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 in our 2002 Ford Explorer eddie bauer started flashing the od light @94,000 miles took it to Ford they said the valve body and torque converter was bad, Ford replaced the items above for 2600 dollars problem went away for 10, 000 miles problem is back torque converter and valve body needsto be replaced again.
I have a 2002 Ford Explorer and the transmission just went out on it. I will tell the story from the beginning. Ok so I was about 30 mins away from my home and driving on the freeway back home when the od light started blinking very fast. Then I get off the freeway and stop and the red light then when I started to go the transmission started doing all sorts of crazy [xxx] it was changing gears like crazy and finally settle out. Then right before I turn in my drive the transmission just quits! it just stopped! I put it in park then drive and nothing...no sound.. no movement it would just roll backwards. So now it sitting on the side of the road where I pushed it to. All of this happened in 30 mins! nothing was wrong before this happened.!!!! please someone help and lets get this to be recalled! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Automatic transmission experienced complete failure of band(s) for gears 3-4. dealer offered repair for about $2000, but not recommended as only receive 12 month / 12K mile warranty for replaced parts and no labor and not transferable. Opted for total replacement with Ford authorized remanufactured complete transmission for $3500 with 36 month / unlimited mileage and fully transferable. Difficult to accept a transmission would experience such drastic failure with so few miles, normal Suburban driving and no trailering.
I was traveling to mt. Washington, ky. From lorain, Ohio, ( approx. 330 miles). We stopped at the rest are at the halfway mark, between Washington ch, oh. & jeffersonvlle, oh. When we came back out, started the car, & it wouldn't go into reverse. Pushed it out of the parking spot & it wouldn't go in drive either. About 30 miles before, it made some clunking noises & it felt like we had a flat tire. I took it out of cruise control & it drove normally until the rest area. I had to have it towed to Washington courthouse & then back home on Monday, Nov., 29th, (at my own expense). Approximate cost of repair to date was $2969. I had my daughter & 6 yr. Old great granddaughter with me & I feel this could have possibly ended with disastrous results. Ford has known about these faulty transmissions probably from day 1. I'm not trying to just blast Ford, happen to be an employee. I feel they need to man up & take care of this problem before it leads to serious consequences.
- Lorain, OH, USA
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When driving the O/D light came on and started flashing erratically, then I was unable to shift from 1st to 2nd gear. The only way I can shift from 1st to 2nd gear is if I let the RPM's go up above 3,000 and 4,000. Then I can take my foot off the gas and it will switch into 3rd gear. I have not drove the truck since it started doing this, the only time I have drove it was to go to the mechanic. The mechanic says it is what makes the gears shift that is causing the problem. The only way to fix it is to put a new or rebuilt transmission into my 2002 Ford Explorer. On the way home from the mechanic it started slamming into gears.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT. The contact stated that the overdrive warning light would continuously flash. The failure would occur sporadically whether the vehicle was in over drive or not. The contact stated that when placed in park, the vehicle would continue to roll further than usual. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair facility where the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure or generate a failure code. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileage was 118,000.
2002 Ford Explorer gear shift lever broke off while in drive. The lever is connected to a soft aluminum cylinder thru a U shaped end and a pin. The cylinder sheared at the base of the U as a result leaving no way to shift or get the key out after turning the motor off when I finally got stopped. Repair cost is $1400 for a new steering column plus labor. Cannot buy small part that broke separately so Explorer is not fixed. A picture of the problem can be seen at this url www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?T=188761&page=4.
Defective transmission in a 2002 Ford Explorer eddie bauer after only 117K miles. Transmission fails shifting between 2nd and 3rd gears. Some times gets stock in parking. Complete failure estimated repair cost $3600 to $4000.
2002 Ford Explorer XLS. I was shifting from drive to park and the shifter broke in my hand. Not a good thing. After doing some research it seems this a common problem with Ford Explorer due to the cast aluminum that is used in the part. Ford should have a recall for this, seeing as how it happens due to the way it was made not due to driver error.
I have a 2002 Ford Explorer and this morning I was going at work when the gear shift arm broke off in my hand. I had to call my wife for go at work and I was unable to remove my keys from the ignition. My car is completely un-drivable.
I have a 2002 Ford Explorer I was driving down the highway when I noticed the overdrive light flashing. Then the passenger asked me if I could smell transmission fluid and I had said yes. This ended up costing me $2800 and my mechanic told me that the torque converter was failing and sense he had it apart he should go ahead and rebuild it.
My 2002 Ford Explorer limited 4X4 had a chiming noise followed by a O/D blinking light on wed. I put the car in park and hit the button for O/D a couple of times it then went out. I drove it straight home. I was only two minutes from my house. The next day I drove it and it acted like it wouldn't or couldn't shift right. I do not understand how a car that is pampered could go so wrong. I had to replace both four wheel drive motors this winter and I hardly use it. The four wheel would not engage. Now I am told that I probably need a new tranny and that it is very expensive.I don't have alot of money. I have always owned Ford but never again! I think Ford should recall all these trannys and fix them just like Toyota fixed their problems. Maybe I should by Toyota.
2002 Ford Explorer shifter broke while putting vehicle in drive looked at part made out of some type of granulated aluminum. Can't believe such a unsafe metal could be used in a vehicle part will call Ford for estimate read over 50 complaints on carcomplaints.com couldn't believe that the dot has let this go on for so long. I will be contacting my local news team and other marines who have Ford Explorer and telling everyone that has an Explorer.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact was driving at 60 mph when the vehicle began decreasing in speed and become sluggish.the contact was unable to shift into drive or reverse, he coasted into the emergency lane. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who advised having the vehicle diagnosed at the contact's expense. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer would not provide any assistance. The failure and current mileages were 142,957.
Went to leave a baseball game and attempted to put my car in reverse only to have the gear shift come loose from the steering column and was just dangling there. Of course customer service at Ford could not help.
I pulled into my driveway and went to put my vehicle into park and the gear shift was like a broken limb in my hand. I checked with several auto part stores and the replacement part is a dealer only part. Ford will not sell the part to customer for personal repair. Plus the cost to repair is very costly. I was seeking information and found several other complaints on autobeef-car complaints.com. Seems like Ford needs to reconsider this as recall.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at speeds of 30 mph, the vehicle began to decrease in speed without warrant. The over drive warning lights were illuminated on the dashboard and the contact was able to drive the vehicle to his residence without incident. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The dealer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 120,000.
I have a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT. It has 118,000 miles. About 2 month ago my O/D light start to flash really fast. I took it to aamco and they say its the torque converter clutch with error code P0741 tcc. They want me to fix this with $1700. This has happen to many people. The O/D off light comes on every time I drive my SUV past 40 mph and it doesnt come back off until I turn the car off and than it goes back again after 40 mph.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tyrone, PA, USA