one website alone). Other issues I've experienced since day 1 of purchasing the vehicle new are transmission lunging, vehicle rocking when put in park, and difficulty shifting into park.
This requested recall involves a 2002 Ford Explorer having an automatic transmission. During normal use, the shift lever breaks off at a cast rotating cylinder that transmits the torque from the gear shifter to push and pull the cable that puts the vehicle in park, drive, neutral, and reverse. The vehicle also had a tendency to jump out of park even before the part broke which caused the vehicle to roll back and almost pinned me between another vehicle when the vehicle rolled back and crashed into a vehicle parked downhill. This was a near miss accident. Ford wants to charge $1500 to replace the entire steering column. We elected to junk the vehicle at this time until another solution can be found. Vehicle still drives if you reach your hand and push/pull the transmission cable to shift the automatic transmission into gear. We can send the broke off section of the part if you will return it. On the internet, there are many reports of the same failure for years 2002 through 2005 Ford Explorer.
When putting car into park or reverse, car would sometime still be in drive for seconds after putting car in gear. Several times now, occasionally car will simply shut off. Recently, the car would not go into park and shifter separated from steering column.
While backing up, the gear shift broke on my 2002 Ford Explorer. It was good that I was not in traffic because I could not get the car back in gear and could have gotten hit and or caused an accident. The steering column was replaced and the parts were in my opinion over priced. My fear is that it may happen again because it may have been replaced with the same defective part.
Ford Explorer transmissions slipping and going out will get U killed if U pull out in traffic and it starts slipping and want go someone may hit U and get U killed.
My 2002 Ford Explorer has a rear end noise it is really loud I've noticed many Explorer have the same problem. I have replace rear axle the whole rear end and the noise comes back I think its ridiculous that I have to pay all this money to fix it when its a wide spread problem for Ford Explorer. Ford should have a solution by now and should fix it for free.the noise is a constant when driving.
Please do something about this !!!! the Explorer gear shifter is defective and unsafe. There is a common thread with gearshift selector breakage on Ford Explorer which indicates that recall is urgently needed. After parking, I tried to move the gear shifter from drive to park to exit the vehicle. To my absolute astonishment the gear shifter broke like a dangling broken arm in the reverse position. The vehicle was rendered useless and me optionless. I work at a secure gov't facility and it was no picnic trying to get a tow truck driver access. I finally got the truck towed to the nearest dealership at $85. The dealer then informed me that the entire steering column would have to be replaced at $1,690. They didn't have the part and needed a day to get the truck back to me. I had to rent a car which was another $102 bucks. Make Ford take care of this safety hazard. I asked for the part and can show you what broke inside which is literally a weak metal housing that the gear shift handle fits in....
My wife was preparing to take our 3 children to school. She put our 2002 Ford Explorer in reverse and backed out of our driveway. After stopping, she attempted to shift into drive. The gear shift lever broke, leaving her with a car stuck in neutral. The keys are locked in the ignition and cannot be removed. After researching this online, I was very surprised to discover this is not a recall item and that Ford Motor Company's recommended fix is changing out the entire steering column. Is this really true?
Gear shift in my 2002 Ford Explorer broke off while trying to put my car in gear. I have been informed by the local dealer that the part is part of the steering column and it would cost approx. $1200 to replace. The part that broke is made of aluminum and is only about 4-5 inches long. This was a danger to me because my driveway is on a slight incline. In addition if the vehicle went into reverse, I could of had cause property damage and how would I put the vehicle back in park?
Was driving down the highway at 55 mph at my overdrive light started flashing and my information screen showed "check transmission" when I got home, I looked up the problem on the internet and found that my transmission just went bad and will need to be replaced according to what hundreds of complaints say had to be done to fix the same problem.
Air bag warning light came on, pulled plug apart under drivers, seat sprayed cleaner on it put it back together, took care of that problem. Gear shift lever sheared off. Ford says you need to replace steering column. Went online found a man in sweden that made a replacement part, ordered it, put it on, works great. (why couldn't Ford supply one?) the transmission is starting to act up, you shift in to drive it hesitates and leaps forward, quite hard, same in reverse. Ford should recall this before someone gets hurt.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Falls Church, VA, USA