1,584 of the 4,097 complaints about the 2002 Ford Explorer are about the transmission — 39% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,000 miles.
1,584
Complaints
26
Crashes
3
Fires
11
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
Overdrive light flashes after driving a little bit hard shifting doesn't shift into overdrive 4x4 lights indicate that it's working when the buttons are pushed but doesn't go into 4x4
NHTSA complaint #11469181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED HARD SHIFTING WITH A CLUNKING NOISE PRESENT COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR RATIO WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER JACOB GEORGE FORD LOCATED AT 125 SPRING ST, HOUTZDALE, PA 16651 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11397933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE ISSUES THAT I'M HAVING IS THE EXHILARATION (PICKING UP SPEED) ON A PUBLIC STREET AS WELL AS IN THE EXPRESSWAY IT HESITATES TO DO SO. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND I GO TO SWITCH GEARS IT DOES NOT WANT TO SWITCH. THE GAUGE INDICATOR COMES ON AND THE GAS IDLE BE STUCK ON EMPTY WHEN IT HAS A FULL TANK OF GAS. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE RADIO VOLUME GOES UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN. AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO START FOR ME ONE DAY THE VERY NEXT DAY IT STARTED RIGHT ON UP (LIKE IT WANT TO START BUT DIDN'T CATCH). ALL OF THIS STARTED HAPPENING AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER 2020
NHTSA complaint #11376670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION INDEPENDENTLY SWITCHED TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASING AND IGNITION COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED AND THE TRANSFER CASING WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11300058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE CAR GETS STUCK IN PARK AND WILL NOT INTO REVERSE, NEUTRAL OR DRIVE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN BUT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT INFREQUENT PERIODS SINCE 2007. IT'S A NUISANCE WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN BUT AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, DEPRESSING THE BRAKE AND REPEATEDLY ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT; SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING AND REPEATING THE PROCESS; USUALLY DOES SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE LAST INCIDENT WAS MORE THAN 4 YEARS AGO. NOW SINCE SATURDAY, 9/28/19; CAN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I NEVER REPORTED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS RESOLVED AND I FORGOT TO REPORT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS IN A RUSH TO GET TO MY DESTINATION. MY CAR IS IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION. ORIGINAL OWNER. 93964MI. ALWAYS SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #11265269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 232,160.
NHTSA complaint #11128153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE SHIFT LEVER LITERALLY SNAPPED OFF AT THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE PUTTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE. CAR COULDN'T BE SHIFTED INTO PARK, STILL RUNNING. KEYS COULDN'T EVEN BE REMOVED TO TURN THE CAR OFF. VERY DANGEROUS. SEEMS LIKE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 2002 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS. MANY COMPLAINTS FILED HERE: HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/GEAR_SHIFT_LEVER_FELL_OFF-2.SHTML
NHTSA complaint #11046319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY
NHTSA complaint #11020649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSIONS GOING OUT IT STARTED ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH A VIBRATION IN TRANSMISSION AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A AWHILE IN THE HIGHER GEARS THE OD LIGHT CAME ON AN FLASHED FOR AWHILE CAN U HELP ME
NHTSA complaint #11016519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE REAR STABILIZER LINKS JUST BROKE OUT OF NOWHERE NOT EVEN TO LATEST LATER THE FRONT STABILIZER LINKS JUST BROKE OUT OF NOWHERE AND I HAVE NO STEERING A WHOLE LOT OF LOOSE CONTROL
NHTSA complaint #11003536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT WITH ONLY 88000 MILES ON ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #11001333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
UPON BEGINNING TO DRIVE HOME FROM WORK THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. THERE IS NO LONGER A THIRD GEAR IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IN ORDER TO GET HOME I HAD TO MANUALLY SHIFT WITH GEAR SHIFTER AND ATTEMPT TO SKIP OVER THIRD GEAR. WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. VEHICLE HAS 174000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10991870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AS WELL AS DRIVE, WHICH WAS WHEN THE INTERMITTENT STALL FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10991130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE BEFORE 100000 MILES WHILE ON FREEWAY
NHTSA complaint #10926766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IN 2008 WITH 107,262, SECOND TIME JUNE 2012 WITH 136671 MILES AND THE 3RD TIME IN SEPTEMBER 2015 WITH 184,086 MILES ON IT. I WOULD SAY THAT ANYTIME YOU HAVE TO REPLACE YOUR TRANSMISSION THAT MANY TIMES THERE IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION OF THE EXPLORER.
NHTSA complaint #10923956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE GEAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BAND DID NOT CONNECT. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE) AND 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000.
NHTSA complaint #10917336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING ND STEERING WHEEL FELL APART BRAKE SWITCH STOPPED WORKING 3 TIMES HAD NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN HAD TO HAVE 3 DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRE PUT ON BACK WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE SITTING AT RED LIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10917406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION, JERKED, STALLED AND HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY/ HIGHWAY. ADDITIONALLY, THE O/D (OVERDRIVE) LIGHT CAME ON AND CONTINUALLY FLASHED PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION STARTING TO NOISILY GRIND WITH A BURNING SMELL. I'VE HAD 5 PROFESSIONAL DIAGNOSIS ALL STATING IT'S A DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL IS NEEDED ON THE TRANSMISSIONS, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND ISSUE FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10907332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER IS ON ITS 3RD TRANSMISSION. IT HAS 78K MILES ON IT. HELP
NHTSA complaint #10897680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
AT FIRST WHEN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T GO INTO ANY GEAR. WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. WHEN GOT VEHICLE BACK STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM TOOK IT TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST PUT ON COMPUTER FIXED THE INITIAL PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WE HAD PUT IN HAD MUCH MORE PROBLEMS. OVERDRIVE STARTED BLINKING THEN LOST 2ND AND 5TH GEAR
NHTSA complaint #10896115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FRACTURED AND SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
NHTSA complaint #10888218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION DON'T WORK, GEAR SLIP AFTER 10 MINUTES DRIVE THEN STOP WORKING WON'T GO BACK OR FOWARD
NHTSA complaint #10874952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
02 EXPLORER STOP SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, AFTER 2ND GEAR WHEN IT'S TIME TO SHIFT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT GOES IN NEUTRAL, WHEN I LET OFF IT FINALLY SHIFTS (HARD) IT'S VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC I'M AFRAID FOR MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN, THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR ALOT OF PEOPLE, PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS ISSUE, THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE RECALLED THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10861911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE LUNGES AT RED LIGHTS OR WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK OR TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. RPMS GO UP TO 4000 RPMS AND WONT SHIFT. OD LIGHT STAYS ON AND FLASHES WHILE DRIVING AND SHIFTS UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST RAN THROUGH A STORE FRONT ONE DAY AS I PULLED UP BECAUSE THE RPMS WERE SO HIGH. IF RPMS ARE UP SITTING AT RED LIGHT IT CRUISES BY ITSELF WHEN I LET OFF BRAKE AT 30MPH BUT WONT GO ANY FASTER WHEN I GIVE IT GAS UNTIL RPMS COME DOWN. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A YEAR NOW. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP REPLACING TRANSMISSIONS THIS IS THE SECOND ONE NOW IN 4 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10855082 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER 4.6L IS HAVING MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT ONLY 110K MILES. IT HESITATES SHIFTING GEARS AND SLIPS WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLS WHEN STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT HAS THE INFAMOUS CRACK DOWN THE BACK HATCH. BOTH ARE PROBLEMS THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT YET FORD DOES NOTHING. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS A VERY EXPENSIVE COST TO REPAIR AND IT SHOULDN'T BE THE CUSTOMERS RESPONSIBILITY WHEN FORD KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10853758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SHIFTED. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE FOUR WHEEL GEARS SHIFTED AGAIN. THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE GEAR BUTTONM BUT IT DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE MANAGED TO PLACE ITSELF BACK INTO DRIVE GEAR. THE WARNING LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,819.
NHTSA complaint #10853500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
AS I WAS OUT DRIVING ONE DAY, I PULLED OFF FROM A GREEN LIGHT AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE "SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT" AND THE "O/D LIGHT" BOTH TURNED ON AT THE SAME TIME. AT THE SAME TIME I NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHIFT VERY POORLY COMING OUT OF 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. IT IS NOW TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS A REALLY LOUD "CLUNK" EVERY TIME THE TRUCK SHIFTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER GEARS AND WHEN PUTTING THE TRUCK IN REVERSE. I PULLED OVER TO ENSURE THAT IT WASN'T SOMETHING I HAD DONE AND IT WASN'T! I LET THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW HOURS HOPING THAT WOULD CLEAR THE ISSUE, BUT NO LUCK! AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RESOLVE IT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE JUST UNDER A MONTH AGO AND ALREADY I'M LOOKING AT $2,000 TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. WELL AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX FORD'S MISTAKE!!! THIS IS A CLEAR DEFECT OF A FORD PRODUCT AND AFTER SPENDING MY HARD EARNED MONEY ON ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS I EXPECT MUCH BETTER FROM THEM! EVEN AFTER SPENDING $2,000 ON ANOTHER TRANSMISSION, IT IS A SURE FACT THAT IT IS ONLY INEVITABLE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN TO ANYONE WHO PURCHASES A 2003 FORD EXPLORER! IF I AND I'M SURE ANYONE ELSE WOULD'VE KNOWN THIS FACT, I'M POSITIVE; FORD WOULD HAVE NOT SOLD AS MANY MODELS. CAN WE SAY BAMBOOZLED AND TAKEN FOR MY MONEY BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY! PLEASE HELP US CUSTOMERS OUT AND DEMAND A RECALL ON THESE POORLY BUILT COMPONENTS THEY MASS PRODUCED AND STUCK INSIDE A WIDELY MARKETED AND SOLD VEHICLE. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU AND YOUR INFANT CHILD WAS DRIVING AND OUT OF NOWHERE...BOOM...ANOTHER $2,000 YOU DO NOT HAVE FOR ANOTHER POORLY BUILT FORD TRANSMISSION SMH... ## VIN FAILED ## [XXX] ## INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10853526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFT FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AT THE DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,000.
NHTSA complaint #10836768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE. REPLACED FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED BALL JOINTS REPLACED TRANSMISSION HAS NOW FAILED AND IS NOW UNDEPENDABLE. MAY FAIL WITH OUT WARNING NO ACCIDENTS, ANY OF THE ABOVE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT FORD IS AWARE OF ALL OF THE MENTIONED PROBLEMS AND REFUSES TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEMS. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS.
NHTSA complaint #10816783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT : EVERY TIME YOU MOVE THE SEAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON $683.00 REPAIR SERVICE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM FORD NO COMPENSATION FOR REPAIRS MILES 22,000. FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE LEFT AND RIGHT 60,000 MILES. REAR SPRING FAILURE 75000 MILES FRONT SPRING FAILURE 75000 MILES. FUEL TANK REGISTERS 1/4 TANK WHEN TANK IS EMPTY 45000 MILES TRANSMISSION CELLINOID FAILURE 28000 MILES AND 800000 MILES HEATER CONTROL MODULE 70000 MILES. INTAKE LEAK 80000 MILES. REAR WHEEL BEARING AND AXLE SEALS 100,000 MILES. OTHER THAN THAT GREAT CAR. IF FORD CARED ABOUT ITS CUSTOMER IT WOULD HAVE FIXED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THEY HAD SIX FLAWS FROM DAY ONE OF PRODUCTION FROM 1990 ---- WHY FORD IF YOU HAD A REAL TRANSMISSION IT WOULD MAKE UP FOR ALL THE OTHER FAILURE BUILT INTO THIS CAR. YOU MAKE GREAT REAL TRUCKS LIKE THE F150 OTHER THAN THAT YOUR ENTIRE FLEET IS JUNK.
NHTSA complaint #10811045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.