I'm not even gonna list the things other than the transmission... but the transmission is just a lemon,,,, biggest pile sh*t I have EVER came across... these transmissions drop like flies semi-annually... I work on more ford explorer transmissions (and ford transmissions in general) than ANY other vehicle. Ford has had bad automatic transmissions for 15 years or more, you'd think they'd be smart enough to finally make a good one.... Or are we as consumers just dumb for buying a ford in the first place?? If someone is going to buy a ford explorer and has stumbled across this site, I beg you you PLEASE re-think your purchase. All manufactures have their bugs and glitches but ford is just a complete joke... The ONLY vehicle i would EVER buy from ford is a Crown Victoria Police interceptor... Thats the only car that seems to hold up (maybe because they were smart enough to make police cars non-lemons?)

This is my second Ford car, I previously owned a 97 ford explorer sport, I had no problems with that car, so I thought I would stick with Ford, but get a newer model. I bought a 2002 Ford explorer, in November of 2005, by June of 06, with about 43000 miles, I had to get a new transmission. Here we are Jan 07 and my transmission has be replaced AGAIN. I am so glad I got the extended warranty because I don't know what I would do because it costs the dealership $4300 to fix my car the first time. Like all the other complaintants, I am DONE with Ford. I am going to sell this car and by a foreign car.

I bought this Explorer from a private party with about 50k miles on it. It worked great until it started having some electrical problems........ the "door ajar" light kept turning on and after a search on the internet I tried spraying WD-40 on the latch mechanisms and it only worked intermittently. Then, the drivers side panel started acting up...... the keypad to unlock the car stopped working and the unlock button in the door stopped working when turned off and the drivers side outside mirror light stopped working and it takes about 10 minutes after the car is turned off for the interior lights to turn off where before it only took about a minute. Then, about two weeks ago is when the OD light started flashing and the car had a heck of a time shifting into third gear. Later that day, the "check engine" light turned on so I took it to a trusted local repair shop. By that time I had researched this problem on the internet and knew this was going to cost me a chunk of change. I'd hoped it was a simple problem like some had, where the solenoid packs just needed replaced, but the third band in the transmission was mostly gone with chunks at the bottom like most others described. The mechanic gave me three options: we can rebuild it ourselves and we'll only charge you $1500 (plus $104 diagnostics); we can put in an already rebuilt one for $2100, or give you a brand new one for $2600 w/3 year 36,000 mile warranty. I chose the cheapest option and plan on trading this POS in as soon as it's fixed for a reliable vehicle.

I must say, I've been a Ford fan my whole life and have never had any major problems......... my 2000 Mustang GT Convertible was awesome, no problems at all........ my 1997 Escort has been a tank; it's been in 3 or 4 wrecks and still runs like a champ (it's my 'gas mileage' hoopty that gets abused on a daily basis). It only takes a problem like this to turn people off the brand for good. I'm still probably going to buy a Ford truck for my next purchase (an F250) but you can be dang sure I'll be doing a ton of research next time before I buy. As for SUV's, this was my wife's car that she uses to haul my two little girls around in and this has been a MAJOR inconvenience for us. The second it gets back, we're trading it in for a similar sized Honda Pilot, Toyota Sequoia, or [gasp] maybe even a GMC Envoy.

Bottom line, Ford needs to stand by their product....... this was one of their "prized vehicles", a best-seller....... they need to pull their heads out of their arses and issue a recall for these transmissions. My mechanic said these 2002 explorers have been in his shop for the same problems more than any other car he's worked on. He said he wouldn't take this car if someone gifted it to him.

A week and a half ago I was coming home from work and the car would rev very high, and not want to shift into the next gear. Then after a "Clunk", it would chuck and then go to a higher speed. Shortly after that the OD light came on and blinked on and off rapidly. Then the Service Engine light came on. I went to our mechanic (does not work for Ford and is trustworthy), and he said the transmission needs to be replaced. He said it was in bad shape.

So, a few days later, took a vacation day from work and went to the Ford dealership with my husband. I have read what is happening, and am aware that Ford is experiencing all kinds of problems with this truck and the transmissions. The dealership is in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I wanted to trade the truck on a car, as I really feel statistically even if I fix it, the problems are far from over. They would only offer $8,900 Canadian towards another vehicle. In 2002 when I purchased the truck brand new it was listed at $43,000. In the local auto traders they are selling (that year and with all of the options that I have) for $13,900. While dealing with the salesman, someone from the shop took it for a ride and confirmed that it really was the transmission, so they actually changed the numbers so that they would give us less then $8,900 for the vehicle. I was already upset that we were getting so little for it. When I declined the now $6,900 offer, they offered to fix it for me. They would not take any responsibility for the transmission cost, and kept telling us that the value was poor because the transmission was done. Needless to say I declined their offer to fix it, and drove if off of the lot again.

So I drove it home - blinking lights, chucking in all the low speeds for the half hour trip and dropped it off at our local mechanic. I do not care if it costs a lot more to fix using my own mechanic (although common sense would tell you that anywhere is cheaper to have a vehicle fixed than Kanata Ford, because their mechanics are overworked trying to fix all of their sh*tty vehicle) then what the ford dealership would charge to fix it - I will never ever ever ever ever purchase another Ford, and will never ever ever give them another red cent of my money. What a piece of garbage. I still have two years to go to pay it off. I had purchased an expensive vehicle thinking that it would last a long time as I work full time and have three children. A hard lesson learned.

The best advise I can ever give to anyone is NEVER BUY A FORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a 2002 Eddie Bauer; I had two new tires an 4-wheel alignment done yesterday. About 1 mile from where I had the work done the transmission made an awful jerk. As I approached a stop light the transmission started an awful whining noise as it tried to down shift. It shifts up through the gears fine, but when I slow down it starts a whining noise and a clunking.

This explorer is on its 3rd rear-end, all new drive shafts, new rear wheel bearings, I could go on and on. I bought it with 37,000 and it know has a little over 49k.

This is by far a lemon... I will never own another FORD in my life. I too will go foreign! I'm in the military stationed at FT. Knox, KY. It's no wonder the plant in Louisville is cutting back. Employees at Ford better start looking for work. One thing is for certain; FORD is at it's low as it should be if they keep making junk. Like an enclosed transmission(5r55w) Please!!!

You can call and complain at Ford with no results. O yea you will, a TSB. Still responsible to fix your own junk though.

I would have never bought this truck ( without researching), but I was in Iraq and my wife found it on Trader. What is a man gonna a do when he has been a way from home for 14 months and his wife wants a pretty Eddie Bauer Explorer. That's about all it is, pretty!!!!

Recall your junky transmission Ford; and repay the victims of your product failure

Bought this Explorer at 30K miles and added the Ford Extended Service Plan (ESP) with coverage up to 100K miles (great decision). Took great care of the vehicle with regular oil changes, transmission flush, etc. at recommended intervals. Once or twice a year pulled a light weight trailer of canoes up north. ESP Warranty ran out and it looked like I was doing OK with this vehicle (compared to other complaints below). At 108K bought four new tires w/alignment and transmission flush at the local Ford Dealership. The OverDrive light started to flicker every once in awhile, but the dealer repair shop said it was OK. Month later the OD light started in once again, yet would go away (reset) when you turned off the car and restart. Amazing mailer from the local Ford Dealership (worked on the car for last 2-3 years) came at this same time... $100 off a transmission replacement or gas engine replacement! Vehicle got worse and would not shift into overdrive on the highway, and some jerking between 2nd and 3rd gear. Took it into the Dealership and got the dreaded news... diagnostic test showed a transmission was not responding, problems with 2nd gear and 5th (OD). Quote for a transmission teardown & rebuild = $2200 with only the parts replaced covered by warranty. Complete replacement $3200-3400. Went with complete replacement which includes 3 yrs/36K miles.

I am a mother with three children. I still have two years left to pay this vehicle off. My husband and I both work full time. I purchased it beacuse I want dependability. It is very important due to our busy lives. When driving home from work, whenever I hit 40 - 50 km per hour speed, it would rev. and seem to switch into neutral. For a few seconds it would seem to coast. It would continue to rev very high and then the vehicle would eventually "jolt" and then jump into gear. Shortly after that the OD light came on and flashed on and off very quickly. I went to our local mechanic, who is a very good friend of my husband and I. I was stunned when he told me that my transmission was done, and it was not safe to drive at all. He estimates the cost at $2500 Canadian.

It is still sitting in our driveway. I cannot afford this plus the monthly payments that I currently have. As well I am hearing that even after fixing, many other owners are still experiencing problems. I wish I never purchased it. We will be contacting Ford immediately to see what type of assitance they will provide to us. Wish me luck.

I have meticulously maintained my Explorer. I have had transmission fluid changed at 30,000 & 60,000 miles. It started clunking & shifting slowly at about 35,000 miles but was intermittent so mechanics did not take it seriously. It did not totally fail until my expensive 75,000 mile warranty expired. So now I have paid for the warranty & rebuilding of the transmission. Now I know why Fords are called "Found On the Road Dead". I have always owned American made vehicles--mostly Fords. My next vehicle will be a Toyota! Can't wait to unload this one!

But I feel a little guilty dumping it on someone else!!! What an expensive & hassle vehicle.

Transmission was rebuilt by dealer at 34,767 and 47,000. Still had problems so had it back at 53,000 for reprogram of ECU. Failed again at 57,231 after three inspections could not pin point the problem. At 53,000 the dealership also replaced the drive shaft, the horn assy. the headlights with water in them, the blower motor and the whistle from the ventilation system when the ac was on. Bonus, they even replaced the rusty running boards. After complaining about a discovered glue covered and tie wrapped O2 sensor electrical connection and add'l transmission problems the dealer sent a certified letter ending their "business relationship" with us. How convenient! Upon towing the vehicle to the next closest dealership at 57,231 the service manager wanted to charge us $760.00 to tear down the trans. again and if covered ??? then would make a determination if the 12/12 Ford Service Warranty would apply. He also said that our aftermarket warranty would cover what their warranty would not. We choose not to trust them and would not approve the tear down charge. Now what? 23,000 miles and three complete rebuilds and transmission converters. OMGoodness. Off to court to prove the dealership broke the electrical connector to the O2 sensor $1,450.00.

Like most of these poor-quality vehicles, our transmission went out while we were on a trip. It barely made it home. The dealership that we purchased this SUV, (Stayton Ford) could have cared less. They defended Ford saying that; "we were the only customers that had this problem" (yeah right!) They gave us a "discount" although it was still a pretty steep price to replace the ENTIRE TRANNY. Stupid us, we didn't buy the extended warranty because we thought it would run well since it was new and we take good care of our vehicles. My suggestion: DON'T EVER BUY A FORD, AND IF YOU DO, GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I believe that Ford is dishonest and I will never buy an American made car again. Mercedes, Toyota and Honda for me only! Ford should be ashamed of themselves!

Also: go to this website to lodge your complaint so Ford is forced to step up to the plate! http://www.safercar.gov

I am single and really depend on my car to travel to business, sometimes up to 125 miles one way and late at night. It is important to me that my car is dependable. I had no notice other than a slight drag in automatic shifting from 1st to second gear at a traffic light stop. Within less than one mile the OD light started flashing and the car was stuck between gears never adjusting. I had to try to pull over in fast traffic, floating, on a dark road. It is the week before Christmas and now this is the second time I have had transmission problems. I had it in in June when I had trouble with the gear shift on the column and they said it was the transmission. Now this. I don't know about the rest of you but my last car ran over 150k miles before I started having any problems with it. I can't believe I paid over 30k for this car with these problems. I won't buy a Ford again! I thought this was the car I would grow old with... now I know it is just aging me fast!

Yep, no third gear. A transmission should not fail after 74,000 miles, not in this day and age. I have had Ford Vehicles for over 30 years now, Ford Explorers for over 15 years. I had all the recommended maintenance done, yet the transmission failed. I am reading in the newspaper Fords solution to their financial crises. Shut down plants. What a short term view. Management at Ford does not get it," Make a reliable car and sales will come", more over "They will continue to come". Are you in it for the dollars in your pocket today or the long haul. Transmissions have been around too long for you to be having this issue in this day and age. Take your head out of the sand, all you are doing is suffocating to death

The problem still is not resolved. Ford got involved personally thru their customer care center, yeah right!, then failed to follow through (no return phone calls from the solutions specialist and then he lied by saying that all repairs were satisfactory after speaking with me, HE NEVER SPOKE WITH ME AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP HE SAID HE DID as phone records and a recording of the actual message he left me.

The transmission and converter were rebuilt at 34,000 and again at 47,000 that's right just after the ford service warranty expired. Good thing I didn't buy this piece without an extended warranty included in the purchase price of 31K. To boot the dealership also broke the electrical connector to the O2 sensor and then covered it with JB Weld and tied wrapped it. It also looks like the thing was glued to the sheet metal but did not stay so they tie wrapped it.

They also removed the T flush gasket from my coolant line and sold me a used tire. They replaced it with a new one when I told them that the warranty company paid for the replacement and I paid the deductible for a new one. The reason, I found out later that they had installed a used one was due to the AWD system. Seems that you cannot replace tires in twos or the 4x4 engages due to circumference differences. I had to then buy two more tires at my expense. the old ones had 8/32 left on them. Upon inspection of the new tire I found it to be not balanced and my spare was upside down. Had to return again. And the shift lever was locking up between P & R the day I picked it up. Another return visit. Another dealership that used to service it left the moon roof open while it rained. DUMB F___'S.

The dealer also has repaired the connection to the trans cooling line due to fluid loss on the x way after the second rebuild. This is the current transmission and it lost fluid and has been making noises from the faulty repair. And the last transmission complaint was supposed to be solved with a computer reprogram. That did not solve any of the problems. One guy told me to check into some solenoid shift pack that ford sells? Why didn't they do that.

Ford is now saying that there is no warranty on the vehicle with 56,000 miles. I keep telling them I have a copy of their warranty for service of 12/12,000 and that is still under their warranty. I dont want to take it to any Ford place period. I am trying to find a place that can diagnose the vibration on acceleration and the clunking in R & D from within the trans. It also shrills loudly at the end of an expressway acceleration.

I contacted the after market warranty co. so that they know the problems. I dont want to be forced to take it to a ford dealership again. They urge me to get the transmission inspected while it is still under the service warranty thru ford. They may not cover it if a pre existing condition is present. I have notified the NHTSA, BBB, State of MI and three attorneys. No lemon law here due to the mileage and age.

One last thing, If you have a ford explorer, check the wire harness above the oil filter shroud to be sure it has not been rubbing against the oil drain shroud. Mine had three bare wires showing from the contact with the shroud. A FIRE HAZARD EXISTS DUE TO THE HARNESS BEING COVERED WITH OIL AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. They (dealer) replaced one rear wheel bearing, the differential (nice try, it was the diff. making the noise back there) the horn assembly (horn cut out), front head lights due to water, the blower motor, and the drive shaft. HELLO FORD FIX THE F'ING TRANSMISSION.