Problems · by component

2002 Ford Explorer Sport power train problems

1,576 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport cite power train, 44% of all 3,613 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
1,576
44% of all complaints
Crashes
25
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Overdrive light flashes after driving a little bit hard shifting doesn't shift into overdrive 4x4 lights indicate that it's working when the buttons are pushed but doesn't go into 4x4”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 14, 2022Power trainODI 11469181
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED HARD SHIFTING WITH A CLUNKING NOISE PRESENT COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR RATIO WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER JACOB GEORGE FORD LOCATED AT 125 SPRING ST, HOUTZDALE, PA 16651 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2021Power trainODI 11397933
“THE ISSUES THAT I'M HAVING IS THE EXHILARATION (PICKING UP SPEED) ON A PUBLIC STREET AS WELL AS IN THE EXPRESSWAY IT HESITATES TO DO SO. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND I GO TO SWITCH GEARS IT DOES NOT WANT TO SWITCH. THE GAUGE INDICATOR COMES ON AND THE GAS IDLE BE STUCK ON EMPTY WHEN IT HAS A FULL TANK OF GAS. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE RADIO VOLUME GOES UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN. AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO START FOR ME ONE DAY THE VERY NEXT DAY IT STARTED RIGHT ON UP (LIKE IT WANT TO START BUT DIDN'T CATCH). ALL OF THIS STARTED HAPPENING AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER 2020”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 27, 2020Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11376670
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION INDEPENDENTLY SWITCHED TO 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASING AND IGNITION COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED AND THE TRANSFER CASING WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 17, 2020Power train, Electrical systemODI 11300058
“THE CAR GETS STUCK IN PARK AND WILL NOT INTO REVERSE, NEUTRAL OR DRIVE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN BUT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT INFREQUENT PERIODS SINCE 2007. IT'S A NUISANCE WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN BUT AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, DEPRESSING THE BRAKE AND REPEATEDLY ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT; SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING AND REPEATING THE PROCESS; USUALLY DOES SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE LAST INCIDENT WAS MORE THAN 4 YEARS AGO. NOW SINCE SATURDAY, 9/28/19; CAN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I NEVER REPORTED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS RESOLVED AND I FORGOT TO REPORT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS IN A RUSH TO GET TO MY DESTINATION. MY CAR IS IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION. ORIGINAL OWNER. 93964MI. ALWAYS SERVICED AT DEALERSHIP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2019Power trainODI 11265269
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 232,160.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2018Power trainODI 11128153

Showing 6 of 1,576 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.