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
2002 ford explorer, stopped at traffic light on 3/25/08 and od light flashed and engine revved up. Would not go when gas pressed, finally got it to limp through the intersection. Stopped in a parking lot and put it in park to see what was wrong and it sounded like something was ripping apart underneath. Doesn't want to go into gear. This vehicle has had the struts replaced and the front headlight replaced twice due…
ODI 10222357
Automatic Transmission
I drove my 2002 ford explorer to work about 445 pm and everything seemed fine on the way there. I left work at 7 pm to go get dinner for me and the other guys working that night and i go out start it up... Shift it into reverse and the vehicle doesn't move. I then shift i it into drive and the it still doesn't move. Go to check the tranny fluid and guess what... No dipstick. This vehicle is horrible. *tr
ODI 10222228
Automatic Transmission · Cooling Unit And Lines · Differential Unit · Torque Converter
At 85k miles, under normal driving use/condition, the transmission and rear differential have failed on my 2002 explorer. There are ford tsbs that identify and acknowledge these problems as evident in many of their vehicles, yet refuse to absorb any cost of the $3200 it will take to repair them. The wheel bearings also continually fail at a cost of $500 each, and have been repaired at least 3 times at my own…
ODI 10222167
Automatic Transmission
I just had to purchase my third ford transmission for my 2002 ford explorer at a cost of $3600 to replace a transmission i also had installed by ford at a cost of $3400 38,500 miles previously. *tr
ODI 10222487
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. Two weeks after purchasing the vehicle, the contact had to take the vehicle back to have the rear end replaced for free. She asked the dealer to check the transmission and they informed her that it was fine. While driving at an unknown speed, the overdrive light flashes intermittently and the check engine light illuminates. The vehicle stalls and loses power before 30 mph,…
ODI 10237024
Automatic Transmission
My wife called me to tell the o/d light was flashing and the transmission was slipping. I think it was between 3rd and 4th gear. We took it to our mechanic and it was diagnosed that the transmission needed replaced. After looking at your web site, and other sites, this is a very common and dangerous problem. I also have an issue with the right front wheel that has a serious rubbing noise with a serious vibration and…
ODI 10222073
Automatic Transmission
Transmission failure 96,000 miles. No apparent warning. *tr
ODI 10221918
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The overdrive light flashed and remaind illuminated when the contact stopped the vehicle. The engine revved and the transmission jumped into gear. The failure occurred intermittently and while driving 25 mph. The vehicle has not yet been taken to the dealer. Midas stated that the transmission was failing. The current and failure mileages were 93,330.
ODI 10221437
Automatic Transmission
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 85K MILES. *TR
ODI 10221247
Automatic Transmission
My 2002 ford explorer had been making an electronic dinging sound that typically is to bring the drivers attention to the display screen, but no message was displayed, for about a week. Then on the morning of 3/12/08 the transmission started slipping out of third gear. We took the car to ford first and they didn't say anything, but when i took it to aamco, they told me that my car was the third this week with the…
ODI 10220969
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving approximately 45 mph, the od sensor began blinking and the transmission slipped. The contact pulled the vehicle over and read the manual, which stated to immediately have the vehicle assessed for possible repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a specialist and the…
ODI 10222363
Automatic Transmission
Transmission is/has gone out on my 2002 ford explorer xls 4x4. There are hundreds of others that have had the same issue with the transmission, solenoid b going out and requiring a transmission rebuild or a new one!! If all these people are having a problem, there needs to be a recall! Ford needs to face their mistake so that loyal ford consumers will return. I have owned 3 fords, and never again after this. Ford…
ODI 10220364
Automatic Transmission
Transmission failure wheel bearing failure (3 times). *tr
ODI 10220445
Automatic Transmission · Engine And Engine Cooling
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. While driving 25 mph, the contact heard a howling sound coming from the engine compartment. He ignored the sound and did not take the vehicle to the dealer. The following day, while driving at low speeds, the vehicle would not shift into gear properly and hesitated. The day after that none of the gears would shift and the vehicle lost all torque power. The vehicle was towed…
ODI 10220014
Automatic Transmission
I was driving under normal conditions when my 2002 ford explorers transmission began to bang and clunk into gear...apparently this is a popular problem among the explorers and really should be recalled. A new transmission and $3,000 later.... *tr
ODI 10316726
Automatic Transmission · Body
I took a trip from home in ok to canton, tx on return heard loud noise when i stopped to have the vehicle inspected i found out the front drive shaft was coming out. In march of 2008 i noticed a noise coming from the rear of the explorer. When i had it inspected i was told the rear end needed to be replaced. This cost me over $2000.00. My transmission is now slipping and after reading other complaints i fear the…
ODI 10274294
Automatic Transmission · Power Train
O/d light went on then check engine light, lost third and fifth gear. *tr
ODI 10221255
Automatic Transmission
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 88,000 MILES. *TR
ODI 10220099
Automatic Transmission · Wheel Bearing
2002 ford explorer wheel bearing failure with under 80,000 miles on the vehicle. I have replaced the front wheel bearing and now both rear wheel bearings due to failure. The first was a rear hub assembly in 06 then a front in 07 and now the driver side rear in 08. I was told by a ford dealer this is a common problem with a tsb addressing it. The dealer told me if not caught soon enough the tires could actually come…
ODI 10219788
Automatic Transmission
My 2002 ford explorer start shaking and vibrating while driving on a road. This was due to the transmission going out while traveling at about 30 mph. The truck would not shift from 2nd to third 3rd gear which made the vehicle rpms run at about 5000 then the car started to smell and began to get really hot down toward the floor board. After this the o/d light began to blink on and off constantly. I then pulled to…
ODI 10260270
Automatic Transmission
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
ODI 10221444
Automatic Transmission
Transmission making a horrible whining noise in both the front and back. From all that i have read the transmission and rear end is going to have to be overhauled. With as many complaints as there are on this vehicle ford really needs to do a recall and fix this problem before there is a serious accident. They are aware of this but choose not to do anything until the government forces them to do something. *tr
ODI 10219228
Automatic Transmission · Equipment
2002 ford explorer xls, with 86,000 miles. O/d light began blinking. 4 days later complete transmission failure. Car towed to tranny mechanic. Entire transmission needs to be replaced. *tr
ODI 10219034
Automatic Transmission
Transmission and bearing failure. Od light on tranny flashing. Took to dealer for noise and od light. They replaced bearings and associated parts to a cost of 1130.00 to fix tranny problem they want to replace tranny and torque converter for a cost of 3500. Truck was purchased new and maintained on a regular basis. I've checked ford recalls and tsb's and they are numerous referring to bearing and tranny failure. *tr
ODI 10219811
Automatic Transmission
Transmission completely failed at 86,200 miles. Repaired cost a ridiculous $3,936.18. Ford knows of the problem but refuses to issue a recall. *tr
ODI 10219003