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 · 35,000 miles · Nov 23, 2004

Power Train

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MY 2002 EXPLORER HAS BEEN THROUGH TWO TRANSMISSION OVERHAULS IN ONLY 53,000 MI. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL WAS PERFORMED AT 35,000MI BY A LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE REPLACED THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER! I WAS GIVEN AN EXTRA 12,000MI WARRANTY ON THAT TRANSMISSION. WELL IT LASTED 12,000MI BUT AT 50,000MI THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN!!! FORD INSISTS THAT I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO WANTS TO CHARGE ME $3000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AGAIN! I OPTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SHOP THAT SPECIALIZES IN TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. I PAID THEM $2000 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION YET AGAIN. APPARENTLY, ON THIS MODEL YEAR THE CASINGS ARE DEFECTIVE. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP TOLD ME THAT HE HAS ALREADY SEEN 4 OF THESE EXPLORERS ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL DONE ON THE 2002 EXPLORERS ALONG WITH THE 2004. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10100442

2002 model year · 40,000 miles · Nov 23, 2004

Power Train

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I HAVE HAD THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4 FOR LESS THAN 3 YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 47,000 MILES. WE BEGAN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ABOUT 4 MONTHS. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS A WHINE IN THE REAR END THAT STARTED AT 20MPH AND GOT LOUDER UNTIL ABOUT 60MPH. NEXT THE SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS STARTED TO GET ROUGH AND THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER THEY SAID THE FOLLOWING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED: THE SOLENOID AND RELATED PARTS (TO FIX THE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS) AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL (TO FIX THE WHINING NOISE). TOTAL COST IS ABOUT $2,750. I EXPECT A TRANSMISSION TO LAST MORE THAN 3 YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100438

2004 model year · Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2004

Power TrainCrash

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MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH CHATTERING IN THE DIFFERENTIAL AND DELAYED SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEARS, ESPECIALLY REVERSE, SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. WHEN I AM IN AN URBAN PARRALLEL PARK SITUATION, I HAVE HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME HARD ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS BECAUSE OF THE DELAYTED SHIFTING. AS YOU SHIFT, YOU NATURALLY PUT A FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN THERE IS A DELAY, THE CAR THEN BOLTS INTO REVERSE AT A HIGH SPEED. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER 5-6 TIMES, AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS DONE SOMETHING, BUT NOTHING EVER WORKS TO ELIMINATE THE CHATTERING AND THE DELAYED SHIFTING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100448

2004 model year · Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2004

Power Train

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APPX. 2 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND I HEARD THIS LOUD NOISE SOMEPLACE AROUND THE PASSENGER FRONT UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE, MY BRAND NEW 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE, IT DOES NOT GO INTO GEAR UNTIL YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS AND THEN IT JERKS VERY HARD AND THE TIRES SKIP ON THE PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE ALSO DOES THIS WHEN PUTTING INTO DRIVE, AND WHEN DRIVING WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR UNLESS YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN RE-APPLY THE GAS. WE LEASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW LATE JULY 2004 AND HAVE JUST REACHED THE 4 MONTH MARK YESTERDAY. THE DEALERSHIP DENIED ANY SERVICE PROBLEMS OR RECALLS FOR THIS BUT ON YOUR WEBSITE I FOUND AT LEAST 2 SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR WHICH I FIND ABSURD! THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR AND OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. WE HAVE ONE VEHICLE AND HAVE TO CAR POOL THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR THE BOTH OF US TO BE ABLE TO WORK OUR JOBS. THE DEALERSHIPS INDICATED THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO SIT FOR AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN LOOK AT IT! IF I WERE TO TAKE THE CAR IN, WE WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AS WE JUST MOVED TO A NEW STATE AND CITY AUGUST OF THIS YEAR AND KNOW NOBODY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10100402

2004 model year · 50 miles · Nov 23, 2004

Power Train

AFTER PURCHASING MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER I NOTICED HESITATION AND LURCHING UPON ACCELERATION CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN PROCEEDING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. SEVERAL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS WERE MADE AND FORD WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH ALL OTHER PERSONS THAT DRIVE THE VEHICLE HAVE IDENTIFIED IT. WITH THE NEW INFORMATION…

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NHTSA ODI #10100400

2004 model year · 29,000 miles · Nov 23, 2004

Power Train

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2004 EXPLORER - EDDIE BAUER PURCHASED NEW ON 12/03. AT 29,000 MILES - NOTICED THAT WHEN TURNING SHARP RADIUS IN PARKING LOTS - FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO IN AND OUT OF GEAR. SIMULTANEOUSLY NOTICED HESITATION UPON AUTO SHIFTING, AND HESITATION UPON PUTTING IN REVERSE. TOOK TO DEALER REPLACED SOLENOID. 2ND TRIP TO DEALER - SIMILAR COMPLAINT - THEY REPLACED REAR AXLE. 3RD TRIP - SIMILAR COMPLAINT, BUT NOW UPON HEAVY ACCELERATION - VEHICLE PULLS HARD LEFT. SERVICE MANAGER AT FORD SAYS THEY CALLED FACTORY, BUT NOBODY KNOWS WHY. THIS IS NOW NOT ONLY A LEMON, BUT BECAUSE IT'S STEERING HAS BECOME AFFECTED - I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. 3 MAJOR FAILURES IN 10 MOS OWNERSHIP, AND SOME PROBLEMS REMAIN UNRESOLVED. THIS IS NOT A SAFE OR RELIABLE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10100391

2004 model year · Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2004

Power Train

I JUST READ AN ARTICLE REGARDING FORD'S ADMISSION THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 2004 EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD MY EXPLORER FOR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. FIRST TIME, AND LAST TIME I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. ANY WAY TO ENSURE THAT I RECEIVE A LETTE…

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NHTSA ODI #10100373

2004 model year · 7,000 miles · Nov 23, 2004

Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

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THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WOULD SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THEN IT WILL SHUT DOWN BY ITSELF. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO AS OF TODAY, WAS UNABLE TO FIND A DEFECT. *JB THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH ON IT'S OWN WHILE HITTING THE RESUME BUTTON IN CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR OF THE BRAKING AND TIRE PRESSURE GAUGES, THROTTLE CONTROL, TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, CRUISE CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL DEFAULT, GENERAL COMPUTER DEFAULTS AND THE REAR TRIM PIECE AT THE LIFTGATE OPENING WAS DISTORTED. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10099155

1994 model year · Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2004

Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 1994 FORD EXPLORER APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. THEY FAIL AFTER ONLY BETWEEN 75,000-125,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10100330

2002 model year · 30,000 miles · Nov 21, 2004

Power Train

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CONSTANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE OF CAR FROM FORD DEALER W/29,000 MILES ON IT. ROBLEMS: TRANSMISSION SHUTTERING, BANGING IN GEAR, BANGING INTO REVERSE(ALWAYS) AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES THE BANGING INTO GEAR FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS HIT YOU FROM BEHIND. CAR ALWAYS BANGS INTO REVERSE. SERVICE TO AUTOMATIC AS RECOMMENDED BY FORD MANUAL AND FORD DEALER: WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED, WE HAD THE TRANS. COMPUTER RESET TWICE, AND WE HAD TO FIX THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE THAT BROKE AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES. SINCE NONE OF THESE SERVICES FIXED THE TRANSMISSION, THE FORD DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT $3000. WHICH IS RIDICULOUS WHEN THE CAR IS SO NEW AND SO EXPENSIVE.*AK THE CARS TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY, AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS THE 2004 EXPLORER TRANSMISSION HAVE. THE INVESTIGATION IN THE EXPOLORER'S BAD TRANSMISSIONS GOES BACK BEYOND THE 2004 MODELS, BECAUSE OURS IS A 2002 AND HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #10100281

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