2006 Ford Explorer: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Sep 8, 2017 · Transmission · 135,000 miles · UT

My explorer's transmission is starting to exhibit hard shifts that rattle the entire car. I know this is not a new problem as a family member had to replace the transmission in their 2006 explorer and cyber community is full of examples. This is a major safety issue as the transmission hesitates while excelerating through intersections and shifts hard enough to jolt the entire car while slowing down.

Filed Jun 2, 2017 · Transmission · AR

Overdrive has a hard jolt " hard shift" when normal driving. I see this is a big issue with all ford explorers, too bad I didn't do some research before buying a ford.

Filed Mar 5, 2017 · Transmission · MO

Transmission occasionally lurches and makes very hard shifts between gears. Engine races between hard shifts. Have loss of power between shifts which has almost resulted in causing an accident. Lurching seems to occur mostly after driving at 20 to 30 miles per hour for at least 20 minutes.

Filed Feb 8, 2017 · Engine, Transmission · 100,100 miles · MI

Got 2006 eddie bauer w/98,000, 1 previous owner (mother) all servicing via the same ford dealer (gene butman), except for a few oil changes from uncle ed's. Late nov 2016 took it in due to the heat was fluctuating, was told it needed the thermostat and housing replaced (even though it had the radiator replaced a few years earlier), also had brakes & rotors done, the 100,000 mile checkup said all was good. A week later the exhaust flute, etc broke lose, got that repaired & $2,000 later, friday 2/03/17 wrench light came on, then engine light, vehicle seemed to lunge forward, delay, doesn't engage..accelerate, feels like the transmission is hanging and then slams into gear. A thud feeling was also reported by my mother several times in previous years to the dealer, they could not find anything wrong, so she had then document it. Today I am told a transmission is needed, which is a unexpected huge & saddening surprise - in 2012 and 2013 there had already been transmission work on the vehicle. Checked and see all reports about this particular model has occurred on this one, cooling system/radiator/thermostat and housing issues, exhaust issues and now transmission issues -- there are thousands of reports for this exact model and other explorer and ford vehicles, all known issues, many explanations why it occurred with this model and that ford is aware of them and has provided no recalls for any of these serious defective matters, none - especially when each are very dangerous matters. Today I am told, that a new transmission will be: $5,400, 3 year warranty and a used transmission: $3,600 12 mos or 12,000 miles. Both options are very very expensive. What can the federal safety agency do, will a recall ever occur? It seems ford needs to step in and help with these repairs. It there any help with these matters & cost? Http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2006/ .

Filed Oct 3, 2015 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · FL

Transmission issues, it hard shifts, slams into gear, no immediate engaging into drive or reverse. Ford has checked the transmission and test driven it then claims it is operating fine. Dangerous issue with no accountability. Issues begin about the 60,000 mile mark.

Filed Sep 22, 2015 · Transmission · 99,256 miles · MI

Transmission was not shifting from 1st to 2nd leaving you not moving in traffic or worse not being able to cross traffic. Also extreme hard shifts into reverse from park. I put a new (rebuilt)transmission in 4/18/13 and 9/9/15 it has only been two weeks and already it is doing the hard shift thing.

Filed May 13, 2015 · Transmission · 83,000 miles · KY

I was leaving a side street, merging into traffic and as I was changing lanes and accelerating into busy traffic the vehicle just sat there with the engine revving up. The transmission wouldn't engage and then it slammed into gear so hard that it felt like I was rear ended and there was a loud bang. In my opinion, this is a definite risk to our personal safety because if you turn across traffic, change lanes, merge or attempt to avoid obstacles; you have no idea when the transmission will fail making it impossible to safely operate this vehicle. It is a major safety issue - please hold ford accountable before someone gets killed. Thank you.

Filed Mar 25, 2015 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · AE

I have a major problem with my 2006 explorer. It lunges, jolts, doesn't engage and sometimes the transmission slams into gear so had that it feels like I just got rear ended with a big bang! Ford does not take accountability that this is a real problem with the 06' explorer despite hundreds upon hundreds of complaints regarding it as a safety issue. It is a major safety issue! I was almost hit by oncoming traffic when I tried to cross an intersection an the transmission wouldn't engage. At various times my vehicle wouldn't engage when I was stopped at an intersection or when it did engage it would jerk. Another time I slowed at a yield and when I pressed the gas the vehicle wouldn't move but when I took my foot off the gas it accelerated very quickly with jerking motion.

Filed Mar 25, 2015 · Transmission · 126,000 miles · NY

Went out to driveway to start it heard a loud noise like a backfire then gurgling transmission fluid running out all over driveway. .m..no previous warnings nothing but a clunking noise sometimes when shifting which dealer told me was nothing to worry about. .....vehicle has had all scheduled maintenance... I am beyond angry ......just paid this off..... Turns out ford knew about the issue with these transmissions ......there should have been a recall. .......I have driven guards for seventeen years ..... . Never again. ... No more ford's.........I tried to buy american........at what cost to me.......I'm looking for a toyota.........you want my business...... Give me a decent product .......the cadillac eldorado I had nineteen years ago did the same thing at 67,000 miles........I do not drive hard.........or jackrabbit or do fast starts.......tired of paying for trying to buy american. .....now I know why everyone else buys toyota's.

Filed Jan 1, 2015 · Transmission · 82,000 miles · IL

Transmission clunks when it is put into gear. I seen many complaints on the internet for this condition. Ford accepts no responsibility for this condition but with all of the same complaints I think it should be fords problem to fix.

Filed Jul 29, 2014 · Transmission · 105,000 miles · MA

Sometimes the transmission slams into gear so had that it feels like I just got rear ended with a big bang. The date above was the first time and ever since it keeps happening more often.

Filed Jun 18, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 100,000 miles · NJ

I've had multiple problems with this car. First the car shifts hard approx between 10 MPH and 20 MPH, the car lunges, stalls, then shifts hard into gear. When it first happened, I took the car to a certified mechanic and they did a complete transmission flush... The car ran smooth for about 10 days, then it started leaking transmission fluid which resulted in my radiator being ruined. Replaced the radiator and a plug in the transmission. ($1,800) the car then ran fine up this past sunday. The car as me and my wife were driving home from a 400 mile trip with the AC running, the wrench light came on and the car started lunging and shifting hard again. I exited off the highway and the check engine light came on... The car started shifting hard between 2nd and 3rd gear and making a loud clunk noise. Took it to the mechanic and he did another transmission flush on monday june 16, 2014... Two days later and the car still lunges, stalls, and shifts hard. I called ford and they said because the car is out of warranty, there's nothing they could do. I even asked them because there are so many complaints about the 2006 transmission, they still couldn't help me. The second problem is the car even though in park, it tends to roll down the driveway into the street in the middle of the night/ early morning... This happened a couple of times... Told ford about the problem, and because the car is out of warranty there's nothing they could do... The last problem is every once and a while the car doesn't shift into reverse... Told ford about the problem and once again, because the car is out of warranty there's nothing they could do...