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8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,930
Average Mileage:
100,450 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. overhaul or a brand-new transmission (4 reports)
  2. replace transmission (3 reports)
  3. not sure (1 reports)
2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac transmission problems

transmission problem

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2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Owner Comments

problem #8

Aug 142014

Explorer Sport Trac V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Bought Vehicle used with 102,000 miles have only driven it for 2,000 miles. Everything functioned normal, till 8/14/14. Got in the vehicle to run some errands. Started it backed out of drive way, slipped it into drive and accelerated. The car moved forward but when it went to shift into second gear, it failed to engage. There is no blinking light, no check engine, fluid level is Ok and fluid is fresh and does not have a burnt odor. Transmission should not be doing this after only 100,000 miles. Dealer wants $3500 to "Freshen it up". Now I have worked on cars in the past and this problem sounds like a sticky valve in the valve body. My understanding is that this is a common failure in the Ford 5R55E 5 -Speed Automatic w/ overdrive. That the transmission has a valve body gasket problem. Ford sells a bonded gasket to correct the problem for $14.00, but the labor is $600 to do the job.This should be a recall item as it posses a serious problem when your in traffic and suddenly the trans won't up-shift properly.

- David P., Gurnee, IL, US

problem #7

Mar 212014

Explorer Sport Trac

  • Automatic transmission
  • 117,000 miles

I traded a Jeep wrangler for this 2002 ford sport track truck, I thought I was upgrading to a better vehicle. I paid 6300.00 for the jeep and the dealer was selling this truck for 6800.00,and we traded even up. I put 4000 miles on the truck so far driving it daily. I loved the truck no problems until now. I was on my way to work as I do five days per week when it started revving up to 4000 rpms and not going any faster. Then it kicked in and shifted, like all the others on this site the OD light was blinking. I was hoping it was a fuse or something, but I know its the transmission!! I can see where this problem is a manufacturing problem weather Ford wants to take the blame or not. Lets be clear its defect, and a serious one as well as expensive. Look despite the mileage and the care which be the way I baby this truck this should not be a problem with most vehicles lets say living longer in todays technology. Ford needs to step up to the plate and fix this problem and do it before someone gets hurt or killed...I am calling ford tomorrow to hear what they may say regarding this issue. Engineers and companies alike need to be accountable for mistakes made and rectify them accordingly. ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO..I believe in what's right and facebook and all other web sites are a great tool to stand with others to voice against a company that makes the money Ford does to discourage future business with a company like this. My wife and I own a business and bend over backwards for all our customers, happy customers will always return.

- Todd T., Jamestown, NY, US

problem #6

Jan 162012

Explorer Sport Trac XLS 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 186,000 miles

I went on vacation to Las Vegas Nevada and when i got to Denver Co. my O/B light came on and i heard a loud bang and the light for service engine light came on i babied it all the way to Vegas took it to a transmission and had it replace for 1900 dollars on my way back to Fairport NY in PA i heard the same sound as before and again all the light came on again. i babied it back home and found out my rebuilt transmission was no good so i called up the people in Vegas and told them the transmission went out they are replacing it at no cost to me but i do not understand Ford would make a transmission like this knowing it will go bad. Whats UP Ford, if this is how you do business then i will never buy a Ford again.

- Richard D. J., Fairport, NY, US

problem #5

Jul 152008

Explorer Sport Trac

  • Automatic transmission
  • 112,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We were going on vacation and stopped by my son's house on the way, I was going to back up into his drive and had no reverse, no noise, no nothing. It would go forward just fine, but no reverse at all. I left it with him and he contacted several transmission repair shops, and the Ford dealer. They said it was a common problem with these transmissions. Now, of course it's out of warranty and it is slipping really bad. After investigating online it appears the valve body needs rebuilding, which I may try to do myself.

I really like the truck but the transmission has been a pain.

- James C., Kenbridge, VA, US

problem #4

Jan 262009

Explorer Sport Trac V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,426 miles

The last few months the vehicle has been sluggish in power and shifting at the wrong times. We brought it into the Ford Dealership. We had them do a transmission flush since it was time, the vehicle had 37,000 miles. the dealership didn't know what was wrong with the transmission. They could hear and feel the problem but could not give us any answers. I picked up the vehicle after having the flush done. On the way home the overdrive light started flashing. This was new. I turned it around and brought it right back. After 2 weeks of going around with them, they finally find metal shavings inside the transmission and tell us we need a new transmission! This is a weekend car with only 37,000 miles on it. This is unacceptable! I contacted Ford directly they said they would look into if there was any program out there for us. Now again 2 week later I spoke to the Ford service manager and he said that he is unaware of any program that can help us. He said there was a program where Ford was repairing the transmissions as a good faith repair but that ended last year. Now I am stuck having to pay $4000 to replace my transmission on a practically new vehicle.

- Martine L., San Rafael, CA, US

problem #3

Jan 152009

Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 111,000 miles

i contacted ford about my transmission problem and they are refusing to help . they say that this is not a documented ongoing problem and they can't help.i suggested that they check out this web site and they said that it isn't a ford approved web site.i am going to contact my congressman and ask him to vote no on the bailout.i have no avenues to resolve this problem and i need my truck,if you need yours as bad as i do don't buy a ford .after the warranty is out you are on your own.i also just noticed that this truck was a required vehicle in the first place dumb me.

- Ron K., Bluebell, UT, US

problem #2

May 102007

(reported on)

Explorer Sport Trac V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

I bought a brand-new Ford Explorer Sport Trac in 2002. I only use it to go to a from work (a short distance from my home). Very faithful with oil changes, tune ups, etc. I only have 40,000 miles on the truck, when the transmission started sticking. Then the "overdrive" light came on - I looked in the Ford Manual, and it said to take it to a dealer immediately. I took it in to a Ford Service Department that day, and I was told that the transmission "died." In order to fix the problem, I would need to either to a complete transmission overhaul ($2,700.00), or get a new transmission ($3,200.00). I was shocked b/c it only had 40,000 miles on it! I called the main Ford office, and was told that there was nothing that they could do b/c the warranty was up, and there were no recalls. BEWARE, if you consider buying a Ford. I will never buy one again. I was also shocked when I saw the number of Ford transmission complaints on this website. If you want to buy a Ford for your child, I would advise against it, b/c you don't want your kid on the road in a Ford nowadays. I'm going with Honda or Toyota from now on.

- Jason S., Baton Rouge, LA, US

problem #1

Aug 062007

(reported on)

Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,000 miles

another one bites the dust..... looks like you can add another total transmission failure to the list.... was never right from the beginning always had a heavy hum from the tranny..... but it's my problem not Fords.... very disappointing after owning several fords at the very least this is the last of the explorer line for this guy..... As companies like for struggle to survive you have to wonder if they deserve to..... this sport trac was over $30,000 new and a tranny failure before a hundred thousand miles... is just pittyfull...... I vote with my check book.... my what pisses me off even more is that I just bought a brand new Lincoln MKS before this happened...... if I saw this coming I would have bought any one of a number of suv's fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me....... sorry Ford I am done with you!

- Dan C., Tarentum, PA, US

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