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

1999 model year · 130,000 miles · Jan 12, 2011

Power Train

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I HAVE OWNED MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A DELAY WITH THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT STARTED HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AND VERY SOON AFTER THAT MY OVER DRIVE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND BLINKS WHICH MAKES THE VEHICLE SLUGGISH LIKE I AM TOWING SOMETHING. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM ONLY ONE OF THOUSANDS OR MORE THAT HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1995 - 2004. ALSO FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS ANYWHERE FROM A $2000 - $5000 FIX. FROM MY RESEARCH AND I DON'T SEEM TO BE ALONE. THIS SHOULD BE A FORD RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376413

2002 model year · 152,500 miles · Jan 11, 2011

Power Train

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY O/D OFF LIGHT HAS STARTED FLASHING AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT. THAT IS A $2800 JOB. THIS IS AFTER A YEAR AND HALF AGO I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. W…

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NHTSA ODI #10376307

2002 model year · 105,000 miles · Jan 11, 2011

Power Train

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AT 105K MILES, OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER STARTED SHAKING AS IT SHIFTED THROUGH THE GEARS. WE TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER WHO CHARGED $2,000 FOR "FIXING" THE PROBLEM. DRIVING AWAY FROM THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THERE WAS ANOTHER ERROR CODE THAT COST US $30. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND TODAY FORD SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. AT JUST OVER 100K MILES, THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD COMPLETELY GO OUT. WE ARE NOW LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT WE CAN'T SELL AND CAN'T DRIVE. LOOKING AT SEVERAL OTHER DESCRIPTIONS ON THIS WEBSITE, IT IS APPARENT THAT FORD CONTINUES TO IGNORE THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376297

2003 model year · 124,999 miles · Jan 11, 2011

Power Train

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SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, THEN THE OD (OVERDRIVE) LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THEN THE EXPLORER HAD DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HIGHER RPMS THAN USUAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 0 TO 30MPH. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE THE EXPLORER WAS PURCHASED AND EXCLUSIVELY SERVICED SINCE WHEN I BOUGHT IT NEW IN JULY 2003. THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH 2003 EXPLORERS. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAVE NO 2ND OR 5TH GEARS, INT. SERVO FAILED AND CASE BORE DAMAGED. THEY WANT OVER $3,600 TO REPAIR (AND THAT, THEY SAY IS A DISCOUNT!). I THEN TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP, WHO WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WERE 2 OTHER EXPLORERS CURRENTLY THERE BEING REPAIRED FOR THE SAME THING. AN INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A CONSUMER RIP-OFF! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376298

2004 model year · 74,692 miles · Jan 11, 2011

Power Train

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I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER AND IT RECENTLY STARTED MAKING A RUMBLING NOISE. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO SAID THAT IT WAS AN EXTREMLY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2004 EXPLORERS. IF YOU GOOGLE "2004 EXPLORER PROBLEMS" AND CLICK ON ANY OF THE LINKS THE FIRST PROBLEM IS TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW IN 2004 AND HAVE NOT ABUSED THE CAR. FOR A 2004 CAR WITH ONLY 75000 MILES ON IT TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION GO IT IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $3000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THE FIX BEING A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHEN FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376318

2003 model year · 70,000 miles · Jan 9, 2011

Power Train

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MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT ONLY HAS 70000K AND THE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY IN NEED OF REBUILD. IT DOESN'T DRIVE IN REVERSE AND DOESN'T GO FASTER THAN 25MPH WITHOUT SOUNDING AS IF THE ENGINE IS GOING TO FALL OFF. IT KICKS BACK WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE GEARS AND THE RPM IS WORKING HARD WITH THE TRUCK GOING NOWHERE FAST. I CANT AFFORD TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AS IM STILL MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH AN EIGHT YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THIS LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON HOW THERE IS NO DIPSTICK TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOULD HAVE BEEN REVEALED AT TIME OF PURCHASE I THINK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10375337

2002 model year · 73,654 miles · Jan 8, 2011

Power Train

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THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AT 36,000 MILES AND IS NOW NEEDING TO BE REBUILT AGAIN AT 74,000 MILES. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP AND AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE SOME OF THE COST ABSORBED BY PURCHASING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING ROUGH AGAIN A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THEN QUICKLY PROGRESSED TO FULLY SKIPPING 3RD GEAR. WE ARE NOW FACING REBUILDING IT AGAIN. WE HAVE READ UP ON THE PROBLEM AND HAVE DISCOVERED THAT IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THE EARLIER BUILT 2002 FORD EXPLORERS. WE HAVE EVEN DISCOVERED A POSTING ON A FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN EXPLAINING EXACTLY OUR SITUATION (HTTP://216.198.221.184/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=2595868) TSB 04-24-17. THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING IS THAT FORD IS AWARE THEY BUILT A FAULTY TRANSMISSION THAT WILL NEED TO BE REBUILT EVERY 35,000-40,000 MILES AND THEY ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. UPON PURCHASING A CAR I FEEL THAT IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO LAST MORE THAN 40,000 MILES. WE ARE NOW IN THE UNUSUAL SITUATION WHERE WE NO LONGER WANT TO OWN THIS VEHICLE BUT FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE SELLING IT TO ANYONE KNOWING THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND THAT THE NEW OWNER WILL ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS OF REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION IN ANOTHER 40,000 MILES. *LN

NHTSA ODI #10375241

2004 model year · 75,000 miles · Jan 8, 2011

Power Train

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER ONLY A DAY AFTER I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALERSHIP. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WILL COST ME $3400 PLUS THE $10550 THAT I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE THE DAY BEFORE. WHAT A BIG MESS THIS IS. *LN

NHTSA ODI #10375208

2002 model year · 10,000 miles · Jan 7, 2011

Power TrainStructureVisibility

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER EXT WAGON. THE CONTACT THAT STATED THAT UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT IN AN AWKWARD MANNER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE SUDDENLY RECURRED AND HE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO STATED THAT 3 OUT OF 4 WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED. THE WINDOWS ARE NOT WORKING NORMALLY. THE LIFTGATE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE 3 WINDOW REGULATORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #10375130

2003 model year · 62,000 miles · Jan 5, 2011

Power Train

"OD (OVERDRIVE)" LIGHT BLINKING IN DASH. THEN "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ON 12-31-10. HIGHER RPM'S IN ENGINE THEN USUAL, TO SHIFT GEARS IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TRANS HAVING THUMPING SOUNDING WHEN PLACED INTO PARK, DRIVE OR REVERSE. BROKEN SERVO SIDEARM INSIDE TRANSMISSION.. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT. TAKEN T…

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NHTSA ODI #10374819

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