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.
Overdrive light flashes after driving a little bit hard shifting doesn't shift into overdrive 4x4 lights indicate that it's working when the buttons are pushed but doesn't go into 4x4
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission experienced hard shifting with a clunking noise present coming from the transmission. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission gear ratio was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer jacob george Ford located at 125 spring St, houtzdale, pa 16651 and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
The issues that I'm having is the exhilaration (picking up speed) on a public street as well as in the expressway it hesitates to do so. When the vehicle is parked and I go to switch gears it does not want to switch. The gauge indicator comes on and the gas idle be stuck on empty when it has a full tank of gas. While the vehicle is in motion the radio volume goes up and down on its own. And the vehicle did not want to start for me one day the very next day it started right on up (like it want to start but didn't catch). All of this started happening at the beginning of October 2020
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the transmission independently switched to 4 wheel drive and the vehicle stalled. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transfer casing and ignition coils needed to be replaced. The ignition coil was replaced and the transfer casing was repaired however the failure recurred. An unknown dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failures. No assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 80,000.
The car gets stuck in park and will not into reverse, neutral or drive. It doesn't happen often but has been happening at infrequent periods since 2007. It's a nuisance when it does happen but after multiple attempts, depressing the brake and repeatedly attempting to shift; shutting down the engine and restarting and repeating the process; usually does shift into gear. The last incident was more than 4 years ago. Now since Saturday, 9/28/19; can't shift out of park. I never reported the problem because it was always resolved and I forgot to report it to the dealership because I was always in a rush to get to my destination. My car is in good running condition. Original owner. 93964mi. Always serviced at dealership.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
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The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled forward after it was parked. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 232,160.
The shift lever literally snapped off at the steering column while putting the car into drive. Car couldn't be shifted into park, still running. Keys couldn't even be removed to turn the car off. Very dangerous. Seems like a fairly common problem among 2002 Ford Explorer owners. Many complaints filed here: Https://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Explorer/2002/accessories-interior/gear_shift_lever_fell_off-2.shtml
Transmissions going out it started all of a sudden with a vibration in transmission after driving it for a awhile in the higher gears the od light came on an flashed for awhile can U help
The rear stabilizer links just broke out of nowhere not even to latest later the front stabilizer links just broke out of nowhere and I have no steering a whole lot of loose control
Upon beginning to drive home from work the transmission failed when shifting from second to third gear. There is no longer a third gear in my automatic transmission. In order to get home I had to manually shift with gear shifter and attempt to skip over third gear. Was driving on city streets. Vehicle has 174000 miles on it.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While the vehicle was idling at a stop light, the overdrive warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled several times. In addition, the vehicle was difficult to shift into second and third gear as well as drive, which was when the intermittent stall failure occurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The vehicle was parked and unable to be driven due to the intermittent failures. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
"takata recall" I have had to have the transmission rebuilt in my 2002 Ford Explorer 3 times. The first time in 2008 with 107,262, second time June 2012 with 136671 miles and the 3rd time in September 2015 with 184,086 miles on it. I would say that anytime you have to replace your transmission that many times there is definitely a defect in the transmission of the Explorer.
Driving nd steering wheel fell apart brake switch stopped working 3 times had new transmission put in had to have 3 different sets of tire put on back window shattered while sitting at red light.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While driving at any speed, the gear would not engage when shifted. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission band did not connect. The technician recommended that the transmission be replaced or rebuilt. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 04V442000 (structure) and 09V399000 (vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
Transmission, jerked, stalled and had difficulty shifting while driving on freeway/ highway. Additionally, the O/D (overdrive) light came on and continually flashed prior to the transmission starting to noisily grind with a burning smell. I've had 5 professional diagnosis all stating it's a different transmission problem. A class action lawsuit and Ford Motor Company recall is needed on the transmissions, this is a widespread problem and issue for nearly 20 years.
At first when shifting the transmission wouldn't go into any gear. We had the transmission replaced. When got vehicle back still had same problem took it to transmission specialist put on computer fixed the initial problem. The transmission we had put in had much more problems. Overdrive started blinking then lost 2nd and 5th gear
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Calhoun City, MS, USA