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 · 65,000 miles · Apr 4, 2008

Power Train

2002 FORD EXPLORER - TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 65,000 MILES, IT WAS REBUILD AND FAILED AGAIN. MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS GRINDING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223367

2002 model year · 92,000 miles · Apr 3, 2008

Power Train

TRANSMISSION ERROR CODES, OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLICKERS SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223295

2006 model year · 12,000 miles · Apr 3, 2008

Power Train

Read full complaint

MY 06 EXPLORER HAS BEEN LURCHING EXTREMELY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND VICE VERSA. ITS TO THE POINT THAT WHEN STOPPING I AM COMING LITERALLY WITHIN AN INCH OF HITTING ANOTHER CAR B/C THE CAR STOPS AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. MY CAR IS ALSO REVVING UP FOR NO REASON AT AROUND 3000-4000 RPM WHEN I DON'T EVEN PUSH ON THE GAS, OR BARELY TAP IT! I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS WHILE DRIVING MY SUV. I CAME ACROSS THIS WEBSITE TODAY: CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE 66 OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 EXPLORER MODELS. FORD IS NOT TAKING ANY PROCEDURES INTO GETTING THE VEHICLES RECALLED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY TRUCK, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. THE TRUCKS ARE STILL CONSIDERED VERY NEW AND YET THEY ARE LURCHING AND HAVING A HUGE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE FORD DEALER IN MIAMI, FL THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM AND REPLACED MY BRAKES, YET WHEN I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED! THAT WAS IN NOV 2007. I AM NOW STATIONED IN ANCHORAGE ALASKA AT ELMENDORF AFB AND HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH THE FORD DEALER HERE ON MONDAY. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THERE IS NO PERMANENT FIX OUT THERE FOR THIS PROBLEM, EVERYTHING IS TEMPORARY. SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE TO GET THESE TRUCKS OFF THE ROAD. OBVIOUSLY WE ARE ALL DRIVING HAZARDS WAITING TO HAPPEN!! MY TRUCK IS JOLTING WORSE THAN EVER AND I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223268

2002 model year · Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2008

Power Train

2002 FORD EXPLORER. PULLING OUT ONTO MAJOR HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET OUT OF 2ND GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND SERVICED UP TO FACTORY SUGGESTED STANDARDS. TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID NOTHING EXCEPT SUGGEST A REBUILT FORD TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223146

2002 model year · 35,800 miles · Apr 2, 2008

Power Train

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I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH 34,000 MILES ON IT IN 2003 AND STILL HAVE IT. BEFORE THE FACTORY WARRANTY WAS UP AT 36,000 MILES AND HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANS AND THAT THEY WOULD FIX IT. WITHIN A YEAR LATER I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND THEY FIRST SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I COULDN'T DO WITHOUT A VEHICLE SO I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE IT BACK. ONCE AGAIN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AND I TOOK IT BACK. THIS TIME THEY DID A COMPLETE REHAUL OF THE TRANS AND SAID EVERYTHING SHOULD BE FINE. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME ABOUT 900 DOLLARS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO MORE WARRANTY ON IT AND THE YEAR WARRANTY THEY GAVE ME ON THE FIRST JOB HAD EXPIRED. LUCKILY THEY WORKED WITH ME AND ONLY CHARGED ME A DEDUCTIBLE OF 100. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER THAT THERE WAS A REASON A 1 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 34K MILES ON IT WAS TRADED IN AND AFTER THIS INCIDENT I FOUND OUT. CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS 107,000 MILES ON IT AND THE SAME PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT IN TO SEE WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PROBLEM BECAUSE LABOR ALONE JUST TO LOOK AT IT WILL COST OVER 100 DOLLARS. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD AND I JUST FOUND ABOUT THIS SITE BECAUSE I WAS ONLINE LOOKING UP A PANEL FOR THIS SAME VEHICLE AND NOTICED I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223103

2002 model year · 117,000 miles · Mar 31, 2008

Power Train

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MY TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED DUE TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILING CATASTROPHICALLY, SENDING BITS OF BRASS AND METAL SHAVINGS EVERYWHERE INSIDE AND DESTROYING THE ASSEMBLY. THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS FAILURE WERE AS FOLLOWS: SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, AND THE O/D LIGHT FLASHING VERY RAPIDLY AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES OF DRIVE TIME. UPON AN EXTREMELY SIMPLE INVESTIGATION (GOOGLE SEARCH), I FIND THAT THIS IS A SUSPICIOUSLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS, EVEN THOUGH MY OWN DEALER SAYS HE'S NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE NOW, WHICH WAS ALSO A COMMON THREAD IN THESE COMPLAINTS I FOUND ONLINE. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION SUGGESTED BY THE DEALER IS THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE I'VE FOUND: NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY SAY IT IS TOTALLY DESTROYED INSIDE, THE PIECES OF TORQUE CONVERTER HAVE RUINED VIRTUALLY EVERY PART OF THE TRANNY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222883

2002 model year · 101,000 miles · Mar 30, 2008

Power Train

2002 FORD EXPLORER HAD INITIAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 101,000 MILES. CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY, RUNNING FINE UNTIL O/D INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AND NOW HAS FAILED AT 151,000 MILES. RESEARCH CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM SHOWS THAT MANY CONSUMERS OF…

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NHTSA ODI #10222720

2003 model year · 53,300 miles · Mar 28, 2008

Power Train

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WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SLAM INTO THE GEAR AFTER SOME TIME HAS LAPSED, OR OTHER TIMES IT WON'T MOVE INTO ANY GEAR AND FREEZES IN A NEUTRAL STATE, EVEN WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED INTO DRIVE OR ANY OTHER GEAR, FOR THAT MATTER. THESE EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED AT LEAST SEVERAL TIMES IN THE 1 MONTH PERIOD WE HAVE OWNED IT. PURCHASED IT FROM A DEALER ON 2/24/08 WITH 53,000K MILES ON IT. IT IS CURRENTLY IN A FORD DEALER (1 WEEK SO FAR) FOR SERVICE, BUT THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IF I PICK UP THE VEHICLE NOW THE USED VEHICLE WARRANTY THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE WILL EXPIRE AND WILL NOT COVER THE PROBLEM WHEN IT DOES COMPLETELY FAIL. AFTER READING ALL THE PROBLEMS THESE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE, IT IS INEVITABLE IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. HOPEFULLY, IT WON'T BE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR WORSE YET, WHEN DRIVING WITH MY GRANDKIDS SOMEWHERE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE TOTAL FAILURE OFTEN HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE OTHERWISE DRIVES GREAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222631

2002 model year · 38,500 miles · Mar 27, 2008

Power Train

I JUST HAD TO PURCHASE MY THIRD FORD TRANSMISSION FOR MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER AT A COST OF $3600 TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION I ALSO HAD INSTALLED BY FORD AT A COST OF $3400 38,500 MILES PREVIOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222487

2003 model year · 120,000 miles · Mar 27, 2008

Power TrainSuspension

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE BECOMES LOUDER AS THE VEHICLE TRAVELS FASTER. THE WHINING APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,800. UPDATED 04/14/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BY FORD AT 55,000 MILES DUE TO A DEFECT. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE MAKES EXCESSIVE NOISE WHEN IN GEAR. UPDATED

NHTSA ODI #10222501

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