Two ford dealerships have attempted to repair transmission issue which was first reported last october 2019 with only 11,000 miles. Since then, 6 repairs have been made by ford in an attempt to fix ongoing transmission issue but have been unsuccessful. Vehicle will not accelerate at high rates of speed. Ford has been made aware of multiple unsafe events caused by this issue where vehicle would not accelerate on highway with three small children riding in car as passengers. Ford refuses to replace or refund for unsafe, defective vehicle despite customer's complaints and requests.
2017 Ford Explorer transmission complaints
Page 5 of 5: complaints 101 to 125 of 125, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Ford continues to make unsuccessful repairs on continuous transmission issue despite 6 failed attempts since first reported october 2019 at only 11,000 miles. Car will not accelerate into higher gear when traveling at high rates of speed. Ford continues to neglect many written notifications of dangerous events caused by transmission failure as well as blatantly refuses to diagnose reported errors present on car and continues to knowingly and negligently put its consumer and their passengers in danger by refusing to acknowledge ongoing issue that has now had 6 unsuccessful repairs made to attempt to resolve transmission issue. Consumer has desperately requested a full replacement/refund for defective vehicle for her safety and her family's but ford has repeatedly denied 3 buy back requests now citing that only 2 repairs have been made when clearly this is not the case.
About a week ago my vehicle was idling, backed straight into the turnaround in my driveway with the car in park. The two passenger side doors were open. My daughters and I (unbuckled) sat there about ten minutes while the engine was cranked but in park, waiting on my husband to finish up grabbing things for the vacation we were getting ready to leave on. My two year old had moved to the driver's seat, and I was in the passenger seat. My daughter reached over and pressed the push to start button as she has a hundred times and killed the engine, but this time, when the engine turned off, something obviously caused the transmission to disengage and we were sent rolling down the hill behind my turn around. I tried to climb over and hit the emergency brake but was unsuccessful. We were finally stopped when our back end smashed into the second tree we hit. Fortunately no one was injured besides me, and it was relatively minor with just bruising, particularly since I'm 7 months pregnant. My car is now completely totaled as a result.
Slowing down hard shift @ 40 and @20. Steering feels like it wants to pull when driving on a curve or when turning.
A few months ago (less than 30,000 miles) transmission began to "thump" when shifting in low gear after stop at light or stop sign. Lately, transmission makes a loud "thud" and very noticeable jerk when shifting in low gear after stop.
Several problems with this explorer. There was a noise in the engine compartment when the A/C is running and gibbons ford tried to fix it several times. They tightened a heat shield twice. Replaced the idler and belt 3 times and finally changed the A/C compressor. Also the hood bubbled and they replaced the hood and repainted it. There also was a transmission leak and the alternator had to be replaced. They ended up buying the vehicle back due to the ongoing unresolved issues.
Re: 2017 ford explorer. Car dying out on acceleration from a stop. A scary thing happened on rt #619 today in hartville. That is, the car died out halfway out onto the roadway, it pauses for some seconds where the accelerator does nothing. Then it picks up by itself. The throttle does nothing. None of these actions are desirable. These behaviors put us in great danger. So let's see, this happened twice in the morning I brought it to the dealership (monday 01-06-2020). And, it happened once the 2nd day back to me on friday 01-31-2019. But it did not happen for you in the 4 weeks you had it to test. Amazing isn't it? Well, I think I'm going to go along with the many other people online that report the identical problem that I experience. In my car, it's been a problem since new. I do believe ford is well aware of this problem. I also believe they're not going to do anything to correct it until they're made to. When I asked the service manager, he said to me: "ford told us not to do anything unless you can verify it." so, you just don't verify it. In "ford think" this must mean the problem doesn't exist. This puts me in mind of some years back when cars were taking off by themselves. Pinning, injuring, and even killing some owners. It's odd, but it was the same thing back then. It's the drivers, they're doing something wrong. It's not our cars, and that's exactly what I'm being told now. It's my driving habits. The same habits that don't effect my other 5 cars. I did not believe it then, nor do I believe it now. Ford seems to have an odd mindset. To find something, you have to be looking for it. And, I also reported to you that the sync system was going crazy, making adjustments that weren't needed or called for. It has to be continually readjusted. Did it not do that either? It did it for me the minute I started it up. Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Purchased 2017 ford explorer new with only 549 miles. 16 months after purchase, at approx. 39,000 miles, torque converter went out and had to be replaced. 16 months later, at approx. 79,000 miles, torque converter went out again and had to be replaced. I believe this to be yet another faulty ford transmission issue, as I am a daily commuter and keep my vehicles well maintained.
Vehicle started jerking, so took it to ford after scheduling an appointment and still couldn't get it seen. Clerk said it needed to stay overnight but will not give me a loaner so let me leave with the same conditions. The vehicle stopped moving forward or in reverse as I entered a parking garage, so towed it back to dealership to only find out that the transmission is blown and will cost $7k to repair. The vehicle is a 2017 with 75,000 miles, bought new and with no issues until now. Clerk stated it is outside power-train warranty of 5 years 60,000 miles. However this is a known issue with ford as they are going through a lawsuit now due to their transmissions but will not fix the issue.
Vehicle loses acceleration, stalls and shakes when at a stop. Jerks when backing up. Vehicle has been to ford two times. First time replaced throttle, and second time unable to duplicate error. Currently will be picking up vehichle from sheehy ford ashland in va. This is extremely unsafe
Here was a problem with the transmission stalling had the transmission replaced at 44000 miles.
There was a problem with the transmission stalling and later the motor mounts had to be replaced veg only had 62,000 miles on it. The power train happened several months before the problem with the motor mounts
Takata recall after purchasing 2017 explorer noticed severe headaches, digestion problems, drowsiness, difficulty focusing due to carbon monoxide entering the cabin. Took it to the dealer for a recall but doesn't seem like that they solved the issue. Also noticed a rumbling sound underneath the vehicle when turning left under acceleration, feeling like a transmission problem. Would never expect something like this to occur on a $47k car with only 30k miles.
Ford explorer transmission complaint I took my 2017 ford explorer into ford dealer and explained about a shifting problem between 1st and 2nd gear the but they found nothing during technician diagnostics in october of 2017 I started experiencing the jerking problem again except this time it was during my first morning start up and accelerating from 1st to 2nd gear and would get a substantial jerk. Again technician found nothing. Problem continued on morning start ups and decided to take back into the ford dealer a 3rd time for diagnostics with warmer weather now, june 12, 2019, this time the service manager experienced the jerk after several hours of the car sitting after servicing the explorer for other recall notices. Parked car overnight and when the transmission technician started the car in the morning and accelerated, he experience the same jerk between gears. Finally someone believes I am having a problem!! Ford dealer transmission technician performed diagnostics again and still nothing found. Ford dealer decided to check trouble shooting board from ford service bulletins and found information identifying the condition cause which additional documentation will follow.*dt consumer stated transmisson problem will not go away and the current mileage is 59,438.
Transmition failure. The vehicle was on a highway and lost acceleration and power to drive creating an unsafe condition.
The car lurches for the first 40-50 feet at slow speeds while applying minimal pressure on the gas pedal. It happens the initial time putting it in drive after each engine start, regardless of putting it in reverse first or not. It used to only happen after every few starts, but has progressed to every single time now and some can be very aggressive. The dealership has attempted to fix the issue 5 times now, with the 5th time resulting in them saying it is a "normal characteristic" of the vehicle, without being able to explain what is causing it. I was told by the local service manager that he "doesn't know why it is doing it, but it's normal." he then proceeded to compare the characteristic to someone poorly releasing the clutch on a manual vehicle and again, still claiming that everything is perfectly normal.
When gear is engaged in 'd' with engine on, vehicle moves without foot on throttle. When brake is applied to stop it, there comes a loud vibration from the engine which becomes nervous and tries to drag vehicle forward unless gear is put in 'n' or 'p'. It happens anytime vehicle is stationary with engine running including stop signs and traffic lights. No check light on dashboard. Phenomenon observed in early february 2019.
Vehicle stalls when driving and is more pronounced when making turns. After stalling it starts bucking and I have to press gas pedal to the floor to get a response.
Unintended vehicle movement while in park - also noise from transmission when slowing down
Vehicle surge on first acceleration after starting the engine. Surge - the vehicle experiences an accelerating lunge forward and then stops for about two or three cycles (stop/start, stop/start etc.) it is unexpected and uncontrollable until it subsides within 20 to 30 feet. The degree of the unexpected acceleration is excessive when compared to the slight application of the gas pedal conditions - happens only after the first startup of the engine, in warmer weather when the "choke" is not required. Example: start engine, back out of garage, place in first gear, accelerate slowly for the first time. This is when the surge is experience. It does not happen with every stop/start cycle during normal driving, like stopping at a traffic light. It happens only after starting the engine, and going forward for the first time. The primary problem is the degree of the uncontrolled, oscillating acceleration relative to the slight amount that the gas pedal is applied. It is not about an overly sensitive accelerator pedal. It about the engine surging, then dying off, then surging again.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 ford explorer. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the rear of the vehicle shook without warning. The vehicle was taken to wynne ford (1020 w mercury blvd, hampton, va 23666, 757- 838-3673). The dealer was able to duplicate the failure, but stated that nothing was mechanically wrong with the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200.
2017 ford explorer ecoboost with approximately 8800 miles started making a whinning noise from the transmission. Noticed making right turns the transmission felt like it would disengage and abruptly engage as if thrown in neutral then slammed into dirive. Taking off from light would do similar issue. In a couple of events, vehicle would not move and was in turning lane with traffic approaching almost causing to get t boned. Explorer has been at the dealer and transmission has been serviced twice with the transmission skipping gears or shifting normal until a stop and engages 5th gear, stays stuck in 5th gear.
I was stopped at a traffic light on the highway to make a left. Once light changed, I stepped on the gas and the car wouldn't move. I then heard a loud "thump" and thought I'd been hit from the rear. What actually happened was the transmission, slammed into gear and proceeded to move at about 2-3 MPH. It never regained speed. As I made my turn, I was stuck on another major road at a traffic light and I placed in neutral and heard the loud "thump" again as the trans shifted into neutral. Once the traffic light changed, I put the vehicle back into "drive" and yet again, a loud "thump" as it slammed into drive. Vehicle again proceeded to move at a snails pace, at about 2-3 MPH. Finally on the dash I got a "wrench" light and the engine light come on as well. I pulled over on a side street and turned the vehicle off. I waited a few minutes, turned the vehicle back on and when I shifted into reverse, neutral and then drive, the transmission slammed into gear on each of them very hard. I proceeded to turn the vehicle off and call a tow service to have the vehicle dropped off at the dealership. Might I add that this is a 2017 ford explorer with only 1045 miles....this is a new vehicle!!!!!
My 2017 ford explorer xlt with base 3.5 v6 has been hard to start from the first week of ownership. It has less than 5000 miles on it now and isn't fixed. Ford dealership stated it would have to get worse before they could fix it. Vehicle shows no dtc's or any history! My wife has refused to drive it out of town due to the fear of it not starting at all. We have recorded over 30 videos of it not starting and have sent videos to ford motor co. With the same response, cant fix it if it isn't broke. Apparently it will have to either break something internally and leave my wife and child stranded, before it will be diagnosed. It is a $40000 lemon that takes 3-4 times attempting to start before the engine will run. This weekend it took at least 30-40 seconds before vehicle started, then it would not idle correctly! Still no dtc's! Vehicle does this no matter the length of time engine has run or level of fuel? It does it during remote start or the push button. It does at times have a strong odor of gas after start-up, almost as if it was flooded? As a person in the automotive repair world, the absence of concern from ford is shocking! So instead of trying to correct a issue before it becomes a danger, they would rather it become dangerous and then repair it? If it is a fuel related issue, then this is a potential hazard that needs to be addressed. The vehicle is getting worse, but as said earlier, it will have to completely not start before something is done. Ford motor co has not been very helpful, and now I am proud owner of vehicle that will not start correctly.
Upon parking our brand new explorer in our driveway (it has a 10 degree slant), we turned off the keyless/push button ignition, but my husband accidentally had it in drive. Our small children were unclipping their seatbelts and starting to get out of the vehicle when my husband took his foot off the brake. With the car in drive and ignition off, it rolled back very quickly down our driveway. This could have been deadly to our small children had they opened their doors. I called ford.com who told me to call the dealer. I called dealer. They took one of their 2017 explorers from the lot and tried to get it to roll in gear after turning off the engine and their vehicle also did it. In reverse and in drive. Their solution was to "make sure you have it in park before you turn it off." some one is going to die!!! Even if I would make it out before getting run over, my baby in a car seat in the back of the car would be rolled into the busy street within a matter of seconds!! Killing her and any oncoming car or truck!!! Also, this same explorer- with only 800 miles on it, had its transmission fall off the mount and land on the axle and broke the axled while I was driving down the street. Heard banging sounds, then they got louder, then the steering got hard, then it felt like it was falling apart-all in the matter of 1 mile on a city street going 25mph. Not sure if we just got a lemon here? Put the gear/rolling after engine off if not in park is very, very serious and needs to me looked into before someone dies!!!!!!! I don't have the repair sheet to scan because a week after the tranmission/axle were repaired, it started vibrating and swerving when I was braking, so it's back in the shop. We've owned the car for about 3 weeks and it's been in the shop for a large percentage of that time. This specific model is the 2017 ford explorer sport. Ford.com was informed of this.
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