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

2004 model year · 120,000 miles · Mar 24, 2010

Power Train

Read full complaint

2004 FORD EXPLORER V8 120000 MILES DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT 45MPH NO WARNING OVER DRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON & LOST ALL GEARS. PULLED OVER TURNED CAR OFF RESTARTED IT DROVE 5 FEET SAME PROBLEM. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP THE PULLED CODES & SAID THE SOLINOID PACK INTERNALLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY DID THAT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING. NOW LOOKS LIKE NEEDS A TRANI. I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES UNDER WARRENTY BUT THEY COULD NEVER DUPLICATE IT. NOW ITS NOT UNDER WARRENTY & FORD WONT TAKE CARE OF IT.

NHTSA ODI #10321882

2004 model year · 85,000 miles · Mar 24, 2010

Power Train

GEAR SHIFT LEVER ON THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN BROKE OFF WHEN TRIED TO TAKE IT OUT OF PARK, ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. CHECKING THE INTERNET FOR THIS PROBLEM I SEE IT HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH FORD EXPLORERS, NO HELP THROUGH FORD, A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE. TO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10321863

2006 model year · 60,460 miles · Mar 22, 2010

Fuel System, OtherPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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JUST RECENTLY NOTICED MY 06 FORD EXPLORER HAVING UNEXPECTED ENGINE SURGES. WENT TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION AND IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS FIGHTING ME TO STOP. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I GAVE IT A LITTLE GAS HOWEVER THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO MAINTAIN THAT SPEED LIKE I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. I PURPOSELY DID NOT GIVE THE VEHICLE ANY GAS AND SAW THAT IT JUST KEPT ACCELERATING. FINALLY AFTER BREAKING OUT I BEGAN TO BRAKE AND AGAIN FELT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING. SINCE NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME I WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE VEHICLE DID IF I GAVE IT A LITTLE GAS IN WHICH IT MADE A POPPING SOUND AND DID NOT RESPOND WHEN I GAVE IT MORE GAS BUT THE ENGINE STILL WAS RUNNING. I PULLED OVER AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. I TRIED TO REV THE ENGINE BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON DURING THIS PROCESS. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF THEN ON AGAIN IN WHICH IT SEEMED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. AS I DROVE HOME IT DID FINE EXCEPT WHEN STOPPED AT THE SAME INTERSECTION IT DIED. I STARTED IT AGAIN AND HAD NO PROBLEMS AND I DID MAKE IT HOME. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND MULTIPLE SIMILAR PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THIS VEHICLE HOWEVER NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. I HAVE AN 8 YEAR OLD SON AND DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME WE CANNOT AFFORD TO GET THIS FIXED. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS AT THIS POINT OTHER THAN MAKING A COMPLAINT? PLEASE HELP! I'M A HARD WORKING AMERICAN THAT LIKES TO BUY VEHICLES MADE IN THE USA HOWEVER WE AS A NATION NEED TO HELP OUT WITH THESE ISSUES SO WE ALL CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AMERICAN CAR PURCHASES. THANKS *DT

NHTSA ODI #10321486

2004 model year · 70,000 miles · Mar 21, 2010

Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATE WHEN GOING INTO GEAR THEN SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING,FORD IS WELL AWARE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR REPAIRS. HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS AND ITS A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD EXPLORER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321233

2002 model year · 100,000 miles · Mar 20, 2010

Power Train

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MARCH 17TH, 2010: WIFE CALLS ME AT WORK AND SAYS SHE WAS BRINGING MY DAUGHTER HOME FROM SCHOOL AND THE EXPLORER 2002 TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE O/D LIGHT WAS FLASHING. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME UNTIL I COULD LOOK AT IT. I DROVE IT LATER THAT EVENING AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD HEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. ON MARCH 19TH...I DROVE TO AUTOPARTS STORE AND HAD THEM READ CODE FROM COMPUTER: P0745. I DID ALOT OF RESEARCH AND IT APPEARS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE BAND MAY HAVE BROKEN AND TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPAIRED/REPLACED ($1500-$3000???) I WILL BE CONTACTING FORD ON MONDAY MARCH 22ND, 2010 TO TAKE IT INTO SHOP AND HAVE THEM DETERMINE WHAT THEY THINK IS WRONG. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE... IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING ACCELERATION AND STARTS TO SLOW POSSIBLY CAUSING SOMEONE TO HIT VEHICLE FROM BEHIND. SOMETIMES IT KICKS IT IN ABRUPTLY...JERKING DURING THE GEAR SWITCHING...DANGEROUS!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321214

2002 model year · 100,000 miles · Mar 20, 2010

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

2002 FORD EXPLORER O/D LIGHT FLASHES, THE GEAR SLIPS AND TRUCK LUNGES HARD FORWARD. THIS OCCURS EVERYTIME YOU ACCELERATE INTO 1ST TWO GEARS. DID A SEARCH AND LEARNED IT IS COMMON TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FOR THESE VEHICLES, FORD IS AWARE AND DOES NOTHING TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321202

2002 model year · 65,000 miles · Mar 19, 2010

Power Train

2002 FORD EXPLORER BAD TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321052

2004 model year · 50,000 miles · Mar 19, 2010

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION CONTINUALLY FAILS TO ENGAGE PROPERLY. DELAYED RESPONSE AND HARSH SHIFT IN GEARS. FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA, THERE IS A DELAY AND HARSH ENGAGEMENT. AT FIRST THE INCIDENTS WERE BARELY NOTICEABLE AND LESS FREQUENT. NOW THEY ARE A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND MORE PRONOUNCED. FEARFUL OF COMPLETE FAILURE WHILST ACCELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY/STREET. OFTEN TIMES THERE IS A DELAY SHIFTING INTO DRIVE WHEN REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. HOLDING UP TRAFFIC, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320921

2004 model year · 100,000 miles · Mar 17, 2010

Power Train

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PURCHASED A USED 2004 FORD EXPLORER ON JULY 3, 2006 WITH 53823 MILES. THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED AS REQUIRED AND LOW AND BEHOLD, TO MY RECOLLECTION, AROUND 2008-2009 IT STARTED DRIVING A LITTLE STRANGE, IT STARTED VIBRATING HESITATING. THEN DURING THE BEGINNING OF 2009, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, OD LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, GEARS STARTED STICKING, HARD TO BRAKE AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT IA A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND THAT I WAS NOT ALONE WITH THE PROBLEM. A NEW OR REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS NECESSARY AT A PRICE OF $3-4,000. IF YOU WOULD GO ON THE WEB SITE AT AUTOBEEF. COM, YOU WILL SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS CONSUMERS ARE HAVING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM URGING YOU TO PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL ALL EXPLORERS. I STILL OWE $9000 ON THIS CAR AND CAN NOT DRIVE IT. I BAILED THEM OUT AND THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. DISAPPOINTED AND CONCERNED CONSUMER. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320570

2004 model year · 90,263 miles · Mar 17, 2010

Power Train

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VEHICLE PURCHASED WITH 78,375 MILES - IT WAS PREVIOUSLY A US GOV.'T VEHICLE. REAR-END NOISE NOTICED AND SELLER HAD FORD REPAIR AT A COST OF $1,387.50 - VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES AND BEGAN MAKING SAME NOISE IN REAR-END. DUE TO DISTANCE TO FORD DEALER, VEHICLE WAS CHECKED OUT AT A PRIVATE REPAIR SERVICE. DIAGNOSIS- REAR SEAL FAILED CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO ALL REAR-END PARTS. REPAIRS INCLUDED RING & PINION GEARS AND DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS AT A COST OF $1,429.54 WHEN CONTACTED, FORD STATED THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS WITHIN THE 12,000 MILE, 12 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD, THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE COSTS BECAUSE THE SERVICE WAS NOT DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320432

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