Ford needs to recall the 2004 Ford Explorer for transmission failure. My transmission first started shifting hard into gear about two years ago, 88,000 miles. It's getting worst, sometimes it makes a banging noise when I put it in reverese and it's hard to go in gear. When you stop it down shifts very hard, then when start it shifts with about two big bangs going into gear. This problem is getting worst and I know I'm going to have to replace the transmission soon. also, onec it would not shift into reverse, so I had to get a fuse changed to make it work.

Every 30,000 miles or so I have to repair the same thing in the transmission they tell me its a sensor that needs to be replaced which cost 1065.00 each time I've had to replace it now about 3 times and its in need of the same repair once again. I call the customer service to see if they could help me with the repair since this is an on going thing with the vehicle they informed me no not unless they have a recall on it. This is totally outrageous for it to be the same issue each time. If you go to look online for used SUV and you look up Explorer you will find that each of them requires transmission work to be done on them. If ford knows this is an issue you would think they would want to fix them so people will want to continue buying Ford cars or trucks.

I will never buy another one now since for one they won't stand behind their vehicles. I now own a Honda and they take care of all the issues thus far. Good luck to anyone who wants to own one.

THIS WAS DEFINITELY A FORD DEFECT-----I HAVE HEARD HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT FORD'S DESIGN IN THIS TRANSMISSION WAS TO MOUNT THE LINKAGE (A STEEL ROD) INTO A HOLE IN THE ALUMINUM CASING. A MAJOR DEFECT TO ANYONE EXPERIENCED WITH MACHINE WORK. STEEL BEING MUCH HARDER THAN ALUMINUM WILL EVENTUALLY WOBBLE OUT THE HOLE IN THE CASE AND CAUSE A FAILURE. ANY DESIGN ENGINEER WHO KNOWS HIS JOB WILL INSTALL A HARDENED ALLOY BUSHING INTO THE HOLE TO PREVENT THE WEARING OUT OF THE ALUMINUM. FORD HAS ISSUED A REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOPS BUT STILL DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DEFECT. I'M A WELDER/MACHINIST AND I WILL STAND UP IN COURT TO TESTIFY TO THIS PROBLEM IF THERE IS A LAWYER WILLING TO FILE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT!!!!!

I haven't gotten the final bad news on this problem. Was told today that it will cost between $1800 and $3500! Depends on what they find damaged inside when they take it apart tomorrow. Needless to say, I don't have that kind of money just laying around...thank goodness I am working an extra job this summer!!! Too bad it has to go to my car instead of helping my kids out with school! I was told it is a common problem with the Explorers and question why Ford does not provide the sleeve that would fix the problem before it becomes the $3500 problem!!??!!

i purchased a extended warranty when i bought the exploder! with this vehicle it was a wise thing to do (actual vehicle purchase questionable) while under warranty the bands tranny fix was done. crack under rear window prob also covered.. since the warranty has expired i have had the differential replaced tie rods replace ball joints the same one rear left replaced 3 times! now the tranny won't change out of 1st gear................

i've had enough i just don't have the money to keep throwing out the window unfortunately i still owe 5 thousand on the vehicle loan. what do you do???? it absolutely amazes me that ford has not provided any help with (their) poor design and part quality. what are we to do continue to eat the costs? is there no justice? maybe the solution as ford would have it, is to trade in the 04 for a 12 exploder that way a warranty would cover any problems... can't afford the repairs let alone a new one! does anyone out there have a idea how i can reduce the financial blow or get ford to cover some cost...

i bought my 2004 explorer in 2008. 4 months later i noticed the transmission starting to shift hard and sometimes not even going into gear unless i rev up the engine then it will slam into gear really hard. i think its a damn shame to spend that kind of money on a vehicle and the transmission being a piece of junk and the ford company knows this and they do nothing about it. ive seen several complaints on the early ford explorers transmissions being the worst on the road EVER. why dont ford take care of thier customers and issue a recall and have them all fixed at their cost? show the customer that just bought your product that you appreciate them for it and get this mattewr taken care of. if they dont i will never purchase another ford product again and ill even go to ford lots and tell everyone i see there to stay away from such a heartless company. ive been a ford man my whole life but if they dont show us, the customer, some appreciation and fix this matter ill do my part to steer as many people as i can away from any ford product and tell them about this

same as other complaints, bought it in 2008 with 28,000 miles the tranny shifted hard. was told it was normal at dealership. bought extended warranty. May 2010 with 48,000 it really started shifting hard, I had it at dealership for other warranty work (that has since needed fixed again) was told again nothing was wrong with transmission it was normal, now April 2011 68,000 miles warranty expired trans is slipping plus shifting hard enough to jar your teeth out. local mechanic says needs either replaced or rebuilt. I've always owned fords and I knew better to buy an explorer with automatic trans.

well it started with hard shifting, i had finally gotten a letter from ford in 05 telling me that they left an additive out at the factory so i needed to bring it in for a recall and the additive put in, when my truck was done a day later they told me that they had replaced everything in the transmission have not had a problem since, but i have had to replace a front left hub assy. around 68,000 miles right rear hub assy. and rebuilt rear diff. at 79,500 and now i have my abs light on constantly and my 4x4 high flashing 8 times and when i take a tight left turn i feel like it's in 4 wheel drive hear a almost grinding sound or rubbing, will let you all know what happens when i have the abs light checked by a friend of the family i trust no else to work on it especially ford. you would think ford would have built better vehicles when there slogan was built ford tough or quality is job #1 guess no one told them not to lie!!!! i have called ford about the rear diff. problem and they will not do anything about it they said that we all need to call them and complain about our issues and if alot of people called and complained that it could be considered for a recall i was also told to keep my receipts and if they recalled any of my issues they would refund my money spent. i have loved my explorer for the first 7 years i have had it and i hope to love it for another 7 years it has been a great suv for me and my family with a few issues i have kept it in showroom condition since i drove it off the lot in 04 and take pride in how nice and clean i have kept it, hope this helps some of you people who have transmission problems since most of you have said that ford is telling you it's common and not a problem with your transmission shifting hard, they did recall this transmission in 05.

i put ten years in at the sharonville ford transmission plant building these so called 5r-55 tranys, and thought never to buy one, cause there is no dipstick, no way to check fluid level, or add any, then i took the buy out in fear of losing the job in 07, listening to the wrong idiots, i made maybe the wrong decision, yea $28.45 was a hard one to walk away from, but my life is better off not have to listen to the cry babies, wining about stupid sh*t. don't get me started i could write a book. well i took 17,000 dollars, and bought my wife her first newer car, the 04 explorer. now listen people the only way to get the car recalled is to complain to Detroit,the use of this web site is great to get the right number and the UAW has provided me with it if you haven't already its 1-800-392-3673 for care problems and issues,

The transmission slips when i let off the gas at very low speeds around say 90 degree corners.. then when i go to accelerate theres a Long pause before the transmission finally catches up with the throttle and finally jolts into gear.. I've read online about MANY other people having the exact same issues!!! I just spent $8000 Grand on an Awesome LOOKING suv that has a Piece a CRAP for a transmission!!! The factory transmission fluid that Ford put in the 04 Exploders was DEFECTIVE causing all kinds of silinoide and shifting problems! Overdrive is completely erattic also goes into lockup @ 40mph but get up to 50-55 and it stays in 4th!!! The truck vibrates above 65 mph with BRAND NEW TIRES on it!!!! WTF i got a LEMON! Should of got a cherokee or trailblazer who cares if the explorer looks nicer all it gives me is grief and UNRELIABILITY!!! NO FORD EVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My transmission has shifted hard since day one that I bought the vehicle. I kept taking it bak to the dealership and they kept telling me they can't find nothing wrong so I just got used to it shifting rough. So after years of this I finally took it to another dealership ( not Ford) and they found the problem and fixed it costing over $700.00 but it's funny that Ford all the times I took it back for years they never could find a problem and now all these years later it can be fix. Ford is lazy! This problem should have been fix the first time I took it after buying it.

Okay....so the transmission problem has been going on for years. But as others mention, I was told it was normal. Well, I took my car in to have the heater fixed, spark plugs and wires replaced, a 2nd hub assembly put on, and brake pads changed.....and now they are telling me that I have to have the transmission rebuilt. I am thankful that my car lasted to 145,000 miles first, but still. I just put in $1,200 to fix all that other stuff...and they haven't even given me an amount for the transmission. They are basically saying it won't drive. Now how can I even trade it in on something else?? It's really ridiculous that soooooo many people can have the same problem on the same Make/Model/Year and FORD does nothing about it!!!! I can't believe their isn't a recall. But guess what? That's life and we can't do anything about it. All this complaining is doing nothing to FORD.....we really need to boycott Ford. That's the only way to make a point.