I was in a middle school parking lot attempting to park my vehicle. My foot was not on the accelerator, and my foot was light depressed on the brake pedal as I was attempting to park the car prior to school release. The vehicle suddenly accelerated at a high rate, with no indicators on the dashboard that there was a mechanical/electrical issue. I had to swerve to avoid colliding with a parked vehicle and abruptly applied the brake pedal, which depressed into the floor board. This incident would have injured a child or parent at school release had I not arrived prior to end of day release. To summarize: Date/time: October 21, 2026 - 2:55 p.m. Vehicle: 2022 Ford Explorer Platinum Auto Hold: OFF Vehicle was in Drive and moving forward at parking/crawl speed. Accelerator pedal was not depressed and my foot was not near the accelerator. Vehicle suddenly accelerated forward with substantial force, consistent with heavy/full accelerator input. No warning lights or messages appeared before, during or immediately after the event. I had to abruptly steer away to avoid colliding with another vehicle.
Ford Explorer sudden acceleration problems
272 of the 34,647 owner complaints about the Ford Explorer describe sudden unintended acceleration, most of them for the 1997 model year.
- owner complaints
- 272
- worst model year
- 1997
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,237
- typical mileage
- 63,000
By model year
Often reported together
Adaptive cruise 23Jerking 14Hesitation 12Stalling 11Transmission failure 8Harsh shifting 8Check engine light 8Brake failure 7
Trouble codes mentioned
P2704 1
What owners say
The contact owned a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was making a right turn into a resident carport, the vehicle surged forward and crashed into the house at approximately 10-15 MPH. The brake pedal was depressed during the failure. The contact was following his wife at the time and became aware that the brake pedal was being depressed. The air bags deployed on the driver's and passenger's sides, steering, curtain, and footwell. The driver sustained bruises from the air bag and seat belt. The vehicle was towed. The EMT provided medical attention at the scene. A Police report was filed but the police report number was not available. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and opened a case. The vehicle was inspected and totaled by the insurance company. The failure mileage was approximately 27,954.
My 2016 ford explorers torque converter has failed. It causes a extremely rough idle while in drive or reverse, the rpms vary and at a complete stop the car will continue to lunge forward. If I were to continue to drive the vehicle at any point without warning my transmission could completely lock up causing me to stall in the middle of the road. The dealership has confirmed it as well as ford and ford has an active recall for my specific car but my vin isn't covered under the recall and ford is refusing any sort of fault.
Vehicle: 2023 Ford Explorer ST VIN: [XXX] I am reporting ongoing safety-related powertrain and drivability defects that continue despite numerous repair attempts, including complete engine and transmission replacement. Since approximately June 2025, my vehicle has experienced delayed acceleration, hesitation, erratic RPM behavior, harsh shifting, loss of power, and intermittent warning lights. The vehicle has also stalled, jerked during acceleration, and exhibited transmission shuddering and lurching. The problems have been repeatedly reproduced, documented, inspected, and repaired by Kendall Ford of Anchorage, Alaska, the sole servicing Ford dealership involved. Repairs have included replacement of fuel injectors, cylinder heads, a complete engine assembly, and a complete transmission assembly. Despite these repairs, the safety concerns remain. Current symptoms include: • 1-4 second delay in throttle response. • Vehicle may fail to accelerate below approximately 30 mph. • Engine RPM rises significantly without proportional vehicle acceleration. • Erratic shifting, surging, and harsh jolts. • Intermittent check engine lights, FordPass alerts, and electrical warnings. These conditions create a significant safety risk because the vehicle may fail to accelerate when entering the highway, merging into traffic, crossing traffic, making left turns, or avoiding hazards. The delayed throttle response and sudden acceleration after the delay increase the risk of a crash. Attached service records document stalling, misfires, loss of propulsion concerns, and repeated powertrain failures requiring replacement of both the engine and transmission, yet the drivability concerns continue. I believe this may involve a defect in the powertrain, transmission controls, engine management system, electronic throttle control system, or related vehicle control modules. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency investigate these recurring safety-related defects. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds on several occasions with the cruise control activated, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated to 70 MPH. The contact stated that the unintended acceleration had occurred on Highway 70, even though the Speed Limit was 25 MPH. The contact stated that the incorrect Speed Limit was displayed on the instrument cluster. The contact became afraid of driving the vehicle because the failure could be potentially harmful. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25.
I was stoped at a red light with cars in front of me and behind me when with my foot on the break the car accelerated forward like my foot was on the gas pedal but my foot was not on pedal, the car surged forward and came close to hitting the car in front of me I pressed the break and got stopped didn’t happen again but sometimes I can feel the car wanting to keep surging forward when breaking. If there is a problem this could cause me to hit someone in the rear or even worse could hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk please check this out
I periodically have unintended acceleration ; it has occurred off and on for the past two years . The Ford dealer said no faults were detected so they can't fix the problem . It most often when I am shifting into reverse then the RPMs increase dramatically and when I put it in neutral they shoot up even more . A few days ago I was putting the car into the garage , waiting for the door to open , with my foot on the brake and the shift in drive when the RPMs started to increase . Feeling the car starting to move I shifted to neutral when the RPMs shot up tremendously . This is a dangerous situation where someone can get injured or killed . Ford should be able to correct the problem !!!
When entering a roundabout, the vehicle failed to accelerate for a few moments. The vehicle then suddenly accelerated agressviely putting the occupants at risk for a collision with the oncoming traffic amd vehciles ahead of us, already in the roundabout.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that occasionally while at a complete stop or while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle lurched forward or experienced unintended acceleration. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer and was provided an estimate for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
Approximately 2-3 weeks ago (around time car hit 100,000 miles), I began noticing hard downshifts when my car was slowing down between 30-20 mph. It felt as if I was being rear ended every time I came to a stop, with a very forceful physical jerking sensation. I had my husband drive it to confirm I wasn't being paranoid, then had my dad drive it (who has been a mechanic for 40+ years) to get his thoughts. He determined likely a transmission issue and recommended I take it to my local Ford Service Center. Ford confirmed I had a P2704 code and recommended a full replacement of my transmission. I took it to an independent transmission center who confirmed the diagnosis (test drove to confirm hard shifts between 8-7 and occasionally 4-5), but did state the transmission could be rebuilt or repaired instead of fully replaced. On 3-4 occasions, I was attempting to accelerate but the car would not go forward, this occurred while trying to merge onto an interstate/parkway. Additionally, once, when I had my foot off both the gas and brake pedals (coasting), the engine aggressively accelerated on its own and I was in stop and go city traffic, which was terrifying. No lights ever came on the dashboard and no warnings were sent to my FordPass app. There has been a TSB issued (23-2250). I have 2 small children (ages [XXX]) in car seats and I am afraid to drive them around in my car. Thankfully, I have found someone to fix the issue, but it seems it's a very common problem with the 10R60 transmissions from 2020-2022 based on forums and speaking to mechanics. We have been a Ford Family since the 1970s, but this experience has made me never want to buy another one. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
- Risk
- A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1‑888‑222‑2751.
Recall number 09V399000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
- Risk
- This could result in an underhood fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1‑888‑222‑2751.
Recall number 07V336000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.
- Risk
- Overheating could result in smoke or burn and an underhood fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on august 7, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1‑866‑436‑7332. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 05v388)
Recall number 06V286000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control: cables
- What is wrong
- On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control and 4.0l sohc engines, if the strand cover on the speed control cable becomes flared at the end, the speed control cable may bind when the speed control is activated.
- Risk
- The throttle return spring force may not be sufficient to overcome the binding condition when the speed control is disengaged. Braking function would be maintained though stopping distances may be increased.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the speed control cable and, if necessary, replace it. Owner notification began august 29, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.
Recall number 03V280000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4.0l sohc engines and still retain the original throttle body (part numbers 97jf-9e926ab or 97jf-9e926-AC). Some of the original throttle bodies installed allowed a gap between the plate and bore to be built too narrow. This reduced clearance allowed the engine deposits normally present in the throttle body to contact or bridge the gap. If the engine deposits bridged the gap between the throttle plate and bore and then hardened, on the initial application of the accelerator pedal after the engine has cooled, the operator would need to apply additional force to the accelerator pedal to break the bridge.
- Risk
- This could result in engine surge when the accelerator pedal breaks free.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the original throttle bodies.
Recall number 00V422000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: certain 1997-1999 rhd explorer equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc engines and cruise control built from may 29, 1996 through march 4, 1999; 1998-1999 explorer/mountaineers equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc or 5.0l engines or 1998-1999 rangers equipped with 2.5l, 3.0l ffv/efi or 4.0l engines and cruise control built from january 5, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1998-1999 mustangs equipped with 3.8l, 4.6l 2-valve or 4-valve engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1999 f250/f350/f450/f550 (over 8,500 lbs.) trucks equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; and 1999 f-53 stripped chassis equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999. A cruise control cable can interfere with the speed control servo pulley and not allow the throttle to return to idle when disengaging the cruise control.
- Risk
- If the cruise control is used and this condition is present, a stuck throttle could result, which could potentially result in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the cruise control cables. At the present time, the replacement cables are not available. Customers are being advised not to use the cruise control system until a replacement can be made.
Recall number 99V062001 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles equipped with 5.0l engines originally sold or currently registered in the states of alaska, idaho, iowa, maine, michigan (upper peninsula only), minnesota, montana, nebraska, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. These vehicles, when operated for extended periods of time at highway speeds and temperatures below -20 degrees farenheit, do not return to idle due to ice in the throttle body.
- Risk
- Although the vehicle can be controlled by either applying the service brakes or shifting the transmission to neutral, increased brake pedal efforts or some increase in stopping distance can result.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a revised pcv system with water heated vacuum source.
Recall number 97V074000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford Explorer sudden acceleration
Which Ford Explorer years have sudden unintended acceleration problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1997 (28 complaints), 1998 (28 complaints) and 2002 (26 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix sudden unintended acceleration on the Ford Explorer?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,237 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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