VehicleVerdict

2002 Ford Explorer transmission problems

The 2002 Ford Explorer has 1,584 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 39% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

1,584

Transmission complaints

39%

Share of year

26

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Explorer transmission complaints by model year1,584 complaints1990: 2 complaints1991: 75 complaints1992: 91 complaints1993: 78 complaints1994: 91 complaints1995: 130 complaints1996: 134 complaints1997: 119 complaints1998: 108 complaints1999: 120 complaints2000: 143 complaints2001: 44 complaints2002: 1,584 complaints2003: 357 complaints2004: 473 complaints2005: 100 complaints2006: 301 complaints2007: 58 complaints2008: 35 complaints2009: 3 complaints2010: 29 complaints2011: 64 complaints2012: 56 complaints2013: 119 complaints2014: 79 complaints2015: 83 complaints2016: 214 complaints2017: 123 complaints2018: 45 complaints2019: 35 complaints2020: 446 complaints2021: 106 complaints2022: 59 complaints2023: 11 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 15 complaints2026: 2 complaints
Explorer transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH JUST UNDER 78,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SHAKE AND SLOW DOWN VERY FAST. IN THE RESULT OF THAT. I JUMPED AND HIT THE CURB AND POPPED ON TIRE. I COULD HAVE DIED OR MY…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · August 14, 2008 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2002 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA has 1,584 complaints about the 2002 Ford Explorer transmission — 39% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.