VehicleVerdict

2004 Ford Explorer transmission problems

The 2004 Ford Explorer has 473 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 29% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

473

Transmission complaints

29%

Share of year

18

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Explorer transmission complaints by model year1,584 complaints1990: 2 complaints1991: 75 complaints1992: 91 complaints1993: 78 complaints1994: 91 complaints1995: 130 complaints1996: 134 complaints1997: 119 complaints1998: 108 complaints1999: 120 complaints2000: 143 complaints2001: 44 complaints2002: 1,584 complaints2003: 357 complaints2004: 473 complaints2005: 100 complaints2006: 301 complaints2007: 58 complaints2008: 35 complaints2009: 3 complaints2010: 29 complaints2011: 64 complaints2012: 56 complaints2013: 119 complaints2014: 79 complaints2015: 83 complaints2016: 214 complaints2017: 123 complaints2018: 45 complaints2019: 35 complaints2020: 446 complaints2021: 106 complaints2022: 59 complaints2023: 11 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 15 complaints2026: 2 complaints
Explorer transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH BAD TRANSMISSION. DELAY IN SHIFTING IN REVERSE AND A JOLT INTO GEAR CAUSED BE TO SLAM INTO ITEMS IN MY GARAGE. ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS HURT, IT CAN HAPPEN. FORD HAS KNOW OF THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS 2-3 GEARS SLIPPING WHICH CAN CAUSE A SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · September 17, 2009 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2004 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA has 473 complaints about the 2004 Ford Explorer transmission — 29% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.