2004 Ford Explorer Power Train

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS RECENTLY AND QUICKLY BEGAN SHIFTING VERY BADLY. I ALWAYS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL BEFORE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE BECAUSE WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE FROM P OR D, IT ALWAYS TAKES A WHILE, THEN CLUNKS AGGRESSIVELY INTO PLACE. WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES DOWNSHIFTING WILL ALSO CLUNK INTO PLACE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY COUNTLESS OTHER DRIVERS AND HAS CAUSED MANY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. FROM ACCELERATING SLOWLY THEN BANGING GEARS AND TAKING OFF, TO STUTTERING WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, OR EVEN SWITCHING INTO REVERSE WHILE PARKING, AND HAVING THE CAR TRY TO JUMP BACK A FEW INCHES IS ONLY A FEW ISSUES THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED MYSELF AND COUNTLESS OTHERS. PEOPLE ARE REPLACING TRANSMISSIONS LEFT AND RIGHT TO NO AVAIL, ONLY A FEW 10 THOUSAND MILES AFTER INSTALLING NEW TRANSMISSIONS, THEIR CAR STARTS TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUES AS BEFORE. AT LOW SPEEDS AND IN PARKING LOTS THIS BECOMES A GAME OF LUCK AS YOU ACCELERATE MORE THAN NECESSARY TO TRY TO GET GOING, THEN STOPPING AND WAITING A FEW SECONDS WHILE YOU SHIFT TO NEUTRAL BEFORE SHIFTING TO REVERSE AS FEAR OF IT BANGING INTO GEAR AS YOU TRY TO MANEUVER YOUR CAR AROUND PEOPLE AND OTHER PARKED CARS BECOMES A MORE DANGEROUS TASK THAN IT SHOULD BE. IN SUM, WHILE STATIONARY, SLOW SPEED, OR JUST CRUISING, THE TRANSMISSION WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, OR SHIFTING INTO REVERSE/DRIVE, SOMETIMES WANTS TO BANG INTO GEAR OR LOSE POWER, OR DELAY SHIFTING ONLY TO BANG INTO GEAR MOMENTS LATER. SOME ISSUES WHEN TAKING CARS INTO REPAIR IS FINDING METAL TRANSMISSION SHAVINGS WHERE THEY SHOULDNT BE! FINALLY, THE EXCESSIVE BANGING CAN ALSO DAMAGE THE ENGINE OVER TIME IN ADDITION TO THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF THE ISSUES: HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2004/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_SLIPPING_SHIFTS_HARD.SHTML THANKYOU

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE CONTACT'S SON PULLED TOO HARD AND FRACTURED THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS CURRENTLY TOO LOOSE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

WELL WE JUST BOUGHT THIS EXPLORER AND JUST AS I HAVE READ FROM OTHERS ON THIS WEBSITE OUR EXPLORER IS DOING SIMILAR THINGS. SUCH AS SHIFTING IN REVERSE TAKES 3-7 SECONDS TO TAKE HOLD, GOING UP THE MOUNTAINS THE SUV HAD MAJOR KICKBACKS AND JERKS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AS OF NOW. WILL MAKE AN APT. AND PUT RESULTS LATER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AN OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,695.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SHIFT SOLENOID "B" CIRCUIT FAILURE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR UNTIL VEHICLE REACHES 3000 RPM. O/D LIGHT FLASHES, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ACTIVATES AND TRANSMISSION STAYS IN 3RD GEAR. DON'T USE VEHICLE AND IS OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY.

I WAS DRIVING INTERSTATE 64 GETTING OFF THE EXIST GOING AROUND THE RAMP AND A KNOCKING NOISE STARTED AS I ROUNDED THE CURB, THEN OIL PRESSURE DROPPED, MY POWER WAS GONE AND, I BARELY MADE IT OFF THE RAMP, BUT LUCKILY THE VEHICLE HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO COAST THE CURB TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. UPON HAVING IT CHECKED OUT BY A LOCAL MECHANIC HE SUGGESTED THAT THE ENGINE AND OIL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED? AS A SINGLE MOTHER I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS, AND FROM OTHERS COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE SEEN IT MAKES ME WONDER IF ITS WORTH THE TROUBLE TO FIND ANOTHER ENGINE AND WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN. I THOUGHT HAD FOUND A GOOD VEHICLE THAT ONLY LASTED A FEW MONTHS...FEELING IRRITATED...GET IT TOGETHER FORD BECAUSE THIS 2004 EXPLORER IS TROUBLE!! WAS THIS JUST A TEST DUMMY MODEL TO SEE WHAT PROBLEMS WOULD COME OF IT??? WE WANT AND NEED ANSWERS TO THESE PROBLEMS. WE'RE SPENDING SO MUCH HARD EARNED MONEY ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS MORE PROBLEMS THAT KEEPS HAPPENING OFTEN. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, COMMON FOR FORD EXPLORER 2004. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

REAR PANEL CRACKED IN THE SHED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION A YEAR AGO REPLACE FRONT HUBS SEVERAL TIMES. AND JUST LAST WEEK I HAD TO REPLACE THE BACK WHEEL BEARING AGAIN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON THESE THINGS.I SEE A LOT OF FORDS WITH THE SAME CRACK ON THE BACK HATCH.THIS IS JUST CRAZY. IF I NEW WE COULDN'T CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID I WOULD HAVE NEVER GOT THIS TRUCK.I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. WE ALSO HAVE A 1994 DIESEL THAT WE HAD TO PUT A TRANSMISSION IN AT 80,000 MILES IT SITS IN THE SHED AND NOW MY HUSBAND DRIVES A CHEVY.OUR FORD DIESEL ONLY HAS 134,000 ON IT WHAT ASHAMED. IT WILL NOT EVEN CRANK WHEN ITS COLD. BAD WORK FORD!!!! *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THIS EVENT. FIRST ONE FAILED AT 90,000 3 YEARS AGO. THIS WAS A REBUILD FORD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. IT FAILED AGAIN, THIS TIME THE CAR WAS ABLE TO GET SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SAFETY WAS AN ISSUE AS IT WAS NOT A MOVABLE CAR AND STRANDED ON SIDE OF BUSY ROAD. *TR

WHILE PARKED, I STARTED UP MY VEHICLE AND PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE. HOWEVER, THE TRUCK WOULD NOT REVERSE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FORWARD AND TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. HE STATED THAT THE FORDS WERE "WELL KNOWN" FOR HAVING BAD TRANSMISSION DUE TO CERTAIN PIECES NOT FITTING, ESPECIALLY THE 2002-2006 MODELS. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND REALIZED THIS PROBLEM IS A LOT BIGGER THAN JUST "A FEW" CASES. THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC OF NEGLECT! ADDITIONAL ISSUES INCLUDE THE THROTTLE BODY FOR WHICH YOUR ESTABLISHMENT HAS ALREADY INVESTIGATED BUT LIMITED THE "RECALL" FOR YEARS 2009-2013. THIS SHOULD BE EXTENDED FURTHER TO COVER ALL INCIDENTS WITHIN A CERTAIN MILEAGE. MINE STARTED AROUND FIFTY THOUSAND MILES UNTIL I HAD IT REPLACED FOR $650! I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION ON THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE INABILITY TO REVERSE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TR

WHEN I SHIFT INTO REVERSE IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO SHIFT GEAR AND WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO GEAR IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION FELL ON THE GROUND . THERE'S A BIG JOLT RIGHT BEFORE IT SHIFTS INTO REVERSE. *TR

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE AUTOMATICALLY TO 20 MPH AND NOT REGAIN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE OVER A SIX YEAR PERIOD. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY EXPLORER DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW WITH OUT MUCH WARNING WITH MY BABY IN THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WENT FROM DRIVABLE TO NOT MOVING WITHIN ONE DAY. IT STARTED WITH A HARD SHIFT AND ACCELERATION BEING DELAYED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN. THEN THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHIN TEN MILES OF MY HOME LEAVING US STRANDED IN THE DEAD OF WINTER ON THE HIGHWAY WITH VERY LITTLE ROOM TO PULL OVER SO WE COULD HAVE BEEN HIT AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

2000-2005 EXPLORERS HAVE A RATE OF 1 OUT OF 10 HAVING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL OR A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THIS VEHICLES TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND FAILURES. I WOULD LIKE ANY INFORMATION POSSIBLE TO FURTHER THIS. THERE WAS MENTION ON FORD COMPLAINTS AND FAILURES WEBSITE FOR OUT OF WARRANTY EXPLORERS A "GOODWILL REPAIR"? I CONTACTED THE FORD COMPANY AND SAID MY VEHICLE DID NOT FIT THE CRITERIA. YET WHEN I ASKED FOR THE GUIDELINES TO BE SENT OR EMAILED TO ME, I WAS TOLD THIS WAS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE...I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITH MY DAUGHTERS DISABILITY MONEY SO THAT SHE WOULD HAVE A SAFE RIDE TO DR'S ETC. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER THE GEARS WENT TOTALLY OUT WHILE DRIVING. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TOOK 4 HOURS UP UNTIL 4AM. LENGTHY WAIT FOR ANYONE LET ALONE A DISABLED CHILD. NOW MY DAUGHTER AND I AS A SINGLE MOTHER CAN NOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. OR THE REPAIRS FOR FORDS MISTAKES. FORD REALLY NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR MISTAKES AND FIX THEM ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS OR SOMEONE NEEDS TO PUT THEIR FOOT UP THEIR TAILPIPE AND SUE THE COMPANY. ANY HELP SUGGESTIONS OR OTHER WAYS TO DEAL WITH THIS MATTER WOULD BE GRATEFULLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU ..[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

GOING 55 MILES AN HOUR TRUCK SLIP OUT OF GEAR. *TR

AFTER COASTING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS, TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND THEN CLUNKS AS I ACCELERATE

JUST BOUGHT A 2004 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION WITH 105,000 MILES ON IT AS SOON AS I GOT HOME THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. IT LUNGES HARD WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD. THEY REFUSE TO DO A RECALL. I'M SURE SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE ITS DEALT WITH. I PRAY IT'S NOT YOU OR YOURS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING SOME UNRELATED REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND WHEN IT DID, THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE OPERATED IN THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN BACK UP TURNING THE WHEEL IT JERKS AND MAKES A BANGING NOISE. GARAGE SAID IT BE $3500 TO FIX IT. IT SEEMS LIKE TONS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SUV ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY SURGE AND WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FLY WHEEL WAS SPINNING BECAUSE THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000.

WE WAS DRIVE THE STREET DOING 30 MPH UNTIL WE CAME UNTIL A STOP LIGHT . WHEN THE LIGHT TURN GREEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO ACT LIKE IN DIDN'T WONT TO GO INTO GEAR . WHEN ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR IN ONLY PUT ALMOST LESS THEN 9 TO 8 THOUSAND MILE ON IT. WHEN THE CAR FULL SERVICE EVERY TIME... DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANY MORE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE GEAR LEVER WOULD NOT SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP GEARS WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,456.