2005 Ford Explorer: stuck in gear or won't shift

6 of the 497 complaints about the 2005 Ford Explorer describe stuck in gear or won't shift.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 1%
typical mileage: 90,659
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 16 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Stuck in gear or won't shift by model year

2026
1
2025
1
2024
1
2023
1
2022
2
2021
5
2020
29
2018
3
2017
4
2016
24
2015
2
2014
1
2013
8
2012
4
2010
2
2008
2
2007
1
2006
22
2005
6
2004
24
2003
23
2002
107
2000
4
1999
3
1998
4
1997
4
1996
6
1995
5
1994
4
1993
2
1992
4
1991
1
1990
1

What owners say

Filed Nov 4, 2016 · Transmission · 142,000 miles · NJ

The gear shifter/lever broke off into my hand when attempting to shift from park to reverse. The gear shifter/lever broke at the base, inside the steering column. The broken part seems to be a cast metal part, that the gear shifter/lever rotates to change gears. The fracture surface appears rough -- it is not clean. Fortunately the car is stuck in park, not another gear, and in a safe place (parking garage). Should this have happened when in any other gear I would have to turn off the car in that gear, if I had enough room to maneuver the car to a safe place. Otherwise it would just have to sit wherever it was left, no matter how inconvenient to other drivers. I called ford and they state this is not a documented issue, therefore no recall or reimbursement is available. However, an internet search reveals this is has happened to many people, with pictures of the same exact break point that I have experienced. Also, there are after-market replacement parts for this exact part, further hinting this is a known problem.

Filed Mar 12, 2014 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · IL

As I was driving in traffic, the panel suddenly started beeping and flashing lights and my car would not change gears. The o/d light came on and the information center indicated there was something wrong with my transmission. Now the car will not shift into 3rd gear until it reaches very high RPM and when it does shift it is very hard. I drive the car to and from work a total of 6 miles a day and almost never on the highway. It is almost 10 years old and it only has 70,000 miles. I've heard this has been a problem with ford transmissions for over 10 years but they refuse to take responsibility for the defect. I have been buying ford cars since 1995 but this will be my last. Too many other problems that they refuse to fix.

Filed Jul 25, 2010 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · NC

Bought 2005 ford explorer with only $5700 miles on vehicle. By the time I had 60k miles, o/d light started flashing and I had to get new transmission. Now my vehicle has 125k miles and o/d light is on again. Will need another transmission. Both times, vehicle does not shift gears correctly and sounds like your transmission is going to fall out while driving down the road.

Filed May 22, 2010 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · MD

I have a 2005 ford explorer, I bought the vehicle new in 2005. The vehicle's first major problem was in 2008 when the transmission "lost" 3rd gear. It was rebuilt by ford and has never been the same. Yesterday 21 may 2010 the transmission did the same thing it did in 2008... Slammed hard into reverse and now it won't shift out of 1st gear. This is twice I'm having to pay to have the transmission replaced in a 5 year old vehicle.

Filed May 1, 2009 · Transmission · 90,659 miles · TX

2007 ford explorer would not shift from park. Had to call a tow truck. We tested it on the tow truck and it still would not shift out of park. After towing it to a repair shop, it finally shifted out of park.

Filed Jan 16, 2008 · Transmission · 48,941 miles · MD

I purchased a new ford explorer xlt with just under 6,000 miles from my local ford dealer. It was considered "new" because it had under 6,500 miles (it was their demo car.) 5000 into my new purchase, at approximately 11,000 miles, I began experiencing transmission problems. The vehicle drifted back while in gear and would not shift into gear smoothly. I took it in for repair as a transmission complaint. 8,000 miles later (at approximately 19,000 miles), I was having more difficulty with a slipping transmission and took it to the ford dealer in my area. They found a leak within the transmission and found other transmission issues. At approximately 49,000 miles (current mileage), I was again experiencing transmission slips and a loud noise coming from the rear. I took it to my local ford dealer who said the rear needed replacement and basically the entire back end was falling apart. I could feel this was also related to the transmission. I, again, took it in for the 3rd time as a transmission complaint. The dealer called me and told me my car was repaired, but apparently, they only fixed what was wrong with the rear. I paid $1500 to fix the rear. I picked up my vehicle and I noticed the car was not shifting properly and it was more obvious than before. I live only 6 blocks away. I drove it home and parked the car. That morning, I could barely get my car to go into gear. It would not even go into reverse. It wouldn't move. I eventually got it to go into drive and was just barely able to return it to the dealer, which, fortunately, was just a few blocks away from my house. The car clearly had a bad transmission from the start. Now, the dealer tells me I need a new transmission which will cost me $3500. I have always changed the oil every 3,000-5,000 miles. I treat the car like my baby - it was well taken care of. I have never been hard on this vehicle. I believe the back end trouble is related to the transmission, as well.