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 · 119,000 miles · Feb 11, 2010

Electrical SystemPower Train

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ON DEC 4TH 2009, MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WAS DRIVING FINE ONE MINUTE AND THE NEXT THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE O/D LIGHT BLINKING WENT AWAY. THE VERY NEXT DAY AGAIN, WITH THE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN FLASHING, THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS ENGAGED; HOWEVER THE RPM REVVED UP BETWEEN 3 AND 4. THROUGHOUT THAT SAME DAY, I ATTEMPTED TO GET VEHICLE INTO DRIVE MODE...EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE JUST INCHED FORWARD AND FINALLY STOPPED MOVING ALTOGETHER. AFTER A CONSULTATION WITH MY LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP.. I WAS DISHEARTEN TO LEARN THAT IN ORDER TO REPAIR, WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A BAD TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS VERY COMMON WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORERS..I'D HAVE TO PAY $2868....SINCE THIS INCREDIBLE REVELATION, I'M DISCOVERING FORD KNOWS ALL ABOUT BUT REFUSES TO DO THE CONSCIONABLE THING AND RECALL THESE DEFECTIVE, DANGEROUS BUT COSTLY VEHICLES. I REGRETTABLE PAID THE $2868 REPAIR CHARGE FOR A REBUILT TRANNY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO ASSISTANCE FROM FORD. MY VEHICLE IS PAID OFF AND I REALLY CANT AFFORD TO JUST INVEST CLOSE TO 3K IN A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN RECALLED AND FIXED ESPECIALLY SINCE THE FORD CORPORATION IS FULLY AWARE BUT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO STILL BUY AMERICAN AND WANT TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS. BUT SINCE FORD REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, IT MAY FORCE A LOYAL CUSTOMER TO GO ELSEWHERE IN THE FUTURE WHEN PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED ON 2/8/10.. SO FAR I'VE DRIVEN IT ONCE... SO FAR SO GOOD...I RECEIVED A BETTER WARRANTY FROM MY TRANNY SHOP THAN THE FORD COMPANY WAS WILLING TO STAND BEHIND. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AJAR ALARM CHIMES WHILE DOOR IS SECURELY CLOSED. THE LOCKING MECHANISM OPENS AND CLOSES. THIS ISSUE IS ALSO KNOWN AND A PROBLEM FOR THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND YET STILL NO RECALL... THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308653

2005 model year · 209,100 miles · Feb 10, 2010

Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS DEVELOPED A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE OD LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THERE IS A MESSAGE THAT SAYS CHECK TRANSMISSION. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT AN ESTIMATE O $1800.00. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308628

2005 model year · 64,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010

Power Train

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I BOUGHT MY 2005 EXPLORER NEW. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. AT 13000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION STARTED GOING OUT AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 64000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION IS JERKING INTO REVERSE AND DRAGGING INTO 3RD JUST LIKE BEFORE. WHAT REALLY SCARED ME WAS I WAS TRYING TO PASS A CAR AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE MY CAR JERKED, REVVED UP AND THEN CLUNKED INTO GEAR. THANK GOODNESS THERE WASN'T A CAR COMING OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE. I TOOK IT IN AND FORD SAYS THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. THEY SAID I JUST NEEDED MY COMPUTER UPDATED. WELL $200 LATER IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. THE CAR IS STILL SLIPPING AND JERKING. MY CAR IS NOT QUITE 5 YEARS OLD AND THERE IS NO REASON WHY MY TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE GOING OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308358

2002 model year · 80,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010

Power Train

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. THIS PAST MAY MY EXPLORER'S O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I NEARLY IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS WRECKED TO THE TUNE OF $2,500. AFTER MUCH INTERNET RESEARCH IS SEEMS AS THOUGH MANY THOUSANDS OF OTHER CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AN…

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NHTSA ODI #10308329

2006 model year · 23,519 miles · Feb 10, 2010

Power Train

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WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION WILL BANG INTO GEAR AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND. ALSO HAVE HAD BUCKING AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP AND DOWN AND SLIPS. WAS TOLD THE BUCKING AND SLIPPING IS DUE TO A LEAN READING IN THE COMPUTER. TOLD TO CHANGE SPARK PLUGS. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THREE OF THE EIGHT PLUGS BROKE OFF AS THEY WERE TRYING TO TAKE THEM OUT. THE SPARK PUG ARE MADE BY MOTORCRAFT WHICH IS FORD. THEY HAD TO BUY A KIT TO EXTRACT THEM AND IT COST AN ADDITIONAL $300.00 TO CHANGE EIGHT PLUGS WHICH I HAD ALREADY PURCHASED AT A COST OF $68.00. IT DIDN'T FIX THE ERRATIC SHIFTING AT FIRST. STILL SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO SECOND AND ACTED UP SHORTLY AFTER GETTING IT BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308578

2006 model year · 30,000 miles · Feb 10, 2010

Power Train

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A STOP MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER LUNGES FORWARD AS IF SOMETHING IS SKIPPING. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT SINCE 30K MILES AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE OR FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY, SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY ISSUE. SAID IT WOULD NOT BRAKE BUT WOULD JUST BE AN ANNOYANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308346

2002 model year · 151,000 miles · Feb 9, 2010

Power Train

O/D OFF LIGHT SUDDENLY STARTED FLASHING IN 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WAS JUST DRIVING AND THE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. ALSO, THERE IS HARD SHIFTS WHEN PLACING THE SUV IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10307848

2000 model year · 98,000 miles · Feb 8, 2010

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

2000 FORD EXPLORER HAS A DELAY IN SHIFTING ON TRANSMISSION, O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHING AND CAR WINDS OUT IN BETWEEN GEARS... VERY COSTLY SO FAR AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!! *CN

NHTSA ODI #10307592

2005 model year · 1,000 miles · Feb 7, 2010

Power Train

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I PURCHASED MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER NEW, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SUV DELAYING OR NO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. IT JERKS INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. IT WAS DOING IT ONCE TWICE A MONTH, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE MORE FREQUENTLY NOW. ALSO MY SUV JUMPS INTO GEAR WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AND I BELIEVE THIS IS CAUSING THE FRONT TIRE TO BURN RUBBER AND WEAR MY TIRE OUT QUICKLY. I HAVE TAKING MY CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND MADE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT ALWAYS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESS ASAP! *TW

NHTSA ODI #10307184

2002 model year · 91,250 miles · Feb 7, 2010

Power Train

MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION LIGHT AND O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING AND MY TRANSMISSION NEXT TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. I'VE HEARD OF MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM 2002 EXPLORER OWNER LIKE ME. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE FOR ME IF KNOWS ABOUT THIS WHY DON'T THEY STEP TO THE PLATE AND OFFER A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. FORD IS ENJOYING A L…

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NHTSA ODI #10307210

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