Eight problems related to transmission not engage have been reported for the 2004 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2004 Explorer.
My vehicle failed to engage in park even though I shifted into park and console indicator displayed park. I had shifted into park on a steep hill. As I exited the vehicle, I released the brakes and one of my passengers alterted me that the vehicle was rolling backwards. I jumped back into the vehicle, applied the brakes and the motion stopped. I verified that park was displayed on the center console, which it was. I then shifted into reverse and neutral and back into park, and the second time the transmission engaged into park. Without my passengers alterting me to the vehicle motion, my vehicle would have crashed and potentially injured those in the vehicle. After determining the vehicle was in park, I examined the tire tracks in the snow to see if there was any chance that the vehicle slid rather than rolled on the road. The tire tracks showed clear tire indentations and did not indicate sliding, leading me to determine that the vehicle did not engage into park even though the console indicated it was in park.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph and without warning, the vehicle slipped into various gears. The contact also stated that the only way the first gear could be disengaged was to apply pressure on the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the transmission had to be replaced twice. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 75,000 and the current mileage was 85,000.
Transmission continually fails to engage properly. Delayed response and harsh shift in gears. From reverse to drive and vice versa, there is a delay and harsh engagement. At first the incidents were barely noticeable and less frequent. Now they are a common occurrence and more pronounced. Fearful of complete failure whilst accelerating onto highway/street. Often times there is a delay shifting into drive when reversing out of a parking spot. Holding up traffic, etc.
Transmission has a hard clunk engagement when putting in gear and total disengagement while driving, then the od light starts to blink, and you have to either let off the gas, or tap the gas to get it to engage again, it started around 50,000 miles, and continues to do so, the is no recall and no warranty for it, dealer ship said it needs rebuilt or replaced 2200. 00 or 4200. 00 dollars, we don't have.
Transmission fails to engage in drive or reverse, or hesitates to engage, or hesitates to change gears on the highway. Placement into drive or reverse "pounds" into gear. 4x4 low & high hesitate or fail to engage, and often "stick" - failing to disengage or require multiple attempts to disengage.
Vehicle does not engage in reverse, it makes a loud sound, and then it accelerates to the point of trying to gain control of the vehicle.
2004 Ford Explorer -the transmission has failed to engage correctly multiple times. I have asked the dealer about this issue and the response was that the Explorer "has a hard transmission". In order to get the transmission to engage correctly I have to either put the cur back in park/ nuetral and attempt to reengage or give it gas. This usually results in a lurch of the car going either backwards or forwards. This situation has the potential for a serious accident.
Transmission does not engage in reverse from park when put in reverse,than after 5-10 seconds will jerk into gear,transmission does not upshift correctly,seems to hesitate between gears.