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

2004 model year · 17,578 miles · Dec 12, 2004

Power Train

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PURCHASED USED 2004 EXPLORER W/ 17K MILES ON IT. VIN# [XXX] WIFE TOOK POSSESSION OF VEHICLE FRIDAY EVENING READY TO DRIVE AWAY WHEN SHE PLACED VEHICLE IN REVERES AND IT BANGED HARD AS IT JERKED INTO REVERSE AND CHIRPED THE TIRES. DROVE IT HOME NOTICED THE SHIFTING FROM 2D TO 3RD WAS HARD AND APPEARED TO WANT TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND WHEN IT WENT INTO OVERDRIVE THE RPMS REDUCED BUT NO NOTICEABLE SIGNS THAT ONE COULD TELL IT HAD SHIFTED INTO OD.TOOK IT TO DEALER ON 10TH OF DEC 2004 FOR UPHOLSTERY ISSUES AND THE SHIFTING ISSUES. GOING INTO REVERSE HAS A 2-5 SEC. DELAY AND THEN SHIFTS ABRUPTLY, THIS CAN AND MAY VERY BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED IN DUE TIME. ONLY BY GOD'S GRACE DID WE HAPPEN TO HAVE THE FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL EACH TIME VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE; OTHERWISE THE JERK AND JUMPING INTO REVERSE WOULD HAVE HIT A PERSON OR ANOTHER VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT. I AM PRESENTLY WAITING A FINAL SOLUTION FORM FORD. I WILL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH THE COMMON REPLY THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE WHEN OTHERS ARE PLACED IN DANGER UNAWARES! *JB UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10102805

2004 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2004

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION WAS STICKING WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT IN REVERSE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF ACELLERATION THERE IS A BANG AND THE CAR JOLTS BACK RAPIDLY. I AM STILL AFRAID TO PARALLEL PARK. I ALSO NOTICED SOME STICKING/HESITATION FROM PARK TO DRIVE. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE ON 12/07/04 AND THE SOLENOIDS WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH SOME OTHER WORK ON THE TRANS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE PARTS WERE ON HAND BECAUSE THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IF THAT WAS THE CASE WHY NO RECALL LETTER? THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 6500 MILES (ROUNDING UP) ON MY VEHICLE AND WHEN I PURCHASED IT IN JUNE OF 2004 IT WAS BRAND NEW. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM WILL RETURN OR THAT SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT I'VE READ ABOUT WILL DEVELOP. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS/REPAIRS BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED? *AK

NHTSA ODI #10102542

2002 model year · 36,000 miles · Dec 9, 2004

EquipmentPower TrainSeats

MY FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION IT WAS AT 36000 MILES, MY CAR WAS TUNED AND SERVICED AS SHUDULE, AND IT COST A TOTAL OF $1700.00 TO FIX. WHICH THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEAR OLD. THE AIR CONDITION STOP WORKING IN DECEMBER OF 2003 AND AT THE TIME MY CAR WAS BARELY 1 YEAR OLD THIER HAS BEEN MANY OTHER CONCERN WITH MY EXPLORER THAT I AM MAK…

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NHTSA ODI #10102482

2004 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2004

Power Train

VEHICLE IS HAVING TROUBLE ENGAGING FROM THE PARK POSITION TO REVERSE SMOOTHLY. CONSUMER HEARS A POPPING NOISE, AND FEELS THE VEHICLE JUMPS WHEN THE GEARS ARE CHANGED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10103347

2004 model year · 18,500 miles · Dec 8, 2004

Power Train

WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, IT WOULD TAKE A FEW SECOND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR AND THE WHOLE TRUCK WOULD JERK. DEALER REPLACED A PART AND REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION. AS OF 12-7-04 THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED.

NHTSA ODI #10102345

2003 model year · 48,000 miles · Dec 7, 2004

Power Train

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I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION ENGAGING PROPERLY AND THE TRANSMISSION MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS HOT OR COLD. THE TRANSMISSION DID THIS INTERMITENTLY FOR A WEEK OR SO UNTIL I TOOK IT INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I DROVE IT FOR ANOTHER WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH IN MID-ACCELERATION AT ANY SPEED AND WOULD LUNGE WHEN COMING TO A STOP LEAVING ME NEVER KNOWING WHEN I MIGHT STOP ON THE FREEWAY OR RUN INTO THE BACK OF SOMEBODY. THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS THE CLUTCH PACK THAT FAILED AND THE REPAIR COST ME $1,131.00. THE REPAIR CONSISTED OF REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION, OPENING IT UP AND REPLACING THE PARTS AND THEN RE-INSTALLING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE READ A SERVICE BULLETIN RECENTLY FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYING THAT THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN 2004 FORD EXPLORERS AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY WILL BE FIXED FOR FREE. I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND I AM NOT AWARE OF THE TWO MODEL YEARS BEING MECHANICALLY DISSIMILAR. I WANT IT KNOWN THAT THE 2003 EXPLORERS ARE SUFFERING THE SAME PROBLEMS, WHICH IS WHY I AM REGISTERING THE COMPLAINT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102309

2004 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2004

Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 3-10 SECONDS TO ENGAGE WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. AS THIS PROBLEM GETS WORSE I'VE NOTICED THAT THE SHIFT POINTS WHILE DRIVING SEEM OUT OF FORM AND MORE HARSE THAN NORMAL. MY DEALER ORDERED A NEW SELONOID (WHICH COST $360) AND WILL REPLACE WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE - CURRENTLY ON BACKORDER…

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NHTSA ODI #10102274

2002 model year · 43,900 miles · Dec 6, 2004

Power Train

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1.EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE -ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHILE HAVING MY CAR AT THE DEALER WHILE IN WARRANTY I MADE NOTE TO THE SERVICE INDIVIDUAL,THAT SOME THING FELT WRONG WHEN MY CAR WOULD SHIFT IN TO ANOTHER GEAR WHILE MOVING .NOTHING WAS EVER FOUND WRONG OR ANY DOCUMENTATION WAS MADE. 2.FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES-AS MY VEHICLE REACHED 43,900 MILES MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT EVEN MORE HARDER AND SOMETIMES WOULD NOT GO IN TO GEAR.THE REAR WOULD VIBRATE TO THE POINT WHERE IT SHOOK THE VEHICLE HARD. 3.WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE-WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IT WAS QUICKLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARANTY AND AFTER DIAGONOSING THE PROBLEM THAT THE TRANS ASSY SOLENOID HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS UP ON A LIFT . THIS COST ME A TOTAL OF $976.91. I FEEL THAT I WAS LED ON UNTIL MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THAT FORD SHOULD COVERED THE COST OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE AND IT WAS NOT MY FAULT THAT THIS PART WENT BAD.THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102206

2004 model year · 6,000 miles · Dec 6, 2004

Power Train

VEHICLE DOES NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE, IT MAKES A LOUD SOUND, AND THEN IT ACCELERATES TO THE POINT OF TRYING TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10103157

2003 model year · Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2004

Power Train

WE HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER-WHEN YOU SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE-LIKE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND THEN PUTTING INTO DRIVE VEHICLE DOESNT MOVE FOR A WHILE-IF YOU TRY TO GIVE IT GAS ENGINE REVS UP AND THEN SLAMS INTO DRIVE--IN THE MEANTIME YOU ARE WONDERING IF THE CAR COMING AROUND THE CORNER IS GOING TO REAR END YOU AND CAUSE …

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NHTSA ODI #10100983

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