Ok, like many others on this informative site, I'm a 2nd owner of a 2002 Ford Explorer, purchased with 36,000 miles on it. Easy driving, no 4-wheelin', consistent maintenance, yadda yadda. Now, at 81k miles the O/D light starts flashing. I drove home and found this forum; you predicted exactly what the dealer would tell me (dirty fluid, metal scraps, band 5 gone), except their estimate is $4000, and I was told to take the "cheaper" option which is to replace rather than repair. He wouldn't give me any details over the phone, not even the diag code information. I'm going back tomorrow to make a scene, pick up the vehicle, and take it somewhere else. It is bad enough that the darn tranny is shot, but the attitude of the dealer is unforgiveable. $4000 is a LOT of money, and he acted like it was an oil change....take it or leave it. Well, I'm not taking it.

Transmission problems since new. Started skipping at under 12000 miles. Repaired by dealer 3 times within first 36,000 miles. Broke down just after warranty. Hassled with local dealer and Ford Motor Co, but finally got them to do some repair work. After warranty, I rebuilt twice, and replaced once with a used transmission. Used transmission skipping after 90 day warranty. Car sitting in drive way, until I decide what to do. Would not ever buy another ford, would not rccommend another ford, and still get up upset when I see the explorer everyday. Eventually, I'll get rid of it and move on.

i purchased my 2002 Ford Explorer January 2005. At the time of purchase this vehicle had approx 34,00 miles on it. Around 69,000 - 70,000 miles i was driving on the highway when the car kicked out of the o/d gear and the o/d light began flashing.. i took the car to Aamco where i was quoted $2500- $3600 to repair this depending on the severity of the damage. I called Ford customer relations, and i was basicly told piss off, the vehicles warranty has expired and ther was nothing that can be done on their end. I told them I never liked Ford anyway, and this is why. F.O.R.D stands for "Fix Or Repair Daily" these f*ckin transmissions need to be recalled, and for needs the sh*t kicked out of them for this. Aamco had 3 of these things on the rack, and the ford dealer that repaired the thing had 2 on the rack, this sh*t costed me $1880 that i really didnt have at the time. i was told that these things come in all the time with the same problem. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE

recall to replace deficient part(s) in 2002 explorers!

there was no indication of any problem -i was driving to work and the overdrive light came on, and the car stopped and would go no further. when i realized the problem involved the transmission, i felt like driving it into a tree... i have called Ford but nobody wants to discuss the 'problem'. i didnt buy the extended warranty because i am a firm believer that companies should stand behind their products and there shouldnt be a need to sell me one. big mistake. my 1996 explorer has 200,000 miles on it and was no problem. Somebody at Ford needs to take the blame and offer repair options for this.

I bought this car 6 months ago and it's already giving me problems... If I would've known Ford was a piece of sh*t I wouldn't have bought it... I bought this Explorer for $10,000 and I need to replace the transmission????? What the f*ck is this??? The dealership told me one of the bands in the transmission broke and I need to overhaul the transmission which is going to cost me $2,500. I told them to stick it up their ass and tell Ford Corp. to start making cars that will actually last. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN.... NOT RELIABLE AT ALL!!!!

First off it gives me trouble shifting from park to reverse and from drive to park, rolls after it is in park, won't change from 4th to 5th gear and makes this horrible thumping noise as if you have a flat tire. When the warranty was still valid I complained about the shifting and changing of gears that it felt like the truck was dragging and was told it was fine. Well needless to say the warranty goes and now I'm having all these problems. From what I have found researching this problem it appears Ford knew all about this crappy transmission they put in these Explorers and now we have to pay for their ignorance.

I purchased my 2002 Ford Explorer Limited from a Ford Dealership as a used vehicle in 2003 with with two years left on the warranty. Vehicle drove well till 2007 when I started to notice slight slips in the shifting of gears. Problem only became worse as I could hear a grinding noise, although I didn't realize it was the transmission at first. Within two months, the O/D light started to blink and the check transmission problem message came on. I have the car in Italy and you probably have no idea how hard it is to find someone to work on an American car in Italy, especially an automatic transmission. I finally found an Italian dealership that imports American cars (I don't know why they would do that, but some Europeans buy them I guess) who would work on it. It turns out, once they took it apart, that something came loose inside and essentially tore the transmission apart. I have bits of metal everywhere. Parts are being shipped from the States and I'll be a few thousand Euro out of pocket and without a car for over a month when it is all said and done. Will probably sell it once I get it fixed with all of the other complaints I've read about with their Explorers experiencing multiple transmission problems. I'm surprised I haven't read about anyone filing a Class Action Lawsuit against Ford for this problem. Of course many people drive European cars here in Italy. I use to laugh at their reoccurring costs for services as they are expensive as compared to my Ford, but many of them put over 100,000 miles on their Mercedes, BMWs, Volvos, and Audis. Now they are laughing at me because I had to buy another used car just to get by with while my Explorer is being fixed for a month. Oh yes, the dealership I have my Explorer at told me that they have seen this problem before with other Ford transmissions. That's really sad!

I am joining the club of never buying a FORD again! I had heard the horror stories of the trannys on the explorer and now I have experienced it. At 90 k the O/D light of death started flashing. I took it into the local Ford dealer. Got the need to replace the tranny for 4 grand. When asked if they had many problems with the 02 trannys of course they replied "Not really". Bull crap!! I shopped around the price and found a local mechanic that was 1/2 price with same warranty. He said he has seen a ton of 02 explorers with tranny problems. Surprisingly though he said Jeep Cherokees were worse. I can't believe something would be worse.

So his diagnosis was that the solenoid failed completely. So no fluid was being pumped in the tranny and it burned up basically. He said it looked pretty bad that it was tore up in there. The sad thing is I have maintained this car perfectly even getting the tranny flushed at 30, 60 and was just about to again. What a piece of JUNK!! I love the car otherwise as far as the look, drive etc but if its not reliable whats the point.

As he was in there I told him to check the differential. Oh of course that is messed up too. He said my ring and pinion was missing teeth and he wasn't sure which was worse the tranny or the rear end. So he is estimating another grand there in cost to fix all of it.

Ford please wake up and fix your crap!! Why would I buy anything from you again? I don't even have 100 k on a perfectly maintained vehicle. This is ridiculous. I hadn't had any problems with this car until this huge problem. I will definitley be buying foreign next time. Screw American cars, until they can produce something that is reliable I don't have money to waste on them. Toyota here I come!

2002 Ford Explorer with 75,400 miles and transmission shot. (400 miles after ESP expired. Car was in shop under ESP for transmission problem at 74,300 . ALL highway miles on this vehicle! From my research, this is a known problem with this transmission. ITS A BAD DESIGN . When I bought my Ford , I did not include in the cost an almost guaranteed transmission replacement.

Ford dealership talked in circles to get around fact that transmission failed in warranty just 1100 miles ago. That failure was covered... This new failure is not covered. Called Ford Customer service. Very polite but of no help whatsoever... Just blowing smoke in your face... nicey nicey... but no solutions or help ! ( it may be worth a call to get their 15% discount that they often dole out to keep you from completely freaking out )

This should be recalled. If its not, I will never , ever, ever buy Ford again . Have owned Fords for 30 years ... THE END ...

Overdrive light flashed and RPMs jumped through the roof. Had to give it gas and let off to make it shift, looking for my stick and clutch, any way went to the dealer, took two days to get on machine to tell me it was a broken band he thinks in the transmission. Now the fun begins, the scenarios of how much to rebuild vs a rebuilt. Same cost either way and they don't know what is wrong. $3500.00 Tell him I will pick it up, now they bend over backwards and got it down to $2900 for a rebuilt. Still going to pick it up, now they are looking for a junkyard for a transmission, to get price down. I see why they are bending over backwards now, they didn't tell me the price on the bad wheel bearing this is a sick joke. 2nd Ford with problems, 98 contour was check engine light every 15,000 miles, misconception that the explorer was the way to go, you would think that by now these bugs would be worked out.

This is the second transmission for this vehicle. The first one was replaced under warranty at 22,550 miles in Sept of 2004. The next transmission is being replaced as we speak, now at 63,417 miles. Warranty does not cover this transmission this time around. I am very upset because I'm throwing $4100.00 at this car again. After contacting Ford Motor Company (which I'm waiting to hear back from) and doing much research, I have found out that the 2002 Explorers have had a ton of problems and Ford is aware of this problem but is choosing to do nothing about it. This will be the last Ford I ever buy. After my Explorer comes out of the shop next week, I will be looking to trade it in.

After 80 thousand miles my explorer started failing on me. First the truck wouldn't go more than 30 miles and when it did i would make a loud whistling sound, than the o/d light would turn on, and last my reverse did not work at all, and all this happened within days. Took truck to my mechanic, told me i needed new transmission. Cost me $2000 including labor. I spoke to a friend that also owns a Ford Explored 2003 and in the same week she was told she needed new transmission after 1,000 miles over warranty, and she told me a few other people she knew had the same problem, so i called ford asking them if there was a recall on ford transmissions they told me "no, but we do have a recall for your hinges" well hinges are the least of my problems right now. I have sworn never to buy another ford in my lifetime, and i sure will never recommend ford to anyone looking to purchase a new vehicle. I've definitely learned my leason with that company, but I assured myself first and last time...

Purchased 2002 Ford Explorer XLT 1 1/2 years ago. My transmission was loud when it was shifting recently. NOW it will not go into any gear. After a $80.00 towing fee, I found out the transmission needs to be rebuilt. $2200 - $2500.00 is what the shop told me. He also told me it is his biggest money maker and he calls them "Exploders" because the transmission is SO bad! Not to mention, two weeks ago the emergency brakes came apart inside the rotor and the rear hatch was making all kinds of noise as the unlocking motor was constantly running!!!