2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Transmission Problems

I NEVER HAVE ANY WARNING BEFORE MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 2ND GEAR INTO 3RD GEAR, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS MY OD DASH LIGHT BEGINS FLASHING; THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE FIRST MONTH I THAT I HAVE OWNED (APRIL 2007, WITH 77,000 MILES). I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WILL NOT TOUCH IT UNLESS I PAID $195. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THAT DONE UNLESS THE COST GOES TOWARDS A REPAIR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE HAPPENING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10415299

Incident

Apr 30, 2007

Mileage

78,000 mi

O/D LIGHT FLASHING. NOW I HAVE TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. READ ALL THE COMP. AND LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I TOTALLY AGREE THAT FORD SHOULD RECALL THE EXPLORERS. IT HAS CAUSE A LOT OF TROUBLE AND MONEY TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. PLEASE HELP. IF TRANSM. LOCKS IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *CN

NHTSA ID

10322737

Incident

Jan 24, 2010

MULTIPLE DEFECTS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DRIVE TRAIN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STOP OPERATING CAUSING A HUGE SAFETY RISK TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND FORD REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10307740

Incident

Feb 7, 2010

Mileage

103,000 mi

O/D LIGHT FLASHING ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294243

Incident

Dec 2, 2009

Mileage

113,000 mi

VEHICLE HANGS UP IN PARK ALMOST EVERY TIME IT IS USED; VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IT INTO A DRIVE OR REVERSE GEAR; GENERALLY MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN N TO GET MOVING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293285

Incident

Nov 23, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE LAST FEW MONTHS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SLUGGISH IN POWER AND SHIFTING AT THE WRONG TIMES. WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. WE HAD THEM DO A TRANSMISSION FLUSH SINCE IT WAS TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD 37,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THEY COULD HEAR AND FEEL THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT GIVE US ANY ANSWERS. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AFTER HAVING THE FLUSH DONE. ON THE WAY HOME THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. THIS WAS NEW. I TURNED IT AROUND AND BROUGHT IT RIGHT BACK. AFTER 2 WEEKS OF GOING AROUND WITH THEM, THEY FINALLY FIND METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND TELL US WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION! THIS IS A WEEKEND CAR WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IF THERE WAS ANY PROGRAM OUT THERE FOR US. NOW AGAIN 2 WEEK LATER I SPOKE TO THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER AND HE SAID THAT HE IS UNAWARE OF ANY PROGRAM THAT CAN HELP US. HE SAID THERE WAS A PROGRAM WHERE FORD WAS REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSIONS AS A GOOD FAITH REPAIR BUT THAT ENDED LAST YEAR. NOW I AM STUCK HAVING TO PAY $4000 TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION ON A PRACTICALLY NEW VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261304

Incident

Jan 26, 2009

Mileage

37,426 mi

WHILE PULLING ONTO A BUSY HWY. IN EASTERN UTAH MY TRANSMISSION WITHOUT WARNING JUST STARTED SLIPPING AND I HAD TO QUICKLY MANUALLY DOWN SHIFT THE AUTOMATIC AND HOPE THAT IT WOULD GO TO AVOID GETTING BROAD SIDED BY A SEMI THAT WAS BEARING DOWN ON ME. WHEN I GOT TO A PLACE THAT WAS SAFE I STOPPED AND FOUND THAT 1ST AND REVERSE GEARS WERE GONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255162

Incident

Jan 14, 2009

Mileage

116,972 mi

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC TRANSMISSION AND AM BEING TOLD THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF 3200.00 OF WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD RIGHT NOW AS I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME, THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT ADDRESS.... PLEASE MAKE FORD FIX THIS PROBLEM I NEED MY CAR TO GET TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252884

Incident

Dec 1, 2008

Mileage

69,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED TO A LOWER GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE CONTROL SLIGHTLY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

NHTSA ID

10243316

Incident

Aug 15, 2007

Mileage

148,000 mi

MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND PARKING BRAKE 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC 39800 SLAVE AND MASTER CYLINDERS REPLACED AT 700.00 IN JANUARY 2008. FIRST INCIDENCE OCCURRED DECEMBER 24, 2007. I WAS ACTUALLY PULLING INTO GRANDMA'S DRIVE ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND TRIED TO BACK UP INTO A SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN PLACE BLOCKING EVERYONE IN. IT DID FINALLY WORK. THEN AT A SHOPPING CENTER IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WHEN STOPPING FOR PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS AND THEN GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN SHIFTING IT JUST STOPPED BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD WOULDN'T MOVE INTO ANY GEAR. IT WAS STUCK BETWEEN GEARS AND WOULD NOT MOVE. I WAS BLOCKING AN INTERSECTION WHEN I NOW HAD A RED LIGHT. EVENTUALLY, I DID GET IT MOVING TO MY HOME, BUT HAD IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC SINCE IT JUST WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL ONCE RESTARTED. I WONDER IF THE ABS FAILURE IN AUGUST 2007 CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. THE MALFUNCTION OF THE ABS WOULD CAUSE STRESS ON THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE ABS COMING ON RANDOMLY AT ANY SPEED. PLEASE SEE MY BRAKE FAILURE COMPLAINT AND ALSO DEFECTIVE CALIPER COMPLAINT(CALIPER OCCURRED AT ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES). THE PARKING BRAKE RELEASE IS STILL A PROBLEM. YOU MUST PUT YOUR FOOT UNDER THE FOOT PEDAL OF THE PARKING BRAKE TO GET IT TO RELEASE COMPLETELY. THE LIGHT MAY GO OFF BUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS STILL ENGAGED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242649

Incident

Dec 24, 2007

Mileage

39,800 mi

BOUGHT MY 02 SPORT TRAC IN 04. IT HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK REPAIRED BY ORIGINAL OWNER AT (20,000 MILES) IN 03. IN 05, AT 55,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING IN ORIGINAL LOCATION PLUS ANOTHER. REPAIRED BY FORD AND I WAS ALLOWED A PO5 PAYMENT PROGRAM. AFTER 15,000 MILES FROM THIS REPAIR, TRANSMISSION FLUID AGAIN LEAKING. TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED, ALONG WITH REPAIR TO SEALS. FORD DISTRICT MANAGER REFUSED TELEPHONE CONTACT TO DISCUSS. FORD REFUSED ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY, INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. TRANSMISSION ON THIS TRAC NOW HAS BEEN PULLED THREE TIMES AFTER FOUR FLUID LEAKS. I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON LAST REPAIR. LOCAL FORD DEALER, UPSET WITH MY AGITATION, INFORMED ME THAT AT NOW 70,000 MILES, I SHOULD EXPECT THE NEED FOR REPAIRS! HA! *TR

NHTSA ID

10240308

Incident

Jun 3, 2008

TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ACT ON ACCELERATION INTO TRAFFIC, THERE IS A DELAY IN SPEED PICK UP WHICH CAN CAUSE A NEAR REAR END COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES. NOT SURE IF IT IS THE ON BOARD COMPUTER OR A FAILURE OF THE LOW PRESSURE SEALS AS DISCUSSED WITH CAR DEALERSHIP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162127

Incident

Jun 4, 2006

Mileage

72,000 mi

CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE BLEW OUT THE ENTIRE CLUTCH, TRANSMISSION AND DEPLOYED THE AIRBAGS. THE TRUCK HAS LESS THEN 25,000 MILES AND AT THE TIME WAS LESS THEN 2 YEARS OLD. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS NORMALLY HAPPENS IN RACE CARS AND THAT I WAS LUCKY IT DID NOT BLOW UP THRU THE FLOOR BOARD CAUSING INJURY. I WAS INFORMED BY THE FORD SERVICE CENTER IN ANCHORAGE THAT DUE TO THE BLUING OF THE METAL (WHICH INDICATES OVERHEATING) THAT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I AM STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET THEM TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF $4000.00 TO 5000.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I WAS INFORMED BY FORD THAT I NEEDED TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE CARRIER AFTER THEY ORIGINALLY SAID THAT SINCE IT WAS THE CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED BY MY ESP WARRANTY PLAN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110365

Incident

Dec 25, 2004

Mileage

24,500 mi

2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC WITH JUST 51,000 MILES HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH BREAKS, REAR-END SEALS AND FINALLY NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY MILEAGE, WE HAD TO REPLACE IT OURSELVES. IN TALKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS, BOTH AT DEALERSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT, THEY MADE COMMENTS IN REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT THEY WERE SEEING THIS FREQUENTLY. WE EMAILED THE FORD CORPORATION AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT RESPONDED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093913

Incident

Aug 13, 2004

Mileage

50,555 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2002 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC IN MARCH LAST YEAR(2003). I HAD TO WAIT AND EXTRA WEEK TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT THEY SWORE TO ME WAS TAKEN CARE OF. IN JANUARY 2004 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I CALLED MY CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD TAKE 2 WEEKS FOR ME TO GET AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE MY TRUCK CHECKED. THREE DAYS LATER MY TRANSMISSION BLEW. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY TRUCK FIXED. THREE WEEKS AND $2600.00 LATER I GOT MY TRUCK BACK. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT WORK. I CALLED AAMCO(THE PLACE FORD REFERRED ME TOO), AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION BUT NOW AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE FIXED BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THAT FIXED AS WELL. MY TRUCK HAD 39,000 MILES AND WAS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AND FORD IS STATING THAT THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX ANYTHING FOR FREE. I HAVE SEEN ALL KINDS OF REPORTS OF ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL TRUCK AND I DO NOT AGREE WITH THIS.

NHTSA ID

10066087

Incident

Jan 7, 2004

Mileage

39,000 mi

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORTTRAC. I BOUGHT IT WITH 1600 MILES ON IT ALREADY IN MARCH 2002. ON 9/6/03, I HAD IT TOWED IN FOR A CONTINUOUS REVING BETWEEN 1&2 AND BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE TRUCK HAD ALREADY BEEN STALLING DURING THE PREVIOUS MONTHS WHENEVER I WANTED TO SPEED UP. FORD HAD MY TRUCK FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 WEEKS, REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION FROM THE FACTORY. THE SERVICE MAN TOLD ME THEY HAD TO SEND FOR YET ANOTHER TRANSMISSION - THAT EVEN FORD WAS STUMPED WITH THE PROBLEM SO JUST SENT THEM ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I GOT MY TRUCK BACK AND IT WORKED FINE. THEN, THE STALLING STARTED HAPPENING PERIODICALLY AGAIN AND AGAIN. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN - THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I COMPLAIN ABOUT IT EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICING. I ALSO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CONSTANT FRONT PASSENGER WIND NOISE; THEY INITIALLY SAID THERE WERE LEAKS AND EVEN THOUGH I STILL COMPLAIN, THEY NOW SAY THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM. I ASKED ABOUT THE LEMON LAW AND THE SALESMAN WHO SOLD ME THE TRUCK (I BOUGHT IT IN ANOTHER CITY) TOLD ME THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM HAS TO HAPPEN 5 TIMES. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION. WHAT CAN I DO? I HAVE NOW READ OTHER INSTANCES IN THIS WEB SITE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. MY TRUCK NOW HAS ALMOST 32,856 MILES ON IT. I RESPONDED '0' TO 'NUMBER OF FAILURES' - I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS MEANT BY THIS QUESTION. YES, MY TRANSMISSION FAILED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10048817

Incident

Sep 6, 2003

Mileage

28,665 mi

BOUGHT FROM DEALER, USED WITH 15000 MILES. AFTER 300 MILES HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT (TRANNY WARNING LIGHT AND VIBRATION UNDER ACCELERATION, UPSHIFT 1ST TO 2ND OR 2ND TO 3RD). ONLY HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY. THREE WEEKS AFTER REBUILD NOTICED VIBRATION AT SLOW SPEEDS, BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE ON DEMAND. DEALER COULD NOT REPEAT VIBRATION AND RETURNED IT WITH NO ACTION. ONE WEEK LATER TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON 2 DIFFERENT DAYS. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR EVALUATION TODAY. I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

10033190

Incident

Aug 20, 2003

Mileage

19,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 SPORT TRAC, AT ABOUT 46000 MILES MI TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MISS SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, IT TOOK ABOUT 3 TO 4 SECONDS FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO GET INTO THE NEXT GEAR, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I USUALLY HAVE THE TRUCK SERVICED THINKING THAT IT JUST NEEDED A FLUID CHECK DUE TO THE FACT THEY PERFORMED A TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE AT ABOUT 30000. WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER I WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A PROBLEM ON THE FLUID LINES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT TO BE REBUILT, SO I ASKED WHY WAS THIS HAPPENING AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GASKETS BEEN WORN OUT INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. BUT THEY COULDN'T SPECIFY IF THIS WAS A FACTORY PROBLEM OR A OWNER ABUSE PROBLEM, SO WHEN I ASKED IF THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER (FORD) ON THIS TYPE OF TRUCKS THE ANSWER WAS NO. THEN I WAS ADVISED THAT MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY WHICH IS 3 YEARS OR 36000 MILES AND IF I WANTED TO HAVE THE JOB DONE IT HAD TO BE SELF FINANCED, SO I ASKED FOR AN ESTIMATE WHICH WAS ABOUT 18 HOURS LABOR @ $100 P/H AND $500 IN PARTS TOTALING $2300 AND FINALLY AFTER CALLING FORD AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS $30000 TRUCK HAVING A FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND GETTING A "YOUR TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM" I FINALLY PAID THE REPAIRS OUT OF MY POCKET WHICH I PERSONALLY THINK SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A ALMOST BRAND NEW TRUCK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10018893

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

Mileage

18 mi

VEHICLE STALLS MOSTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. VEHICLE HAS STALLED AT LEAST 20 TIMES, TAKEN TO DEALER 8 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY, FORD WAS BUYING VEHICLE BACK.*AK

NHTSA ID

899393

Incident

Oct 10, 2001