2004 FORD EXPLORER Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AFTER IT HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND FIVE SECONDS LATER IT JERKED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE BANGS, YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL IT. WAS IN SHOP, AND FFOUND NOTHING WRONG. OCCURRED OCCAISIONALLY, NOW ALOT! NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT 5,000 MILES AGO. I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL IN A NEWER CAR.

OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS A SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. ONCE THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES THERE IS A LOUD AND HARD "CLUNK". THE DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID AND ESTIMATES THIS REPAIR WILL COST ~$900. *JB

AT 50,000 MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT DOES A SLAMMING WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE. THE BRAKE HAS TO BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM LURCHING INTO ANYONE OR ANYTHING. IT ALSO HAS A SLIPPING AND JERKING WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO 2ND AND AGAIN WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO 3RD. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE.*JB

HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2004/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_SLIPPING_SHIFTS_HARD.SHTML. VIEW THIS WEBSITE. I TOO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT 10000 MILES. I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN BACKING AGAIN. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. I DID NOT REALIZE THE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM UNTIL I SAW THE RECENT COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB-SITE FOR THIS VEHICLE'S YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. THIS WA S A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE AND OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATORS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE CYLINOID CIRCUIT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 41,124 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD BANGING NOISE, HESITATED, AND THEN LUNGED INTO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

THERE IS A LAG BETWEEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE CAR ACTUALLY GOING BACKWARDS. WHEN IT DOES BACK UP THE CAR JERKS BACKWARDS AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. IT ALSO DOES THIS WHEN CHANGING GEARS WHILE DRIVING. THIS STARTED RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS HAS NOT HELPED. IF FACT AS THE CAR AGES, IT IS GETTING WORSE. *AK

AFTER ONE MONTH OF PURCHASING MY EXPLORER IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS GOING INTO REVERSE AND ALSO SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING. WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IT WILL JERK WITH A LOUD BANG OR CLANK AND THEN SURGE. IT CONTINUES TO GET MORE FREQUENT. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT HITTING ANOTHER CAR OR EVEN WORSE A PERSON. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD ASKING THAT I TAKE TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE GOING TO ADD SOME ADDITIVE TO THE TRANSMISSION. I DID RETURN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SERVICED THE SUV. IT DID SHIFT CORRECTLY FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH, BUT THEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS OR RECALLS FROM FORD. I FIND THIS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN I SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO OWN EXPLORERS. I WANT FORD...

TRANSMISSION IS SLOPPY WHEN SHIFTING IN GENERAL, SOMETIMES HAS LAG TIME WHEN SHIFTING FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE AND A CLUNKING NOISE CAN OCCUR. DEALER HAD INVESTIGATED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MINOR ADJUSTMENTS HELPING TO REDUCE ABOUT 50-75% OF THE ISSUE. *JB

DELAYED SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND REVERSE TO DRIVE, SOMETIMES 10 SECONDS TO CATCH GEAR. HARD SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, SLAMS INTO GEAR. CLUNKING WHEN PARKING OR WHEELS AT FULL LOCK. *NM

AUTO-TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE THEN LUNGES ONCE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED. WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD SOMETIMES WHILE IN DRIVE. FORD SERVICE SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES. VEHICLE NOW HAS ALMOST 36,000 MILES AND PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. ENGINE DIES WHEN TRAVELING LOW SPEEDS AND USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. EACH TIME I TRY TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN TRAVELING 40 MPH OR LESS THE ENGINE DIES. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN YOUR DRIVING ALONG THEN SUDDENLY YOU LOSE POWER TO THE STEERING AND BRAKES BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS DIED! THE SEATS ARE ALSO PROBLEMATIC. THE 2 BACK SEATS FOLD DOWN. BOTH OF THE RELEASE MECHANISMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ONE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. BOTH HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF TWICE. THE LEATHER...

WITHIN A WEEK OF BUYING MY 2004 EXPLORER I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF REVERSE. I ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOUD "CLANG" WHILE DOING STEADY INTERSTATE DRIVING (OVER 200 MILES). OVER TIME TRANSMISSION SHIFTING BECAME SLUGGISH, UNTIMELY, AND LOUD. A RECALL WAS RECEIVED AND A TRANSMISSION ADDITIVE WAS ADDED. PROBLEMS CONTINUED WITH THE TRANSMISSION (SAME AS NOTED ABOVE). IN JUNE '06- DEALERSHIP REPLACED SOME PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION (UNDER WARRANTY). FIVE MONTHS LATER, I'M CONTINUING WITH PROBLEMS. LOUD "CLANG" DURING LONG ROAD TRIP. JERKY, HESITANT SHIFTING CONTINUES. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE DURING 30 MILE TEST DRIVE. CAR STALLED IN PARKING LOT THIS WEEK, JERKY MOTION CONTINUES GOING UP STEEP INCLINE AND LOUD "CLANG" EXISTS ON LONG ROADTRIP. WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO RUN OUT IN ABOUT 400 MILES. I HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE CENTER RESULTING IN...

PURCHASED THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN SYRACUSE, NY IN THE FALL OF 2004. WE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AND HAD THE SERVICE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO THE DEALER TO FIX A CONTINUING PROBLEM ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND WHEN GOING UP HILL, ON OCCASION. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION ALSO CONTINUES TO MAKE A "CLUNKING" NOISE AND PHYSICALLY LURCHES ON OCCASION WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 - 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE IS WITHIN A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRATION AND FORD HAS STILL NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE FORD MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND THEY HAVE ONLY OFFERED TO SELL US AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE LOCAL DEALER SERVICE MANAGER DID INDICATE THAT HE IS AUTHORIZED TO OFFER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 75,000 MILES AT NO COST, BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT IN...

THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT AWD REQUIRED A SIGNIFICANT REPAIR IN 7/05 AT 11,311 MILES BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. DEALER REPLACED SHIFT SOLENOID AND REFILLED FLUID. DEALER ESTIMATED THAT COST TO REPLACE SHIFT SOLENOID WAS $3,500 BUT IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM RECURRED AND IN DECEMBER 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILES, MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN SHE BACKED INTO A PARKED CAR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE SHIFT SOLENOID A SECOND TIME. *JB

WHEN THE EXPLORER IS PUT IN REVERSE IT TAKES UP TO 5 SECONDS TO ENGAGE AND THEN JERKS BACKWARDS AFTER MAKING A LARGE CLUNKING NOISE. U JOINTS AND WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.

WE HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH 41,000 MILES. IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED, UNIVERSAL BALL JOINT REPLACED, WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED, PARKING BRAKE REPLACED. ALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALER. ON THE EVENING OF 11/21/06, WE WERE LEAVING MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL AND I GOT IN THE VEHICLE TO BACK THE CAR UP A FEW FEET SO THAT MY WIFE WOULD NOT HAVE TO STEP IN THE MUD. I STARTED THE CAR, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE (FOOT ON BRAKE), AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO MOVE THE CAR A FEW FEET, IT SURGED BACKWARDS, LIKE A CANNON BALL IN REVERSE; IT CRASHED INTO A NEON, WHICH WAS PARKED 6 FEET FROM OUR CAR, SENT THE NEON FLYING ABOUT 15 FEET INTO ANOTHER CAR; (THE NEON'S FRONT END WAS CRUSHED). I FELT I HAD NO CONTROL OVER...

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE JUMPED. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND PROPERLY TO THE DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

SHIFTING FROM "DRIVE" TO "REVERSE" TRANSMISSION ENGAGES HARSHLY. *NM

2004 EXPLORER HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AND WINDOWS. *TS THREE MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THEE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED AND THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN. THE REAR HATCH DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLAM INTO GEAR. THE ROTORS VIBRATED IN THE REAR. CONSUMER HEARD A HOWLING NOISE AT 40-55 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RING AND PINION. NM

DELAYED HARSH REVERSE ENGAGEMENTS

WHEN MOVING GEAR SELECTOR FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND SOMETIMES DRIVE, THERE IS A LAG OF ABOUT 3 TO 5 SECONDS AND THEN A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A POWER SURGE OF VEHICLE GOING INTO GEAR. WORRIED TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AGAIN. TOOK IN FOR REPAIRS SAME ON SAME INCIDENT THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED. AND GUESS WHAT, I BELIEVED THEM. *JB

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AFTER JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO ADD AN ADDITIVE TO THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN IN 2 MORE TIMES FOR THIS AND THIS FRIDAY I JUST GOT IT BACK FROM TRANSMISSION REPAIR ONLY TO GO OUT AND FIND TRANNY FLUID ALL OVER MY GARAGE (70 MILES AFTER THEY FIXED IT AGAIN) I ALSO HAD THE STARTER GO OUT IN IT AND NOW THEY STILL CANT FIND WHAT IS CAUSING IT...(LIKELY STORY). *NM

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER (44,000 MILES). I WAS HAVING MY AC FIXED AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHEN THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS AN OIL ADDITIVE THAT NEEDED TO BE PUT INTO MY TRANSMISSION TO PREVENT HESITATION AND SLIPPING DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. 6 MONTHS LATER I BEGAN EXPERIENCING HARSH ENGAGEMENT WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AS WELL SLIPPING IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (WORLD FORD) WHERE THE WORK WAS DONE AND THEY EXPLAINED I MIGHT NEED TO INSTALL A SOLENOID INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT WOULD COST ME $900.00. KNOWING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM THE MANUFACTURER I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING. FORD CORPORATE RAN ME AROUND FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS (HANGING UP THE PHONE, PLACING ME ON HOLD FOR A LONG TIME AND...

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4 WHICH RECENTLY HAD TO BASICALLY HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT SIMPLY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. SINCE THE WARRANTY IS EXCEEDED IN MILEAGE I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS, WHICH TOTALED $1652.78. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST UNDER 56,000 MILES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY HELP WITH INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF INFO, I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A 2002 EXPLORER THAT HAD THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM. I DO NOT FIND THAT TO BE COINCIDENTAL! AND HER VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO HER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS AND MADE CLUNKING NOISES. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE HUMMING SOUNDS FROM THE ENGINE WHILE ACCELERATED OVER 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER.

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR IN 8/12/05 BECAUSE THE AC STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO WORLD FORD OF KENDALL IN MIAMI, FL ONE OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES ASKED ME IF HOW MY TRANSMISSION WAS WORKING AND AT THE TIME IT WAS FINE. UPON RECEIVING MY CAR BACK ON 8/16/05 THE AC WAS FIXED AND MY RECEIPT STATED THE AC WAS FIXED BUT IT ALSO MENTIONED SOMETHING REGARDING A RECALL IN MY TRANSMISSION. THE RECEIPT SAID THERE WAS AN OIL ADDITIVE PLACED IN MY TRANSMISSION. 1 YEAR AND 1 MONTH LATER MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN SLIPPING AND HESITATING. WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR BACK TO WORLD FORD OF KENDALL IN MIAMI, FL TO SPEAK TO THEM REGARDING MY TRANSMISSION I WAS TOLD THAT THEIR SERVICE WORK IS GUARANTEED UP TO 12 MONTHS SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. UPON DOING MY...

BOUGHT IN FEB. 2006 WITH 12,000 MILES - THE 2004 EXPLORER XLS WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE HESITATED, THEN JERKED HARD AT FIRST -- THEN AS TIME WENT BY -- APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MONTHS THE JERKING WAS WHILE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING. THE JERKING MOTION OCCURRED 17 TIMES WHILE DRIVING 35 MILES. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THE DEALER MANAGER SAID THAT IT STILL JERKS IN REVERSE AFTER THE 3RD TIME AND OFFERED NO REMEDY OF ANY KIND, JUST $79.00 AND THERE YOU GO. ALL THIS WITHIN 20,000 MILES. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING - WHAT IF I NEED THAT REVERSE QUICK TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND THERE IS A HESITATION IN TRANSMISSION SHIFTING???*JB

PURCHASED A NEW 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN AUGUST OF 2004. BROUGHT SUV IN FOR RECALL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID ADDITIVE/REPLACEMENT. SUV STARTING TO HESITATE AND JUMP INTO REVERSE. WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN ON A HILL THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARD WHEN MOVING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO THE GAS PEDAL. BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER IN JULY OF 2006, REPLACED SOLENOID AT APPROXIMATELY 16,000 MILES. WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED REVS A LITTLE HIGH THEN BALANCES OUT. LEATHER SEATS ALSO CRACKING AND DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THEM STATING THAT IT IS SIMPLY WEAR AND TEAR. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE GEARS IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER 41000 MILES AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER.

2004 FORD EXPLORER WHEN SHIFTED INTO PARK WILL SHOW IT IS IN PARK BUT IS REALLY STILL IN REVERSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. IN ADDITION THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IMPROPER TRANSMISSION ADDITIVE BEING USED AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID ON THESE MODELS ARE GOING BAD CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE REVERSING. WHEN THE GEAR FINALLY ENGAGED, THERE WAS A JOLT FELT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SOLENOID IN MAY 2004 BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

04 EXPLORER HAD HARSH REVERSE. RPM'S WENT TO 7 SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN",FORDS ALTERNATIVE TO A RECALL, THAT EXPIRED LAST YEAR TO PUT AN ADDITIVE IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE THE PUT IN THE WRONG TYPE. HAD THE SOLENOID REPLACED ONCE BEFORE. FORD CLAIMED IT TO BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. COST 1300.00 TO REPAIR BAD SOLENOID,AND 2 PISTON AND RODS. *NM

2004 EXPLORER HAS HAD ONGOING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. I ONLY BECAME AWARE OF THE FACTORY MISTAKE IN TRANSMISSION FLUID TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING A LEFTOVER. SOMEHOW IT WASN'T DISCOVERED UNTIL MORE THAN A YEAR LATER? I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR LURCHING INTO REVERSE AND NOT ENGAGING IN PARK CORRECTLY. THE CAR ROLLS ABOUT 2-4 FEET WHEN IN PARK AND NOW THE NEW PROBLEM IS IT REFUSES TO GO INTO DRIVE AND REVS IN NEUTRAL UNTIL YOU PRESS ON THE ARM OF THE GEAR SHIFTER WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS INTO THE DEALER TWO TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. TWICE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THE SECOND TIME THE CAR LURCHED INTO REVERSE IN THEIR PARKING LOT, I'M ONLY SORRY THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER'S CARE WASN'T PARKED BEHIND ME! I...

TRANSMISSION SLAMMING INTO REVERSE / DRIVE, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, SOLENOID PACK REPLACED 6 MONTHS AGO, STARTED HAVING SAME PROBLEMS AND NOW THIS TIME ALSO, RPMS SHOOT UP TO 7 WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK BACK TO DEALER, SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE SOLENOID PACK AGAIN. WON'T HONOR WARRANTY AFTER THE $800.00 PROBLEM WAS JUST FIXED! ALSO, HAVE SERIOUS SUSPENSION PROBLEMS! FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS, REAR SHOCKS (LEAKING), REPLACE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A SHIFT DELAY BEFORE GOING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, AFTER A 5-10 SECOND DELAY IT GOES INTO GEAR. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. LAST WEEK THE SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IT BROKE OFF IN THE COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE DELAY PROBLEM HOWEVER THEY ARE UNABLE TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC CODE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN LURCHED FORWARD AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE HIGHWAY AS IF THE REAR WHEELS WERE LOCKED CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION PAN. THEY REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY ASSEMBLY, COMPRESSOR, POWER BELT, BOLT, VIBRATION DAMPER, SCREEN ASSEMBLY, BEARINGS, OUTPUT SHAFT, PISTONS, RODS AND THE CARRIER OVER DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

TRANSMISSION BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS SHIFTING BETWEEN 2 AND 3 RD GEAR, INTO OVERDRIVE, AND INTO REVERSE. ON 5/12/06 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE WITH THE KEYS STILL IN MY PURSE AND THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING LOT. BASED ON THE OTHER VEHICLES HE HAD SEEN HE HAD A GOOD IDEA WHAT MY EXPLORER'S PROBLEM WAS. UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO MY PROBLEM MY NEIGHBOR HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH HIS EXPLORER. EVIDENTLY THE TRANSMISSION, SOLENOID, PROBLEM WIT THE EXPLORER IS COMMON AND WOULD LEAVE ON TO BELIEVE IT TIS A PRODUCTS LIABILITY CLAIM ON EITHER THE MANUFACTURER OR ONE OF ITS PARTS SUPPLIERS. 3 SOLENOIDS WERE REPLACED AND MY AIR FILTER WAS REPLACED. MY OUT OF POCKET COST WAS $996.. *JB

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER THAT IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A HARSH DELAY WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. FORD IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNLESS I ABSORB THE COST. THERE WAS A "CUSTOMER PROGRAM" ISSUED IN JANUARY 2005 AND EXPIRED ON 12/31/05. I DID NOT RECEIVE THE FORM BY MAIL AS I HAD MOVED AND THEY ARE STILL REFUSING TO FIX IT. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME OVER $1600.00 TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. *JB

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING WHEN CHANGING GEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. SOMETIMES TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO GO IN TO REVERSE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

2004 FORD EXPLORER PURCHASED NEW, EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION ISSUES VERY QUICKLY, HARD ENGAGEMENT INTO REVERSE, CLUNKING WHEN DOWNSHIFTING, CAR LURCHES UPON ACCELERATION DURING A SLOW TURN. I HAVE HAD INTO DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES, BEGINNING 1 YEAR AGO AT 10,000 MILES. RECALL ADDITIVE PUT IN 1ST TIME, 2ND TIME AT 15,000 MILES I LOST THE ENTIRE RIGHT RACK AND PINION WHILE DRIVING (WOULD NOT STEER TO THE RIGHT), THEY TOLD ME AFTER REPAIR, THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS ALSO GONE. 3RD TIME THEY PUT IN A QT. OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. 4TH TIME THEY REPLACED THE SOLENOID. 5TH TIME I REQUESTED BUY-BACK. THEIR TRANSMISSION TECH GUY WENT WITH ME, HE OBSERVED THE PROBLEM; HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THEY DID NOT KEEP VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. ONE MONTH LATER AFTER I HAD TO KEEP CALLING BACK THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY ADDED ANOTHER ADDITIVE AND REPROGRAMMED THE PCM. THEY ALSO HAD...

2004 FORD EXPLORER - TRANSMISSION DELAYS ENGAGEMENT OF REVERSE AND DRIVE. FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED SOLENOID. PROBLEM RETURNED WITHIN 9 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED A $975 REPAIR INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SOLENOID. *JB

TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO REVERSE FROM PARK - WARRANTY WORK PERFORMED AT DEALER 02/05 FORD CONSUMER RELATIONS CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS PROBLEM FROM MANUFACTURER INCORRECT FLUID ADDED AT ASSEMBLY PLANT 04/05 02/06 TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED SAME BEHAVIOR BEFORE - FORD TECH'S ADMIT TO PROBLEM BUT CAN NOT RESOLVE - TRANSMISSION STILL SLAMMING INTO REVERSE AFTER DEALER COMPUTER UPDATE - OBVIOUS DEFECT FROM DEALER AS THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB FOR SAME ISSUE POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD SHOULD A CHILD BE WALKING BEHIND VEHICLE OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER. *NM

. 3- NOW IT HAS ACTUALLY BEGAN TO DIE INSTEAD OF JUST STALLING AND HESITATING. NOW THEY ADVISE ITS THE THROTTLE SENSOR. IN ALL 3 CASES - WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE THERE IS ALWAYS A HESITATION, THEN IT WILL JERK HARD INTO REVERSE. WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE FROM THE REVERSE THERE IS ALWAYS A DELAY THEN WILL JERK IN FORWARD DRIVE. NOW THE LITTLE WRENCH COMES ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR WILL DIE FOR NO APPARENT REASON, WHEN THIS HAPPENS I CAN NOT DO ANYTHING!!!! WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE FIXED? FORD WAITING ON SOMEONE TO GET KILLED FIRST? I HAVE ALMOST CAUSED TWO WRECKS WITH MY CAR STALLING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, AS YOU...

PURCHASED MY 2004 EXPLORER IN FEBRUARY '04. AT APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING A DELAYED ENGAGEMENT INTO REVERSE WHICH WAS HARSH AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JOLT REARWARD. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND IT WAS FIXED. VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN. VEHICLE NOW HAS 40,000 MILES. SEEMS THIS MAY BE A RECURRING PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE IS ALSO POOR AS THIS PROBLEM EXHIBITS ITSELF, ESPECIALLY NOTED WHEN TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST IS VERY HARSH. IS THIS GOING TO BE INVESTIGATED? IT SEEMS A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION SHOULD BE LAUNCHED BY GIVEN THE VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT NATURE. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, OR HESITATES TO ENGAGE, OR HESITATES TO CHANGE GEARS ON THE HIGHWAY. PLACEMENT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE "POUNDS" INTO GEAR. 4X4 LOW & HIGH HESITATE OR FAIL TO ENGAGE, AND OFTEN "STICK" - FAILING TO DISENGAGE OR REQUIRE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO DISENGAGE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, HESITATING AND JERKING WHILE GOING INTO GEAR. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK THE LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN REVERSE. THE TRANSMISSION IS MAKING A HOWLING NOISE THAT IS BEING HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

WE NOTICED A SLIP IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN WERE STOPPED, THEN MADE A SLOW RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN. WE FELT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND A NOISE FROM THE REAR END. IT ALSO FELT AS IF THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WAS ON. IT FELT AS IF THERE WAS A SLIGHT WHEEL HOP. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RING AND PINION GEAR, AXEL SEALS, CLUTCH PACK AND HAD TO REPROGRAM THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE COMPUTER. *NM

2004 FORD EXPLORER. IN DECEMBER OF 2004, THE TRUCK WAS 1 YEAR IN SERVICE AND HAD ABOUT 19,000 MILES. WE NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS AND DELAYING WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD PROBLEM FIXED. WE WERE TOLD THE "SOLENOID" (SP?) SWITCH IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND HAD BEEN REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD AT THE TIME THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. BEGINNING AGAIN IN EARLY DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN THE SAME PATTERN OF SLIPPING. THE TRUCK WAS NOW IN SERVICE FOR 2 YEARS, BUT HAD 40,000 MILES. THE TRUCK WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE NEW "SOLENOID" SWITCH IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS LAST TIME. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER ANYTHING OFF...