2016 Ford Explorer: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Apr 18, 2026 · Engine · CO

Smoke coming from engine bay area. Vehicle in limp mode. Mechanic says piston broke a hole in engine wall.

Filed Dec 15, 2024 · Transmission · VA

There has been an ongoing issue with my vehicle since it was last taken to service for a recall. The transmission has premature failure. I have had the entire vehicle powertrain fluids changed and nothing has helped. My boyfriend has been driving the vehicle and will not let me drive it anymore because it is unsafe. The transmission has torque converter issues. It has got stuck in second gear and when we went to pull out into traffic it would not move and we nearly got T-Boned. That happened while I was with him and I'm afraid to use it. He has to drive it to work because I have his vehicle and he wants me and my daughter to be safe. He says its downshifting hard when slowing down. It will downshift hard and loose power when trying to speed up on the interstate or while trying to get on the interstate. It shifts hard into reverse and is delayed shifting. Its lost power due to the transmission slipping. There has never been any check engine lights come on. Ford will do absolutely nothing about it. The vehicle has around 62,000 miles on it now and its gotten worse and is going to cause an accident or kill someone. I have called ford several times and they don't seem to care. They want me to go have it fixed and pay for it. I don't have that kind of money and I should not have to pay for there problem. Its a known issue I found out by searching online, even lawsuits. They need to recall these transmissions and fix the issue with them before someone is killed. If there hasn't already been deaths. Its unsafe. It has put me and my daughter at risk. Other drivers at risk and now with him having to drive it, his life is at risk everyday! Ford does not care about people or their family. They know they put a bad transmission in these vehicles and it cause premature wear. The transmission fluid is black, smells burnt and even metal shavings in it. Its a ticking bomb and its unfair they want me to pay for their mistakes!

Filed Jun 1, 2024 · Acceleration, Transmission · CT

While driving on the interstate my transmission decided to stop working. I was not able to safely get off the interstate because this happened going up an incline. My explorer will not shift into any gear and the cost to replace the transmission is $5300. Ford stated that the recall #20B27 was completed on my car in 2020 but when I called after the transmission died they stated that my VIN was not eligible for the #20B27 recall. So, how was it completed if they are now saying the recall wasn’t for my car? My explorer is a 2016/2.3L/6F35 Transmission code/built in Chicago. Ford needs to recall and replace every transmission in these explorers. With so many complaints and transmission failures/problems I’m floored that nothing has been done to remedy this situation that many explorer owners are experiencing. Do better Ford.

Filed Oct 3, 2023 · Engine · CA

2016 Ford Explorer V6 Ecoboost with only 63,000 miles, the water pump is leaking. This is a well known failure with hundreds if not thousands of complaints. The repair is extensive and costly for a $70 part that is known to fail. A water pump seal and/or rubber gasket failure will result in water leaking into the engine and the engine either going into limp mode or shutting down. The occupants of the vehicle can be put in an unsafe situation anytime there is an engine failure, for example, an engine failing in an intersection, or on a long drive in adverse weather in the middle of nowhere, or in the dark on an unlit highway. Ford is VERY AWARE of this problem and this water pump design should be on a recall list. I expect the federal safety agency to require Ford to fix this major problem. I haven't taken it to the shop as I know exactly what is wrong, and I want Ford to fix this problem before I am put in an unsafe situation. There were no warning signs other than the coolant under my vehicle, the vehicle heated up, and I had to add coolant. I was almost that victim with a catastrophic engine failure.

Filed Jun 12, 2023 · AL

The gear will not go into Park. I put the gear in Park and the car started to roll. I looked at the dashboard and it said it was in Reverse. With the car in the Reverse position, it will not start.

Filed Dec 1, 2021 · Transmission · IN

Transmission failure, not shifting consistently, multiple times would not shift out of second gear after down shifting during driving. This is dangerous when merging into higher speeds where acceleration is needed, such as on highway. Took Vehicle to Ford dealership twice while under power train warranty and they stated they could not replicate the concern. They reset adaptive learning transmission, because they said shifting was likely due to different driving styles between husband and wife. Now 6 months later, issue continues and they admit it is a faulty transmission, but is no longer under warranty.

Filed Nov 5, 2021 · Transmission · NC

Vehicle power stalled on acceleration after pulling onto lane of travel. Road traffic heavy in both directions. Vehicle would not shift beyond initial gear of automatic transmission. Available travel speed of 40-45 mph only. Wrench light/powertrain light came on. No prior warning lights. No prior operational issues detected. After stopping vehicle, would not operate in reverse. Warning light indicator and manual reported to get to dealer asap. Dealer indicated transmission issue. Transmission was replaced. Vehicle had 56,418 miles (within 60,000 warranty) but beyond 5 year warranty.

Filed Feb 22, 2021 · Engine · 128,000 miles · SC

I'm experiencing limp mode. While driving at any speed the truck loses power and cuts back almost like I put it in park while driving. The wrench and engine lights are on.

Filed Oct 10, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 43,600 miles · NC

The accelerator becomes unresponsive and my vehicle's RPM drops, regardless if I am pressing on the gas pedal. Most notably occurs when driving on the freeway, but has happened driving within city limits. I have to press down on the gas pedal and wait for the vehicle to eventually pick up speed or shift gear to neutral to drive to be able to accelerate when pressing on gas pedal. This is a safety concern due to the vehicle going limp mode, especially on a freeway. This happens approximately 2-3 times in a 1 hour driving period. The last time this happened the vehicle wrench light when on and my vehicle was jolting when I pressed on the gas pedal. When I took it to the dealership the wrench light went away. It is currently being seen by a technician; however, the technician is having a hard time duplicating this problem. This problem is intermittent. I tried to take it to another dealership previously for the same issue, however they turned me down due to it being an intermittent issue.

Filed Oct 9, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 47,000 miles · PA

Was driving down 95 @ 65 MPH when all of a sudden, the car jerked and lost all power. Wrench light, check engine, and airbag light all came on. No power. No gas, limp mode. Code reader determined throttle body issue. Looked online, appears to be known issue ignored by ford. I could have been killed

Filed Jul 27, 2019 · 48,000 miles · KS

I have had an issue in the transmission or shifting and won't go into gear or drive until you take it and put back to park. Then sometimes it will and sometimes it won't. I took it to the dealer and they had a ford engineer that thought they figured it out after shelling something and repairing it. It worked for a month and now is back at dealer for a second time. Seems to be with 4 wheel drive or transmission

Filed May 28, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 140,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 ford explorer. While driving approximately 75 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle went into limp mode. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who retrieved diagnostic trouble code: p2111 (throttle actuator control system stuck open). The vehicle was not repaired. Autonation ford marietta (located at 869 cobb pkwy se, marietta, ga 30060, (770) 674-6077) was infomred of the failure via phone. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.