2003 Ford Explorer: harsh or hard shifting

Filed May 9, 2017 · Transmission · 78,000 miles · CO

Transmission shifts hard and clunks, is not safe to drive. The estimate repair is around $ 3,400. Will never buy a ford again.

Filed Jan 19, 2015 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · NY

For years ford has had a poorly designed hydraulic manual clutch system . Often impossible to shift at red light or while driving and had many near rear end collisions due to not being able to continue shifting and maintaining speed. For over a decade the poorly designed system gets air bound rendering the clutch useless . This is caused because the hydraulic line has low and high spots and air becomes trapped in the high spots and results in loss of clutch operation . The entire system must be removed and elongated to allow air to be released from system . No bleeder valve at master cylinder for one thing . There is a bleeder valve at the slave cylinder but because the line has many twist and turns with high spots bleeding does not eliminate air trapped in high spots . This is a well know problem and a dangerous one . Ford could care less . Its about time ford answers and modifies this fault . You need only go online and enter ford ranger hard shifting problems and you will see it is common place problem . Of course after the 36 k warranty this becomes a common problem and ford turns there cheek . I cant tell you how frustrating to be at a red light and unable to shift along with not being able to shift at high speeds with cars running up your rear . Please address this before life is lost . Thank you . I urge all ranger owners to get on board.

Filed Jul 8, 2014 · Transmission · 147,000 miles · RI

Transmission od light flashing, slamming into gear while shifting. We had the pan dropped and found pieces of the gears inside... Need a total rebuild or new transmission. After reading all of the problems with this year and model I believe ford needs to make some kind of recall....

Filed Jun 11, 2014 · Transmission · 200,000 miles · IL · 1 injury

I attempted to put the vehicle in reverse and when I shifted to reverse the vehicle slammed into reverse so hard that it hit the vehicle that was parked behind me.

Filed Mar 11, 2013 · Transmission · 131,000 miles · CA

My 2003 ford explorer while going down the road, I started to notice that it was a hard shift from 1st to second gear, the RPM would go to almost 4000rpm, then almost slam into gear. My o/d light started flashing, and my check engine light came on, when I got home I researched it on the internet and found there are numerous problems with the ford transmissions, after contacting ford they basically told me I was out of luck they wouldn't help,,,, I have been a loyal ford customer for years and so has the rest of my family and my business uses ford vehicles. Someone needs to research this, ford is getting away with a big injustice by making a substandard transmission that is costing their customs thousands of dollars. But all ford will say is if the federal safety agency decides to investigate and sees its a problem then they will act on it.

Filed Feb 13, 2012 · Transmission · 98,500 miles · NY

Initially happened at 98k miles back in 08. Put in park (vehicle on elevated driveway). Jerked back and heard a clunk- like it was shifting from park into a gear with vehicle pressure- and it started to roll back. Hit brakes- and put it in reverse. Then neutral to start it. Parked it on the curb for an hour, went back out and it didn't do it again until last week. Thinking it might have been the weather this time- parked on my fairly steep driveway again with lots of ice/snow. 189k miles with the orig tranny and regular computer updates/flushes. Been an amazing truck- just thinking it might happen again.

Filed Sep 7, 2011 · Transmission · 34,029 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer eddie bauer edition. The contact was driving 30 MPH when the overdrive warning light illuminated and the vehicle became hard to shift. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where it was diagnosed that the overdrive band was fractured and possibly had caused damage to the torque converter. The manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 34,029 and the current mileage was 64,846. Updated 11/22/11*lj the consumer stated the shifting was erratic at steady speeds, there was a hard bang when shifting. The PCM was reprogrammed. There was a clunk noise when coming to a stop. The dealer replaced the transmission fluid. The overdrive light illuminated and 95% of the time, the vehicle would not shift out of 1st gear. Updated 03/12/12

Filed Apr 27, 2011 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · VA

Transmission problems started around 100k miles; high RPM shifting between 1st and 2nd gear with subsequent flashing o/d light. Many times transmission will "clunk" into gear either from going into reverse, stopping completely, then shifting into drive and/or when putting in reverse or drive. Appears this is a common problem for my model year explorer (03) and same code many others receive (p0775) which really does not describe the problem or lead a not so mechanical inclined person to try and troubleshoot/buy parts to fix. I'm career military man w/family and my truck is paid off next month--owned 5 years and really sucks to have to possibly dump $3k into a truck that ford has known contained issues with the 5r55w transmission.

Filed Sep 10, 2007 · Transmission · 55,000 miles · NY

Torque converter failure. Converter "rattles", needs replacement. Prior complaint to dealer about "lurching" and "clunking" were found to be "non-duplicative" during warranty period.

Filed Jun 22, 2007 · 18,000 miles · MO

Tl-the rear end or the transmission and they cannot find the problem. You push on the accerlartor the engine revved up and then it slammed into gear. It you come to a stop sing some times it will go and sometimes no it feels as it some thing drops from under the trunck.

Filed Jun 6, 2006 · Transmission · 25,000 miles · IN

I have had several problems with my 2003 ford explorer transmission. It clunks out of gear when letting off the gas going from second to first gear. It also seems to disengage the transmission at times as it acts like it is in neutral going from first to second on occasion. I have had it in for repair several times. The "said" the replaced the transmission with one that was rebuilt, but it acted the same way. I have taken it back and was now told that until it actually breaks, they will not work on the transmission any longer.

Filed May 3, 2005 · Transmission · 9,000 miles · TX

Transmission clunking from reverse to forward or from forward to reverse. Whirling sound, 55-65 MPH, rear differential.