10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 12,296 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Transmission would slip in & out of overdrive while driving. Would jerk when this happened. Vehicle was controllable, speed was not a factor. Not an intermittent problem. Took vehicle to dealership & was informed that a new transmission was required.
- Valencia, CA, USA
No summary listed for above vehicle.
- Richmond, KY, USA
No summary listed for above vehicle.
- Richmond, KY, USA
While driving on highway transmission quit working. Vehicle would not move forward or reverse. Manufacturer has been contacted.
- Chicago, IL, USA
O/D off light flashing. Dealer states transmission needs to be rebuilt. Vehicle has had regular transmission maintenance, and has mostly highway mileage. Vehicle not used for towing or plowing. Failure seems unusual considering maintenance & use. Family member also had transmission failure on 95 Explorer at early stage (62,000).
- Farmington Hills, MI, USA
O/D off light flashing. Dealer states transmission needs to be rebuilt. Vehicle has had regular transmission maintenance, and has mostly highway mileage. Vehicle not used for towing or plowing. Failure seems unusual considering maintenance & use. Family member also had transmission failure on 95 Explorer at early stage (62,000).
- Farmington Hills, MI, USA
While driving on the highway at the speed limit transmission started to fall. Consumer could only get up to 35 mph. This could have caused a serious accident. Consumer was forced to get on the side of the shoulder. Then, vehicle would not go into drive or reverse, had to be towed.
- Chicago, IL, USA
As I drive the Explorer on the highway or at any speeds for longer periods of time(200+ miles), engine check light comes on, and the horsepower is affected. Gas mileage decreases to about 8 mpg, and this lasts for as long as the vehicle is driven. I have had the transmission replaced, and I have changed the spark plugs, the spark plug wires, the mass air-flow sensor, the fuel filters and the alternator. The problem is still occurring though. I would like to get the problem fixed so as to feel safe in this vehicle.
- Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Vehicle taken in for routine transmission oil change; mechanic noticed broken pieces of transmission positraction friction plate. Informed owner bearings needed to be replaced. Took vehicle to transmission shop & informed transmission was missing washers & it was poorly machined, the friction plate.
- Oswego, OR, USA
This is my 3rd transmission. My 1994 Explorer had an ireprepairable transmission, so I had to upgrade at my cost to the 1995. In my 1995 I am now faced with replacing my 2nd transmission. So far I have been told the Ford factory rep does not talk to the public. For each incident I have at least 2 weeks of "down time" while waiting to have the vehicle repaired. The transmission tech at Town & Country Ford here in charlotte, nc indicates he sees this problem often with the Explorer, yet no official recognition from Ford. I feel powerless, and at the total mercy of Ford. My BMW had 388,000 when I sold it and it never had transmission problems. My vehicle has been properly serviced, yet the Ford warranty seems to speak for itself...inadequate. This is apparently due to an inferior, faulty product. Ford needs to do a better job backing up their products, and needs to do a significantly better job responding to a consumer with habitual major problems such as this transmission. How does Ford expect to foster repeat business if the message they clearly send is the factory rep is not available to john Q public. What the heck is their job description? I know the factory reps from the competing mfg'ers do field questions and issues from the public. I intend to leave Ford if this is the best they can do and go to GMC, or a foreign mfg unless I can get some acknowledgement and relief!!!
- Charlotte, NC, USA
Called Ford customer service for good will repair cost no help
- Summerfield, FL, USA
Transmission shifts whenever it wants:65mph with cruise on or any other time just driving around town.
- Oshkosh, WI, USA
Transmission light stays on while driving. The dealer has been notified.
- Colonial Heights, VA, USA
They replaced transmission 9/98, 2/99 I'm told I need a new transmission, my vehicle repeatedly loses power when driving, I've also been told that the clicking noise in my engine is a Ford defect, but Ford tells me I'm not covered because I didn't purchase a warrenty. A 95 Ford Explorer w/48000miles should not be having these problems. I also have a 91 and 93 Explorer, a 73 Ford ranchero(with original engine & transmission) and 83 Ford conversion van and have never had any problems. This situation has really discouraged me from ever buying another Ford product.
- Durham, NC, USA
Due to the defective computer system, for which there is a service bulletin, transmission malfunctioned, causing vehicle to stall while driving. May result in an accident.
- Travelers Rest, SC, USA
Transmission failed.
- Novato, CA, USA
Complete transmission failure. The O/D light started flashing along with large
- Eldersburg, MD, USA
Automatic transmission failed (parking pawl) while in parked gear resulting in collision with fence.
- Raleigh, NC, USA
Noise in the transmission was said to be okay by the dealer despite the interior warning light. Later, the owners wife experienced an extended downshift with the rpms reaching critical levels without any acceleration. Vehicle was manuevered off the road wher it would not move. Dealer towed vehicle and informed owner he would need a new transmission.
- Waldwick, NJ, USA
- Ca, CA, USA