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 · 72,000 miles · Dec 11, 2008

Power Train

FIRST THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THEN THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING, THE O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND REVS THE ENGINE WHILE TRAVELING, SOMETIMES IT LURCHES FORWARD WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251489

2003 model year · 58,000 miles · Dec 11, 2008

Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 58,000 MILES. FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH 2003 EXPLORERS AND I WANTED TO DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM WE HAD. I CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMIS…

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NHTSA ODI #10251486

2002 model year · 87,000 miles · Dec 10, 2008

Power Train

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND AT LESS THAN 90,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. IT TAKES 5-10 SECONDS TO ENGAGE AND THEN 'CLUNKS' AND JUMPS BADLY. ROUGH SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. AFTER SOME WEB RESEARCH I SEE THAT THIS IS IN FACT A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL. THIS IS CRAZY. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR/REPLACEMENT IS OVER…

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NHTSA ODI #10251438

2002 model year · 57,000 miles · Dec 9, 2008

Power Train

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2002 FORD EXPLORE 4L SIX, STARTING IN 2006 I BEGAN TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, MY INITIAL PROBLEM DEVELOPED WHEN THE EXPLORER HAD AROUND 57,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO DRIVE. IN NOVEMBER 2008, NOW WITH ABOUT 74,000, MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS DEVELOPED MORE PROBLEMS IT CURRENTLY JUMPS FORWARD WHEN I SHIFT TO DRIVE. AFTER CHECKING AUTOBEEF.COM, WITH OVER 500 COMPLAINTS POSTED, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. THE INITIAL REPAIR COST OVER $700.00 AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST THE SECOND TIME. I BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM SHOULD BE CHECKED BY YOUR AGENCY FOR POSSIBLE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE BURDEN IT PLACES ON CONSUMER TO KEEP REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. THIS MAY ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251176

2002 model year · 80,000 miles · Dec 1, 2008

Power Train

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AFTER BUYING MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER USED IN 2006, I HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL AUG. OF 2008 WHEN O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. AT THIS POINT, VEHICLE WAS JUST UNDER 80,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGH BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. WHEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND WOULD NEED TO SPEND $2000 FOR A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE REGARDING THE EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING I STILL HAVE 3 1/2 YEARS LEFT ON MY LOAN. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250265

2002 model year · 80,000 miles · Nov 29, 2008

Power Train

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I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH A V8 AUTO TRANSMISSION. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES SINCE I REACHED 60,000 MILES. IT WOULD TAKE OVER 5 SECONDS TO ENGAGE INTO GEAR WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF ON A STOPPED AND SWITCHING GEARS. THEN ONE DAY I AM DRIVING AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH. I WENT HOME AND SINCE IT WAS A SATURDAY NIGHT , I DECIDED TO DO A GOOGLE SEARCH ON 2002 OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING. OH BOY DID I WISH I KNEW THAT ALL 2002 FORD EXPLORERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT. FORD HAS PUT A SEALED TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS FLAT OUT DANGEROUS!! HOW CAN THEY PUT A TRANSMISSION INTO A VEHICLE THAT YOUR NOT EVEN ABLE TO CHECK YOUR FLUID LEVEL. YOUR TRANSMISSION COULD BE LOW CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT, AND THE OWNER WOULD NEVER KNOW. NOT ONLY ARE THERE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF EXPLORERS WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. BETWEEN 20 TO 30 MPH (GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD) THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP ALLOWING THE VEHICLE RPM'S TO SOAR TO 5000 + AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. IF YOU DO A INTERNET SEARCH THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE. SOME VEHICLES REPORT AS LOW AS 20,000 MILES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILS. FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING TRANSMISSIONS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY FAULTY. READ THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OUT THERE FROM THE HARD WORKING CONSUMER, AND I THINK YOU WILL AGREE. I HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU SOON ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250161

2002 model year · Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2008

Power Train

2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH 81,000 AND TRANNY IS ALREADY ON THE WAY OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249969

2003 model year · 83,998 miles · Nov 26, 2008

Power Train

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I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AROUND 27 OCT 29TH 2008, TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT I PRESUMED WAS PERHAPS A NEEDED TRANSMISSION FLUSH, THE SERVICE MANGER TOLD ME THAT I HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAN GO AT ANY TIME, TWO DAYS, TWO MONTHS OR TWO YEARS, TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME THAT NIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE, HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AAMCO FOR A FREE DIAGNOSTIC, WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT AT A COST RANGING FROM 2500 TO 3500, I THEN CALLED FORDS NATIONAL NUMBER TOLD THEM THAT I AM A (4) TIME EXPLORER OWNER AND ASK IF THERE IS ANY HELP OR ASSISTANCE THAT I CAN RECEIVE FORM FORD, I WAS TOLD THAT FORD WILL HONOR ANY PRICE ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO ME BY ANY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR MY TRANSMISSION, I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT NATIONAL HAD TOLD ME, THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION FOR $2200 OUT OF THE DOOR, LATER THAT DAY THAT NUMBER WAS REDUCED TO $1900, I TOLD AAMCO TO PLEASE MOVE MY VEHICLE TO THE DESIGNATED FORD DEALERSHIP, AFTER ABOUT 5 DAYS I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP TELLING ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS FINISHED AND WAS TEST DRIVEN AND EVERYTHING WAS OK,, THEN IT WAS TEST DRIVEN AGAIN LATER THAT DAY AND A PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED AND NOW THE VALVE BODY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF AN ADDITIONAL $400.00. I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK THEN AFTER ABOUT 10 DAYS I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AGAIN AND THERE WAS LEAK SPOTS ON MY DRIVEWAY, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SOME SEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING, HOWEVER IT IS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I SHOULD REPLACE SOME SORT OF PUMP WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION FOR AND ADDITIONAL $300.....THIS IS THE CLASSIC BAIT AND SWITCH, THEY ARE THE PROFESSIONAL AND SHOULD BE COMPETENT AND EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX A TRANSMISSION. THE $1900 IS NOW $ 2600; I AM DONE WITH FORD AFTER OVER 15 YEARS OF LOYALTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249923

2003 model year · 155,000 miles · Nov 25, 2008

Power Train

O/D LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING, LATER ABS LIGHT ON. AAMCO SAID TRANNY WAS GOING OUT...PROBABLY TORQUE CONVERTER BUT COULD BE SEAL. RECOMMENDED JUNK YARD TRANNY. HE SAID THAT FORD HAD ALL KIND OF TROUBLE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249851

2002 model year · 45,000 miles · Nov 24, 2008

Power Train

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I HAVE A 2002 XLT EXPLORER WITH THE 4WD NOT WORKING. DURING MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT WHEN THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED FOR REPLACEMENT THE 4X4 CM UNIT FAILS AND THE 4WD SYSTEM BECOMES INOP. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND HAS UPGRADED THE MOTOROLA UNIT WITH THE END RESULT COSTING THE CONSUMER $500 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE RUNS IN 4X4 AUTO ADJUSTING THE DRIVETRAIN TO WEATHER CONDITIONS OPTIMIZING THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.. THIS COMPONENT REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE QUALIFIED AS A RE-CALL BY FORD AND THE COST SHOULD NOT EFFECT THE CONSUMER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 EXPLORER VEHICLES AND IS MORE SERIOUS THEN THE FIRESTONE TIRE COMPLAINT. SINCE FORD RECOGNIZES THIS DEFECTIVE MODULE THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I'M SHOCKED THAT THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT CONTROLS THE SAFETY PERFORMANCE OF THE 2002 EXPLORES HAS NOT ALREADY REGISTERED A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249661

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