Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
2002 FORD EXPLORER. O/D LIGHT BLINKING. SLOW GEAR SHIFTING. RANDOM JERKING OF CAR. HAVE READ THIS ON MANY WEBSITES AND EVEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD A REBUILD OR SOLENOID REPLACED, JUST HAPPENS AGAIN. IS ALSO DANGEROUS, BECAUSE ONCE CHANGES GEARS, MPH JUMPS VERY HIGH, VERY QUICKLY WITH NO CONTROL OVER IT. *TR
DRIVING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT, WHEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTS TO FLASH AND THE CAR BECOMES JERKY, THEN LOCKS INTO GEAR SO I BRAKE PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF FOR A BIT , TURN IT BACK ON AND THE O/D FLASHES AND I MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME BUT ONLY GOING SLOW AS CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY CHILD. I LET THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW DAYS AND HAD MY HUSBAND DRIVE IT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT GOT STUCK IN GEAR ON HIM TWICE. WE'VE CONTACTED A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL IT HAS BEEN VERY COMMON FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THEY RECOMMENDED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND EITHER PUT THE CAR UP FOR SALE OR REPAIR IT AS IN THEIR EXPERIENCE THEY TRANSMISSION WILL PROBABLY GO AGAIN IN A YEAR OR 2.. FORD NEED TO ACCEPT THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE AND OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKES, THEY CAN'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO JUST SIT BACK AND ACCEPT IT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THE ISSUE, IF I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED WHEN IT FIRST STARTED WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED, I MAY NOT OF BEEN ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL AND SOMETHING SERIOUS MAY OF BEEN BUT LUCKILY IT WASN'T, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO READ ABOUT THE PERSON WHO COULDN'T KEEP CONTROL. *TR
MY 2002 EXPLORER SPORT O/D LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN FEB 09. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 104,000 MILES ON IT. SOON AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, 4/29/10, THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING AGAIN. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RAN ON THE TRANSMISSION. THIS COST ABOUT $300. ON 5/3/10 I TOOK MY EXPLORER IN AGAIN BECAUSE THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THEY RAN ANOTHER TEST AND TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED OR REBUILT BUT IT SHOULD LAST ME A LITTLE WHILE LONGER. THAT SAME EVENING MY CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON TO GET IT INTO GEAR. I COULD NOT GO OVER 5MPH AND MY RPM'S WERE UNNATURALLY HIGH FOR THE SPEED I WAS TRAVELING. BY THE TIME I GOT UP THE HILL I WAS ON I COULD GO NO FURTHER. MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. I FINALLY HAD TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND WALK HOME. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS (OVER 300) ON THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION AND THEIR POOR PERFORMANCE OR LACK THEREOF. A RECALL WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED, AS THIS DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION IS DUE TO POOR VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION, NOT TYPICAL WEAR AND TEAR. ALL MY FAMILY DRIVES IS FORD, HOWEVER AFTER THIS INCIDENT I DO NOT HAVE MUCH FAITH IN FORD. GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, I WOULD RATHER GO WITH A FOREIGN CAR NEXT TIME. *TR
TRANSMISSION O/D LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND BLINKING PERIODICALLY WITH HARD SHIFTING OR SLIPPING AND CAR LURCHING FORWARD BEFORE SHIFTING. O/D STOPS WORKING AFTER O/D LIGHT STARTS BLINKING. HAD TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS ADJUSTED LAST YEAR BUT ONLY HELPED SLIGHTLY THEN BACK TO SLIPPING AGAIN. ONLY HAVE 88,000 MILES ON VEHICLE WITH GOOD CARE AND NO TOWING EVER. *TR
O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND CARE WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR (TRANSMISSION). PULLING OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO WANT TO GO. CARS ARE FLYING BY AND ALL I CAN DO TO KEEP FROM CAUSING AN INCIDENT WAS TO LET UP OFF THE GAS AND PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS HOPING IT WILL CHANGE THE GEAR. I ALMOST CAUSED AND ACCIDENT ON THE FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND THE O/D LIGHT BLINKS. MY CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR AND STALLS SOMETIMES. *TR
1. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER ABUSED IT BECAUSE IT WOULD COME OUT OF MY POCKET. I GET IT SERVICED REGULARLY. 2.THE FAILURE IS A TRANSMISSION SLIP FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR WHERE IS SEEMS TO SLIP INTO NEUTRAL AND CAUSE MY RPMS TO SHOOT WAY UP. HAPPENS EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY VEHICLE, AND JUST RECENTLY MY O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON. 3.OLD PART IS STILL AVAILABLE, AS I HAVE YET TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE PRICE TO DO SO. *TR
WE HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, WITHIN PAST FEW DAYS MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WHEN GOING INTO 2ND GEAR OCCASIONALLY, NOW IT IS DOING IT MUCH MORE AND THE OD OFF LIGHT IS BLINKING. I AM SEEING ONLINE THAT THIS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO SOMETHING. WE PAY ALOT OF MONEY TO HAVE DEPENDABLE VEHICLES AND TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSIONS FAILING SO OFTEN IN THESE VEHICLES IS RIDICULOUS. FORD SHOULD BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE FOR FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS!!! *TR
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT SLIPS ALL OF THE TIME, MAKES GRINDING NOISES AND AT TIMES DOES NOT LET ME DRIVE (GOES NO WHERE WHILE STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. SIMILAR TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. IT HAPPENS ON AND OFF, IT STARTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN I SLOW DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT OR TO MAKE A TURN THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND I LOOSE ALL POWER. I HAVE TO KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE GAS TO KEEP IT IDLING AND ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER BOUGHT USED MARCH 2008 82,XXX MILES NOW AT 95,XXX THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES AFTER BEING DRIVEN ABOUT 3 MILES AND IRREGULAR HARD PASSING GEAR SHIFTS OCCUR.. I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH FORD.... *TR
THE GEAR SHIFT (PRNDL) FELL OFF THE STEERING COLUMN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE METAL THAT HOLD THE SHIFT GEAR FAILED. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE! VERY DANGEROUS! LUCKILY IT HAPPENED IN THE DRIVEWAY OR IT MAY HAVE LEAD TO INJURY/DEATH. IT IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE GEAR SHIFTER THAT LEADS TO THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/GEAR_SHIFT_PRNDL_FELL_OFF.SHTML. *TR
THE NOT IN OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE I RESTARTED AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. SHORTLY THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. AND NOW THE ENGINE RACES AND THE CAR WONT MOVE THERE IS ONLY 33000 MILES ON THE CAR I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *TR
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORERS TRANSMISSION JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AT 94,000 MILES. READING FORUMS ONLINE LED ME TO THIS SITE, AFTER READING MANY, MANY OTHERS' EXACT SAME EXPERIENCES WITH THIS CAR. FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AND MY FAMILY DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION! FORD NEEDS A RECALL ON TRANSMISSIONS FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL! *TR
AUTO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. ENGINE REV HIGH TO 4K AND ABOVE WITH HARD BANG INTO NEXT GEAR. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN WHICH IT ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT AN THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINS ON THIS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHEN PLACED INTO SECOND, THIRD GEAR AND REVERSE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH THE STATUS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,360. *UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING. UPDATED *JB
AT 55,350 MILES MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT'S TRANSMISSION WOULD FLARE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A SOLENOID MALFUNCTION IN MY TRANSMISSION; THEREFORE, AFFECTING OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. MILES WISE, I STILL HAD A LITTLE UNDER 5,000 MILES UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, YEARS WISE, I WAS AT 5 YEARS 74 DAYS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS PROBLEM COST ME $2168.38. I DON'T THINK VEHICLE AT 55K MILES SHOULD NEED A REBUILDING OF A TRANSMISSION. I THINK I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED IN SOME WAY FOR THE COST.....EVEN THOUGH I WENT OVER THE WARRANTY BY 74 DAYS. *NM
2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, NOT YET 3 YEARS OLD BUT 6000 MILES OUT OF WARRENTY. REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SAID IT LOOK LIKE WATER GOT INTO IT. I'VE NEVER OWN A CAR YET THAT NEEDED A REAR END REPAIR. IS THIS PROBLEM A RECALL ITEM? I WOULD THINK FORD MOTOR CO. WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS BUT NO WAY. I HAVE ONLY BEEN BUYING FORDS FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS. *AK
NHTSA RECALL 04V442000 ON THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. NO PARTS AVAILABLE SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2004. WHILE SHIFTING GEARS THE SHIFTER BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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