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.
8.5
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,320
Average Mileage:
109,100 miles
Total Complaints:
386 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
ford needs to recall their faulty transmission (123 reports)
not sure (120 reports)
complete rebuild (78 reports)
new tranmission (46 reports)
new solenoid, pistol in tranny broken (11 reports)
Fix Your Transmission Problem For $200 - Andy Wanie, founder and owner of AJ1E Superior Solutions has a patent pending for fixing Explorer and Mountaineer transmissions. You do not need a complete rebuild on a trany with less than 100K miles. This guy has used true AMERICAN ingenuity to solve the problem that FORD will not fix. I suggest you support him and not your local Ford Dealer or Transmission shop.
When the O/D light came on and blinked like crazy and I was unable to go beyond 30 mph because the transmission wouldn't shift, I had a systems check done.
The error codes came back as PO745 and PO171 and Pressure Control Solenoid (A). After researching these codes, this is an overwhelming problem in these vehicles.
With so many complaints, Ford really needs to recall the transmission or at least offer a HUGE discount to repair.
The transmission started slipping between 4th and overdrive on long trips. The OD light started flashing, but I was able to turn the OD off and drive with no issues. The only problem was that turning off the OD reduced my MPG.
ford should indeed recall all vehicles that give sooo many consumers sooo much grief....my honest opinion is they should paint all their vehicles lemon yellow as most stuff they make turns out to be just that!!!!...the reason ford didn't need a government bailout is because they make billions off defective parts sold to the poor unsuspecting consumer!!!....SHAME ON YOU FORD!!
2002 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer edition, one owner, so I know that the car has been well-maintained according to factory recommendations. The OD Off light is flashing. The car revs before shifting from 1st to 2nd gear (I think those are the gears, could be 2nd to 3rd). The message center reads "Check Transmission." I see that this is not an uncommon problem. I do not have an extended warranty. Has anyone had Ford step in and assist with the cost of repairs? Are the repairs worth the cost? What is the likelihood of a repeat of the problem, once repaired?
bought the explorer with 78222 miles ran great for the first month , then noticed the o/d light started blinking. took it back to ford under the 3 month warranty, and they didn't find any thing wrong with the tranny, but found other little stuff wrong. the 7th month at 79500 mile the tranny started slipping with the o/d light blinking. cost with tax 2900 to fix.
- Raymond S.,
Pittsburgh, PA, US
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Not much different than the other complaints posted. 2002 Ford explorer, 97,000 miles od light started flashing, would not shift immediately, engine light came on, got out my manual,took it to the garage and was told to take to a transmission shop. A few weeks later,$2300, a rebuilt transmission.
I went online to see if what I had been told, that they do at least 3 a week, was true. After finding out it was, I looked for the best place to file my complaint. And here I am.
I also feel that this is a definite recall issue. Ford should MAN- UP and take care of it's loyal customers or they may not be so loyal in the future!!!
I have a 2002 ford explorer with the slipping trany, blinking o/d light, check engine light, problem code P0745 problem. Which is the pressure control switch solenoid. so I replaced the solenoid pack inside the trany, and I still have the same problem? So what do I do now?
2002 Ford Explorer Limited with the 4.6L V8. Recently paid it off after buying it used 6 years ago. Was just planning on trading it in or selling it to get something bigger for my growing family. 122,000 miles and blinking OD off light, and check transmission message. Now i find out its worthless and it's not worth fixing. I guess my family wont be going anywhere for a while, until I can afford something new. I wont be looking at any Fords.
I bought my 2002 Ford explorer on July 16, 2011. On April 14, 2012 my wife was driving the car, while driving she had called and told me that something was wrong and that the car would not go over 20 MPH. She also said that the car would rev up to 4-6 RPMS but would still stay under 20 MPH. I am highly upset with this issue. It is a VERY big safety issue, if my wife was driving and her car would have died on the freeway with everyone going at least 60 MPH she could have gotten killed. On April 16, 2012 I drove the car down to the nearest Ford dealership which was 10 minutes away, which really took us at least a half hour to get to. When I was there they told me they could not diagnose my vehicle unless I paid them $80.00 +tax. I then called the dealership, Mike Scarff Subaru of Auburn, where I purchased the car. They gave me a loaner to drive while they diagnosed the issue and it ended up being so severe that it took them until April 20, 2012. When I got a call back from them they told me that it was something internal in the transmission and that they needed the rental car back by April 22, 2012. The dealership let me keep my Explorer on their lot until the following Wednesday, April 25, 2012 I than had to tow the Explorer to our Grandparents house. After getting the car back to the house I started doing my research on Explorers that are the same year as mine and found that out of 1,273 complaints and out of those complaints 377 of them were transmission failure and 335 of them were the O/D light blinking. Which both are problems that I am having with my Explorer. While looking further into this issue I also found out that 1 out of 10 Ford Explorers will have a transmission failure. This should be a issue that should have a recall on it. This is rediculous and I will be taking this issue further than just writing this compliant...
All the same problems w/this Explorer - cracked back panel, 4 wheel drive not working, clicking noise coming from back (seems to have something to do w/rear heat a/c control), and now tranny crapping out. My CHEVY Blazer had twice the mileage and never a problem w/ tranny or anything else - CHEVY Suburban almost 300K, no problems. Dealer quotes me $4100 for reman install to OEM specs?! OEM specs are obviously a complete and utter failure.
same as the rest, flashing od light, tranny slipping, wont shift from 2-3. had to nurse home. Codes P0715. 720, 775. been acting up the whole time i owned for 2.5 years.
I had my brother-in-law call me about a month ago telling me that his transmission went out and all the signs he saw when it happened. He said he looked online and saw tons of posts about transmissions on 2002 Explorers going out and he told me to watch out for the same thing. Low and behold I am driving today (3-20-12) and my o/d light starts blinking. In town I had a rough time shifting gears from 1 to 2. Ford really needs to recall these transmissions because there is a fatal flaw here.
I had recently bought this car, It had 157000 miles on it. I drove the explorer home, everything worked fine. The next day I was driving to work and after about 5 miles the o/d off light started flashing and the check transmission message appeared. It still shifts fine and works ok, but after reading some comments I believe I made a bad purchase. I really wish I would have read up a bit more before buying. Now I see why the previous owner traded it in. Hope some one comes up with a solution in the near future.
Driving the vehicle, 1st thing I notice was the OD light flickering. Paying greater attention to the way the car was running I did notice that the car did shift a little hard
from 1st to 2nd. This vehcile also has a problem with the differential which the mechanic also said was a problem with Ford Explorer's also.
I've owned this Explorer for 4 years now and I've had transmission/rear axle noise problems the entire time I've owned the vehicle. When I bought it, it had 98, 000 miles. It took me to 101,000 miles before I found out the problem! Ford should have recalled the vehicle in 2003-2004!
Another vicitm of the 2002 Ford explorer transmission problem. The transmission started slipping around 75,000 miles. It would have trouble shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear and the o/d light would blink. took it in and sure enough needed a complete transmission rebuild. The shop even offered a better rebuild for a couple of hundred dollars more. So at $2200 I thought I wouldn't have this problem. Guess I was mistaken. I am now at about 147,000 and the transmission hesitates when I stop at a light sometimes. If I get up above 60 mph and incline at all, the o/d light starts flashing. I turn it off and the o/d light doesn't come back on until I repeat the last thing. Ford Motor Company needs to recall all 2002 ford explorers and replace the transmission with a reliable one, or they need to rebuild and figure out how to stop this problem from happening again.
Overall I like the Explorer. We are a loyal Ford family. Have purchased 9 new fords over the years. Not to mention a couple of used ones, like this Explorer. When the o/d light started blinking, I investigated it over the web......I am not liking what I am hearing from so many people.
I too think Ford should step up to the plate and recall this transmission.
this particular problem witht this ford explorer its not uncommon, I have talk to people they had this same problems with their transmission, ford has to take responsibility and repair our vehicles, I will never again buy another ford ......
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
When the O/D light came on and blinked like crazy and I was unable to go beyond 30 mph because the transmission wouldn't shift, I had a systems check done.
The error codes came back as PO745 and PO171 and Pressure Control Solenoid (A). After researching these codes, this is an overwhelming problem in these vehicles.
With so many complaints, Ford really needs to recall the transmission or at least offer a HUGE discount to repair.
- Amanda W., Pendleton, IN, US