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 IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IN 3 YEARS. TWO FORD TECH'S TELLS ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN THE V8. BETWEEN THE TWO TECHN. THEY HAVE OVER 40 YRS EXPERIENCE. THEE LAST TRANSMISSION WHEN PROBLEMS STARTED I DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF MILEAGE BUT THE YEAR WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED. EACH TIME THE WARRANTY HAD JUST, EACH TIME THE YEAR HAD EXPIRED BUT LOW MILEAGE. LOOKS LIKE I WILL BE FOOTING THE BILL AGAIN.
The transmission went out on my 2002 Explorer that has 75,000 miles on it. Am so disappointed in Ford after reading all of these complaints. I didn't know that this was a problem with the Explorer. I bought it new, have not had any other problems with it..even bragged about it being such a good vehicle until now. One person on here said that when he/she called Ford about it, they said they haven't had enough complaints to warrant a recall. Would it do any good if ALL of us report this problem? Spending $3500 was certainly not in my budget and it's going to be very hard to get it paid off as high as interest is right now. I feel Ford should do something about this but am betting they don't. Do they not care? Apparently they don't. .
- linall9,
Irving, TX, US
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As with many of the other owners this problem needs to be address by Ford immediately. I have 126k on this vehicle. It has never towed a single thing and at the most has had heavy loads 4 times (yard waste) and other times just packed down with Christmas goods. Typically a daily use vehicle but never abused. The 2002 Ford Explorer is for the most part an Auto Recall nightmare. They've had numerous recalls, most simple, some a bit more detailed, but these transmission issues are starting to pile up for the many owners out there and they wont go away.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
We bought this vehicle off of a lease, and boom, the transmission goes out after less than a year of ownership.
- Todd S., Edmond, OK, US