I bought a Used 2008 Explorer (V8/auto) from Sarasota Ford in Sarasota, Florida. When I first test drove it before purchasing, I mentioned it had lurching problem when shifting and driving. When I took delivery, They said that they had adjusted the shifting through something in the computer. Driving was pretty much like normal for first two days but still not had a lurching problem when driving at normal speeds. I took to dealer and they replaced the Spark Plugs and all 8 Plug Coils. Engine ran perfect after that but still had lurching problem when trying to drive at a steady pace. Vehicle returned for second time. Sarasota Ford diagnosed trouble to worn out Torque Converter. They replaced Torque Converter. After second day and every day following for three weeks, Upon starting the vehicle and starting to drive, When engaging transmission in drive for the first time after starting engine, Transmission lurches multiple times in the first 500 feet of travel. Making appointment to take in for repairs for the third Time. After researching other similar trouble with same model and year vehicles, I believe it needs Valve Body or Replace with remanufactured or new Transmission. I will update this report when I get it back again.

Had car for long time, treated like gold. Never went off roading or never pulled anything with it.. wouldn't even use 4WD because I didn't want to put wear and tear on tranny. Serviced it always, it has 109,000 miles but has been lurching into 1st gear when almost at stop becoming dangerous. Took to my Ford dealer and problem lies in the tranny, has to do with lead bar, which upon investigating was a manufacturers defect. Thousands of vehicles were recalled but unfortunately not 2008.. so frustrating and will cost thousands to fix. If anyone can help or has had this problem, please let me know.

Bought this vehicle with 63090. Short test drive, no problems, but then when I purchased, on the way home, lurching, whining, feeling like I was being " bumped from behind " when downshifting at stop sign.

Lia Nissan was no help, and I got a super skeevy vibe, so I brought the truck to two different Ford dealerships in my area. Both dealerships verified my concerns, and also said there were NO STORED CODES !

SO - first we tried reflashing the PCM. It got SLIGHTLY better, but this transmission issue was horrible, and dangerous. A less experienced, easily panicked driver, or a driver with slow reaction times would have crashed it, especially in the snow/ice. I reported this safety issue to Ford Hotline, and they said because it had over 60,000 miles there was nothing they could do ! ( DISAPPOINTED )

There was nothing left to do at that time than replace the valve body. A bad valve body will not throw any codes. So, long story short, this valve body replacement completely solved the problem. I had to pay 895 to solve it, but it is solved. I have waited many months to write this, to make sure something else wasn't wrong, but 26000 miles later, ( knocking on wood ) there have been no more issues with this.

PS: I used to work for Ford as a mechanic

I have a 2008 Ford Explorer XLT, 2WD, V6. Bought It new from dealership in San Fernando Valley, Ca. Since day one I have had problem when shifting from reverse to drive. Engine would jerk. Been doing some research on Ford Explorers specifically and come to find Explorers are notorious for transmission failures. Took mine in for service while still under warranty dealership said technician could find nothing wrong. After the warranty expired they told me I need new transmission. Car is now at small mechanic shop in town (definitely not taking it back to the dealership) and he is telling me I need a new transmission. $2600 for rebuild or $3650 for re - manufactured transmission. Of course I called Ford and asked them if they would provide any financial assistance to repair the transmission because I first reported this problem while vehicle was still under warranty and of course they said since this happened after my warranty expired that all repairs are my responsibility. And if that is not bad enough I still owe over $7000 on my loan. I definitely feel like I should not have to pay for a new transmission since I reported this problem while vehicle was still under warranty. I have tried to be a "buy american" VEHICLE OWNER but I cannot afFORD to purchase, lease or rent a FORD anymore. So my next vehicle purchase will definitely not be a FORD. Anyone have any suggestions or advice?

A four year old vehicle with fewer than 90,000 miles should not have a major drive train issue. The vehicle was fine when I parked from a short trip and then a major safety issue when I left the driveway only hours later. The transmission slipped significantly during takeoff and would not stay in reverse. (I got stranded in oncoming traffic with kids in the car!!!) Was told that the bands in the transmission were gone and it would need to be rebuilt. Now I see that this may be common for Explorers. All I can say is wow...

I have a 2008 Ford Explorer. The truck started lurching while shifting gears a couple of weeks ago. I brought it in to the Ford Dealer, where I bought it and another truck that I still own, when the truck did not engage first gear smoothly.

Now they tell me I need a new transmission that costs $4400. Who can afford that? How do I know it really needs a new transmission? Isn't it interesting the warranty is for 5 years or 60,000 miles? What do they know about their products other than they will need major repair after the warranty expires.

It is hard to believe that I would need a new transmission at this point unless there was a manufacturer defect in a part or labor. I have 90,000 miles on the truck and have done the recommended maintenance, including a transmission service at this dealer last year. How can they tell me that this is normal? In fact the service advisor told me this "is not common".

What are my options? I am at the mercy of this dealer if I want to get my truck back.

Transmission oil cooler return line broke off dumping all the transmission fluid. Ford says since I drove the vehicle to the side of the road with no fluid in the transmission it caused damage. Since the damage was caused be something in the road hitting the oil line as there is no skid plates on this vehicle that it will not be covered under warranty. $4000 to fix the transmission due to the fact the car was poorly designed with no skid plates. Plus since I was driving the car at the time of the incident not parked, the warranty is no longer valid. Some warranty.

Honestly, I loved this car. Never really had problems with it. We bought it used in the summer of 2010 and didn't really drive very far or much with it until the summer of 2011. I moved to michigan when my husband was supposed ot deploy to Iraq for the last time and this problem started to happen! When I would shift from park into reverse, SOME OF THE TIME, it would have an EXTREMEMLY delayed shift. If I would even put my foot on the gas after I shifted (and didn't wait for the feeling of the shift) it would jump maybe 2 feet backwards! Well it started to get better after a while for some reason, I guess it just disappeared.. Well it started back up again a few months ago. My husband is home now and we figured that it woud go away again.. but now it's TEN TIMES WORSE! I don't know what to do; I've read HORROR stories about this car coming out of park and running over people!? Also the ridiculous costs of replacing the solenoid packages (all 16 of them at 350.00 a pop) and then it just starting this very same problem after 1,000 miles. What am I supposed to do here?! I can't afford to even fix ONE solenoid package as is, how am I supposed to replace more if more are bad? And how am I supposed to afford it after it'll happen agian right after? I drive my car VERY nice, I've NEVER ragged on it... And i find it VERY VERY wrong that there seems to be MANY ford explorers, early 2000's and up, that have had this very same problem, yet ford wont recognize that it's obviously a problem!? My father worked for Ford when he was younger, I used to only own Ford's but this is really really really turning me off of Ford all together.

We bought this car from a certain used car dealer that performs a rigorous 100+ point inspection. Apparently, driving the vehicle was not one of the inspection points.

Within a week of getting the vehicle, we began noticing some violent shifting in the transmission that became an audible slam along with a jolt that made the back end of the car feel like it was going to fall off.

After 2 months of taking it back and forth to the car lot we bought it from and 3 Ford Dealerships, there was still no resolution because the computer never threw a code, "Check Engine Light". Finally the light came on, and then we began the Ford Hotline Game. In and out of the dealership changing everything from the tires to replacing the Transmission Valve Body, Reprogramming the Transmission, and the finally the entire transmission. This did not solve the problem.

Finally, after meeting with the Service Manager at the dealership for the 3rd time (by now they knew my voice when I called) and begging them to just forget what the computer was telling them and have a good mechanic look the system over, they found something. Somehow, water had gotten into the wiring harness and began to corrode the wires that sent the transmission a signal to shift.

I have been driving the truck for about 8 months since we changed the wiring harness, which was not covered under the Powertrain Warranty, and we have had no issues.

If you can get past the Ford Hotline and have a person, instead of a corporate drone, check out the system, this issue could be resolved rather quickly.