Transmission began having issues shifting into gear (i.e. from park to reverse, drive to park, etc.) at around 80,000 miles. Transmission remained functional until a separate problem with the oil filter adapter gasket parked the vehicle. The solenoid pack was replaced at 123,000 miles which alleviated the major shifting problems. The 1st to 2nd engine flair is still present, but the cause of that is often the OD solenoid piston, though not confirmed.

Update from Apr 24, 2014: Edit: The date that this problem began occurring was 2009, not 2012. The issue was repaired in April 2014.

My truck started to make clicking noise for about 3 weeks. I brought it to the Mechanics and was told I needed ball joints upper & lower. Cost for the ball joints was $800.00 & I still heard the clicking noise after the joints were replaced. Then two days later the O/D light starts flashing now told I need a transmission cost $2400.00. I am really frustrated, I just finished paying off the car two months ago now all of these problems start. Last year I had to replace the front drivers side front wheel hub.

No warning just driving along and the OD light is flashing and is shifting very hard. It then started slipping and had to have it towed to the repair shop. The repair shop does 30 transmissions per month and they said the most common transmission is the early 2000's explorers. Never towed with it owned it since 15000 miles. Wife only drove kids back and forth to school. Feel as though Explorer owners got ripped off. Car should have no resale value. Anyone that buys one needs plenty of cash laying around. $2800 for the rebuild with a 2 year 24000 mile warranty.

have had trouble out of car from day 3, rear driver window quit working, had local dealer fix at 52000 miles, alternator went out and at 62000 transmission started going out. o/d light started flashing and started shifting hard car has 102000 on it now and the heat in the car has quit working. I will never buy another ford product as long as I live. anyone else would be crazy to buy. I took transmission to a local franchise and was told that every 2004 ford explorer he has seen has had the same problem and that if i put new transmission in vehicle it would do same thing, that the car had cancer.

OMG! Where do I begin? I purchased a 2004 Ford explorer in July 0f 2011, and traded in my 2001 Oldsmobile of 5 years. I also purchased the 12 month 12,000 mile warranty. Before driving it off the lot I had the dealer fix the ABS system because the light was on. There is a crack going down the back of the trunk but nothing else was wrong at the time so I left the crack alone. In April of 2012 I took it to the dealership for a belt, check trans, shocks, ball joints, and a ticking in the heater when knob was turned to heat (not cool). The dealer was very rude for 1 and tried to charge me almost $800. for items not on the warranty. I told him to just fix what was on the warranty and also give it a oil change. He informed me that the trans was fine and charged me for looking at it because nothing was wrong so my so called warranty still came out to almost $400. out of pocket expenses. After getting the car back my heat went out and I was told by a mechanic Buddy that my brakes, rotors, emergency brake pads and the back tires were shot. So I had him replaced them because this was also not covered on warranty. Just last week my RPM started jumping with miles over 65.(no lights were on at the time)So I took it to 6 different places getting estimates on what could be wrong. All shops said the same thing. "Start with fuel filter, oil filters and oil change". I was told if that does not work then something else is wrong but with no lights on it was hard to tell. I did all of what I was told. The day after I paid for all this the service engine light came on. I took the car to Auto Zone to get it checked. (EGR Valve code) The man at Auto Zone told me to take it off and clean it with spray and let it dry before replacing. I took it to a shop and had them do this. The same day I picked up the car my service engine light came on again, O/d light and the car was driving like I was hauling a bus and jumping. I took it back the next day and he replaced the EGR valve new since the same code was showing up. Later that day after getting it back the car started doing the same thing after driving for 5 miles this was Friday 9/21/12. I have now turned to the internet and I am MADDER THAN I WAS BEFORE LOOKING ON THE NET!!! OMG!!! I still owe a car note on this car, I am a student working a part-time job and a single parent. I have no ideas what to do next. I refuse to put a trans in it and refuse to pay for it if I cannot drive it. I am so upset that I bought a FORD. I would rather have a old beat up Chevy any day then buy a brand new Fix Or Repair Daily/ Found On Roadside Dead = FORD!!!! FORD!!! GET OFF YOUR A$$ AND HELP THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE YOU RICH!!!!!!!!!

Update from Sep 27, 2012: I called the mechanic that last serviced my car and explained to him everything I had read on the complaint sites, he told me he wanted to research the sites and have me drop it off on 9/25. On 9/25 I dropped it off, Later that day the mechanic contacted me saying there are no codes showing up for the service engine light and that I need to take it to a authorized Ford dealer for a more in-dept diagnosis but call them first for an appointment because they are very busy. So, I called the local Ford Dealer in my area and was told several different things it could be. But to my surprise he named off the same several different things that I have read on the complaint sites. He told me for $90.00 he would tell me whats going on from there. I have not taken it to the Ford dealers yet. I am to the point where I just don't want to deal with this car anymore. I just wanna push it off the Ohio Bridge and be done!!! The Car dealership and Ford are RIP OFFS!!!