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 · Mechanical
While driving with my family on a busy expressway in chicago,my transmission began to flash warning lights,"check transmission",o/d off light started to flash and check engine light turned on.transmission also started to surge and slow down.i reached a spot where i could pull over and checked the owners manual. The manual said to see the ford dealer,in which i did.they acted as if they didn't know what the problem…
ODI 10298439
Automatic Transmission
My 2002 ford explorer has a transmission failure. The od light is blinking. And it shifts hard with gears. Also makes a knocking noise when trying to shift. When i try to go, the rpm just runs high and the truck does not move. When im driving and it needs to shift to another gear, it just rems and doesn't shift. *tr
ODI 10313369
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact was driving approximately 40 mph on normal road conditions. The "over drive" warning light illuminated. The transmission began to slip without warning with an increase in the rpm's. The transmission only shifted into the first and second gear. In addition, the transmission slipped unexpectedly into third gear. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. The…
ODI 10312046
Automatic Transmission
On a hill, put the vehicle in drive and it rolled backwards onto someone's property while the engine was in high rpm's. It shifted into drive then popped back out again! It almost ran over my wife. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10295565
Automatic Transmission
Driving down the highway at 72 mph going up a slight incline with my newborn twins and 2 year old in the back of my 2002 ford explorer. The car starts jerking and sputtering and goes completely into neutral. On the highway. Take it to my mechanic...transmission shot. Per my mechanic, this is very very common with this year and model transmission and he said i am very lucky there wasn't more traffic and i was able to…
ODI 10296327
Automatic Transmission
On nov. 28 2009, i purchased a 2002 ford explorer xlt 4.0l automatic transmission 4x4. With 80,000 miles. On dec. 10. 2009, the explorer started not going into any gear. Then you have to keep trying each gear finally after a few minutes it will go into reverse, but for the first 10 minutes of driving it jerks and clangs going to different gears. Dealer won't do anything. *tr
ODI 10297121
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford explorer. The transmission is under 100k miles and has already failed. $3,000.00 fix for something that should not be an issue. *tr
ODI 10296128
Automatic Transmission
I have a ford explorer xlt 2002, and at 160 000klm the transmission started to have a hard time getting through p-r-n-d-1-2-3, without going through a hard "clunk" after looking at universal joints, bushings, crossmembers and diff slake i realized its the transmission. After 2000 klm the od light started flashing, and it's getting worst... This truck is like a gm , when problems start they all follow through one…
ODI 10306852
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
On dec 4th 2009, my 2002 ford explorer was driving fine one minute and the next the o/d light started flashing. I turned off the ignition and restarted the vehicle. The o/d light blinking went away. The very next day again, with the light once again flashing, the vehicle refused to move forward when gas pedal was engaged; however the rpm revved up between 3 and 4. Throughout that same day, i attempted to get vehicle…
ODI 10308653
Automatic Transmission · Electronic Stability Control
2002 ford explorer o/d light flashes, the gear slips and truck lunges hard forward. This occurs everytime you accelerate into 1st two gears. Did a search and learned it is common transmission problem for these vehicles, ford is aware and does nothing to correct the issue. *tr
ODI 10321202
Automatic Transmission
I noticed around july of 2009 that my 2002 ford explorer was acting like it wasn't getting any gas. I had it hooked up to an analyzer and they told me i needed to replace my mass air flow sensor. December 28, 2009 - $135.00. So i did, it still would not shift into any gears. I was having to shift the gears myself by letting off the gas a little and then accelerating again. Turns out my transmission is going out and…
ODI 10297153
Automatic Transmission
I have a 2002 ford explorer and my transmission band broke. I have kept up maintenance with this vehicle and now i have over $4,000 worth of repair. I can't shift into 3rd gear and my o/d light is blinking. I've seen hundreds of complaints on this issue and ford need to be held responsible for their product. *tr
ODI 10294508
Automatic Transmission
My 2002 ford explorer transmission went and no recall as this has been an issue to many owners. There seems to be a very large amount of people that have had to replace there transmissions once, twice and possibly three times !!!! Ford will do nothing for you at all and they are very aware of the problems with this vehicle. *tr
ODI 10293996
Automatic Transmission
2002 explorer transmission failure falls into neutral between 2&3 rd gears. Looks like thousand have the same issue with no help from ford or outside agency. *tr
ODI 10296464
Automatic Transmission
Automatic transmission hard shuddering between 50-70 mph with o/d off light blinking. Exactly the same as the more than 2000 other complaints on this same vehicle. Took it to ford dealer who charged me $250 to tell me that they could only reproduce the problem once, but when it happened it was heavy. Despite that they said nothing was wrong because they could not reproduce the problem again. I drove it 2 more months…
ODI 10317785
Automatic Transmission
I bought a 2002 explorer 4x4 v6 automatic. After driving it for a while i have had nothing but drive train problems, to include wheel bearings going out right after they have been fixed at local ford dealer. The wheels almost fell off. Now, the transmission is gone out and i find out that it is a normal thing to have that happen. Safety, think about my 2 eight year old daughter in a busy traffic on a bridge over the…
ODI 10293323
Automatic Transmission
Taking kids to school transmission failed -pulled out into traffic from stop trans. Was in drive 1st ok 2nd ok third would not engage & engine overreved. This caused very dangerous near miss & potentially multiple car pile up- i received no warning light check engine anything was running fine with no signs of trouble just,went out. *tr
ODI 10298262
Automatic Transmission
It wouldn't shift into third gear. It happens all the time, and looking to get it fixed. *tr updated 11/25/09
ODI 10292217
Automatic Transmission · Power Train
2002 ford explorer automatic transmission problems. Various problems. When i first got it (at 45k miles), it would take about 20-30 seconds to engage into first gear after being in reverse. When it did engage, it jumped forward while doing it. That does not happen much anymore. If i have to slam on the brakes (dog, kid, deer runs out, light suddenly changes or someone cuts me off, etc...) the tranny slips out of…
ODI 10291947
Automatic Transmission
Sudden transmission failure on highway in heavy traffic. Transmission lost 2nd gear and started slipping, jerking causing us to obstruct an intersection with oncoming traffic on highway. Caused a near miss that could have resulted in a fatality. The 2002 ford explorer (v8) is parked in the driveway. I have scheduled a transmission replacement with a local shop. Ford won't do anything except charge me full price to…
ODI 10292856
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer. The contact stated that the module that controls the four wheel drive failed while driving 25 mph. The contact took the vehicle to a ford dealer to have the four wheel drive module replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the modules were on back order and would not be available for 30 days. The contact is concerned about the safety risk during inclement weather and…
ODI 10299863
Automatic Transmission
Will hesitate when put into drive or will not move at all. Will make a big clunk and hesitate when put into reverse and may not move after gas pedal applied. Od light flashes constantly and service light remains on 95% of time. Transmission will tug hard while trying to accelerate gas pedal. While driving on highway transmission will constantly slip and gas pedal needs to be released and reapplied multiple times to…
ODI 10291211
Automatic Transmission
Transmission shifting failure on a 2002 ford explorer. *tr
ODI 10303691
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford explorer transmission problem. The vehicle has a problem with the transmission in that it will not move into 2nd/3rd gear. The car drove ok the previous day, then on my way to work -- it gave a lurch and after that would not power past 30-35mph. Ford service shop has quoted almost $4k to open up the transmission and fix a valve in the valve body.. 2nd opinion from aamco -- mechanic stated that he has fixed…
ODI 10291437
Automatic Transmission
2002 ford explorer. Shortly after i bought my explorer after about 40,000 miles on the odometer i began to experience slipping of the transmission every time i drive it. The slipping out of gear happens at all times when i accelerate at speeds under 50 mph. What is dangerous about this is when it happens at a time that i want to get into traffic while crossing the oncoming traffic lane and the transmission won't go…
ODI 10290985