Transmission failures and problems are unfortunately very common with Ford Explorers
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a range of SUVs manufactured by Ford Motor Company. Introduced in 1990 for the 1991 model year, the Explorer was the first four-door SUV produced by Ford, replacing the two-door Bronco II. Six generations of the Explorer have been produced.The sixth generatio…
How do you fill transmission in a Ford Explorer?
take the plug out of the center of the fitting located on the bottom of the trans pan. it is a torx 30. running in park the fluid should drip slower than a coffee pot. then recheck it by letting it drain out to a fast dribble. then install the little plug back in. remember 80-120 degree fluid temp.
How to fix a Ford Explorer that will not start?
check the tps connector,and see if it looks ok,not corroded inside connector,no wires broken or cut.also check for vacuum leaks,engine area,all of them.if you have a vacuum leak you will hear it most of the time,it will be making a hissing noise and sucking air noise.if that's the code,and you want to replace it,do it,its up to you.if you replace it,unhook the negative battery cable before you replace it,then install the tps,and connector,then connect battery cable up.that will clear ...
What are some common problems with the Ford Explorer?
- Unable to switch gears
- Burning smell
- Leaking fluid
- Grinding or shaking
- Check engine light comes on
- Slipping transmission
How to diagnose a Ford FMX transmission problem?
Title: FMX Automatic Transmission Diagnosis, Service, and Training Manual
- Models covered: Ford FMX Automatic Transmissions
- Pages: 268
- Requirements: Adobe Reader
- Operating System: Windows, MAC iOS, and Android
- Manufacturer: Forel Publishing Company, LLC
Do all Ford Explorers have transmission problems?
Ford Explorer Transmission Problem. The most notorious Ford Explorer problem has to do with the transmission. Car Complaint ranked it as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd worst Explorer problems.
What Ford Explorers had transmission problems?
Even though the 2002 Ford Explorer was noted for poor reliability, the 2004 Ford Explorer should also be ranked among the worst years. It only gathered 1,400 NHTSA complaints and five recalls, but it still has the same transmission problems and cracking body panels.
What year Explorer should I avoid?
Quick Answer: Avoid Ford Explorer Year Models 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Based on the number of complaints filed for each model year, we recommend avoiding the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Ford Explorers.
Do 2017 Ford Explorers have transmission problems?
It's a type of car problem that's not hard to notice. 2017 Ford Explorer transmission problems could include shifting delays, grinding when accelerating, the car shaking on the road, or whistling noises and a burning smell coming from under the hood.
What are the worst years of the Ford Explorer?
It's not ultra-likely you'll stumble upon one of these SUVs in good enough shape to be worth any money in 2021, but we recommend avoiding it if you do. The model years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Ford Explorer are extremely problematic and will cost more than they're worth in maintenance.
Does the 2014 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
It's a type of car problem that's not hard to notice. 2014 Ford Explorer transmission problems can show up as shifting delays, grinding when accelerating, the car shaking on the road, or whistling noises or a burning smell coming from beneath the hood.
What are the most common problems with Ford Explorer?
The most common problems included exterior body issues, transmission issues, and transmission failure. The line of cars was reported to show transmission lunging and jolting, with many claiming that the SUVs wouldn't engage at all.
Is there a recall on Ford Explorer transmission?
Recall no. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with a 2.0L or 3.3L engine and a 10 Speed Automatic Transmission with the All Wheel Drive package. The drive shaft may fracture along the weld seam.
What year Ford Explorer has a recall?
Ford is recalling nearly 253,000 Explorer SUVs from the 2020-2022 model years including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and ST versions, rear-wheel-drive models with a 2.3-liter engine, as well as models built specifically for police use.
Does 2021 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
The 2021 Ford Explorer earned a score of 1 out of 100 for its predicted reliability rating. That's one of the lowest scores of the year! Owners of the Ford Explorer mentioned that they faced transmission problems, engine issues, drive system trouble, electronic failure, and drive system issues.
Is 2017 a good year Ford Explorer?
The 2017 Ford Explorer offers a comfortable ride and a quiet cabin, but it ranks near the back of the midsize SUV class due to its poor maneuverability, cramped back seat, and merely average predicted reliability and safety scores.
Which is more reliable Ford Explorer or Toyota Highlander?
If you are confused between Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer, then you should go with Toyota Highlander——"A Safe Choice." Because the Toyota Highlander is the best three-row midsize SUV thanks to its reliability, safety, and value retention.
What are the problems with the Ford Explorer?
The most common issues are transmission issues, transmission failure, and exterior body problems. The Ford Explorer has reports of the transmission lunging, jolting, and not engaging. The transmission cam slam into gear, causing ...
When was the Ford Explorer introduced?
The Ford Explorer has issues in reoccurring years, running from 2002-2006. The Explorer was introduced in 1990 for the 1991 model year, and was created to replace the Bronco II. This was the first four-door SUV produced by Ford. Ford has produced six generations of the Explorer, with the newest version unveiling at the very beginning of 2019.
How many complaints did the 2002 Ford Explorer get?
The NHTSA had almost 1,000 complaints in the transmission category of this model, 594 complaints about the drivetrain category, and almost 500 complaints about the body/paint category.
Why does my Ford Explorer jerk?
The transmission cam slam into gear, causing a shake and an unstable shift. The transmission shifting too quickly causes your car to “jerk” or accelerate too quickly, sometimes due to a low fluid level.
Why is my Ford Explorer getting hot?
There are reports of your Ford Explorer’s heater getting stuck on the hottest setting due to the broken heater blend door. A failed heater blend door or actuator can cause the control of temperature to stop working completely.
Why does my transmission make a clunking sound?
This could occur because your transmission fluid is too low or because the transmission hasn’t undergone proper maintenance . The best solution for this problem is for Ford to recall the enclosed transmissions, with the second-best choice being to replace the transmission completely. The average repair cost is $2,200 and occurs at just below 100,000 miles.
Why does my engine light have a low engine coolant warning light?
The coolant may leak due to a factory defect, causing a crack on the front coolant passage.
How many miles does a transmission fail?
More than one driver has reported that under 10,000 miles the transmission failed entirely and actually required a rebuild. That is certainly rare, it's definitely something that you'd want to avoid, but it has popped up for one or two drivers already.
What are the complaints about the 2020 Ford Explorer?
Driver Complaints for the 2020 Ford Explorer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a list of complaints that have been lodged by drivers of the 2020 Ford Explorer that you can check out on their website. Although there are complaints that cover a range of issues related to the engine, electrical systems, ...
Why is the 2020 Ford Explorer louder?
The result of this in the 2020 Ford Explorer is that the engine is somewhat raspy and louder when compared to similar vehicles or even earlier models of the Ford Explorer.
What is the engine type of the 2020 Ford Explorer?
There is a 2.3 l EcoBoost turbocharged I-4, a 3.0 L EcoBoost twin turbocharged V6, the 3.3 L V6 hybrid, and finally a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 plug-in hybrid. The transmission is the same across the board and is Ford's 10R60 10 speed automatic.
Why was the 2020 Explorer recalled?
Aside from the transmission, Ford had to recall some models for issues with improper seat restraints, rollaway risks, problems with potential fires and more.
Why is my transmission fluid turning brown?
This is a result of dirt and debris building up in the fluid, as well as potentially metal shavings and other particles like that.
Why is my transmission red?
Transmission fluid is red which makes it easy to distinguish from the other fluids that are in your vehicle.
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Quick Answer: Avoid Ford Explorer Year Models 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006
Based on the number of complaints filed for each model year, we recommend avoiding the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Ford Explorers. All of these have complaints regarding the transmission, body/paint, interior accessories, wheels and hubs, drivetrain, windows and windshields, engine, brakes, and AC/heater.
Which Year Models of Ford Explorer Are Safe to Buy Used?
The Ford Explorer has been produced and marketed for about 30 years. It has remained a reliable vehicle that many buyers have fallen in love with. Most of the model years produced have recorded few complaints. Below are the examples that are safe to buy:
Which Ford Explorer Years to Avoid?
There are very many Ford Explorers that will serve you for a long time without experiencing major problems. Only a few are problematic. Below is a list of the most problematic Ford Explorer models and some of the worst problems that they face.
Ford Explorer Problem Counts by Year
We gathered the number of complaints filed for all Ford Explorers since 1991. This information was crowdsourced from Carcomplaints.com, carproblems.com, Car Talk Community, and similar platforms. You’llYou’ll notice that the third generation models made between 2002 and 2006 produced the highest number of problems.
Main Ford Explorer Problems
Despite its amazing build, the Ford Explorer disappointed in many categories. The most common problems included exterior body issues, transmission issues, and transmission failure.
Additional Ford Explorer Problems
Apart from the exterior body and transmission issues, the Ford Explorer is plagued by a handful of other problems. These can cause parts to malfunction within your SUV. As with any issue arising with a vehicle, these shortcomings have to be identified, diagnosed, and fixed timely.
Ford Explorer Problems: Through the Years
Had it only been the transmission problem, maybe many owners would have learned to live with it. But it’s only one of the highest-reported issues with any Ford lineup to date. Every single model from 2002 to 2006 has been damaged seriously due to transmission errors, leaving owners to pay hefty amounts for repairs and replacements.
Ford Explorer Problems – Bottom Line
It goes without saying that the Ford Explorer had a rocky start. Filled with transmission problems and showing accelerated aesthetic deprecation, these SUVs had gathered negative remarks from an alarming number of owners.
What is Ford transmission?
In short, what Ford is referring to is a process in which the transmission “learns” your driving habits to help improve the economy and ride quality. A problem occurs if the system gets reset for any reason and has to learn your habits again, which causes rough shifting for a short time.
What happened to the 10R80 transmission?
Two lawsuits have been filed against Ford over problems with the 10R80 transmission. Both lawsuits allege that Ford knew that the problems with the 10-speed could be a danger to consumers but chose to ship them anyway.
What vehicles have twin clutch transmissions?
The unsuccessful attempt at a twin-clutch transmission is equipped on several vehicles, but the most affected models are the Ford Focus and Fiesta. Ford began producing the twin-clutch Powershift transmissions in 2010 to compete with the German variants from Volkswagen and BMW.
What transmission is in the 2017 F150?
2017 Ford F-150. The second entry on our problematic gearbox radar is the Ford 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. This gearbox is relatively new, hitting the market in the 2017 Ford F-150 but has gone on to grace the Ford Expedition and the legendary Mustang. The 10-speed 10R80 was created out of a partnership between Ford and its mortal enemy, ...
Why do Ford trucks have dry clutches?
This dry clutch design tends to exacerbate the inherent characteristics of twin-clutch transmissions, making the transmission slip off the line and shift roughly when it finally decides to change gear.
How much did Ford offer to settle a lawsuit?
In 2020, a federal judge in the United States approved Ford’s offer of $30 million to settle one of the suits.
Is Ford transmission bulletproof?
If your transmission can not reliably put that power to the ground, what you have is a paperweight. Some auto manufacturers build transmissions that are considered nearly bulletproof, like Porsche’s PDK or Volkswagen’s DSG, but unfortunately, Ford is not on that list. Throughout the last 10 years or so, Ford has had issue after issue ...
Not all Ford Explorer Sport Trac years are created equal
CoPilot Compare breaks down pricing and feature differences between the Explorer Sport Trac's year models so you can find the sweet spot between value AND reliability.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac Years to Avoid
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac was and still is a unique model that has stood the test of time. However, there are several Ford Explorer Sport Trac years to avoid if you want to get the most out of your vehicle.
What Makes These Years Worth Avoiding?
There were a few distinct factors that made these years worth avoiding. We’ll talk about each of these and the specific complaints lodged within each category to give you a solid understanding of the issues with this vehicle.
Which Years are Safe to Buy Used?
We’ve talked a lot about the Ford Explorer Sport Trac years to avoid. But, what about the ones that are safe to use? It’s just as critical to know the best models as it is to know the worst. With this information, you can make a well-rounded choice by understanding all options available to you.
Conclusion
Any vehicle is a substantial investment, so you want to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck when you decide on a car. The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is an excellent truck model from the Ford brand. There are plenty of used options available for interested buyers, and some of them are better than others in terms of quality.
Class Action Investigation
Lemberg Law is investigating consumer complaints about the 2020 Ford Explorer. Consumers have been reporting to our firm that the Ford Explorer’s powertrain produces both jerking and hesitation while shifting through gears.
What are your Rights?
It is possible that your 2020 Ford Explorer is a lemon. If you own one of them, your rights may be impacted. Allow our experts to work on your lemon compensation at no cost to you. The law requires Ford to pay the legal fees for your claim and you might be able to get rid of your lemon car.
