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 has required 5 separate transmission repairs in last 2 years. Including 1 total rebuild at 50,000 miles. Ford dealer and ford corporate will not stand behind their product. *jb
ODI 10145978
Automatic Transmission · Tread/Belt
2002 explorer, started to notice a bit of a lag from 2nd to 3rd gear, then a big lag and lurch, followed by o/d light flashing followed by check engine light. Had solenoid pack replaced for $320 lasted five weeks and failed again, with o/d flashing and car lurching and grabbing hard between 2nd and 3rd shift on an automatic transmission. Also noticed after first repair , hard to shift from drive to park, would hang…
ODI 10143601
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford explorer, 5r55w transmission. 84k on vehicle, transmission no-shift/late shift between 1st and 2nd. Od light on intermittently, occasionally no power, transmission slips between 1-2 and 2-3. *nm
ODI 10138255
Automatic Transmission
I own a 2002 ford explorer that is now having its transmission replaced for the second time. The first time i was at 77000 mile, just outside the extended 75000 mile warranty that i purchased, when the car began shifting with a hard jerk or slip when it was trying to change for second to third gear. After further driving the o/d light began to flicker on and off and the service engine light came on. I took it to the…
ODI 10138030
Automatic Transmission
1.) no indication of impending failure 2.) transmission is completely gone. 3.) $4000 later a new transmission is being installed. *nm
ODI 10137838
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford explorer. The transmission completely had to be rebuilt at 85,000. The shop we took the car to said he sees a lot of 2002 ford explorers because it was a new model and ford did not build the transmission correctly. The mechanic said ford did not recall the transmission's but they should as it seemed to him to be a systemic problem, and not from abuse (in our case anyway). *nm
ODI 10155451
Automatic Transmission
Transmission 3rd gear slipping causing transmission to have to be completely re built. There is a service bulletin #03254 . How come ford has not done any thing? Because this is a well known fact . Ford should hay to pay for its mistake or help the consumer in some way. They new in 12/13/24 there is failure in this transmission # 5r55w . I checked on this at www.car review.com and there was many complaints thanks. Jb
ODI 10137484
Automatic Transmission · Suspension
I brought this suv last year at bill heard chevrolet dealership. Even though this was a new vehicle. When i went to the dealership they told me that i could pay this car in three years but in reality it was five years. I signed all the paperwork i had to but they didn't give me any papers when i left. However when i went to apply to buy another car they didn't accept my application because they told me that i was…
ODI 10150365
Automatic Transmission
Hard shifting of transmission. Especially going into 3rd gear. Sounds & feels like the transmission is going to break down at any time. In turn, leaving me & my children stranded on the side of the road. *nm
ODI 10135128
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2002 ford explorer that i have taken back to the dealership around 4 times regarding the transmission. Each time they tell me they fixed it and a few weeks or months later it is having problems again. It shifts rough and sometimes feels like it is slipping. *tr
ODI 10236565
Automatic Transmission
Dt: the consumer stated that the 2002 ford explorer xlt was having problems with the transmission. The consumer said that the vehicle would not accelerate, and then would accelerate quickly up to o 80 mph. The truck would decelerate and accelerate randomly. The transmission knocked when going into gear. The owner had requested that the transmission be checked prior to the warranty expiring on two different…
ODI 10138342
Automatic Transmission · Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that she had issues shifting gears and when she would turn corners, the vehicle would shift out of gear. Other times, she had issues shifting into drive and moving forward. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that there were no related recalls. The transmission was replaced in 2008 at a repair shop. However, the…
Crash reported
ODI 10362266
Automatic Transmission
Loud niose coming from the rear end of my 2002 ford explorer 4x4 that has not been fixed after repeated complaints or taken seriously by the service department at the ford dealership in simi valley, california.
ODI 10133580
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2002 ford explorer. For the past 2 months the overdrive light has come on periodically and blinks until the vehicle is turned off. I took it to lindsay ford in wheaton, md and they charged me $180 for a diagnostic test to determine the problem. They called to tell me i needed a new transmission. My vehicle is 4 years old and only has 63,000 miles on it. I think it's ridiculous that i have to spend almost…
ODI 10133343
Automatic Transmission
Dt: contact stated 2002, ford explorer has been having shifting problems. He noticed the problem occurring at 26,000 miles . It was shifting very hard. He will be driving when the car will not shift into second or third gears, it will slip into neutral, the car will slow down in traffic and cause a safety hazard. He had the transmission re programmed. It helped it twice; but then it started doing the same thing. The…
ODI 10133170
Automatic Transmission
Transmission case wearing to the point where it has to be replaced for approximately $3000. *jb
ODI 10132438
Air Conditioner · Automatic Transmission
While driving down the road the air conditioner quit working. I heard the coolant and compressor still working, but no fan blower on levels 1,2 and 3 level 4 still worked luckily. I also have a howling sound coming from the rear end under light acceleration and hard shifting when accelerating and letting off of the gas during a shift. The air conditioner was caused by a faulty resistor, the rest has yet to be…
ODI 10132685
Automatic Transmission
I have received only one recall notice on my 2002 ford explorer relating to problems with the tailgate window. Tonight, after experiencing problems that caused the automatic transmission to jump to a higher rate of a markedly higher rate of revolution, i was informed by the dealership that i had transmission problems. These problems cost over $815 to repair. The dealership also had to replace a solenoid switch on…
ODI 10132016
Automatic Transmission
I own a 2002 ford explorer 4x4 and while driving the vehicle the o/d light begin to flash and at a stop light the vehicle would not engaged to drive. Finally after turning of the vehicle and re starting it and proceeded to go. Took it into the dealership where they informed me that they would have to drop the pan and if there was metal in it i would need a whole new transmission. They called me a few hours later to…
ODI 10136443
Automatic Transmission
I own a 2002 ford explorer 4x4 and while driving the vehicle the o/d light begin to flash and at a stop light the vehicle would not engaged to drive. Finally after turning of the vehicle and re starting it and proceeded to go. Took it into the dealership where they informed me that they would have to drop the pan and if there was metal in it i would need a whole new transmission. They called me a few hours later to…
ODI 10136442
Automatic Transmission · Differential Unit · Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
2002 ford explorer xlt transmission problems. Shifting from park to reverse causes a loud clunking noise and the vehicle jerks forward. There is also a problem with the transmission shifting when driving the vehicle. *tr
ODI 10134055
Automatic Transmission
Dt: the contact was driving the owner's car and pulled over to park. He switched the car into drive just to pull up a few feet and the car leaped forward. He hit the brake as hard as he could but could not stop the car, and hit the bumper of the car in front. This happened on 8-5-05. The owner of the car nor the contact had any prior problems with the car. The contact stated he had no further problems since…
Crash reported
ODI 10133164
Automatic Transmission
My wife was unloading two grandsons from our 2002 ford explorer. She had removed the youngest one when the four year old got into the driver's seat on his knees and pretended to drive. The iginition was off and transmission in park. He pulled on the shift lever, the automobile began to roll backwards. My wife opened the drivers door to stop the vehicle. It began to roll backwards faster and the open door struck her…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10133089
Automatic Transmission
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle's automatic transmission was slipping and slipped between gears. The vehicle had transmission problems since the contact acquired the vehicle, at 53000 miles. The vehicle was not taken to a service dealer. Updated 9/15/2006 - *nm
ODI 10165664
Automatic Transmission
Transmission went bad when only 3 years old, ford told me that it's a known problem. *jb
ODI 10160777