2002 Ford Explorer Automatic Transmission Problems
- 886
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 886 stored complaint records:
- 16 indicate a crash
- 7 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
What owners report
- Torque Converter · 2 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 328 |
| 100–150k mi | 203 |
| 30–60k mi | 158 |
| 1–30k mi | 58 |
| 150–400k mi | 28 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Automatic Transmission · Unknown Or Other
Noticed a grinding and whining noise coming from right side of my 2002 ford xlt explorer. Also thought that i needed a new exhaust the car was making such loud noise. Went to 2 different garages for pricing, i needed both front and rear bearings replaced actually the front bearing was about to fall off both garages stated. Also the loud noise from my exhaust it was missing one bolt to the cover, covering the exhaust…
ODI 10227667
Automatic Transmission
1. My family was driving on a state highway and the car's o/d off light started flashing. No other warning lights were going off. It was a matter of miles before the car stopped going. It's extremely dangerous for a car to suddenly slow down on a fast moving highway. 2. After the light flashed, the car stopped going into gear. We were going down the highway with other cars when our car suddenly slowed down because…
ODI 10227486
Automatic Transmission
Same as all the others. O/d light started flashing, started shifting hard, then lost all gears except first. Transmission needs replaced! Called ford they don't care. *tr
ODI 10226784
Automatic Transmission
Check engine soon light went off , then o/d light kept blinking, failed to go into gear and locked up while driving home. Took it to shop and mech said it was a bad transmission and is now rebuilding it for 1,900 usd. *tr
ODI 10226538
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford explorer no prior warning o/d lights starts to flash then service engine light soon came on now transmission will not shift into third unless i let off the accelerator only 66,000 miles and 1 day out of warranty i have seen numerous complaints on web sites about this problem ford refuses to acknowledge this problem but many mechanics across the country are aware of it ford says it is not a safety issue not…
ODI 10225972
Automatic Transmission
Transmission won't go into gear sometimes when pulling away from a stop. It also slips occasionally when accelerating. *tr
ODI 10225421
Automatic Transmission
Transmission making noise when shifting into 3rd gear. Od light blinks and check transmission message comes on. *tr
ODI 10225247
Automatic Transmission · Axle Assembly
Rear differential and also the transmission. Please do a recall on this before someone dies. You make tons of money off your loyal costumers, now do something for them and fix an obvious problem that mechanics, dealerships and owners of 2002 ford explorers know about. Thank you *tr
ODI 10225148
Automatic Transmission
The transmission in my 2002 ford explorer has failed. The o/d light started blinking. Took it to aamco and they said i need to replace the transmission. They said they have dealt with many 2002 ford explorers with the same problem. *tr updated 05/19/08 *bf
ODI 10225751
Automatic Transmission · Front
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving approximately 50 mph on normal road conditions, the contact heard a loud noise outside of the vehicle. The vehicle vibrated excessively. The check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel and remained lit until the engine was turned off. The driver pulled over to the side of the road and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for…
ODI 10258360
Automatic Transmission
O/d light blinking; service engine light on. I brought the car in and it was hooked up to the computer. Basically was told i needed a transmission. The car only has 67,000 miles on it. I did some research online and it seems that this is more common than i thought. There is even a tsb (03-25-4). *tr
ODI 10224584
Automatic Transmission
The service engine light would occasionally turn on along with the check transmission light at approx. 95,000 miles on my 2002 ford explorer. The shiftiing of the gears would not shift properly causing a usually high idle at certain gears. Also the o/d light would also constantly blink along with the check engine light. Currently my explorer is in a repair shop and needs to have the transmission rebuilt. The total…
ODI 10224647
Automatic Transmission
Parked in the driveway ahead of my wife's car. Started the ford explorer and put it in reverse, nothing happened, it did not engage. Then all of a sudden it engaged and leaped backwards into my wife's car. Since this it has happened several more times. I hope that a person isn't standing behind me when it happens. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10244567
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2002 ford explorer, i love this car and has been perfect except for 1 major thing the piece of '!@#$% transmission, what a joke have had 2 replaced at 48,000 miles and 115,000 miles,there needs to a be a recall on these junk transmissions this is a big problem for these cars. I have other fords and they are awesome this 2002 explorer is a complete lemon. Its a hazard when your going 68 mph down a highway…
ODI 10274565
Automatic Transmission
NO APPARENT REASON. *TR
ODI 10223510
Automatic Transmission
I bought my explorer used with 67000 miles on it i had it checked out by a mechanic before i bought it but he didn't do a very thorough job. After about 3 weeks i had a hard time putting into reverse but then slammed into gear and i did not happen again for awhile this lasted on and off for a year and half when one day it wouldn't go into reverse at all and no other gears either i had it repaired and they said it…
ODI 10248296
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford explorer with 73k started with o/d light blinking and the check transmission message. Took to dealer and had to have transmission replaced. Truck has been driven by my wife to cart my daughter around, never abused, never towed anything. *tr
ODI 10223654
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford explorer, transmission failed at 69,000 miles. I am the original owner and will never buy another ford. *tr
ODI 10224718
Automatic Transmission · Equipment
Transmission would rev before shifting into 3rd gear, had it replaced at a ford dealership with ford parts, 17 months later same thing and ford will not back it up, a transmission should last longer than 17 months, this has cost me a total of $4,000.00 dollars, and due to this defect the cars book value is $4,500.00 because it is a known fact that the factory parts and the replacement parts are no good. 12 month,…
ODI 10224200
Automatic Transmission
O/d light started to blink and car is revving and does not shift into 3rd gear. *tr
ODI 10225841
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford explorer transmisson slipping gears, hard to shift, and not accelerating in april 2008 at 100k miles. Replaced with a rebuilt transmission and same thing is happening again after only 40k more miles and only 2 months out of warranty for the rebuilt transmission. This is clearly a defective transmission and somebody is going to get seriously hurt. *tt
ODI 10412017
Automatic Transmission
Transmission error codes, overdrive light flickers service engine soon light is on. *tr
ODI 10223295
Automatic Transmission
Overdrive light started blinking and car engine revved when giving gas while driving. Brought to ford dealer 3300. Dollars later a new transmission. Transmission failure when driving is a safety issue. If you knew your transmission could cut out on you while driving say on the highway would you do it?would you put your family in it? *tr
ODI 10223820
Automatic Transmission
Over the past month my 2002 ford explorer limited has begun to knock very hard when put into reverse and it also shifts badly once rolling forward, knocking and jerking. *tr
ODI 10225996
Automatic Transmission
My transmission has failed due to the torque converter failing catastrophically, sending bits of brass and metal shavings everywhere inside and destroying the assembly. The symptoms of this failure were as follows: shifting hard between 1st and 2nd gear, and the o/d light flashing very rapidly after 10 to [redacted] time. Upon an extremely simple investigation (google search), i find that this is a suspiciously…
ODI 10222883