CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002-2005 Explorer has a very well-established record of expensive transmission failure at under 100k miles. The Explorer has an enclosed transmission which is typically replaced with a rebuilt transmission at a cost of almost $3,000.
Adding insult to injury, the 2002-2005 Explorer also has a massive problem with the rear panel cracking. While it's a minor annoyance compared to transmission failure, ironically the crack usually goes right through the Ford logo.
I started the car yesterday morning and while cleaning the windshield I heard liquid coming out from under the truck. I shut the engine off and had the truck towed to a local service business and they tell me the case of the transmission on the passenger side of the trans is cracked. Trans needs a complete rebuild.
Update from Jan 18, 2015: Planetary gear in the trans broke and cracked the trans case on the passenger side.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I started the car yesterday morning and while cleaning the windshield I heard liquid coming out from under the truck. I shut the engine off and had the truck towed to a local service business and they tell me the case of the transmission on the passenger side of the trans is cracked. Trans needs a complete rebuild.
Update from Jan 18, 2015: Planetary gear in the trans broke and cracked the trans case on the passenger side.
- Jim Z., Dearborn, MI, US