When my transmission went out, I found a mechanic who agreed to rebuild the transmission for $1000. The first time he had it for 3 weeks during all of the snow and ice storms in the midwest. I finally got it back and it still wasn't right so I took it back again (I only have a 6 month, 6,000 mile warranty). I drove it for a while but sometimes it would go into reverse very easily, but would not move and it always shifted very violently into overdrive and wasn't shifting until 50 - 60 mph.

I have now taken it back to the mechanic for the third time and the every time I pick it up, it seems to be worse than it was the first time, but have been told that it drove fine for him, but that it had been in the shop where it was warm, but of course, it gets cold in Indiana. What good is a 4x4 if it won't work properly when it is cold?

I have now been without my truck for over 5 weeks and still don't know when I will get it back or if it will be fixed properly, but continue to make the hefty payments on it. I love my truck but am now wondering if it is worth it?

Driving to a baseball game early on Saturday on the interstate. We were going about 79 on cruise when the car seemed to lunge forward. At this time the RPM's stuck at 3500 and there wasn't any shifting going on. Got off the interstate, and the transmission began to down shift, but with a grinding noise. We couldn't put it in drive and reverse, but it was stuck in second gear.

Machine shop hooked it up to the computer, and it showed 2nd gear ratio malfunction. Transmission fluid was burnt black, and once they pulled it out and had a good look at the inside of of the tranny it was a disaster. Almost a complete loss. Overdrive was non-existent, and torque converter needed replacing, and clutch was gone! My whole system went kaput with no warning or signs of trouble. Seems this has happened to too many people for it to be a coincidence!

Three other Explorers at the transmission shop with mine. Was told that Ford Explorers are among the brand and model the shop sees most with many failures coming in the 30 to 60K mile range. This is an honest and reputable local shop which has been in business for almost 50 years and does nothing but transmissions. In their experience the number they see is abnormal and they feel this is a serious design flaw with the transmissions. I'm amazed that no enterprising attorney has yet filed a class action suit. I'm confident that eventually someone will.

Update from Mar 31, 2011: May 2010 the factory transmission was completely rebuilt by a reputable shop. March 2011: Trans has no reverse and has a severe leak. Problem is a cracked bell housing which will be covered under this shops warranty. When Ford designed the transmissions for these vehicles they designed junk. Shame on those that designed it and those that approved the design.

AFTER READING ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE, THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH TO ADD. EXCEPT PERHAPS I NOTICE THAT WE ALL HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLES TO AAMCO TO TRY AND RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AND IT REALLY STARTS TO APPEAR AS THO THEY ARE IN ON THIS LITTLE SCAM WITH FORD. I MEAN I DON'T KNOW HOW THE GUYS AT AAMCO WERE WITH ANYONE ELSE, BUT IT WAS LIKE "OH YEAH, WE KNOW ABOUT THIS. COOL HERE GOES ANOTHER EASY 3 GRAND. THEY TOOK THE COVER PLATE OFF OF IT, TOLD ME IT WAS DEFINITELY MECHANICAL FAILURE AND WOULD COST 2800.00 AND A WEEK TO HAVE THE NEW TRANS SHIPPED. HOW WOULD THEY KNOW IT WAS MECHANICAL FAILURE WITHOUT SPLITTING THE CASES AND ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE INTERNAL PARTS. WHEN I TOLD THEM NO, THEY HELD MY CAR HOSTAGE OVERNIGHT. "IT'S UP ON THE LIFT. WE HAVE TO PUT THE COVER BACK AND MY GUY'S GONE FOR THE DAY IN HALF AN HOUR. SORRY". WHEN IS FORD GOING TO GET HONEST AND RECALL THESE TRANNYS AND MAKE THINGS RIGHT? AND WHO WAS THE GENIUS THAT CAME UP WITH THE NO DIPSTICK CRAP? THE ONLY ONE I'VE SEEN WORSE WAS THE 2005 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER - NO OIL DIPSTICK - THAT'S RIGHT, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP TO HAVE YOUR OIL CHANGED. YIKES

Problems for awhile now just waited till it broke, it is currently in the shop. I like my car but after reading all the transmission problems everyone is having I will not purchase another. Hopefully a new transmission will fix this till the car itself is put to pasture. I AM NOT HAVING FORD INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION! In the past I had a GMC Suburban '88. Great car, had new transmission installed at 140,000. Burb put to pasture at 340,000. Transmission was still working well.

But Ford should have replaced all their transmissions for free, as this problem seems to be rampant!

When I purchased the vehicle they had some sort of transmission recall to remedy the "lurching" of the car when put into reverse. apparently this was some sort of oil additive that they put into the tranny. The dealer told me NOT to change the tranny oil until 100k miles. fine. at 90k the tranny blew up. spewed oil all over the place in the middle of the desert. It was a total pain in the ass to get towed into some po-dunk town (which actually had a ford dealership). Cost me $4000 to put in a new tranny with oil cooler and lines etc. Came with a 100k mi warranty, which gives me some peace of mind at least.

Around the first part of the year I was driving to work in my 2005 ford Explorer everything seeming fine when the transmission goes out. God being with me I was blessed to be pulling into the parking lot at work. Needing the car back as soon as possible my husband came by an took it to a transmission shop close by. They knew what was wrong with it as soon as he came in. They had worked on several just like it with the same problem. When we get home he call the Ford company and they tell him the warranty is out. Well we knew that but we have only had the Explorer less than 4 yrs. No transmission that is worth anything is not going out in 4 yrs. He is told he should have taken out an extended warranty. This man is 55 years old and has drove nothing except Fords since he was 16. We have never bought and extended warranty on any of them and they have all had 3-4 hundred thousand miles on them. Why should we buy an extended warranty. Unless Ford can do something to help all of us Ford lovers with this problem this is one that will never by another Ford. Sad I was really looking forward to that new Mustang!!!!!!