2004 FORD EXPLORER Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE, WHEN YOU GIVE IT MORE GAS, THEN SUDDENLY SURGE. THIS LATEST INCIDENT, I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A THROTTLE RESPONSE ISSUE, BUT NOW I THINK IT MAYBE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT....THE DEALER PUT SOME FLUID IN THE TRANSMISSION AND RE-CALIBRATED THE THROTTLE. DEALER SAID THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR FORD USED AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. (NO CABLE FROM GAS PEDAL TO THROTTLE BODY.) AFTER READING THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE, SEEMS THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *TR

NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY HAS OCCURRED. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER BINDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK. THE INTERLOCK SOLENOID PIN HAS WORN A GROVE IN THE CAM IN WHICH IT CONTACTS. WHEN SHIFTING FROM ANY GEAR TO PARK, IF YOU RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THE RIGHT TIME THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO FULLY INTO PARK. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN 2004 AND HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION - HARD SHIFTING, SLIPPING, AND DELAYED SHIFTING. I BROUGHT IT BACK MULTIPLE TIMES TO 2 VERY GOOD DEALERS AND THE PROBLEMS REMAINED. THEY REPLACED MY REAR AXLE THREE TIMES BUT SAID BECAUSE THERE WERE NO STORED CODES FROM THE TRANSMISSION, FORD WOULDN'T LET THEM DO ANYTHING ELSE. MY TRANSMISSION KEPT HAVING DELAYED SHIFT AND HARD SHIFT PROBLEMS SO I KEPT BRINGING IT IN TO MY LOCAL DEALER EVEN AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. AFTER 6 TIMES AT 2 DEALERS, IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. I DO NOT BLAME THE DEALERS, AS THEY WERE ONLY TAKING FORD FACTORY DIRECTION. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO MY WARRANTY END, AND WAS ALWAYS TOLD TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER. DURING THOSE CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, I REQUESTED A FORD FACTORY REP CONTACT ME...

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE WORSE VEHICLE FAILURES OUT THERE, BUT THE SHEER FACT THAT SO MANY OWNERS OF MY VEHICLE, 2004 FORD EXPLORER (AND ITS RESPECTIVE BROTHERS: LINCOLN AVIATOR AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER) ARE EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAS LED ME HERE. THE TRANSMISSION IN MY TRUCK IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND AT THE MOMENT I AM ALMOST AFRAID TO HAVE MY WIFE AND OUR 2 CHILDREN RIDE IN IT. THE DELAY IN THE SHIFT CAUSES US TO SLOW SLIGHTLY IN TRAFFIC AND I FEAR (AS DO SO MANY OTHER FORD/MERCURY AND LINCOLN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM) THAT ITS INEVITABLE FAILURE MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. FORD REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH EVERY OWNER IS EXPERIENCING THIS AT THE SAME MILEAGE ON THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE. ONE RECALL, IN 2005 I BELIEVE, ADDRESSED A NEED FOR "SOLENOID ADDITIVE" TO THE TRANSMISSION. MANY FEEL THIS WAS...

I HAVE HAD 2 PROBLEMS WITH MY FORD EXPLORER. 1. CRACK IN THE REAR WINDOW PANEL, FORD WON'T FIX. 2. TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE, HAD TO REPLACE AT MY COST. *TR

PURCHASED USED 2004 EXPLORER XLT 12/6/07 AT 53,000 MILES. APPROX 6 MOS LATER, IT BEGAN HAVING DELAYED SHIFTING AND WOULD JERK INTO REVERSE. AT TIMES I HAD PULLED OUT TOO FAR INTO THE ROAD AND NEEDED TO BACK UP TO AVOID A COLLISION AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SAFELY REVERSE QUICKLY. IT WOULD HESITATE AND THEN JERK INTO REVERSE AT A HIGH SPEED. THE TRANNY WOULD SLIP AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATING. ONCE AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, I HIT THE GAS AND IT REVVED UP AS IF IN NEUTRAL. I PAUSED AND HIT THE GAS AGAIN WITHOUT CHANGING GEARS AND IT REVERSED. THE FIRST DEALER SAID ITS TRANNY FLUID WAS LOW AND THEY TOPPED IT OFF. NO CHANGE. THE SECOND DEALER REPROGRAMMED IT WITH NO CHANGE. THEY REPLACED THE SOLENOID WHICH SEEMED TO FIX THE JERKY SHIFTING AND IMPROPER ACCELERATION. NOW IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE AGAIN, JUST LIKE...

THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE BABIED IT FOR QUITE AWHILE BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAD PLENTY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH IT THAT HAD COST US A LOT OF MONEY AND WE REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO GET THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. WE STILL OWE A LOT ON IT. WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, I SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC AND LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR A SOLUTION. IF YOU GOOGLE "2004 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION", YOU WILL SEE A HUGE LIST OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD HAS THE NERVE TO ASK FOR A BAILOUT WITH MY MONEY, BUT THEY WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR LOUSY PRODUCT!!! THIS IS GOING TO COST ME AT LEAST $2500 TO FIX AND I THINK SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FROM THE START, THEY SHOULD HAVE TO CORRECT IT BEFORE WE START HANDING THEM MONEY. THIS...

PURCHASED 2004 EXP XLT IN 2007 WITH 34,600 MILES. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SAID JERKING INTO REVERSE AND DELAYED SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND + 3RD WAS "NORMAL". FOUND OUT "NORMAL" MEANT THEY ALL DO IT, BUT NOT THAT IT IS CORRECT. A FORD DEALER TOLD ME SOLENOID BODY REPLACEMENT WILL FIX IT. AFTER READING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON-LINE, AM NOT SURE. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS DO NOT WORK (DIDN'T ON THE '94 EITHER) BUT AT LEAST THE SEATS IN THE 94 WERE COMFORTABLE. JUST DO NOT EVER BUY A FORD AGAIN!. A FRIEND HAS EXACTLY THE SAME MODEL WITH EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE. HARD TO BELIEVE FORD DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. BUT IT DOES MAKE IT EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY LIFE-LONG FORD OWNERS WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER ONE. MY FROEND SAID THEY ONLY OFFERED HIM $3200 FOR HIS 2004 EXP XLT ON...

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6. ON 2/9/2009, I LEFT MY WORKPLACE AT ABOUT 6PM AND WITHIN ABOUT 1/4 MILE MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. I SHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR AND IT DID NOT SLIP. WITHIN ABOUT 1 MILE AFTER SHIFTING TO 3RD, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. WITHIN ABOUT 5 MILES THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL, WHILE I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A CAUSEWAY! I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF. TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON, PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED. I CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 1 MILE, AND DRIVE STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. I PUT IT INTO 3RD, OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 5 MILES THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO...

THERE ARE MANY KNOW PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. I HAVE MADE REPAIRS TO MANY 5R55 SERIES TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY ARE ALL DEFECTIVE IN A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS. I SPENT 5 YEARS AT FORD REPAIRING THESE PROBLEMS AND NOW MY PERSONAL VEHICLE IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE. THE ONLY PROPER REPAIR FOR THIS IS THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF SAID PART. ALTHOUGH THE REPLACEMENT PART IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE A FAILED UNIT FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM (SEEN ON MANY COMPLAINT WEBSITES.) SOLENOID BODY NEEDS REPAIR AT 75,000 MILES ON CAR THAT HAS DILIGENTLY HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THIS CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO SLIP HARD IN REVERSE AND IN TRANSITION BETWEEN GEARS. IT HAPPENED ONCE AND ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT. NO AUTOMOBILE NEEDS TO HAVE THIS REPLACED UNDER 150,000 MILES. THIS COSTS $1,100 TO FIX (5 HOURS OF LABOR AND THE PART IS $525.) THE PRICE OF THE PART IS RIDICULOUS. TAKE CARE. *TR

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. SHIFTING HAS BEEN HARSH AND SPORADIC SINCE NEARLY NEW. HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL NOW (JAN, 2009) 67,000 MILES WHEN IT BECAME UN-DRIVABLE. TOOK TO FORD DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND THEY RECOMMEND A NEW TRANNY. FURTHER RESEARCH, ONLINE AND WITH OTHER OWNERS, MAKES IT OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A COMMON, WELL KNOWN PROBLEM POSSIBLY HAVING TO DO WITH INCORRECT TRANNY FLUID INSTALLED WHEN NEW. FORD SAYS NO RECALL, NO WARRANTY, AND PROVIDES NO RELIEF. THIS IS CRIMINAL. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 EXPLORER LIMITED WITH 18,000 MILES. AT 28,000 MILES THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION PER FORD TO ELIMINATE A LARGE "THUD" WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR AWHILE BUT RETURNED. TODAY AT 78,000 THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND THE DEALERSHIP STATES IT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. EXTENDED WARRANTY PROVIDER REFUSES TO COVER THE WORK. I HAVE READ THAT FORD INSTALLED THE WRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID AT THE FACTORY AS WELL. BOTTOM LINE IS THE FORD TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE AND EVERYONE KNOWS IT. HOW ABOUT A LITTLE JUSTICE HERE FOR THE CONSUMER? *TR

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO I NOTICES THAT MY EXPLORER MADE A WEIRD HUMMING SOUND WHEN I REMOVE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS GOING DOWNHILL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I ALSO GET THE HARD/CLUNK SHIFT SOUND WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITH A COUPLE SECOND DELAY. IT TAKES LONGER THEN NORMAL FOR VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AS IF THE TRUCK IS HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING ITSELF. WHALING CITY FORD IN NEW LONDON CT SAID PROBLEM WAS THAT WE HAVE TWO TIRES THAT ARE A BIT SMALLER THEN THE REST AND PROCEEDED TO TRY TO SELL US FOUR NEW TIRES. I TOOK IT FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THE AUTO SHOP ACTUALLY SPENT TIME ON MY VEHICLE AND SAID THAT OUR TIRES ARE FINE, IT IS THE TRANNY. HOW CAN FORD GET AWAY WITH THIS AND WHAT IS MY RECOURSE SINCE SO MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE? *TR

BLINKING O/D LIGHT, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, PARK TO REVERSE GEAR SLIPPAGE, FIRST TO SECOND GEAR SLIPPAGE. *TR

I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN 2004 AND HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE, BUT IT HASN'T RETURNED THE FAVOR. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT FORD SAYS THAT THEY ALL DO IT AND WON'T FIX IT. MY TAILGATE CRACKED NEXT TO THE FORD SYMBOL, ONCE AGAIN WON'T FIX IT. MY PAINT ON MY HOOD IS PEELING OFF. I ONLY HAVE 50,000 EASY MILES ON IT BUT LOOKING AT IT AND DRIVING IT YOU WOULD THINK THAT IT HAD 150,000 ON IT. I WILL NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN! *TR

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, RPM'S RACING BEFORE ENGAGING INTO GEARS. HARD CLUNK WHEN SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD. LOSING POWER WHILE WAITING FOR SHIFTS TO ENGAGE. *TR

OF THE NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE, THE WORST IS THE TRANSMISSION (40,000 MILES ). SAME OLD STORY. STARTED WITH CLUNKING AND HESITATION AND SURGING WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND NOW IS 'CLUNKING' INTO GEARS 2 AND 3 DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE REAR WINDOW PANEL HAS A VERTICAL CRACK TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD SYMBOL THAT JUST MYSTERIOUSLY OCCURRED EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T EVEN USE THE WINDOW. THE TRUCK STALLS WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS APPLIED BELOW 45 MILES AN HOUR. MY WIFE AND I REALLY LOVED THIS TRUCK BUT LIKE MANY OTHERS WE HAVE BECOME EMBARRASSED BY OUR PURCHASE. IF THIS KIND OF FRAUD WERE TO OCCUR WITH ANY OTHER PRODUCT WE WOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF RECOURSE BUT NOT SURPRISINGLY THE MOTOR COMPANY'S SEEM TO ENJOY A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PROTECTION. THE 'BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU' WON'T EVEN...

I HAVE HAD MANY, MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. PROBABLY THE MOST DANGEROUS ONE IS THE RECURRING FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS LAST TIME THAT THIS OCCURRED I WAS ON INTERSTATE-85, IN MORNING RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY RPM'S ARE FLYING TO THE RED DANGER AREA AND I HAVE NO ACCELERATION POWER AND AM LOSING SPEED. THERE IS AN 18-WHEELER ON MY REAR AND I CAN'T PICK UP SPEED! LUCKILY, I WAS APPROACHING AN EXIT AND MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AND ONTO A LESS TRAVELED ROAD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE ENDURED THIS SCENARIO. ONCE AGAIN THE SOLENOID IS GONE, WITH REPAIRS ESTIMATED AT $1255.00. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED AT 32,567 MILES, AND I NOW HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN AT 76,725 MILES. I...

BOUGHT CAR WITH 9K MILES ON IT, TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR IN REVERSE CAUSING CAR TO JUMP BACKWARDS, CALLED DEALER STATED KNEW WHAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. 40K MILES LATER IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN, MORE SEVERE AND JERKING FORWARD WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST HIT PEDESTRIAN, COULD NOT CONTROL. DEALER STATES OUT OF WARRANTY WILL NOT FIX. INFORMED THEM THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM, WORK IS FAULTY. MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS ON-LINE WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. CAR IS NOW JERKING MORE VIOLENTLY CAUSING THE WHEELS TO SCREECH WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. DOES THERE NEED TO BE A DEATH OR INJURY IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THIS? *TR

THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. MY 2004 EXPLORER HAD SHIFTING PROBLEMS AT THE 2-21/2 YEAR MARK. IT WAS LIMPED THROUGH BY REPLACING THE SOLENOID. NOW AT 42/3 YEARS (OUT OF WARRANTY) IT IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING AND SUDDENLY NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THE 41,000 MILE MARK. I FEEL FORD HAS A CLEAR PROBLEM BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND I AM SURE THAT IS A SMALL FRACTION OF THE PROBLEM AS MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW TO COMPLAIN. FORD HAS PUT BANDAIDS ON THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE WARRANTY IS UP, THEN THE CONSUMER GETS STUCK. WHILE THIS MAY NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION/ DESIGN FLAW AND CONSUMERS NEED TO BE COMPENSATED. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE SOMETHING RECALLED? DOES A LIFE HAVE TO BE LOST? THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE LEMONS AND THE CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF....

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER ON 7/14/2008 I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER SHIP DUE TO MY O/D LIGHT FLASHING. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION $3,200.00 DOLLARS SO THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION,I PICKED UP MY EXPLORER ON 7/28/2004 AND ONLY DROVE IT 30 MILES AND THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AGAIN AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PASSING GEARS. NOW THIS IS A NEW TRANSMISSION THE DEALER SHIP WAS CONTACTED AND THEY NOW HAVE MY VEHICLE AGAIN SO NOW I WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE OUT COME IS AGAIN. *TR

(1) FORD RECALL 5R55S/5R55E/5R443 TRANSMISSIONS APRIL 04 2005. 04B22 FORD EXPLORER XLT (2) REPAIR INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO ACTION FORD MERCURY, HARTSVILLE, SC. ON 10/23/06 WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT I WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THESE REPAIRS. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE BACK TO ACTION FORD MERCURY (4) TIMES, FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. (SEE ATTACHMENTS),10/11/04, 06/08/05. OBVIOUSLY, WITH (4) REPAIRS , SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE. BOTH STATEMENTS REFERENCE SOLENOID REPLACEMENT. THIS TRANSMISSION OBVIOUSLY HAS A 'FACTORY DEFECT', AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED ONCE AND FOR ALL, OR REPLACED. EXPECTING A CUSTOMER TO CONTINUOUSLY BRING A VEHICLE BACK IN FOR REPAIRS, FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS, EVEN ONLY PAYING DEDUCTIBLE PAYMENTS IS LUDICROUS. I ALSO TALKED IN LENGTH WITH THE ACTION FORD MERCURY SERVICE MANAGER, 'RICHARD', AND HE...

PURCHASED MY FORD EXPLORER JAN 2004. PROBLEM WITH SHIFTING OCCURRED JUNE 29TH 2004. ONE YEAR LATER 2005, THE PROBLEM WORSEN, WITH SLIPPING AND HARD SHIFTING AT THE SAME TIME. FORD IS NOT BACKING THE EXPLORER AT ALL AND WE THE PEOPLE WITH THESE SAME COMPLAINTS NEED HELP, OR ALL OF OUR MONEY BACK FROM THE VEHICLE, SINCE THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE FIXED. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN NOVEMBER 2006 WITH 16,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES, I NOTICED THAT IT SHIFTED HARD GOING INTO 3RD GEAR AS I ACCELERATED. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD REV UP, THEN SHIFT WITH A THUD. I DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE HARD. THIS WAS NOTICED DURING NORMAL IN TOWN DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. AT 38,000 MILES I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED (AS MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE). I EXPLAINED THE SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION PROBLEM IN DETAIL. THEY REPORTED THAT THIS WAS WITHIN THE SPECS FOR THIS TRUCK. THAT IT WAS NORMAL ACCELERATION. IT IS NOW 54,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL, THEN CLUNKS AND GRABS THE NEXT GEAR. THERE IS ALSO A DELAY AND CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. I'VE JUST TAKEN IT IN AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED....

2004 FORD EXPLORER, STILL HAS HARSH SHIFT FROM PARK TO REAR, HAVE TO PRESS BRAKE HARD SO CAR DOES NOT JERK WHEN SHIFTING TO REAR, FLUID WAS REPLACED BY FORD DEALER 2 YEARS AGO BUT HARSH SHIFTING NEVER ADDRESSED SINCE IT WAS ON AND OFF 2 YEARS AGO, PRESENTLY HAPPENS MUCH MORE OFTEN. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER. GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF IN MY HAND WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. TRANSMISSION INDICATOR STUCK BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. VEHICLE COULD START BUT NOT MOVE. KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF AT METAL CAST INSIDE COLUMN. TOWED TO FORD DEALER. NEEDS ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED TO FIX THIS PART, COST OVER $1000. OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM DUE TO DEFECTIVE PART. CALLED FORD HQ, BUT NO HELP WITH COVERING REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

WE PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 LITER V6 APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO (46,000 MILES). SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT HARD FROM "PARK" INTO "REVERSE". THE VEHICLE ALSO SHIFTS HARD WHILE IN MOTION. IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. MECHANIC ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $600.00 IN PARTS, AND APPROXIMATELY $800.00 IN LABOR. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW LONG THE TRANSMISSION WILL LAST UNTIL COMPLETE FAILURE. I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS THAT IT MAY FAIL AS WE ARE ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 EDDIE BAUER 4.0 LITER EXPLORER. THE PREVIOUS OWNER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK FOR ALL RECALLS, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. THIS INCLUDED A COMPLETE TRANS FLUID FLUSH EVEN THOUGH THE FORD STATES THE 1ST MAINT. ON TRANNY IS 100 K MILES, CHANGED THE FRONT SEAL THAT SUPPOSEDLY "CORRODES IN THE PRESENCE OF THE OLD TRANSMISSION FLUID', AND HAD THE SOLENOID BODY CHANGED TO CORRECT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AGAIN AT 34,000 MILES. IT SHIFTS ERRATICALLY AND FEELS UNUSUAL WHILE DRIVING IN FORWARD, AND ONCE WARMED UP AND AT A STOP, WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, THERE IS A 1 TOO 2 SECOND PAUSE AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VIOLENTLY INTO REVERSE. MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT TRANNY WILL EAT ITSELF UP. IN SHORT ALL PREVENTABLE MAINT. AND RECALLS HAVE BEEN DONE ON CAR TO AVOID PROBLEM, AND YET AT 34K...

FORD EXPLORER 2004 - BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2004 MY FORD EXPLORER STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS AFTER 1 YEAR I BOUGHT IT. FORD DEALER FIXED IT BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CLAIMED THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE 1 YEAR AFTER THE FIX WAS MADE AND WENT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE AND IT WILL COST ME AROUND 1400 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I DID NOT HAVE THEM FIX IT AND FIGURED THAT I CALL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO GET THIS FIXED FOR FREE. THAT DID NOT GET ME ANYWHERE. THIS WAS BACK IN 2006 OR 2007 AND I AM STILL HAVING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A MECHANICAL HAZARD BECAUSE A FAILED TRANSMISSION DRIVING ON A FREEWAY CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT. I HAVE A WIFE, A 4 YEAR OLD AND A 1 YEAR OLD AND...

I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER LAST YEAR. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PURCHASE BUT AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW WHEEL BEARING. A FEW MONTHS AGO I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND WAS TOLD THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS ISSUES. A LOUD ROAR AS I DRIVE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO I HEARD THE FAMILIAR SOUND OF ANOTHER WHEEL BEARING TALKING TO ME. I PICK MY DAUGHTER UP EVERYDAY FROM SCHOOL AND RELY ON THIS VEHICLE TO BE FUNCTIONING IN A SAFE MANNER. I RESEARCHED A BIT AND FOUND COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT REGARDING THESE ISSUES. I CAN SEE THAT THIS COMPLAINT IS OLD NEWS BUT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND AN ON GOING PROBLEM. IT IS NOT CHEAP EITHER! I AM DISGUSTED WITH THIS CAR AND DEMAND THIS WIDESPREAD ISSUE BE RESOLVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. JOSEPH SULLIVAN *TR

PURCHASED 2004 FORD EXPLORER USED WITH 9K MILES ON IT. IMMEDIATELY NOTICED STRONG JERKING MOVEMENT WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE. DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM, STATED IT WAS COMMON. NOW 43K MILES, SAME PROBLEM; MUCH STRONGER. I'M NOTICING THIS JERKING WHILE DRIVER FORWARD AS WELL. ON OCCASION THE CAR WILL JUST JUMP FORWARDED AS IF SOMEONE WAS JUMPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I'VE READ SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, SOME WITH INJURIES ON WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM; OVER 197 COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. FORD NEED TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES PEOPLE ARE BEING QUOTED OVER $3K TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I WENT TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE SO I COULD BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. IT WAS DANGLING BY SOME SORT OF CORD. I COULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK, AND COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUT THE PARKING BRAKE ON. I'VE HAD THREE MECHANICS LOOK AT IT, AND ALL OF THEM SAID THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BREAK. IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1100 TO FIX, BECAUSE A WHOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE ORDERED FROM FORD. I CONTACTED FORD VIA EMAIL, AND THEY ARE NOT ISSUING A RECALL AT THIS TIME, WHICH I THINK IS UNACCEPTABLE GIVEN HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS. *TR

PURCHASED A NEW 2004 FORD EXPLORER AUTOMATIC V6 IN NOV 04. OCCASIONALLY WHEN SHIFTING IN REVERSE, ENGINE WOULD GIVE A "HARD" JERK. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, STOPPED(ESPECIALLY) IF ROADS WERE WET, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED FORWARD, VEHICLE TIRES-GOOD TIRES/EVEN WEAR,ROTATED REGULARLY AND/OR VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE CONTROL AS ENGINE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE FORWARD. ALWAYS A VERY ANNOYING NOISE IN REAR RIDING AS PASSENGER. BUT IT TO DEALER @ BEGINNING, CHECKED IT OUT UNDER WARRANTY, NOE VEHICLE HAS A LITTLE OVER"75930". DROVE IT FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER, PARKED IT, NEXT DAY DROVE IT < THAN A 1/4 MILE TO STORE, SHOPPED, RETURNING HOME THE "TRANSMISSION" GAVE A VERY LOUD NOISE, GRINDING AND A HARD JERK, ENOUGH TO HURT ONE DRIVING OR PASSENGER'S BACKS. 2ND GEAR UNABLE TO ENGAGE, RPM RACE TO 4000 2ND GONE! FORD DEALER QUOTES A REPAIR(REBUILT) @ $3555.0+TAXES @ RATE OF "$100.00" AN HOUR = LABOR NEARLY A...

TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING HARD THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED IN 2004. NOW THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT AT ALL AND THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IS NOT DRIVABLE. I ASKED THE FORD DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE SHIFTING PROBLEM WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASE AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THAT THEY COULD FIND. *TR

OUR VEHICLE ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS SUCCUMB TO AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION AFTER WARRANTED FACTORY REPAIR FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT WHILE DRIVING AND BASICALLY LEAVES YOU COASTING WITHOUT SPEED CONTROL DURING A REGULAR SHIFT INTERVAL. *TR

IN FEB. 2004 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW EXPLORER. ABOUT 6 MONTHS INTO OWNERSHIP THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS WITH A DELAY IN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED IT WAS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, WHICH THE DEALER DID REPLACE. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I TOOK THE EXPLORER BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE SAME PART AGAIN. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE SO I WAS FORCED TO TAKE IT BACK AGAIN IN DECEMBER OF 2006 TO THE DEALER. THEY PROCEED TO TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED, TWICE. THIS TIME THEY TELL ME MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. WELL IT SEEMS TO ME IF IT WAS REPAIRED CORRECTLY THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME THEN IT...

PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER NEW AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SOON AFTER PURCHASE. NOT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE PROPERLY. TOOK THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BACK TO DEALERSHIP. RECEIVED TRANSMISSION ADDITIVE RECALL AND TOOK VEHICLE BACK AGAIN. ABOUT 5,000 MILES AFTER ADDITIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WORSENED. SOLENOID REPLACE AT 20,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 35,000 WITH OTHER TRANSMISSION PARTS REPLACED. NOW AT 59,000 MILES OF USE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY GONE AND MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

MY VEHICLE WHEN PUT IN REVERSE WILL HESITATE THEN ENGAGE APPROX. 30 SEC. LATER AS IF REARENDED. WHEN I AM IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATE MY 04 EXPLORER XLT WILL HESITATE THEN ENGAGED. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED A USED FORD EXPLORER XLT FROM A DEALER AND TOOK FOR TEST DRIVE SEEMED OK PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE NEXT DAY UPON DRIVING THAT THE TRANSMISSION GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OUT OF MY GARAGE TOOK A FEW SECONDS BEFORE CLUNCKING INTO GEAR ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT MY GARAGE I TOOK TO MY MECHANIC WHICH HE CHANGED OUT MY FLUID ADDING THE ADDITIVE THAT HE NEW WAS REQUIRED HE OWNS A TRANS SHOP AND IS VERY REPUTABLE HE STATED ABOUT THE RECALL ALSO HE CHECKED MY DIFFERENTIALS IN FRONT AND REAR AND NOTICED REAR WAS ALL FULL OF SILVER SHAVINGS WE CHANGED OUT FLUIDS ALSO BUT THE SHIFTING AND VIBRATING STILL IS OCCURRING I DID PURCHASE A FULL WARRANTY AND AFTER READING ALL THE NEGATIVE PRESS ON THIS SITE I HOPE THE PURCHASE OF A FORD VEHICLE AND WARRANTY WAS WORTH THE MONEY. *TR

SINCE OWNING THE CAR, IT HAS HAD TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE IT WILL SUDDENLY LURCH BACKWARDS. CAUSING THE CAR TO MOMENTARILY LOOSE CONTROL. IT IS A CONCERN WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACES, AND COULD POTENTIALITY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID AND A FEW GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

HI! MY 2004 FOR EXPLORER HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR OVER 3 YEARS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WHILE UNDER WARRANTY MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE DEALER DOING LITTLE TO SATISFY ME OR ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO A POINT THAT IT HAS BECOME A PUBLIC HAZARD TO DRIVE. IT SEEMS TO JUMP IN AND OUT OF GEAR AS IT WISHES WITH A CLUNKING SOUND, ESPECIALLY WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS PAST WEEK AFTER BEING ADVISED TO DO SO WHEN I CALLED FORD'S 1-800 NUMBER AND THEY ARE SUGGESTING THAT I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CATCH IS THAT MY SUV IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AT ONLY 46K MILES. BEAR IN MIND THEY FAILED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE IN THE PAST. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT WITH THIS...

2004 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILURE, SHIFT SLIPPAGE, DELAYED ACCELERATION. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER AND IN 2006 I HAD TO HAVE THE SOLENOID SHIFTERS REPLACED IN MY VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THE 2004 EXPLORER MODEL. MY VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WILL TAKE THIS COMPLAINT AND RESEARCH FOR YOURSELF THE MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND PLACE A GOVERNMENT RECALL CORRECT THE MATTER ONCE AND FOR ALL. IT IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO HESITATE BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR IN MY CASE. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE SERIOUS ISSUES WHILE AT HIGH SPEEDS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANKS. *CN

1 - TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD INTO REVERSE. STARTING HAPPENING AT APPROX. 11K MILES. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE UNDER WARRANTY TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE, BUT STILL SHIFTED HARD. ONE REPAIR AT 11K AND ONE REPAIR AT 34K. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS 'NORMAL' BY DEALER (BERGSTROM FORD OF NEENAH). HOWEVER, AFTER REPEATED COMPLAINTS, DEALER (BERGSTROM FORD OF NEENAH) MADE REPAIRS THAT THEY BELIEVED WOULD HELP RESOLVE THE ISSUE. ISSUE NEVER WENT AWAY. 2 - COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 67K. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. COULD NO BACK OUT OF A PARKING STALL AT A RETAIL STORE. TOOK TO FORD DEALER (LES STUMPF FORD) AND GOT NO ASSISTANCE. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. NO ASSISTANCE FROM FORD TO MAKE REPAIRS. *TR

TOOK CAR BACK TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM, COMPLAINED OF A ROUGH SHIFT INTO REVERSE, TECHNICIAN SAID NORMAL WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER IN CITY WHERE I WORK THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. 20000 MILES LATER AND 18 MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM DIAGNOSED, NOT IN WARRANTY ANY LONGER I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY GAVE ME A DECISION THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. THIS SAME PROBLEM APPEARS AT LEASE 3 TIMES ON YOUR WEBSITE AS SERVICE BULLETINS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE CONTACT'S HOME. WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALER AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN EACH GEAR, BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. WHEN IT ARRIVED, THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AND DROVE BACKWARDS. WHEN THE GEAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, IT DROVE FORWARD. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE SHIFT INDICATOR AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN IT WAS TEST DRIVEN. FOUR DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TRANSMISSION IS MAKING NOISES WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BACK AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,578. UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB

ON MY EXPLORER IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 5 OCCASIONS NOW FOR THE TRANSMISSION. DELAYED ENGAGEMENT WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, SOMETIMES FEELING AS IF SOMEONE HAS REAR ENDED ME. ON THE FIRST TRIP IN AN ADDITIVE WAS ADDED TO THE TRANSMISSION, SECOND TRIP THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK WAS REPLACED, THIRD TRIP THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK WAS REPLACED, FOURTH TRIP THE DEALER COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND THE FIFTH TRIP THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE REPRODUCED. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS IS WHAT THE TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO DO. 1 DAY AFTER GETTING MY EXPLORER BACK SAME ISSUE. I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH AND CHANGING GEARS, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED. WHEN REVERSE IS ENGAGED, THERE WAS A DELAY, A HARD NOISE AND DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,000.

FORD HAS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2004 EXPLORER. SIMILAR TO THOUSANDS OF OTHERS,WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR 5 - 10 SECONDS AND THEN BANGS INTO GEAR WITH A SUDDEN POWER SURGE. WE'VE BARELY MANAGED TO AVOID HITTING THE HOUSE AND OTHER VEHICLES. A "REPAIR" JUST COST US ~$900. FORD CLAIMS NO KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM. WHAT A JOKE! *JB