2002 Ford Explorer Power Train

THE O/D LIGHT HAS STARTED FLASHING AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT IS NOT SHIFTING WHEN IT SHOULD BE, GOING UP TO 5000 RPMS, I HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL TO TRY AND GET IT TO SHIFT INTO 3RD. SOMETIMES IT WORKS, OTHER TIMES NOT SO MUCH. AFTER DOING A THOROUGH SEARCH, I HAVE FOUND A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO MINE, MOST WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE (MINE IS AT 162,000), WITH THE PROBLEM BEING EITHER THE SOLENOID PACK OR THE O/D SERVO. SOME ARE LUCKY AND HAVE THIS REPLACED FIRST, BUT OTHERS END UP HAVING TO REBUILD/REPLACE THE TRANNY. THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MOST PEOPLE WHO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT IS THIS OLD.I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN, I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS OR BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE.

THE TRANSMISSION OF OUR 2002 EXPLORER STARTED SLIPPING, JUMPING, JERKING' SURGING, REFUSING TO SHIFT, SHIFTING SLOWLY AND OTHER ASSOCIATED THINGS APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS AGO. THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY, IT DOES IT WHENEVER IT WANTS, REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, DRIVING DISTANCE. I FEEL FORD OWES ME A NEW, REDESIGNED TRANSMISSION WITH INSTALLATION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT FORD IS DOING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR EXPLORERS.

THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS IN MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER RESULTING IN MY BEING UNABLE TO ACCELERATE ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE AT RUSH HOUR. *TR

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION WILL INTERMITTENTLY DISENGAGE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE TO BE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHIFT INTO PARK, THEN BACK TO DRIVE. I HAVE CONSULTED WITH MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES ON THE ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FORD EXPLORER / MERCURY MOUNTAINEER TRANSMISSION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS FAILING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS BEING A SAFETY CONCERN. MY MOTHER OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SHORTLY BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION FROM FORD. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THEIR EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES? THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA REFERRED ME TO THIS WEBSITE BEING THAT THE SERVICE MANAGE BELIEVES THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL THROUGH FORD. I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE DEALERSHIP. WHY HAS FORD OR THE NHTSA NOT REQUIRED THE MANUFACTURE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE? DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE IN CAR ACCIDENTS BEFORE THIS IS RECTIFIED? IT IS NOT SAFE TO PASS A VEHICLE SINCE THE TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS AND HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS AT HOME IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY AND THAT IT DID NOT GO INTO GEAR. IT IS STUCK IN PARK, BUT MY KEYS ARE STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE CAR WERE TO GO INTO GEAR, OR GET STUCK IN REVERSE. *TR

DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. WAS NEARLY HIT TRYING TO GET VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. NO WARNING, TRANSMISSION JUST WENT. HUGE PROBLEM AND SAFETY ISSUE WITH FORD EXPLORER. *TR

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR UNLESS YOU LET OFF GAS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

STARTED WITH FLASHING OF LIGHT WENT TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE P0775 TRANSMISSION CONTROL SOLENOID B.... FROM WHAT I'M FINDING OUT THIS IS JUST A SYMPTOM OF THE BIGGER PROBLEM THE SERVO BORE LEAKING AND NEEDING A BRASS SLEEVE INSERT FIX... I THINK IT'S TOTAL CRAP I HAVE TO PAY FOR A KIT AND FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL FOLLOW THE PROPER REFIT PROCEDURES AND PAY THEM WHEN FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD BE FORCED INTO A RECALL RETRO FIT... I AM A 50 YR OLD DISABLED WOMAN WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX A PROBLEM THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE DEALING WITH....THE TRANSMISSION IS HAZARDOUS AND CAN DISENGAGE FROM LOSS OF PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER FRACTURED BEHIND THE CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

O/D LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING, WILL NOT SWITCH INTO SECOND GEAR UNTIL YOU LET OFF THE THROTTLE. GETS AS HIGH AS 38,000- 40,000 RPM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFT FRACTURED AND ONLY OPERATED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

I GOT IN IT AFTER 15 MINUTES OF IT WARMING UP, PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVE AND THE RPM WENT TO 3000RPM BEFORE IT SHIFTED IN SECOND GEAR. THEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF, NEXT THE CHECK TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. WENT HOME AND CALLED A MECHANIC, TOOK IT TO HIM AND THEN BAD NEWS. IT HAS WORKED PERFECTLY UP TO THIS POINT. *TR

AFTER MAKING ABRUPT STOP HALF MILE BEFORE INCIDENT TO AVOID ACCIDENT, I CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. WHEN I WENT TO ENTER A MAIN HIGHWAY, MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND LEFT ME NON MOBILE IN THE INTERSECTION, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET HIT BROADSIDE. HAD TO GET OUT IN TRAFFIC TO PUSH MY VEHICLE OFF HIGHWAY. MANY EXACT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR THIS VEHICLE ALREADY POSTED ON INTERNET I SEE. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

WHEN IS THE NHTSA GOING TO ADDRESS THE CHRONIC ISSUES WITH THE 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS? IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ( INCLUDING BY FORD) THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS ALL FAIL ANYWHERE FROM 50,000 MILES UP TO LESS THAN 150,000 MILES. TOWING WITH THIS VEHICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE.THE MARKET IS FLOODED WITH THESE BROKEN EXPLORERS AND THEY ARE THE REGULAR CUSTOMERS AT THE REPAIR SHOPS IF PEOPLE DON'T JUNK THEM AND CAN AFFORD TO HAVE THEM FIXED. THEY ARE A HAZARD ON THE ROAD WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILS TO MOVE IN TRAFFIC OR FROM A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED WHEN MY VEHICLE STARTED INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED LEAVING ME COASTING IN TRAFFIC. I AM SURE THAT MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LODGED AGAINST THESE VEHICLES AND THAT SERIOUS INJURY HAS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THE INTERNET EVEN SELLS QUESTIONABLE REPAIR FIXES FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

PARKED IN PARKING LOT ON LEVEL SURFACE. STARTED ENGINE WENT TO PUT IN REVERSE AND SHIFTING LEVER FELL OFF. CONTACTED FORD INSTEAD OF SELLING BROKEN PART WANTED TO SELL COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

WENT TO PUT VEHICLE IN RESERVE AND GEAR SHIFT ON THE COLUMN FELL IN MY HAND, COMPLETELY SNAPPED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME HESITANT TO ACCELERATION. AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OD WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 02 EXPLORER ON THE THRUWAY FOR 2 AN 1/2 HOURS AND WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION THE TRANSMISSION BUCKED AND SHUDDERED AND REVVED UP WHILE I WAS TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT I ALMOST HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING WHEN I LOOKED AT MY INSTRUMENT PANEL ON THE DASH THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING SO AFTER I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND WOULD YOU KNOW THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM... FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME MIGHT HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE WITH DEADLY RESULTS... I TALKED TO MY TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND HE SAID IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION THE TRUCK DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 150,000 ON IT SO I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY CAN'T HELP ME BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS TRUCK... FORD NEEDS TO FIX THEIR MANUFACTURE ERROR HERE BECAUSE WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS FRAUD THEY CLAIM THAT THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ARE GOOD BUT LIKE WITH A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ THEIR TRANNYS DIED BEFORE 100,000 MILES SO FOR THEM TO SELL DEFECTED SUVS IS FRAUDULENT IN ITS SELF BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE THE CUSTOMERS HAVE TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY FOR THE VEHICLE BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN THEM BEFORE 100,000 MILES AT THE COST OF 3500 TO 4000 DOLLARS... *TR

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. O/D LIGHT BLINKING. TRANSMISSION INSTANTLY STARTED TO SLIP IN 3RD GEAR UNDER ACCELERATION. OVER 8,000 COMPLAINTS LISTED BUT FORD SAYS THAT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR RECALL. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS, THAT CAN CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING. BIGGEST ONE IS LOSE OF ACCELERATION IN TRAFFIC. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS A LENGTHY BAD HISTORY. IT IS THE 5R55 SERIES TRANSMISSION, STARTING WITH THE FAULTY SOLENOID PACK. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS TRANSMISSIONS HISTORY, YOU WILL FIND THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, SLIPPING WHILE IN GEAR FAILURE TO SHIFT, O/D LIGHT BLINKS THEN GOES OUT, TRANS FAILING AT 50,000M, 60,000M. I AM ON MY SECOND PAIR OF TIRES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. I DRIVE LESS THAN 8700 MILES PER YEAR AND MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE VERY WELL. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. I THINK FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT TILL THEY WILL BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING. *TR

I GOT MY EXPLORER NOT TOO LONG AGO. IT WAS RUNNING GREAT THEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE O/D LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND MY TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SLIP. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND I THINK FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS BECAUSE I HAVE KIDS AND THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I AM ON A FIXED INCOME. IF FORD DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS OR RECALL THEM THEN NEVER WILL I BUY A FORD AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE SHIFT SELECTOR FRACTURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE (FLAT SURFACE) AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND THE GEARSHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF INTO MY HAND. THE SAME THING HAPPEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND OUR MECHANIC REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.