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.
7.8
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,140
Average Mileage:
124,850 miles
Total Complaints:
101 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (49 reports)
new or rebuilt transmission (31 reports)
replace transmission (10 reports)
push in button underneath steering wheel (2 reports)
I bought the Explorer in June 2015, drove it for 35 days and the transmission slipped. Got it replaced in 2016 and the transmission slipped again in Nov of 2017. The Explorers transmission is poorly built. NEVER BUY A FORD EXPLORER!!!
The shifter cable broke which made it hard to put in gear, so it had to be replaced right after the transmission was replaced. I HATE FORD - DO NOT BUY A FORD IF YOU DON"T HAVE TO!!!
FIRST OFF!!, I buy this 2002 Ford Explorer from some sleazy car dealer, that thinks he knows about a quality vehicle...WHICH HE DON'T!!! And I guess I was just an "all day sucker" to him, he wouldn't negotiate with me about the price of the vehicle, the down payment, or the monthly payment, and the car look pretty good and even ran pretty good the start with. But a few months later, all different kinds of problems, mechanical and electrical things with my vehicle started to show its true colors and....hmm where should I begin? The power steering wasn't working very great, had constant problems with water pump connected to the radiator, the automatic locks on the car wouldn't lock on the driver side door, the keyless entry was going haywire.. the alarm went off constantly without me even hitting the button, the electric seats on the car didn't work, the air condition compressor makes a loud noise when the air condition is on and you turn the car off, my engine will frequently overheat, four-wheel drive system work on only 3 wheels, the exhaust pipe drop down, the heater in the car doesn't work half the time..sigh, I think its safe to say my car is nothing but a hunk of junk...the junkyard probably wouldn't even take it!!! The worst part is I put so much time and effort having my vehicle maintance and put so much money into it and it was all for nothing. I've attempted to trade and sell my vehicle hoping to switch or buy a different vehicle, but nobody will take it, I don't know what to do, I need some help or some suggestions. I'm all ears.
Well this is a complaint right? Well I was wondering if anyone had this same problem: Transmission gets stuck in 2nd gear and it only switches to third while going down hill (building speed without pulling apparently). Whenever it gets close to switching, the rpm's just sky rocket up to about the 5,000 mark, and I'm forced to let off the gas entirely of course.
My 2002 Ford Explorer XLT has problems shifting gears; won't shift out of 1st gear; noisy acceleration. Additionally, the O/D (over-drive) light flashes and won't go out. I've had 5 different diagnosis for the problems. I'm willing to join any and all class actions, lawsuits and other protest and recall actions involved; seeking redress and restitution from the Ford Motor Company. Please put me in touch with others who want to do the same.
- M. A.,
Detroit, MI, US
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It started 2013 when the gear shift would get stuck,You can rock the truck back and fourth to get it into gear, please do not pull up on a hill you will be sweating trying to get it to go in reverse you might start crying and the ac will not cool you off good until you start driving. i had emergency the gear was stuck as usual after rocking the truck it went into gear but as I was driving and had to pull over, i put it back in drive the gear shift broke off in my had so I shift it by sticking y hand inside the collar if steering wheel to shift it actually works better than it did but it such a ugly site.
The truck started jerking and showing OD light. I drove it for a few days until it was too slow and almost caused an accident. I have driven other vehicles for a long time and this is the first vehicle to need a transmission.
The car is an absolute piece of junk. I still have it now (2015) and its gotten better and we never had a transmission problem since we had ours rebuilt but more problems came about after that. It's a shame because we love the car in general but we don't love pouring our money out for it!
The 2002 Ford Explorer... Dealer told us it was a great car with in a month we started having multiple problems and this was only the 1st time it happened. long story short we had to take it to a transmission specialist and get it fixed which cost us $2000
IT STARTED WITH IRREGULAR SHIFTING, NOT GOING INTO THE NEXT GEAR AND LIGHT CAME ON FOR CHECK ENGINE SOON AND OVERDRIVE,(O/D) LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED IT. DON'T KNOW YET WHAT THE COST WILL BE SOLENOID REPLACEMENT WILL BE AROUND $8OO, BUT DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS ALONE WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL WILL COST AROUND $2200. NOT HAPPY WITH FORD, SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT NON-AMERICAN CAR.
Bought Explorer from Beechmont Ford in Ohio, the truck had 135582 miles on it, at about 142500 the transmission started to flutter when it shifts, took to a mechanic at a local garage He said the transmission needs replaced, The Explorer now has 146000 miles on it the transmission is getting worse. I called the Ford Dealer they have not helped with anything,
I've read about others having trouble shifting out of Park into R or D -- that's not the problem I'm having. Mine is difficult to get into Park from R or D. When I try to put it into Park, I pull back toward me and swing the lever up, as you should, but something blocks the travel between R and P before it gets to P. I have to stop and sort of wiggle it back and forth to get it all the way into Park. I've read elsewhere about complaints alleging that these cars can shift from P to R by themselves while sitting at idle. I wonder if the problem I'm having could be related. Perhaps those others hadn't gotten all the way into P, but far enough to enable the starting circuit.
this transmission slips the 3rd gear... i dont understand why there isnt a recall i have not been able to fix as it is alot of money... i have been using it as it but its dificult to deal with as i can not afford a new car
O/D light flashes all the time. Won't shift properly and the RPMs go over 3000, until I let off the gas. Makes terrible noises like it's about to blow up.
Same problems with this truck that everyone has, bad transmission and door ajar light stays on, Also 4 wheel drive never worked, read about bad control modules changes it once and it worked (for a week).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I bought the Explorer in June 2015, drove it for 35 days and the transmission slipped. Got it replaced in 2016 and the transmission slipped again in Nov of 2017. The Explorers transmission is poorly built. NEVER BUY A FORD EXPLORER!!!
- Melissa R., Magna, UT, US