There are 30 stored owner reports matching the powertrain & transmission leading-label group for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 30 of 30 matching reports. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)DRIVING ONE DAY THE OD OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING NOW IT SHIFTS HARD AND CLINKS AND CLACKS GOING DOWN ROAD
ON FEB.12 2016 STILL NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS MY FORD TRAC..I LEFT MY HOME IN DRIVE MOVED ONTO HIGHWAY 66, THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT AS I TRIED TO INCREASE MY SPEED UP ONTO THE 66 HIGHWAY THE RPM RAN UP ONLY, I HAD TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR TO GET OFF ROAD DROVE BACK HOME. NOW THE TRUCK WILL NOT MOVE WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. I ONLY HAD IN 2ND GEAR THIS IS A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.FLUID IS STILL OKAY. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK?.MILAGE IS 123242
THERE WAS NOT WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH, TRUCK SLOWED DOWN THEN ENGINE RACED UP ALL ON ITS OWN TURNED I TURNED OFF ROAD SHIFTED TO NUTRAL AND SAT UNTIL THE RACING STOPPED CONTINUED ON TO AUTO PART STORE WHERE THEY PLUGGED INTO ENGINE IT READ STRANGE CODES..
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.
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
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
THE BODY MOUNTS HAVE DETERIORATED TO A POINT THAT THEY ARE CRUMBLING AND ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE FRAME TO THE BODY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND HAD TO BE REBUILT. NEITHER OF THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD EXIST ON A VEHICLE THAT IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS ONLY 52,000 MILES. THESE PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. *TR
I COME TO REALIZE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY VEHICLES DO NOT A TRANSMISSION GAUGE. TRANSMISSION SENSORY LIGHT TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR TRANSMISSION FLUID IS GETTING LOW. THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR ME AND MANY MORE AMERICANS. MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC DO NOT HAVE A TRANSMISSION SENSORY LIGHT OR A GAUGE. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND NOT SHIPPING OUT GEARS RIGHT. SOMEONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE ALL OTHER FLUID GAUGES EXCEPT A TRANSMISSION GAUGE. *TR
MULTIPLE DEFECTS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DRIVE TRAIN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STOP OPERATING CAUSING A HUGE SAFETY RISK TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND FORD REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
O/D LIGHT FLASHING. NOW I HAVE TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. READ ALL THE COMP. AND LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I TOTALLY AGREE THAT FORD SHOULD RECALL THE EXPLORERS. IT HAS CAUSE A LOT OF TROUBLE AND MONEY TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. PLEASE HELP. IF TRANSM. LOCKS IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *CN
O/D LIGHT FLASHING ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. *TR
VEHICLE HANGS UP IN PARK ALMOST EVERY TIME IT IS USED; VERY DIFFICULT TO GET IT INTO A DRIVE OR REVERSE GEAR; GENERALLY MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN N TO GET MOVING AGAIN. *TR
MALFUNCTION WITH 4X4 HIGH AND LOW SETTINGS. IT INITIATES ITSELF FROM AUTO SETTING CAUSING DIFFICULTY MAKING TURNS AND MAY ULTIMATELY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT TRANSFER CASE/TRANSMISSION DAMAGE (AS I AM TOLD). *TR
THE LAST FEW MONTHS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SLUGGISH IN POWER AND SHIFTING AT THE WRONG TIMES. WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. WE HAD THEM DO A TRANSMISSION FLUSH SINCE IT WAS TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD 37,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THEY COULD HEAR AND FEEL THE PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT GIVE US ANY ANSWERS. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AFTER HAVING THE FLUSH DONE. ON THE WAY HOME THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. THIS WAS NEW. I TURNED IT AROUND AND BROUGHT IT RIGHT BACK. AFTER 2 WEEKS OF GOING AROUND WITH THEM, THEY FINALLY FIND METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND TELL US WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION! THIS IS A WEEKEND CAR WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IF THERE WAS ANY PROGRAM OUT THERE FOR US. NOW AGAIN 2 WEEK LATER I SPOKE TO THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER AND HE SAID THAT HE IS UNAWARE OF ANY PROGRAM THAT CAN HELP US. HE SAID THERE WAS A PROGRAM WHERE FORD WAS REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSIONS AS A GOOD FAITH REPAIR BUT THAT ENDED LAST YEAR. NOW I AM STUCK HAVING TO PAY $4000 TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION ON A PRACTICALLY NEW VEHICLE. *TR
WHILE PULLING ONTO A BUSY HWY. IN EASTERN UTAH MY TRANSMISSION WITHOUT WARNING JUST STARTED SLIPPING AND I HAD TO QUICKLY MANUALLY DOWN SHIFT THE AUTOMATIC AND HOPE THAT IT WOULD GO TO AVOID GETTING BROAD SIDED BY A SEMI THAT WAS BEARING DOWN ON ME. WHEN I GOT TO A PLACE THAT WAS SAFE I STOPPED AND FOUND THAT 1ST AND REVERSE GEARS WERE GONE. *TR
I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC TRANSMISSION AND AM BEING TOLD THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF 3200.00 OF WHICH I CAN NOT AFFORD RIGHT NOW AS I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME, THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT ADDRESS.... PLEASE MAKE FORD FIX THIS PROBLEM I NEED MY CAR TO GET TO WORK. *TR
BOUGHT MY 02 SPORT TRAC IN 04. IT HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK REPAIRED BY ORIGINAL OWNER AT (20,000 MILES) IN 03. IN 05, AT 55,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING IN ORIGINAL LOCATION PLUS ANOTHER. REPAIRED BY FORD AND I WAS ALLOWED A PO5 PAYMENT PROGRAM. AFTER 15,000 MILES FROM THIS REPAIR, TRANSMISSION FLUID AGAIN LEAKING. TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED, ALONG WITH REPAIR TO SEALS. FORD DISTRICT MANAGER REFUSED TELEPHONE CONTACT TO DISCUSS. FORD REFUSED ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY, INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. TRANSMISSION ON THIS TRAC NOW HAS BEEN PULLED THREE TIMES AFTER FOUR FLUID LEAKS. I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON LAST REPAIR. LOCAL FORD DEALER, UPSET WITH MY AGITATION, INFORMED ME THAT AT NOW 70,000 MILES, I SHOULD EXPECT THE NEED FOR REPAIRS! HA! *TR
I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 02/02/2007 IN A USED CONDITION THE 4X4 WAS NOT WORKING I REPLACED THE CM 4X4 AND THE 4X4 SWITCH IN LESS THEN 4 MONTHS IT WENT OUT I REPLACED THE 4X4 CONTROL MODULE AGAIN AND THIS MONTH IT WENT OUT FOR THE THIRD TIME ONLY THIS TIME IT IS STUCK IN THE 4X4 LO CHANGED THE MODULE WITH A FORD PART #2C54-7H473-BF SO I CAN GET AWAY FROM THE ONE DEFECTED ONES 1L24-7H473-AH BUT I THINK THE DAMAGE IS ALL DONE IN THE 4X4 DRIVING CASE MY CAR IS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER PLEASE CHECK THE WEB SITE HTTP://WWW.EXPLORERFORUM.COM/FORUMS/FORUMDISPLAY.PHP?F=101 AND YOU WILL SEE MOST OF COMPLAINTS ARE ABOUT THE 4X4 MORE THEN 3900 ALL HAVING THE SAME DEFECT PLEASE CHECK IT OUT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ALOT OF PEOPLE TOLD FORD ABOUT THEIR DEFECT BUT FORD WILL NOT DO NOTHING ABOUT IT THAT IS WHEY I AM DOING THIS COMPLAINT I AM SICK OF FORD NOT TAKING THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED TO A LOWER GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE CONTROL SLIGHTLY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
OD LIGHT FLASHING, REBUILDS TRANSMISION AND NOTHING CHANGE, I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS PROBLEMS ON EXPLORERS, RANGERS AND MUSTANGS
Showing 1-20 of 30 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
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Vehicle import recorded: Apr 29, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.