2005 Ford Explorer: complete transmission failure

Filed Apr 17, 2017 · Transmission · 155,000 miles · VA

Transmission just failed on the highway. No forward or reverse gears. The occurrence of transmission failures for this vehicle is extremely high and well documented. The transmission on this vehicle is unreliable and unsafe because of poor engineering. My family was luck to not get rear ended on the highway resulting in injury or worse.

Filed Feb 15, 2017 · Transmission · 135,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford explorer. While attempting to reverse the vehicle, the reverse gear shifter became inoperable. 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 135,000.

Filed Nov 5, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 150,000 miles · MD

Im not sure if this should be with engine section but I didn't see a transmission part. I was driving my SUV and transmission light in the message center came on and said , over drive on /off kept flashing . Took to a body shop nearby they diagnosed the problem to be the transmission. With further investigation mechanic told me that second / third gear was gone . I ended up spending $4500 for new transmission to be installed. The mechanic informed me that it is a common problem with the 2005 ford explorers.

Filed Sep 20, 2013 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · PA

Our 2005 ford explorer has only 60 thousand miles and we have had to replace the transmission. Our mechanic has told us that this should not have happened at 60 thousand miles, and another mechanic told us that ford vehicles are starting to become known for the bad transmissions. After reading some complaints online, I have decided to report this, as many ford customers have had to have transmissions replaced at very low mileage. Ford should consider a recall.

Filed Feb 8, 2013 · Transmission · TX

My 2005 ford has been in the dealership service center 3 different timesfor the same problem with the transmission. First time 2006 second 2010 this 2013. I'm told the solenoid pac the od bands are to blame all three times.I'm getting very frustrated with this car and ford motor companies inability to take care of this problem or to atleast except some responsibility for this.with this last failure they have given me to options rebuild again or put in a new transmission. Why would I want to replace a crappy transmission with a new crappy transmission. Is their any help with this?

Filed Jun 6, 2012 · Transmission · 99,000 miles · NM

Complete transmission failure at 99k miles and cost to completely rebuild is $2400. Car has been maintained according to ford recommendations. Transmission repair indicated this is a common issue with these transmissions used in ford explorers during these years. Ford should perform a recall as this could cause accidents given the lack of warning before failure occurs.

Filed Apr 14, 2012 · Transmission · 111,000 miles · MA

Transmission failure - driving home and the transmission failed. No drive, no reverse, does not go. I purchased this vehicle brand new and have had all of the recommended services performed by my local authorized ford dealer. After it failed, I searched the web for complaints, I should have done this before buying it. Not very happy about the fact that ford is not doing anything for this very common failure!! I will warn all potential buyers of any ford products.

Filed Jan 31, 2012 · Transmission · 109,000 miles · IA · crash

Brought the car to the dealer for the transmission lurching. My wife was parking her car and when she shifted in reverse to back into her parking spot, it lunged backwards and rammed the exhaust into bumper, literally crumpling the exhaust, into a concrete barricade, with no warning. This was at 75000 miles in march of 2009. Anytime she put it in gear it would just jump, like something would make it hesitate, and then all of the sudden full power almost uncontrollably. Brought to ford dealer and instead of replacing they had rebuilt it. The case for the transmission was cracked, the first sign it needed a new one. Fast forward january 20th 2012. Now the transmission failed on me, and with no warning with cars coming from behind me, it now has 40000 on the rebuild so now the car has 109000+ miles on it. Now the transmission has aluminum filings inside of it from the parts inside coming loose and shredding the case on the inside. For will not take care of it and it should still have a warranty. It is a dangerous car, if she would have drove to work and it lost power on a busier interstate she would have been in a major wreck. I can't replace a loved one because ford will not remedy the problem. I am getting rid of it so that my wife and kids are safe.

Filed Aug 23, 2010 · Transmission · 46,000 miles · MA

Common transmission failures on 2002 to 2005 ford explorers. My 2005 ford explorer transmission failed without warning and almost caused my family to get rear ended on the highway and then almost into a rollover on the highway due to being in the passing lane and trying to get over to the break down lane. I had to have the whole transmission rebuilt at 46,000 miles which was not covered under warranty.

Filed Aug 3, 2010 · Engine, Transmission · 45,606 miles · KS

I just bought a 2005 ford explorer xlt 4.0l v-6 4x4 with 45,000 miles, and within one month, the transmission began to slip while driving. I took it to rob sight ford in kansas city, mo and they charged me $1,200 to fix the valve casing, but the transmission is still slipping. A week later, the defroster quit working, and now only blows out of the front vents. I checked with several dealerships and they all said it would be at least $1,100 to fix the blend door actuator. So now I have a 5 year old car with 45,000 miles that has no defrost capabilities and needs a new transmission, both of which are extremely hazardous if malfunctioning.

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 Jul 1, 2010 · Transmission · 48,244 miles · CA

While traveling on vacation from california to oregon on I-5, the vehicle began to shake, shutter, then clunk. "od off" light came on, along with a warning indicating check transmission. Loud whirling noise coming from transmission. It felt like there was no power, and the vehicle was going to stop. I was able to get over to the offramp, to get off the freeway. I did not feel it was safe to try to get back up to freeway speeds, as there seemed to be little power. Due to the sudden loss of power, I had the vehicles behind me, right on my bumper. Vehicle was purchased new, and has been serviced at all required intervals. Vehicle has 48,000 miles. Made it into a ford dealer in oregon, and was told after placed on a diagnostic machine, and all warning codes cleared it may be safe to drive back to california. Went about 300' from the dealership and "od off" light came on, "service vehicle soon" light came on, and check transmission warning came on. Drove it back into the dealership, and they removed the transmission pan, and diagnosed the problem as internal transmission failure. Found metal, and clutch material. Cost to replace transmission $3,657.