CarComplaints.com Notes: 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.
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.
Any time the cruise is on under 40 mph which is sometimes helpful in slow traffic, you hit a downhill section and the engine goes dead. I do understand at higher speeds with the cruise on the computer will downshift the transmission to maintain speed but there is some flaw when the speed lower than 40mph. Which by the way the downshifting while the cruise is on is a dumb idea to me personally. Around here there are mountains, the car wants to slow down on the down hill when at the bottom there is usually another uphill that the car has to labor up. My solution is old school I don't use the cruise anymore
engine shuts down when I use the cruise between 30-40mph. Took it to back to dealer and they said they have never heard of that before and said they could not reproduce it. I printed out this forum and gave it to them and said "now you've heard of it". they are not sure how they are going to fix it. gonna follow up on this. The dealers response to me was "don't use it between those speeds".
Had cruise on at 30 mph (small hills that allow speed to increase and lots of hiding police officers) as car accelerated to go up a slight rise it completely stalled. So I'm in the inside lane with no power steering. Fortunately, it was early Saturday morning so not many cars on road. Re-started and worked fine.
If I slow down from 40 MPH to 30 MPH with the speed control the vehicle dies. I took it in to the Ford garage but they did not experience the problem. I am taking it back and this time I will drive for them. The vehicle has died in traffic and this is dangerous.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Any time the cruise is on under 40 mph which is sometimes helpful in slow traffic, you hit a downhill section and the engine goes dead. I do understand at higher speeds with the cruise on the computer will downshift the transmission to maintain speed but there is some flaw when the speed lower than 40mph. Which by the way the downshifting while the cruise is on is a dumb idea to me personally. Around here there are mountains, the car wants to slow down on the down hill when at the bottom there is usually another uphill that the car has to labor up. My solution is old school I don't use the cruise anymore
- msw210, Osceola Mills, PA, US