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
About 75,000 miles on vehicle, purchased new, regularly serviced. Accelerating, the o/d light came on and the transmission went "thunk" as it tried to shift from 2nd to 3rd. Restarting the car the o/d light went off and the car shifted normally except occasionally the car shifts rough. The ford dealer wants $1800 to $4200 to repair. *tr
ODI 10286806
Automatic Transmission
2004 FORD EXPLORER (SOLENOID PACK) REPAIR 2ND TIME. *TR
ODI 10286058
Automatic Transmission
2004 ford explorer xls with v6, bought new. Incorrect transmission fluid put in all 2004 explorers at factory. Recalled and put in additive around 40,000 miles. Transmission problems started one year ago, around 50,000 miles. Takes several seconds to engage and then shifts hard (clunks) into reverse. Happens 75% of the time. Have been told we need a new (or rebuilt) transmission. *tr
ODI 10364139
Automatic Transmission
Have a 2004 ford explorer with bad transmission. Delay in shifting in reverse and a jolt into gear caused be to slam into items in my garage. Although no one was hurt, it can happen. Ford has know of this issue as well as 2-3 gears slipping which can cause a slowing of the vehicle in traffic. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10291891
Automatic Transmission
2004 ford explorer with, less than 75,000 miles. Needs to have the transmission repaired or replaced. My wife and two children were out driving in traffic when failure began to occur. Unable to accelerate past 30-35mph. This is all after the dealership repeatedly told us no problems, overfilled trans fluid, and added the recall additive from ford. My wife reported. We informed ford multiple times about hard shifting…
ODI 10283942
Automatic Transmission
2004 ford explorer nbx. Owner put car in park and gear shift lever came off in hand. Car transmission stuck between park and reverse. Had to get car towed to dealership. Dealer states they have fixed numerous explorers with same issue in the recent past. In my opinion, this is a design flaw with the material used (appears to be aluminum) for the "donut" shaped ring that connects the gear shift to the steering…
ODI 10285057
Automatic Transmission
My 2004 ford explorer has a bad transmission problem !!! Jerks very hard in reverse , slips between 2nd & 3rd gears, sometimes slips while in traffic !! I feel this is very dangerous !! *tr
ODI 10286089
Automatic Transmission
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact was driving approximately 45 to 50 mph when the vehicle became hesitant to acceleration attempts. In addition, the gears were slipping when shifting gears. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer and they advised him that the transmission would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised that there were no recalls…
ODI 10422569
Automatic Transmission
Abrupt shifting from park to reverse. Took vehicle in four times for repair. Solenoid was replaced twice, transmission fluid additive, then transmission fluid flush. Unintended shifting by transmission resulting in vehicle to swerve at 50 plus miles per hour. Occurs daily on highway after letting off accelerator and coasting. *tr
ODI 10282498
Automatic Transmission
My 2004 ford explorer awd has a transmission issue. When the transmission is placed in reverse or into drive, the transmission will often shift into gear very hard and cause the car to suddenly move backwards or forwards in a violent manner. The car will move while the brake is applied and i fear this transmission issue will cause some type of failure in the future causing the car to go forward or backward with no…
ODI 10287297
Automatic Transmission
When i shift from drive or neutral into reverse, there is a long hesitation before the car then leaps backward hard. Delay then hard reverse. When i am parallel parking, i have sometimes hit the car behind me hard because of this. This problem has been extented since i purchased the car new in 2004. I have brought the car into the dealer at least ten times when it was new. They made many changes, including an…
Crash reported
ODI 10324993
Automatic Transmission
I purchased a 2004 ford explorer 30jun08, in march 2009, in less than a year i have had to replace the module/engine control, the battery and the alternator at the willowbrook ford dealership. I paid a total of 2033.60 in repairs. When i got home last friday night and was parking my car, as i went into reverse i felt a jolt in shifting from the transmission. Yesterday driving to work again i felt the transmission…
ODI 10280152
Automatic Transmission
I was dropping my son off at his friend's house. I pulled into the driveway and put the truck in park. I opened my door, got out, walked around the front of my vehicle and accompanied my son up to the front door. All of a sudden, the truck started to roll forward on the driveway and crash into the homeowners fence. When i got into the truck, it was still in park. There was damage to my front bumper as well as the…
Crash reported
ODI 10279630
Automatic Transmission
I financed a 2004 ford explorer in 2008 and about 6 month later i noticed the transmission starting to slip. Soon after it wouldnt hardly go into gear unless i reved up the engine then it would slam into gear really hard. Now it is getting worse. Im a disabled single father of my son who is also disabled and we are on a fixed income and dont have the money to fix this, [xxx] i still owe on it. I pay almost 300 bucks…
ODI 10383973
Automatic Transmission
I bought my 2004 ford explorer limited feb 2008. The only work done was oil changes, tire rotations etc....around 50,000 miles suddenly 1) the cruise control stopped functioning properly. When used it causes the vehicle to stall..... 2) a crack appeared in the hatch for no apparent reason. No accidents, no weather issues.... 3) the o/d light comes on and the transmission symbol lights up. Hesitates went put in…
ODI 10310190
Automatic Transmission · Power Train
2004 ford explorer with 54k miles has slip in transmission when shifted from park to reverse and will slip when the transmission shifts automatically. It catches and will produce a loud bump. It takes several seconds to catch when shifted to reverse. *tr
ODI 10278558
Automatic Transmission
I own a 2004 ford explorer eddie bauer with v-8. Have taken to the dealer numerous times about abrupt and delayed shifting with transmission. Dealer re-programmed transmission with no luck, no recall from ford but have heard hundreds of complaints on-line about same problem. Truck now has over 90,000 miles and still has same problem. Replaced leaking transmission pump last decembe08 and still hard shifting. Will not…
ODI 10272843
Automatic Transmission · Structure
I have a 2004 ford explorer. I have two complaints with this vehicle. The first is that the back gate cracked from the window. The second complaint is that my truck is making a loud thump in reverse, and after i put it in drive after being in reverse, the transmission is slipping making it dangerous to pull out into traffic. I was almost hit twice pulling into traffic from the engine slipping. *tr
ODI 10269884
Automatic Transmission
2004 ford explorer has extreme engagement into reverse. Have had multiple trips to dealership for repair prior to this final repair by independent repair shop. If driver doesn't anticipate this condition personal injury and/or property damage could occur. *tr
ODI 10273945
Automatic Transmission
Transmission slips - lurches into reverse - recently slipped and wouldn't pull going up hill - 2 times in 2 days. *tr
ODI 10267610
Automatic Transmission
I am also having the transmission problem with my 2004 ford explorer. My vehicle jumps violently when it is put in reverse. When you first put it in reverse it will not move then all of a sudden it jumps backward. I also have been noticing that the truck feels like it is not in gear feels like it slips . I have made no repairs on my vehicle as of yet, but after reading the newspaper article i see that this problem…
ODI 10267310
Automatic Transmission
My 2004 ford explorer has a transmission problem. I never know if and when it will go into reverse or park. It hesitates and i then find out what gear it is in. This explorer is a one-owner car. 32,000+- miles on it. Weekends only. Yes, i went through the earlier recall, but it did little if anything to correct the problem,. At the time, i figured that i had been screwed into buying a defective car whose…
ODI 10267167
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While driving in reverse approximately 2 mph, the transmission exhibited a delay response and would slip violently into gear. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they informed her that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. One year and six months later, after the new transmission was installed, the vehicle failed to accelerate over…
ODI 10374824
Automatic Transmission
Transmission shifts very hard and when put into reverse it violently shifts to reverse. Have had the vehicle in for multiple repairs on the transmission and now the local ford dealership tells me i have to replace the transmission with the mileage on the vehicle a little over 70,000 miles. *tr
ODI 10266045
Automatic Transmission
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…
ODI 10320570