Complaint Number: 10364385 Incident Date: October 22, 2010 Date Added to File: November 8, 2010 Description of the Complaint: 2002 ford explorer transmission experienced problem. The contact stated while driving 55 mph she noticed smoking in the rear of the vehicle. I picked up the vehicle and have an appointment with a local transmission shop today. I feel that this is a real safety issue and a national recall is in order. I bought a new used 1999 and it was doing that. Our 00 doesn't have normal two wheel drive.
This seems to be a common problem with the 2002 explorer. Not something I could just try. Turns out my transmission is going out and the car only has 110,000 miles on it. I've been told that flushes can ruin parts on older vehicles and cause other expensive problems. Complaint Number: 10355140 Incident Date: September 8, 2010 Date Added to File: September 13, 2010 Description of the Complaint: I do not have to provide an in depth description, myself as with all the owners of a 2002 ford explorer are all having this same problem. Complaint Number: 10312397 Incident Date: February 20, 2010 Date Added to File: February 20, 2010 Description of the Complaint: Ford explore 2002 4. Complaint Number: 10342440 Incident Date: June 23, 2010 Date Added to File: July 10, 2010 Description of the Complaint: 1.
The failure mileage was 110,000. On the way home the overdrive light started flashing. Once reaching overdrive, it becomes 'mushy' and slips back and forth, losing speed while rpms bounce between 1,500 and 3,000. That is a major safety hazard and could have caused a major accident. Not being able to move the vehicle in traffic poses a serious safety concern that needs to be corrected.
Complaint Number: 10322943 Incident Date: February 20, 2010 Date Added to File: March 30, 2010 Description of the Complaint: I have a 2002 ford explorer eddie bower that I bought new. Also the transmission slips and when I take it in to dealer they tell me that they can't do anything about this. Aamco explained that it was either the transmission or the solenoid pack. How would you feel if you and your infant child was driving and out of nowhere. I have my car sitting in the drive way waiting to get it into be looked at.
The vehicle was repaired by a local mechanic but the failure continued to occur. I have found over 280 complaint about this same issue on the same make and model and that's just on one website. Complaint Number: 10370598 Incident Date: October 5, 2010 Date Added to File: December 14, 2010 Description of the Complaint: 2002 ford explorer, 274k miles. The vehicle requires service each time. I was a sucker for a pretty truck!! This a 2002 ford explorer limited 4 x 4 v-8. Went to dealer they said without the light on they couldn't say what is wrong for sure. Never towed anything and had the transmission serviced.
The problem was not fixed. My son got out of the truck to find that the transmission exploded and all the fluid leaked onto his friends driveway. We also had broken rear coil springs that I had to fix 3-4 years ago. At least a sensor wouldn't need a trip to Auto-Loan, or worse, the bone yard. Complaint Number: 10296327 Incident Date: December 11, 2009 Date Added to File: December 18, 2009 Description of the Complaint: Driving down the highway at 72 mph going up a slight incline with my newborn twins and 2 year old in the back of my 2002 ford explorer. The vehicle is almost undriveable, and this appears to be a systemic problem from what I have read. Com I see over 861 complaints on this issue alone all with 2002 explorers.
Complaint Number: 10298763 Incident Date: August 2, 2009 Date Added to File: January 8, 2010 Description of the Complaint: The 2002 ford explorer has a severe transmission issue that needs to be researched. Replacement cost of 2800 dollars. I have a 2yr daughter and I spend about 75% of my time in that vehicle with her. In another location on this. Take it to my mechanic. Complaint Number: 10369875 Incident Date: December 2, 2010 Date Added to File: December 10, 2010 Description of the Complaint: 2002 ford explorer transmission jumped when put in reverse hit a parked car.
The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection where the technician detected that the failure was related to the transmission. Did these salesmen know that these were junk and thats why the price was right!!! Dealer claims that there is only one recall out on this car and it is for the speed cruise control and that this would not have any effect on the transmission. Then you have to keep trying each gear finally after a few minutes it will go into reverse, but for the first 10 minutes of driving it jerks and clangs going to different gears. Fortunately, the driver behind me was not tailgating and noticed my vehicle slow down rapidly. I, just like everyone else who has encountered this problem, thinks ford should take responsibility. Shortly thereafter, if braking hard, the engine just stops and all power is lost. My car has an automatic transmission.
That is the only link that disconnects your front wheels from your transfer case. The problem continued to get worse until occasionally, after making a turn, it would slip out of gear impeding acceleration in traffic situations. I don't have a few thousand dollars sitting around at my disposal to fix my car. Which causes the transmission to shift hard and actually try to lock up at some times. My wife while driving switched to regular all wheel drive from 4 wheel drive and the vehicle started to shudder and make terrible noises. Researching websites indicates that this is a known prevalent problem for this vehicle. We have never had an issue with an transmission.
The manufacturer was aware of the failure. Upon opening the pan underneath, they explained that if there were metal chunks it would be the transmission; if not, the solenoid pack. This is a known problem by ford and have done nothing to rectify if with consumers. Was told that transmission is falling apart. The contact stated that the vehicle would not shift properly from second to third gear.