COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Ford Explorer transmission problems

2,441 distinct owner reports with a transmission-specific component in this snapshot.

General power-train reports are not automatically counted as transmission problems. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

89 crash reports24 fire reports36 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

242

0–25K

245

25–50K

392

50–75K

339

75–100K

321

100–150K

150K+

1,608 reports with mileage · 833 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What owners actually said

2,441 reports

2002 model year · 57,600 miles · Apr 10, 2007

Power Train

ONLY 58,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING WHEN GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I BABIED THIS CAR SO IT HAS TO BE A DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187490

2004 model year · 21,000 miles · Apr 9, 2007

Power Train

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AFTER ONE MONTH OF PURCHASING MY EXPLORER IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS GOING INTO REVERSE AND ALSO SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING. WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IT WILL JERK WITH A LOUD BANG OR CLANK AND THEN SURGE. IT CONTINUES TO GET MORE FREQUENT. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT HITTING ANOTHER CAR OR EVEN WORSE A PERSON. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD ASKING THAT I TAKE TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE GOING TO ADD SOME ADDITIVE TO THE TRANSMISSION. I DID RETURN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SERVICED THE SUV. IT DID SHIFT CORRECTLY FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH, BUT THEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS OR RECALLS FROM FORD. I FIND THIS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN I SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO OWN EXPLORERS. I WANT FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I WAS HAVING THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS OUT I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE FORD CORRECTS THIS ISSUE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET HURT? *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187355

2006 model year · 15,000 miles · Apr 5, 2007

Power Train

TRANSMISSION SURGES ON DOWNSHIFT BETWEEN 2ND AND 1ST....ENGINE RPM'S INCREASE AND TRANSMISSION SLAMS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A LURCH. FORD MOTOR HAS NO FIX FOR THIS AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE FLAWED VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH NO OWNER RECOURSE DUE TO FACT THAT FORD ENGINEER DOES NO KNOW WHAT TO DO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10187137

2004 model year · 36,000 miles · Apr 2, 2007

Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS SLOPPY WHEN SHIFTING IN GENERAL, SOMETIMES HAS LAG TIME WHEN SHIFTING FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE AND A CLUNKING NOISE CAN OCCUR. DEALER HAD INVESTIGATED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MINOR ADJUSTMENTS HELPING TO REDUCE ABOUT 50-75% OF THE ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10186703

2003 model year · 58,742 miles · Mar 30, 2007

Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO PARK. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR IT HESITATED AND JERKED BEFORE ENGAGING. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE PREVIOUSLY AT 18,000 MILES AND 27,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STAT…

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NHTSA ODI #10186540

2002 model year · 83,000 miles · Mar 28, 2007

Power Train

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I HAVE A 2022 FORD EXPLORER WITH 82000 MILES, AND TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. AT 74,000 WAS MILES FLUID AND FILTER REPLACED AT DEALER. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS WARM THE VEHICLE WILL ONLY TRAVEL 2-3 YARDS IN REVERSE, AND THEN LOCK. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TRANSMISSION. DEALER WANTED TO TEAR THE TRANSMISSION DOWN AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE. IT COULD REQUIRE A COMPLETE REBUILD AT $3,500. THIS WAS A 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH OD. NO TOWING AND NO PLOWING. NORMAL TO/FROM WORK WITH VEHICLE. I NOTICED HUNDREDS OF TRANSMISSION ALERTS VIA A GOOGLE SEARCH, SOME SPECIFIC TO THIS VEHICLE AND PROBLEM. ALSO, HAD PROBLEMS WITH UPSHIFTING /DOWNSHIFTING ON HILLS. PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THIS TO DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10186355

2002 model year · 52,000 miles · Mar 19, 2007

Power Train

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 51,000. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR SEALS AXLE SEALS ON BOTH SIDES AND THEY BOTH NEED IT AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10185584

2002 model year · 98,000 miles · Mar 19, 2007

Power Train

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 FORD EXPLORER IN OCTOBER 2002. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THE FOUR BALL BEARING JOINTS, AND ALTERNATOR AND NOW A TRANSMISSION WITH TOTAL COSTS TO EXCEED $7000. I AM WRITING NOW BECAUSE I FELT THAT THE OTHER EXPENSES WERE WEAR AND TEAR, AS I HAVE HAVE 98,000 MILES. BUT NOW IT IS GOING TO COST $3600 TO REPLACE MY TRANSMSSION. LAST THURSDAY 3/15 MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR, AS MY RPM REACHED 3000. THEN IT WOULD SHIFT INTO GEAR AS I MADE MY WAY HOME FROM MY JOB 100 MILES AWAY. MY O/D LIGHT FLASHED AND THEN MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.

NHTSA ODI #10185575

2002 model year · 46,246 miles · Mar 18, 2007

Power Train

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AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, FORD FINALLY FOUND A PROBLEM AT 46,XXX MILES (NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT FORD OFFERED A $1000 DEDUCTIBLE). BURT FORD OF ARAPAHOE FORD INC. CENTENNIAL, COLORADO REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED SERIAL# 0302462W AND REPLACED THE REAR AXLE RING AND PINION GEAR SET, BEARINGS, AND SEALS (SEPT. '06). WE RECEIVED A FORD POWERTRAIN SERVICE PART WARRANTY UNTIL 06/17/2008 (7YRS FROM ORIGINAL OWNERS DATE OF PURCHASE). WE ARE TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO SERVICE NOW (MAR. '07) FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS TO CHAMPION FORD OF SANDY, UTAH AFTER 6,000 MILES OF USE.

NHTSA ODI #10185440

2002 model year · 98,000 miles · Mar 17, 2007

Power Train

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2002 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER AWD, VEHICLE MILEAGE JUST UNER 100K. VEHICLE (W.O WARNING) WOULD NOT SHIFT THRU 3RD GEAR. SYMPTONS ARE WHEN VEHICLE GETS TO 3RD, ENGINE REVS AS IF IN NEUTRAL, CHECK TRANS LIGHT COMES ON, OD INDICATER FLASHES. BACKING OFF ON THROTTLE ALLOWS HARD SHIFT INTO 4TH AND VEHICLE PROCEEDS OK. FORD DEALER SAYS 3RD GEAR BAND IS GONE. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THEY CLAIM NO. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. ALSO FOUND OLD FORD TSB OUTLINING THE IDENTICAL SYMPTONS. IS THERE ANY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH FORD SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON EXPLORER PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #10185409

Related Official recalls

26V402000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jun 24, 2026

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.

23V199000 · Parking Brake:electrical; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Mar 24, 2023

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L RWD, 3.3L GAS, 3.3L FHEV, or 3.0L ST powertrain. The previous powertrain control module (PCM) update completed under recall 22V-255 did not include the automatic electronic parking brake feature when the vehicle is shifted to park, as intended. In addition, the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without the electronic parking brake applied, the vehicle could rollaway if the driveshaft disconnects. A disconnected driveshaft can also result in a loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S16.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Parking Brake:electrical

Consequence: Without the electronic parking brake applied, the vehicle could rollaway if the driveshaft disconnects. A disconnected driveshaft can also result in a loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S16.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

23V069000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Feb 10, 2023

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine and 10R60 automatic transmission. An unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) reset may occur while the vehicle is in motion and result in park system damage.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A park system that is damaged may not shift into "PARK," resulting in a vehicle rollaway and increasing the risk of injury or crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the park system for damage and repair as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S05.

23V070000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Feb 10, 2023

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S06.

19V575000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel; Parking Brake; Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Aug 5, 2019

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The Manual Park Release (MPR) cover may not be installed. In addition, the vehicles may be in Factory Mode, which disables warning alerts and does not display the transmission gear selected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 114, "Theft Prevention" and 102, "Trans Shift Lever Seq/Starter Interlock/Trans Braking Effect."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without the cover, the MPR lever may be unintentionally moved, allowing the vehicle to roll away. Being in Factory Mode, the vehicle will not display warnings and/or gear selection on the instrument cluster. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install a MPR cover. Dealers will verify the instrument cluster is not in Factory Mode and clear any fault codes, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C06.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Parking Brake

Consequence: Without the cover, the MPR lever may be unintentionally moved, allowing the vehicle to roll away. Being in Factory Mode, the vehicle will not display warnings and/or gear selection on the instrument cluster. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install a MPR cover. Dealers will verify the instrument cluster is not in Factory Mode and clear any fault codes, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C06.

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

07V453000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Sep 26, 2007

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.6L ENGINE AND 6R TRANSMISSION, THE BOLT SECURING THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE FITTINGS AT THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TORQUED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY LOOSEN AND THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTACTS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, IT MAY POSE A RISK OF FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE ATTACHMENT BOLT TIGHTENED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

00V395000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Nov 28, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.27 OR 3.55 AXLE RATION. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE THAT COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO EXCEED THE DESIGN INTENT TOP SPEED. AT THESE EXTREME SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE COULD BE CAPABLE OF EXCEEDING THE SPEED RATING OF THE TIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OPERATING THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE MAXIMUM SPEED RATING COULD LEAD TO A TIRE FAILURE WHICH AT THESE SPEEDS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE.

91V189000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Nov 4, 1991

WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ABUT OR ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVER MAY BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS SAFELY ENGAGED IN PARKWHEN THE GEAR IS NOT TRULY ENGAGED. THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OFGEAR UNINTENTIONALLY, VEHICLE ROLLAWAY WHEN PARKED ON A SLOPED SURFACE, ANDINADVERTENT MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS CANRESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION WITH A NEW PARK PAWL.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

EA09013 · Vehicle Rollaway Allegations

Opened Aug 18, 2009 · Closed Feb 12, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift; Steering; Steering:column; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Steering:column

Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

Steering

RQ97015 · Parking Pawl

Opened Oct 29, 1997 · Closed Apr 1, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission

WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARKING PAWL DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR.THIS CAN LEAD TO THE VEHICLE JUMPING OUT OF GEAR UNINTENTIONALLY AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO START ROLLING INADVERTENTLY

PE91127 · Park Pawl Bending

Opened Sep 16, 1991 · Closed Nov 8, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:automatic Transmission

There is no summary currently available

Power Train:automatic Transmission

There is no summary currently available