Two problems related to manual transmission column shift have been reported for the 2002 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2002 Explorer.
Pulled into park, went to shift vehicle into park (was fully stopped) and gear shifter broke off. I did not apply any force, just the normal typical action of shifting the gear. Good thing it was in neutral when it snapped. Took rubber seal off of the gear lever arm and the part which the lever arm was attached had totally broken off. The metal was not stripped or twisted but broken. Part #905-104: column shift repair.
Tl- the contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While parked the contact noticed it became difficult to shift gears. The vehicle was also slipping gears while driving at any speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing three different times. The technicians were unable to diagnose the failure. There was a investigation under NHTSA action number: ea09013 (power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift steering:column steering:column locking:anti-theft device power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)) that may be related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000. Da.