Noises During Shifting problems of the 2004 Ford Explorer

Every since we've fiananced this lousy SUV 08/2012 we've had a clicking noise from the rear and still cant figured out what that is,but the transmission has been slipping and shifting hard,we have replace front left wheel bearing and abs sensor just a few months ago and the bearing is bad again and the front right wheel has a bad ball joint and the visibility thru windshield is horrible,always have a hard time seeing, cna only see a few inches ahead!!! this car needs serious recalls the air conditioner stopped working in less then a yr!!! and we bought this car with only 68,506 miles!! we already spend over a grand for a fuel pump!!! this car sucks!!! plz help we still owe thousands and everytime we blink an eye it's not safe to drive because of wheel problems!!!!.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle independently shifted from first to second gear accompanied by an abnormal noise from the transmission. Additionally, the contact experienced resistance when attempting to shift from park to reverse. The contact would have to shut off the engine and restart the vehicle before the vehicle would engage. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

Vehicle transmission slips when climbing elevation. Starts clunking noise and won't shift. Rpms go way up and vehicle still will not shift. Hard to get vehicle into park on the gear shifter. Have thought the vehicle was in park only to have it roll when I take my foot off the brake. Took vehicle to mechanic today who says a new transmission is needed. Appx cost 3600. 00.

Transmission failure on 2004 Ford Explorer at ~109k miles. Crash/bang noise heard just before failure: high engine rpms and no forward propulsion, flashing od lamp and illuminated service engine soon lamp. Problem preceded by intermittent failure to engage reverse gear, or sudden jerking/rough engagement, occasional slipping of gears on acceleration. Upon total failure, dealership investigated, says "known problem with this vehicle", recommended complete transmission replacement at $4000. Vehicle is one of those recalled in 2005 for bad transmission fluid formula installed at factory. This vehicle has always had peculiar shift behavior which Ford consistently said was normal for the vehicle. Apparently, as many other owners have since experienced, the rough shifting (perhaps precipitated by bad formula fluid and/or damage this may have done to other components) was indicative of eventual total failure.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. While the vehicle was parked, she opened the rear glass window located on the lift gate. The window was open for a few moments until one of the two hinges broke resulting in the window hanging by one hinge. Upon examining the broken hinge she noticed that the screw holding the hinge in place also broke in half. The failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. She also stated that the vehicle hesitated to shift into reverse and would lunge forward before moving in reverse. When shifting from reverse to drive, the failure recurred and she heard a popping noise when the vehicle finally shifts into gear. The failures have occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued to recur intermittently. The failure and current mileages were 160,000.

Cannot accelerate, feels like transmission is shifting hard. Scares me to be in traffic with two small children in backseat. Put into reverse it jolts into gear after a few seconds. Makes a loud noise when driving down the road. Sometimes there is almost no acceleration making it impossible to get around town.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. While the vehicle was parked and the engine was running, the vehicle rolled into the contact's home. While driving to the dealer at 15 mph, the vehicle failed and would not move. The vehicle was placed in each gear, but it still would not move and the engine revved. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. When it arrived, the vehicle was placed in reverse and drove backwards. When the gear was placed in drive, it drove forward. The mechanic stated that the vehicle had a defective shift indicator and it was replaced. The vehicle operated normally when it was test driven. Four days later, the failure recurred. The transmission is making noises when driving at any speed, especially when shifting gears. The vehicle is currently back at the dealer. The failure and current mileages were 51,578. Updated 12-12-07.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. While driving approximately 35mph and changing gears, the transmission hesitated. When reverse is engaged, there was a delay, a hard noise and difficult to shift. The dealer has not diagnosed the failure. The current and failure mileages were 36,000.

Purchased the 2004 Ford Explorer in syracuse, NY in the fall of 2004. We received the recall notice about the transmission and had the service performed. The vehicle has been in to the dealer to fix a continuing problem about the transmission. The transmission has trouble shifting into reverse and when going up hill, on occasion. The vehicle's transmission also continues to make a "clunking" noise and physically lurches on occasion when traveling at speeds between 40 - 60 mph. The vehicle is within a couple hundred miles of the factory warranty expiration and Ford has still not repaired the problem. We have spoken to the Ford manufacturer directly and they have only offered to sell us an extended warranty. The local dealer service manager did indicate that he is authorized to offer an extended warranty up to 75,000 miles at no cost, but we have not received that in writing. We feel that this was a problem caused in the production of the vehicle and all repairs should be covered by Ford, but they are not taking care of the problem.

Transmission is sloppy when shifting in general, sometimes has lag time when shifting from forward to reverse and a clunking noise can occur. Dealer had investigated multiple times with minor adjustments helping to reduce about 50-75% of the issue.

The past several months I have had numerous transmission problems. My Explorer does not shift correctly. It hesitates when shifting which is really dangerous in traffic. Also when I try to reverse it hesitates and then abruptly accerelates into reverse very hard and fast. It makes a loud noise when it happens also. It does this everytime I go into reverse. Also my vehicle has lost all power in the middle of driving on the interstate. I have lost power on many occasions. It is very dangerous especially when I have to young children sitting in the back.

My 2004 Ford Explorer XLT makes a clunking noise and harshly shifts when going into reverse. Sometimes there is a lag of up to 5 seconds before engaging into reverse, which may put me in danger when trying to turn around in traffic.

Purchased a new 2004 Ford Explorer automatic v6 in Nov 04. Occasionally when shifting in reverse, engine would give a "hard" jerk. When driving the vehicle, stopped(especially) if roads were wet, when attempting to proceed forward, vehicle tires-good tires/even wear,rotated regularly and/or vehicle would loose control as engine attempted to move forward. Always a very annoying noise in rear riding as passenger. But it to dealer @ beginning, checked it out under warranty, noe vehicle has a little over"75930". Drove it from one state to another, parked it, next day drove it < than a 1/4 mile to store, shopped, returning home the "transmission" gave a very loud noise, grinding and a hard jerk, enough to hurt one driving or passenger's backs. 2nd gear unable to engage, rpm race to 4000 2nd gone! Ford dealer quotes a repair(rebuilt) @ $3555. 0+taxes @ rate of "$100. 00" an hour = labor nearly a "$1000. 00. Brought it to a repriable trans shop quoted $3000. 00 complete we have been a"die-hard" owners of Fords for years, even own a 1956crown vic. , 86 f250, 99 lincolncon't, 00mustang, and this )$ Ford Explorer is the worse vehicle puchased @ "$38,000". Never mind all the previous ones, never have I ever dealt with a fairly new vehicle of poor workmanship/design. Reports reveal that these 04's definitely have Ford manufactutrer defects or craftmanship faults. Why do people give up on "american" vehicles, ah ah? @ "75,930+ miles a broken transmission.