I bought my 02, new. At 30K miles, I took it to the dealer to have the trans fluid changed. The service manager, there, told me the fluid did not need changed, as it was a "sealed" transmission. WTF???? I told him there was no such thing as a transmission that did not need fluid changed, at regular intervals. After arging with him for a few minutes, he said that I did not want to do it. Because, he had had a customer come in to do what I was asking. He had said that this guys transmission began to slip immediately there after. Of course, I argued with him some more. I said, "Sure, if it has 100K on it, and has never been changed." He said, no it was a new vehicle. I all but got on my knees, and begged him to change the fluid, and he flat refused.
So, I took it to the local 4 Corners Lube (kinda like a Jiffy Lube), and they ALSO refused!! So, I never changed my trans fluid. And, it went out at 125,700 miles. Now, I suppose, I should have tried harder. If I had taken it to Springfield, I suppose, as a larger town, there would be a true, Transmission Shop that would have done it for me. But, knowing only that not one, but TWO, places that can change trans fluid, BOTH refusing to touch it, I was wonding what kind of lovely transmission had Ford put under my vehicle?!?!
Now, that I have a new transmission in my Exploerer, I WILL get it flushed, and filled ever 30K. And, oh BTW, the service manager that told me that he wouldn't change my trans fluid...he's no longer employed by that dealer!