Common problem on my 2002 Ford Explorer piece of sh*t. I have been working on my Explorer myself and I am no idiot when it comes to turning a wrench. I would like to add I also own a 05 Exposition that is now parked, going on it's 3rd transmission. Transmission goes out. Buy junkyard trans. For 700.00 I put it in and have the overdrive light flashing and hard shifts and not going past 3rd gear. So back on the ramps and drop the trans. pan. New solenoid updated install. Drive, with the same symptoms as before. And now it goes into limp mode. Where it gives you just enough power to get off the road.

I tow it back home back on the ramps again. This time I buy updated servos. And the job of replacement is a very humbling experience. Taken me three days and a hundred trips out from under the truck still not done because I can't get the intermediate servo snap ring out with out drilling a hole in the transmission. Do I have to update this later to tell you if I got it fixed or set it on fire! I'm 61 and my Dad's words still echo in my ear. Son, if you going to buy a Ford, buy it with a manual transmission. Because Ford cannot make an automatic transmission that's worth a sh*t!

Well, transmission isn't the only thing let's see there was a class action law suit I've sh*tty PCM's. That's about a 1200.00 dollar price of plastic computer pile of sh*t too. Shame on you Ford Motor Company, for having to have so many pissed off people that they have to sue you to do a recall. Bean counters say the recall cost too much? To do the right thing and fix your sh*tty product? Can't stand behind the product you build? Cost of new cars are 30K to beyond 60K. So where's the American Pride? I am fixing your sh*tty vehicle and Going to Chevrolet! Have a Chevy pickup with 250000 that starts and goes everywhere. Not one problem at all. So people make up your own minds who's doing a better job? And how much aggravation do you want in your life?

Update from Aug 21, 2021: Just wanted to update. New servos new solenoid pack. Same problems. This time I plug in for codes. It comes back torque converter clutch sending unit. Pan has to come off again. This time to do a Ohm meter test. Anyway I hope anyone reading this will be saved the aggravation of what I've been through.Im at the point where I wonder if I should sell what I can off the truck and junk the rest for scrap price. Cut my huge loss and run like he'll next time a Ford is offer to me for sale.

I've had my transmission rebuilt at Aamco. Still had problems. Replaced 02 sensors plugs wires coil pack plus so many many more things. Now I have a damn fuse blowing for high beams And they are working but soon as I turn the key on the same fuse blows. It will not let me start my Explorer. It cranks but won't start. I had to go find a headlight switch at a junkyard replaced it then it stop blowing. I didn't know this so I was out of a car for 2 weeks and my 8 year old son had to have a major surgery. I searched for 2 weeks for a bad wire that wasn't the problem my question is how about all the people that had the same problems get together and bring a law suit against the Ford Co. Anybody wants to I'm all for it. So sick of this crap ford

2002 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4-dr 5.0L V8 4WD (AWD, 4x4 High, 4x4 Low, each selectable by switch) Auto Trans. Bought new in 2002. 225,800 mi as of 3-9-2015. At 202,000 mi last Sept, transmission wouldn't shift past 2nd gear. Went to AAmco here in NJ where a new transmission was recommended. A rebuild in their shop was about $2600. I chose a 2nd option: a totally re-manufactured transmission from a factory in Minnesota was $3200 installed by AAmco and out the door within 2 weeks and with a 3yr 100,000mi (Total replacement parts and labor) warranty. 6 months and 23,000mi later, the transmission is still better than new. It shifts smoother than the old one ever did.

About AAmco: About 10 yrs ago they had a promotion where for $99 they check out the transmission and change the fluid. AND they'd check trans and change fluid for free for each and every year after that. So after 10 yrs of free fluid changes (and 3 new AAmco franchise owners, who, each had to call the national office to confirm the free changes, as they'd "never heard of such a thing", the transmission failed.

Engine is still running like a top. I go to Jiffy-Lube every 2,000 mi (since I bought car) for an oil & filter change. (for the simple reason it's fast and cheaper for them to do it in 20 minutes and recycle the oil than to spend my time doing it.) I just purchased my 4th set of tires. I bought the last 3 sets at Costco where they fill them with nitrogen, rebalance and rotate them for free every 5,000 mi while I shop. They also fix flats for free, although it's not always convenient to go there with a flat. I generally get 70,000 mi per set.

First of all I'm fed up with Ford. I'm a single mother of 3. I have a son that with disabilities. I bought a 2002 Ford Explorer thinking it's an American and I should''t have too many problems. Was I ever wrong. 1 month after buying it the motor blew up. I couldn't go to the store for food, take my kids to the doctor for 5 months. Only way to food shop was to walk on a busy highway with a 5 year old, 13 year old with disabilities and a 16 year old with back problems. I had to rake up $6.000.00 to get a rebuilt motor from the Ford garage. They didn't offer me a rental car or nothing, waited a month and half, got it back, next day engine light came on.

Took it back 2 weeks went by, I got it back and that same day engine light came on, took it back for another 2weeks. All this and I had to walk and they didn't offer me a ride home with 3 kids. Now the 3rd gear will not shift so now I guess I'm gonna be needing a tranny, right? If anybody knows please reply. Thank you. P.S. I also called the Ford company to complain about how I had to keep taking it back because of the engine light, they could care less, they had no heart. Shame how someone buys their cars and they didn't even say sorry. Shame on Ford.

Bought a used 2002 Explorer for $6495.00 with 116,000 miles on it, went through all the wear items and replaced with new. I drove this vehicle to work for a while, enough to get the mileage to 140,010 miles then suddenly started to slip into 3rd or miss all together 3rd gear.

1st to 2nd works fine, 2nd to 3rd is gone (engine raves like it went into neutral) when you let off the accelerator it goes into 4th gear on will pull again, O/D works also.

Dangerous for anyone in vehicle, this is a very serious safety concern, if someone was to have to get into traffic and this vehicle was to slip, they could very easily be run over by a vehicle they are trying to stay ahead of or had pulled out in front of.

Ford has known about this problem for years now and is doing nothing to make it go away are remedy the poorly designed transmission and it just ticks me off that the federal highway safety people don’t make ford do a recall to fix the affected vehicles before someone gets killed.

I have a 2002 ford eplorer and I'm having the same problem as every one else, my o/d light flashes and my trans slips if I put it in second gear it runs ok, but runs slugish . a normal feel for second gear. took truck to trans shop they want $1400 to repair who has that to pay taking money out my family's mouth and I also have a car note to

I had paid $300 dollars to get that Door that control the heater air condition another problem alot of folks are having to. Wow ford you really no how to show your love to the people thats spending there last to buy your f*cked up trucks. the goverment should step in and throw these truck right beside them old yougo's from back in the day. step up Ford if you have any heart or a soul left in you, if not I hope one day the goverment will step in and make all you dealers acountable for the garbage you build to sell to the people that can/t afford to buy your 20 and 30,000 dollar trucks and cars.

Purchased this vehicle used at 68,000miles. Truck ran reasonably well for three years, but within the last two years, I've had to replace the rear end differential gears due to the pinion bearing going bad and now I have to replace my transmission because it won't shift into 3rd gear. The wear band broke due to improper design of the wear surfaces inside the transmission housing (according to the transmission repair service). Seems to me that Ford has built transmissions and drive trains for some time now. Where is the root cause of this error? Perhaps the design was farmed out to the lowest offshore bidder? All I have to say is that this drive train was definitely not "a better idea from Ford". Sad that their only response is to offer a rebuilt (still junk) transmission at a cost of $3000.00 to their customers. Are they not willing to accept responsibility for this significant design error? It will be hard to purchase another Ford after experiencing this kind of customer service.

I am the original owner. The car has only 51,000 ml owner original miles, and this is the first significant problem. The engine shifted properly from start to first to 2nd, then it felt like the engine got disconnected from the transmission. I had a hard time getting on a freeway on-ramp. Once the car is in 4th all is fine again (this far), until I come on a 15% grade, where it needs to shift to 3rd.. The car was never used for towing. Very annoying, since I like the way it handles, and I was going to take it on my vacation trip in two weeks. I thought that Ford made good products.

OD light was blinking,took to Friendly Ford in Roselle,IL. & was told trans had to be pulled to analysis problem...(found out later not true,pan could have been dropped & if need be valve body could be removed to analysis...1/2 hour labor). Friendly said the cost to drop trans & find problem, $675.00. Then they called & said problem was a broken band & trans case was scored, cost for new trans case $3,600.,cost for new trans $4,200. I opted for new trans, the trans that they put in was remanufactured NOT NEW. cost of trans $2,670. Total Labor $1,527.84 for a total bill of $4,410. Friendly is claiming a 13 hour process at a labor cost of $110. per hour for a job that should only take a total of 6 hours by admission of mechanic who did the labor. I haven't figured out until I talk to my Lawyer if this is just a price gouge suit or a price gouge of Seniors law suit. Ford does not recognise this as a problem with their transmissions, yet I was told they had a stainless steel part that would cure this issue ????

Update from Oct 22, 2011: Ford does not recognise the problem & therefore will not do a good will repair, even though complaint after complaint has been filed about this problem & Ford came out with a stainless steel part to fix the problem that they will not own up to. Then their dealers, particularly, Friendly Ford, price gouges customers to fix the problem. Never had a problem with a Toyota, maybe this is why People are showing loyalties to Foreign Car Makers!!!!!

Have owned this car since it had 26500 miles. Never towed anything. Never abused it. No indication that there was any problem it just made a big squeel and thumped into 4th. Took it to the dealer and it cost 126 bucks for them to tell me they couldn't tell me how much to repair other than a rebuilt with 3yr 100m mile was 3200 plus installation. I now looking for a used or rebuilt from another source.

Update from Jun 9, 2011: I have already had the transmission repair by a independant repair shop. ($1200). I wish I would have gotten the reply to my complaint sooner, I surely would have ask for a "good will" repair.