One problem related to automatic transmission torque converter has been reported for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport based on all problems reported for the 2002 Explorer Sport.
Overdrive light began to flicker on and off, and the transmission would not shift properly. Would stay in a lower gear during acceleration as the rpm continued to climb. Had stored codes diagnosed with the following: p0732 (gear 2 incorrect ratio), p0733 (gear 3 incorrect ratio), p0734 (gear 4 incorrect ratio). Was advised not to continue to drive vehicle. Required complete transmission rebuild (by an independent including upgrades) including the replacement of the torque converter due to excessive metal filings throughout. Total cost $2581. 60. The vehicle has never been used for towing (no hitch) and is not abused. . Investigation on the web reveals this transmission failure to be quite common, citing weaknesses in the original design. Creates a potentially hazardous driving condition because the failure can occur at any time at which point the erratic behavior could lead to an accident.