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
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…
ODI 10187355
Automatic Transmission
Transmission is defective/ slams into reverse after several seconds of hesitation/delays in shifting in forward gears, and is dangerous!. Afraid every time car shifts gears because it happens sporadically, you never know when it will lurch or hesitate. Bought this car 2 weeks ago, used, 19,750 miles on it in 37 years of driving have never experienced this with any vehicle i have owned . Every person i know who has a…
ODI 10116834
Automatic Transmission
Auto transmission jumping in and out of reverse gear.
ODI 10115985
Automatic Transmission
2004 ford explorer xlt 22,000 miles. Vehicle will not shift into reverse unless you step on the accellerator. Then it engages with a loud bang, slams into gear and lurches backwards. Car also pauses between shifts during acceleration. Have a service appointment with dealer yet was told transmission solenoid to fix the problem was on back order. *ak
ODI 10112776
Automatic Transmission
Driver was backing out of a parking space and vehicle hesitated. Then, the transmission shifted on its own. Mechanic determined that the solenoid body needed to be replaced. *ak
ODI 10111797
Automatic Transmission
My explorer limited hesitates a few seconds before shifting into reverse. When it finally does shift, it slams into gear. The engines does not rev during this period as i have heard others say theirs does. It seems to only do this when the car is warmed up and not every time. Also, it sometimes slams into gear after you've slowed down to turn onto another street then hit the gas. I have been to a ford dealer and had…
ODI 10110567
Automatic Transmission
2004 ford explorer transmission does not shift correctly. Delays when put in reverse and then lunges back with a clunking sound. Also, hard shift and clunking in drive. *jb
ODI 10111855
Automatic Transmission
When we purchased the vehicle it went into gear rough and i asked the sales person about it and he said that is how this vehicle goes into gear. We started to notice hesitation when we accelerated from either a stop or while driving. We brought it in and they said they calibrated the computer. Then we started to get rear end leaks and had to be repaired 3 times. The transmission problems continued and we brought it…
ODI 10136946
Automatic Transmission
Vehicle hestitates between gear changes especially on lower gears. Although an additive was put in by the dealer, going from park to reverse is even worse. The vehicle often sits for 10-15 seconds before engaging either reverse or drive and even then, the change feels "rough."*ak
ODI 10108460
Automatic Transmission · Cruise Control · Mid/Rear Assembly · Recliner
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…
ODI 10182792
Automatic Transmission
In addition to hard shifting in the transmission, the rear differential "chatters" loudly when turning at low speed. The vehicle feels extremely loose and sloppy at 14,000 miles. *ak
ODI 10108290
Automatic Transmission
When reversing, loud banging clunking noise is heard from the back. The car jerks back harshly after long delay in going back into drive. *ak
ODI 10108105
Automatic Transmission
When placing my 2004 ford explorer in reverse, it hesitates then engages in gear with a noticeable jump and "clanging" noise. Purchased vehicle new in 8/2004. *nm
ODI 10107864
Automatic Transmission
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…
ODI 10170994
Automatic Transmission
DELAY/HARSH CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE. *NM
ODI 10132175
Automatic Transmission
After shifting in reverse gear vehicle lurches forward. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
ODI 10114912
Automatic Transmission
2004 ford explorer, purchased new. Every since i have owned the car it has had a transmission problem and will not gear down when turning or slowing down from a normal rate of speed. Then takes apx 20-25 seconds to catch back up when accelerator pressed..has caused me to almost be hit several times.. Because it won't go when it does catch up there is a hard bump in the car and loud sound..very aggravating and scary.…
ODI 10363843
Automatic Transmission · Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
I purchashed my 2004 ford explorer on january 11, 2005. After the first week i had to take it back to the service department of the dealership, on saturday, january 22, 2005. I informed them that the transmission is lagging when automatically shifting and that sometimes there is a loud clunk during the automatic shifting and especially when putting the car in reverse. Also the tire pressure warning light has been…
ODI 10108344
Automatic Transmission · Engine
Car transmission was not responding correctly. After several trips to the dealer to have it checked out, the replaced the solenoid pack several weeks later warning light came on with a battery symbol and said hi temp low oil. Engine died when going to park and then again at stop light the next day. Dealer could not replicate problem. Two weeks later, engine again died with a wrench symbol and said engine failsafe…
ODI 10107520
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, he could feel a slip in the gears. He also stated that when shifting into reverse, there was a violent shift in the vehicle. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that he needed to replace the transmission. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.…
ODI 10371945
Automatic Transmission
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The transmission in the vehicle is constantly slipping. The vehicle hesitated after numerous attempts to adjust to the correct gear. Due to the failure it takes longer than it should to increase speed. The dealer made an adjustment to the transmission; however, the vehicle was not fully repaired. The failure mileage was 10,000 and the current mileage was 96,000. Updated…
ODI 10266364
Automatic Transmission
We bought this vehicle new in december of 2004 and it has been in the service dept. 8 times in the past 7 months for warranty repairs. It has been in 4 times for "hard cranks but no start", 4 times for rough idling, 1 time for an rpm problem (and in next week for a different one- it stays around 3 rpm after accelerating- i have to let off of the gas pedal for it to shift down), and it has been in for misc. Issues…
ODI 10130306
Automatic Transmission
Intermittently the vehicle will surge backwords when placed in reverse. At times when placing the car in reverse the vehicle will delay going in reverse and surge backwards uncontrollably. The dealer claims it needs new transmission parts. 5 week back order because of so many complaints about this. Why isn't there a recall. This is a major safety problem. Manufacturer also claims it is related to transmission oil.*ak
ODI 10111954
Automatic Transmission
See ford motor co tsb 04b22 or nhtsa item number 10013306, ford explorer 2004. Subject vehicle's transmission, to a lesser degree, had started to exhibit the characteristics described therein prior to receipt of the 04b22 program notice. Random violent transmission operation. Causes vehicle to lurch when accelerator is depressed after placing transmission in gear with vehicle stationary, occurs most often in reverse…
ODI 10126400
Automatic Transmission
The transmission on my 04 explorer is failing. Ford issued a recall to add an addative to the transmission which did not correct the problem. Then the selaniod was replaced and the problems seemed to go away. Now 500 miles later the problem is happening again. No help from the ford dealer.
ODI 10112267