2017 Ford Explorer Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
When i start the vehicle, and press the bbrake and shift into drive, the vehicle shakes and jolts. When I remove my foot from the break to push the gas petle, there is a hesitation/stall out unless I push it quickly. The shaking and jolting occurs when the vehicle is in drive and reverse, but stops when the car is in neutral or park. In order to operate the vehicle in traffice, I have to put it in neutral at stop signs and traffic lights, or it will shake, jolt and stall out. This can not be safe!
On [XXX] as I stopped at the stoplight my car started to shake/shudder when it was green I started to drive and it stopped. Then when I stopped again while in drive I experienced the same thing. Contacted the dealership where I've been servicing my car since I bought it. I was hoping they could take in that day but they were booked. Next available was July 17, 2025. They did a diagnostic on my car and said it was the motor mounts. Had to order the parts and will call when parts are in. Parts came in and it was scheduled. Took them all day and even after shop closed to put the motor mounts on. When I picked it up I was told it was still shaking/shuddering but not as bad. Told me to take it home and see. Called them back to bring it back in due to shaking/shuddering, they did another diagnostic this time its my torque converter. Total with parts and labor $2819.19 plus tax. I started doing some research and found this was a common problem for my type of car. It's on Fords customer satisfaction 20N07. My car fall meets all that is required. Contacted Ford multiple times and was turned down saying there was no recall for mines even though it was manufactured at that specific plant. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a stop, the vehicle briefly jump and jolted. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 50,000.
The transmission has totally failed at under 69,000 miles while my wife was driving down a 45 MPH road. The vehicle intermittently lost power and she was nearly rear-ended with my child in the car. All warning lamps came on and the engine totally lost power. 2 shops have looked at the car and stated that the transmission failed completely. There were no warning lamps prior to this occurring.
In November of 2024 my 2017 Ford Explorer XLT began to vibrate and shake immensely when put into drive or reverse. The vehicle was taken to repair shop to diagnose the problem, and I was informed that the codes came back as a FORD recall for a torque converter. The vehicle was taken to Karl Flammer Ford in Florida for another diagnostic and I was informed that there was NO RECALL for a torque converter failure from the Chicago plant where my vehicle was manufactured. Ford Motor Company issued a Customer Satisfaction Program 20N07 for engine and 6F35 transmission, also CSP 20B27 in October 2020. It states that: "this program extends the warranty coverage of the automatic transmission torque converter for (12) months from the RO date of Powertrain Control Module reflash under Customer Satisfaction Program 20B27 (I bought vehicle 2/2021). It also states that: "the vehicles covered by this program are Ford Explorers 2016-2019 from assembly plants Louisville and Chicago, build dates Sept. 29, 2014 through March 3, 2019. However, FORD is not honoring the Customer Satisfaction Program. Basically, I bought a vehicle from a dealership with an existing Power Train problem that could have been repaired under an out of date recall (failure to disclose). My vehicle is now inoperable at 80,000 miles and I have to spend $6,500 for a new transmission that should be covered through FORD. Shame, Shame. This major issue needs to be RECALLED at this point.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the transmission skipped gears. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the torque converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound. The message to "See Owner’s Manual" was displayed with a wrench symbol. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate, nearly causing a crash. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon shifting from park(P) to drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was towed to Matt's Repairs, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be covered because the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while stopped at a traffic signal, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle hesitated before responding as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle was vibrating and was jerking into gear. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but was a recurring failure. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission was leaking from the case and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the transmission jerked, and the vehicle shuddered. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure occurred. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, and diagnosed with torque converter failure. The contact was informed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Powertrain fail while driving on the highway
The water pump just went out and left us stranded in 110 weather and the gentleman that own the shop that I took it to told me that he has replaced 13 within 6 months! I have read and studied it and every single customer said the water pump went out at about 70,000 so there needs to be a recall! This is ridiculous!
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Programs: 20B27 and 20N07. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and failed to accelerate properly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed torque converter and oil leak in the timing cover. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 20B27 and 20N07 (Possibility for the transmission torque converter to overheat in certain driving conditions). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.
With 39,221 miles only, last week start to leaking coolant ,, take to Dealer , found that the WATER PUMP LEAK, THEY say the heater core are leaking to.. WANT CHARGE MY OVER $7000. The water pump are power train , but they not want to fixed under any warranty.. call Ford corporate, They not want do nothing. CAR START to smoke and bad smell . Not think are fair for new car with this big issue and not want to fixed.. Need to be a RECALL. EVERYONE COMPLAINT EVERWHERE ABOVE THIS PROBLEM. WATER PUMP. 11 HOURS JOB.
Torque convertor failed at 80k miles, caused the vehicle to shake while in drive while stopped in gear. Was repaired at a Ford dealership (Palmetto Ford) in Charleston South Carolina
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was lagging while changing gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the torque converter had failed. The contact was informed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered and vibrated. The contact stated that a tire rotation was performed on the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pushed into a parking lot. The vehicle then was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could be repaired under Ford Campaign Number: 20N07 if the dealer determined that the failure was related to the campaign. A case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the transmission continued to shift between the fourth and fifth gears. There was an abnormal booming sound detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the torque converter was slipping. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that in 2nd and 3rd gear, the vehicle jerked, and transmission slipped. The contact stated that while in 4th and 5th gear, the transmission was slipping. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 20N07. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the torque converter had overheated, and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
Took a trip and the torque converter went out while driving down the interstate. Got off at an exit and as soon as we stopped the whole car starting shaking, you could feel it and hear it through the whole car, could see the hood shaking. Pulled into a parking lot thinking the car might cool down and it would be fine again. It did not stop, it has progressively sounded worse, only if the car is idling while in drive or reverse. Had a Ford certified mechanic look at the vehicle and he immediately said it was the torque converter, and that there is a TSB for this problem. TSB 20-2271
The torque convertor is bad, causing my vehicle not to accelerate properly, especially when going uphill and until reaching a sustained speed. It also shudders while at a sustained speed and jerks when going in reverse. Recently, while accelerating onto the highway (from 30mph to 60+ mph) I was almost rear ended due to the vehicle shifting hard and not accelerated at the rate of speed expected. This happens often, but I'm typically able to compensate for it. This time, I was unable to and it almost caused an accident with my 2 minor children in the back seat. I have taken it to my local Ford Service Center. They know that the issue is caused by degraded torque convertor function. Ford issued Customer Satisfaction Program 20B27 and 20N07 previously but is no longer honoring the program- leaving many of us with no resolution. I never received notice of this program, nor was it listed in Oasis for my vehicle (per my service center). Because this was not listed in Oasis, and it doesn't throw any codes when assessed, the problem with the transmission was dismissed a year ago when it wasn't as severe. This is a safety hazard and the NHTSA needs to step in and force Ford to either reopen Customer Satisfaction Program 20B27 and 20N07 or issue a recall.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the vehicle experienced a severe shudder and vibration. The vehicle was connected to an ODB scanner which produced a code related to a faulty torque converter. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Vehicle was at 65K miles and the water pump was leaking. When they went in to fix the water pump they noticed the timing chain had been stretched. Got my car back and not even 2-3 days later I heard a noise (only heard in less than a handful of times prior) and the noise began to be more consistent and found out that my CAM phasers went bad. All prior to reaching 70K miles...my vehicle is still only 67K. Later found documentation that timing chain and CAM phaser should be covered by CA emissions and the dealer is saying that is not the case. My vehicle fits the attached addendum as it was manufactured on [XXX] and in Chicago, IL. Dealer is saying this addendum does not constitute as a warranty document, just a notification. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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The 2017 Ford Explorer has 70 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.