2004 Ford Explorer Automatic Transmission Problems
- 308
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 308 stored complaint records:
- 13 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- transmission problem · 10 records
- transmission failure · 10 records
- shifting reverse · 9 records
- gear shift · 9 records
- transmission fluid · 8 records
- same problem · 7 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 113 |
| 30–60k mi | 66 |
| 60–100k mi | 63 |
| 100–150k mi | 11 |
| 150–400k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer xlt. When the contact shifted into reverse gear the vehicle would not move for approximately four to five minutes. The vehicle also made a loud noise and then moved in reverse. The vehicle was previously taken to the dealer in 2007 and the solenoid was replaced per the warranty. The dealer wanted to replace the solenoid a second time for $1000 at the owners expense. The…
ODI 10373445
Automatic Transmission
This is in regards to transmission problems with ford explorers especially from the year 2000 to 2005. There have been few thousand complaints that i have seen on the internet and heard and also experience myself about the transmission an these vehicles and its ridiculous. The transmission bangs into gears like something is falling underneath bogs down when changing gears. Hesitates when changing gears and just…
ODI 10352551
Automatic Transmission
2004 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
ODI 10349072
Automatic Transmission
At 25526 miles took vehicle to dealer for delay in shifting. Dealer flushed with bg conditioner. At 26073 miles returned to dealer for clunking on shifting, dealer removed pan found debris, overhauled valve body and replaced solenoid pack. Continued to have issues but dealer was unable to replicate. Transmission failure at 63323 miles on 04 ford explorer, total replacement of transmission for the cost of $3527.60…
ODI 10351152
Automatic Transmission · Hinge And Attachments
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While the vehicle was parked, she opened the rear glass window located on the lift gate. The window was open for a few moments until one of the two hinges broke resulting in the window hanging by one hinge. Upon examining the broken hinge she noticed that the screw holding the hinge in place also broke in half. The failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. She…
ODI 10348110
Automatic Transmission
Vehicles exhibit an axle whine or hum during acceleration, deceleration and/or cruise. *tr
ODI 10352585
Automatic Transmission
Purchased a 2004 ford explorer in 2007. Shortly after i started to feel two things, a hesitation in the gears as they shift from one to the next, and the more pressing issue, a stall followed by a jerk when put into reverse. I took it in three times concerning this issue and was told each time that it was normal and was a hesitation in the gas relaying the information to the "computer". The warranty has run out and…
ODI 10340751
Automatic Transmission
While leaving for work, shifted column gear shift from park to reverse and it snapped off at base. No force used other than normal. *tr
ODI 10340433
Automatic Transmission
Bought 2004 ford explorer in 2008, noticed immediately that it was hard to put into gears but was told this was normal for fords. Over the next year started noticing that when you put on the brake it felt like the rear end was falling out, again told that this is typical of a ford. Just this past week have noticed that the transmission does not shift without a big jolt and the o/d light has started flashing.…
ODI 10340682
Automatic Transmission
The transmission has a delayed shift and causes the engine to rev before shifting. This causes a hesitation especially when pulling out into traffic from a stop. This occurs every time and the 0/d light flashes as well. The service engine light is now because of the transmission problem. This is situation dangerous. *tr
ODI 10395327
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
2004 ford explorer another bad transmission ! 3000.[redacted] light flashing , interior lights stay on , windows don't go down, door open lights on dash are on .. Seems to be alot of these complaints i been reading on the internet ! Ford had to have some fault in all these complaints ???? *tr
ODI 10335864
Automatic Transmission · Rear · Visibility
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact placed the gear shifter into reverse to drive and noticed that the transmission would hesitate before engaging. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians replaced the solenoid in the transmission. After the repairs were performed, the contact continued to experience the failure. There was also an abnormal grinding from the rear of the vehicle.…
ODI 10407125
Automatic Transmission
2004 ford explorer v6 transmission od light flashing and transmission slips out of gear at times. *tr
ODI 10339912
Automatic Transmission
While driving normally, 'o/d off' light on dashboard comes on. Unable to accelerate and/or vehicle shuts off; the remedy: having transmission rebuilt or repaired. This has occurred three times in 3 years. Saw on a 6page forum of other ford owners having the same problem. Repairing a transmission is costly and its not one repair it's multiple over the life of owning the vehicle. *tr
ODI 10329691
Automatic Transmission
I have been driving a 2004 ford explorer since december 2004 when my daughter left it for me when she moved. It had approximately 11,000 miles. She had noticed a hard shift, especially when going into reverse and a rough idle and vibration, but had not had a chance to have it looked at. Except for when i have been out of town, i have serviced that car at a ford dealership religiously. I complained about these…
ODI 10326933
Automatic Transmission
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.
ODI 10321863
Automatic Transmission
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…
ODI 10321882
Automatic Transmission
Purchased a 2004 ford explorer in 2006, noticed after a couple of months that when put the car in reverse would delay a few seconds and then it would make a clunk sound and then speed into reverse, that was at about 50,000 miles when purchased. In april of 2009 car would not go into reverse, had a transmission rebuild. It is now less then a year since rebuild and it is starting to shift hard again and while at a…
ODI 10310669
Automatic Transmission
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…
ODI 10320921
Automatic Transmission
The transmission was slipping and finally one day i put the car in reverse and the car did not even move. I had to get my transmission rebuilt at 60,000 miles. I also am having a big problem with the paint peeling off the roof of the car near which was not covered under any warranty which is crazy especially when the service dept at my local ford dealership says that my year and make has paint problems and they have…
ODI 10300256
Automatic Transmission · Steering
When shifting into reverse there is a hard shift also hard shifts up and down while going forward. *tr
ODI 10293734
Automatic Transmission
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 &…
ODI 10320432
Automatic Transmission
2004 ford explorer-serious transmission issues with gears slipping/failing. Huge delay in reverse then a large jolt back is very dangerous. *tr
ODI 10292091
Automatic Transmission
2004/ford explorer fire while parked in parking deck,there was no previous warnings ,of any kind. Truck was running well ,no service lights ever came on. Truck only has 40,000 miles on it. Never had any sings or symptoms,that anything was going to happen. I have a police report. Fire dept. Report. Also valet parking managers report from 11/6/09.now truck is at toms ford ,hazlet nj. We need to know what went wrong ,…
Fire reported
ODI 10291828
Automatic Transmission
I left my vehicle running in park to drop off a gift to a friend. I ended up staying longer than intended, and was taken outside by a loud noise. After idling in parked for 20-30 minutes, my explorer had smashed into my friends garage door causing nearly $500 in damages to the door and scratches to the vehicle. Nothing has been done about the problem, except we will not let the explorer idle in park. *tr
ODI 10301906