The transmission on my 2004 ford explorer has started slipping. It does not want to go into gear correctly. It only has 107,600 miles on it. I live just outside birmingham, al and the traffic is very heavy and dangerous here. Not a place I want my vehicle breaking down. I just hung up the phone with ford motor co and they have nothing to offer in the way of help. They said to hold on to receipts in case of recall. :-( you bet your life I will! My sister's 2005 did the same thing at just over 100,000 miles.
2004 Ford Explorer transmission complaints
Page 5 of 16: complaints 101 to 130 of 460, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The transmission has a delayed shift and causes the engine to rev before shifting. This causes a hesitation especially when pulling out into traffic from a stop. This occurs every time and the 0/d light flashes as well. The service engine light is now because of the transmission problem. This is situation dangerous.
I have had issues with my transmission jumping out of drive when I am going down the highway. I have three children and I feel this is very very unsafe. I have had the car in the shop three times for the same issue and everytime they have told me it was the reardifferential/transmission. I have called fords customer service line and they will not do anything. My explorer is now having issues going into reverse and staying in any gear. Please look into these problems with the 2004 explorer before someone gets killed or injured from this. I have researched this problem and thousands of oither 2003-2004 explorer owners are having the same issues with the transmission and rear end. The 2004 ford explorer is a death trap.
Transmission has a hard clunk engagement when putting in gear and total disengagement while driving, then the od light starts to blink, and you have to either let off the gas, or tap the gas to get it to engage again, it started around 50,000 miles, and continues to do so, the is no recall and no warranty for it, dealer ship said it needs rebuilt or replaced 2200.00 or 4200.00 dollars, we don't have.
2004 ford explorer. Consumer writes in regards to having to replace the solenoid for the third time. *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle would not engage into reverse without jolting and hard shifting.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that when shifting into reverse, the vehicle would not respond. When shifting, the vehicle would sporadically engage backward rapidly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test and advised that there was not a sufficient amount of transmission fluid in the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but would not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was 67,000 and the current mileage was 76,602.
Transmission slams hard into gear upon acceleration and when braking. Does this all the time. When shifting into reverse, it does not engage immediately and then engages hard with a sudden and unexpected lurch backwards. This happens 8 of 10 times when shifting to reverse. No attempt to correct as it appears there is no fix short of a new transmission = $$$ I don't have.
Transmission failure!!! !the o/d warning began to flash...the recommendation is to service transmission asap. The only issue is that my 2004 ford explorer only has 61,672 miles. The estimated repair cost is approximately $2000-3000.
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 a month car payment on it. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The od light is flashing and the trans is slipping. You can not excelerate in a hurry because it wont go making this truck a accident waiting to happen.
In 2005, my 2004 ford explorer was part of a recall for the transmission. I took it to ford service and they put some type of additive. They told me the problem was fixed. From 2005 to 2011 the transmission would have problems, it would turn off when I put it in reverse. Furthermore, when I put the car in reverse it would pause then shift back hard. Unfortunately, I never took the car back to ford to get it checked because the car would always turn right back on. In january of 2011 my car had 72,000 miles. While I was driving the car suddenly turned off on me. Immediately, the service engine soon light came on. Also, the o/d off light began flashing. When I would restart the vehicle it would turn on. However, when I shifted into drive it would turn off. So I was unable to drive the vehicle. I took the car to ford service and they explained to me that I need a new (remanufactured) transmission at a cost of $4,000. My car is currently in the service department waiting to be fixed.
The truck jerks into gear when put into reverse - it also jerks in drive but is more pronounced when backing up. The gears don't shift until I'm at 20 -30 MPH and then they slip incredibly just to get get there. And even when I'm driving the car jerks as it is shifting gears. When I back into my parking space there is a full 10 second delay before the car to finally catapults into reverse. If there is ever anyone behind me they will literally be hit because of the jerking. The slow shifting into gears and jerking have been a consistent problem since taken brand new off the show room floor. Although the ford dealership service department "tested trans; performed pinpoint test; r&r trans pan; and added a replaced solenoid body" - nothing has stopped this problem. It still persists to this day. And it has only gotten progressively worse.
The problem that I'm concerned about is the transmission and rear end. For the transmission-this is the third time for this problem with our truck. Had it at the dealer ship just after the warranty went out around 37,000 an paid a little over $600.00 to fix it . Lasted till 80,000 them took it back and paid around $200.00 to fix. Now at 136,000 and the truck will not move at all. Dealer ship wants another $3,306.00 to fix it again. The rear end is making a loud wine noise.
Transmission failure on 2004 ford explorer at ~109k miles. Crash/bang noise heard just before failure: high engine rpms and no forward propulsion, flashing od lamp and illuminated service engine soon lamp. Problem preceded by intermittent failure to engage reverse gear, or sudden jerking/rough engagement, occasional slipping of gears on acceleration. Upon total failure, dealership investigated, says "known problem with this vehicle", recommended complete transmission replacement at $4000. Vehicle is one of those recalled in 2005 for bad transmission fluid formula installed at factory. This vehicle has always had peculiar shift behavior which ford consistently said was normal for the vehicle. Apparently, as many other owners have since experienced, the rough shifting (perhaps precipitated by bad formula fluid and/or damage this may have done to other components) was indicative of eventual total failure.
I have a 2004 ford explorer and it recently started making a rumbling noise. I brought it to my mechanic and he looked at it and said it was my transmission. He also said that it was an extremly common problem for 2004 explorers. If you google "2004 explorer problems" and click on any of the links the first problem is transmission issues. I have owned this car since it was new in 2004 and have not abused the car. For a 2004 car with only 75000 miles on it to have a transmission go it is a problem. I have been quoted $3000 to fix this problem the fix being a new transmission. When ford knows about this problem they should do something about it.
Transmission went out on my 2004 ford explorer only a day after I bought it from a dealership. The replacement transmission will cost me $3400 plus the $10550 that I paid for the vehicle the day before. What a big mess this is.
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 30 MPH. The failure was diagnosed by the dealer who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced for the second time. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The transmission on my 2004 ford explorer is failing; is will slip out of gear, and then shift back into gear hard enough that it makes the entire vehicle shake and lurch forward. The vehicle only has 68k miles on it, and is only used as a commuter vehicle. It has never been taken off road, and I have never used it to tow anything.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer xlt. When the contact shifted into reverse gear the vehicle would not move for approximately four to five minutes. The vehicle also made a loud noise and then moved in reverse. The vehicle was previously taken to the dealer in 2007 and the solenoid was replaced per the warranty. The dealer wanted to replace the solenoid a second time for $1000 at the owners expense. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 42,000.
My wife owns a 2004 ford explorer xlt with what I've found to be a common problem. The overdrive light flashes on the dash board. It usually is a transmission problem that is a very expensive repair. This issue with the explorer has been going on for over a decade. I think that ford should be held accountable. After all ford did take bail out money. I think that a recall would be the proper action for the ford. Motor company. I am one of thousands of consumers who have been abandoned by another big company.
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. Updated 12/14/2011 *cn updated 02/23/11
1) 2004 explorer eddie bauer transmission badly slipping and delay in engaging resulting in vehicle lunging forward once it engages. 2) has been happening for about 3-4 years intermittently. Dealer said this was normal in first time I complained. Now it happens every day. 3) had to have the trans rebuilt at a cost of $2328.25.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While the vehicle was parked, the contact tried to shift to drive when the gear shift broke off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 55,242.
As everyone else, I am have a lot of problems with my transmission. It shifts very hard and jerks when put into reverse. Also having issues shifting from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. Problem is steadily getting worse. This morning the o/d off light started blinking. I killed the car and restarted it and it stopped. I dont understand why there has not been a recall on this. Ford obviously knows that there is a problem. How could they not? I have found tons of message boards on the internet with everyone else having the same problem.
While driving down a 4-lane highway, transmission failed. No warning, just thump and done. My research reveals that dealership are reporting that 1 in 10 2004 explorers have transmission failure. Also, heater blower motor went out over 1 year ago, leaving no default heat for defrosting the windshield.
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.
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. Has been back to the dealership and told its a (sp) solenoid problem and had been fixed, but it hasn't have been disgusted and been driving it this way because I don't have $2000 for repairs.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact observed a long hair line fracture along the panel below the rear windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they informed the contact that the rear windshield panel would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 44,000. The consumer also stated he had difficulty shifting the gear into reverse. Updated 01/06/11 updated 01/24/11 *bf updated 02/03/11
I have 2004 awd limited edition ford explorer with 69,000 miles. I am now faced with replacing the transmission at a cost of $5,000. This car is far too new, with far too few miles to be in need of a new transmission.
There are numerous complaints on the internet regarding the 2004 ford explorer. The car jerks violently when going into first, second and reverse gears. The first repair was on 10/07 at 15,690 miles. The dealership replaced the solenoid and assured the problem was resolved. At 24,190 miles the same problem recurred and the dealership recalibrated and charged $118. Now at 26,900 miles the problem has recurred and again they are going to replace the solenoid. Of course at my expense. There is obviously something wrong and ford is refusing to address the problem. They should at least guarantee the work that was done under warranty.
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