Transmission Solenoid problems of the 2004 Ford Explorer - part 2

Transmission leaks, has been repaired 4 times by dealer. Transmission has no dip stick to measure level and no way for user to add fluid. When leak is noticed user does not know oil level and can be left stranded in dangerous locations. Has also been repaired for slamming due to solenoid problems also.

My 2004 Ford Explorer XLT has a delay and then hard shifts from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd gear. I have already replaced the solenoid because of harsh reverse engagement and now am going to have to replace the valve body.

2004 Ford Explorer XLT 22,000 miles. Vehicle will not shift into reverse unless you step on the accellerator. Then it engages with a loud bang, slams into gear and lurches backwards. Car also pauses between shifts during acceleration. Have a service appointment with dealer yet was told transmission solenoid to fix the problem was on back order.

Driver was backing out of a parking space and vehicle hesitated. Then, the transmission shifted on its own. Mechanic determined that the solenoid body needed to be replaced.

When we purchased the vehicle it went into gear rough and I asked the sales person about it and he said that is how this vehicle goes into gear. We started to notice hesitation when we accelerated from either a stop or while driving. We brought it in and they said they calibrated the computer. Then we started to get rear end leaks and had to be repaired 3 times. The transmission problems continued and we brought it to another dealer because of the poor service at the purchasing dealership. They replaced a solenoid valve and overhauled main control. This did not help and then the problem began to show new symptoms. Now when we back up it locks up and then jerks back into gear going backwards. I have told both dealerships of my concerns about residual damage to the transmission and was assured that it would not happen. It has. Our last couple of visits we have been lied to and the work order has not been correctly reflecting what we said and what was found by the tech's. There is no mention on the report that two of then had the reveres problems happening to them. I did not want to leave with it like that but they would not change it. I do have a tech's statement written on it and signed. Now they replaced the rear end abs sensor and followed the 05-3-8 recall 4x4 control module per hotline. They said they did two road tests but I checked my mileage and they only drove 1. 9 miles. How can you do two transmission road tests within 1. 9 miles? we are very concerned and afraid to drive this vehicle and injure or kill our family and possible someone else. After doing some research we have found out that this is an on going problem with the 2004 Ford Explorer and that there are hundreds of people in the same situation with no resolution in sight. This at the very least will cost us all thousands of dollars for Fords mistake and lack of responsible action. But in truth our families will end up either injured or dead first. Why will no one help us with this problem? r. S.

When at a stop the automatic transmission fails to engage until engine rpms are too high for safe initial forward or rearward movement. According to the Ford dealership in my city this problem is due to a defective solinoid body inside the transmission. There was one attempt to repair the problem by the local Ford dealership in 2005 when the car had 11127 miles. At that time the automatic transmission solenoid valve was replaced, but the problem still persisted. That dealership went out of business about a year later. Just lately the new dealership thought that the original transmission might have to be replaced in order to return the car to a safe and normal driving condition. The cost was estimated at $3500. This problem with the 2004 Ford Explorer has been reported by hundreds of other owners to the us dot NHTSA , but nothing has come of these complaints. The Ford motor CO. Also refuses to do any repairs under warranty and/or due to a factory recall, etc. The problem described refers to a very dangerous condition in which the drivers of 2004 Ford Explorers do not know exactly when or at what rmp level their car will suddenly and rapidly accelerate from a stop.

2004 Ford Explorer, purchased new. Every since I have owned the car it has had a transmission problem and will not gear down when turning or slowing down from a normal rate of speed. Then takes apx 20-25 seconds to catch back up when accelerator pressed. . Has caused me to almost be hit several times. . Because it won't go when it does catch up there is a hard bump in the car and loud sound. . Very aggravating and scary. Has been back to the dealership and told its a (sp) solenoid problem and had been fixed, but it hasn't have been disgusted and been driving it this way because I don't have $2000 for repairs.

2004 Ford Explorer - transmission delays engagement of reverse and drive. Ford dealership replaced solenoid. Problem returned within 9 months. The vehicle is out of warranty now and the Ford dealership diagnosed a $975 repair including the replacement of the solenoid.

2004 Ford Explorer-delayed then harsh shift of transmission into reverse, was in shop to replace solenoid and bad transmission fluid installed at the factory"-problem persists-car was purchased Nov 2004 and has only approx 4500 miles. Problem is ongoing so there is not just one incident date.

2004 Ford Explorer clunks when putting into reverse. This problem has been reported before and I think Ford is considering a program. I have taken my Explorer to the dealer, and they said they couldn't replicate the condition. It does it all the time, and I think they are avoiding repairs. The carhas only 9,000 miles and is under warranty. Transmission has wrong fluid and faulty shift solenoid per Ford's own press releases.

Transmission has been slipping gears since purchased new in 2004. It hesitates considerably to engage into reverse. When engaged in drive it's initially nonresponsive to light acceleration then surges forward. After taking to a certified Ford dealership for solenoid work, it continues to misengage into multiple gears. This is not my first Ford Explorer and is radically different from the transmission performance of any SUV I've driven. My concern is that after this problem is fixed, residual damage done to the transmission will be still present, which may not become apparent until after the vehicle is beyond warranty.

Transmission was sticking when the car was put in reverse. After a few seconds of acelleration there is a bang and the car jolts back rapidly. I am still afraid to parallel park. I also noticed some sticking/hesitation from park to drive. I took it in for service on 12/07/04 and the solenoids were replaced along with some other work on the trans. The dealership told me that the parts were on hand because they know about the problem. If that was the case why no recall letter? there are only about 6500 miles (rounding up) on my vehicle and when I purchased it in June of 2004 it was brand new. I am deeply concerned that the problem will return or that some of the others that I've read about will develop. How many complaints/repairs before a recall is issued?.

2004 Ford Explorer,which was purchased in November 2003 hesitates when shifting into reverse, when it does shift there is a jolt and bang as it engages into reverse. SUV has been serviced on 3 occasions, the initial service performed apprximately 1 month after the purchase. Each time I was told that it was a computer problem & that the computer needed to be re-programmed. In short, the vehicle continues to exhibit the jolt/bang when shifting to reverse. The vehicle is scheduled to go to the dealership (island Ford) on staten island new york on Monday November 22, 2004, at which time, I am told that the solenoid will be replaced. My greatest concern is that when this problem is finally solved, whether any residual damage was done to the transmission or differential, which may not become apparent until after the vehicle is beyond warranty. This problem has existed for nearly a year.

My 2004 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 experienced delayed/harsh engagement when shifting into reverse. It would have a delay of up to 5 seconds and then would engage and make a terrible clanging noise. On several occasions it would squeal tires and then jerk backwards. This put me in danger of being in a wreck because when I would shift into reverse I would expect it to actually shift, but it did not. I took it to a Ford dealership and the pcc solenoid was replaced and transmission fluid replaced.

Within 7,000 miles of purchasing my 2004 Ford Explorer (eddie bauer edition) I began noticing a progressively worsening slamming into gear. At first it was just into reverse, then it was from reverse into forward drive gears, then it would slam every time it changed gears. When I took it in, Ford replaced the valve body for the transmission, the rear differential, and a solenoid. Seemed to correct the problem for about 10k miles. Then the reverse slamming started again and some slight slamming when going from reverse to the forward gear. So I took it back and also asked them to do some routine maintanence inspections, during which time they informed me my rear left wheel bearing was bad and the vehicle was not driveable. At this time they also told me they could not duplicate the transmission problem. Now, 10k miles later, it's back in the shop with slamming gears and whining noises coming from wheel area. The slamming transmission is basically shaking my vehicle apart bit by bit. My fear of course is the safety of the vehicle. I'm hoping I can get resolution before a part actually falls off while I'm going 70 down the highway. I've been reading news releases and owner forums and this seems to be a rather common issue, though luckily no one has been hurt as of yet.

Original owner of vehicle,car shifts roughly into gear while driving feels like it is dragging,transmission has a hard clunk engagement when putting in reverse then engages hard with a sudden unexpected jolt backwards when car only had 3,945 miles in oct 2004. When car is in park I start the car it will sometimes jolt forward. Took car to dealer within 90 days of purchase for transmission & they replaced a solenoid in the trans. Took car back 2 more times within a year still having same problems now warranty up & Ford will not help car has 170k= miles & is 6 yrs old still running but same transmission issues daily. This is very unsafe with the car jolting into gear especially when I start the car. They need to recall & replace the transmission.

The contact complained about transmission failure son several occasions. When shifting the vehicle into reverse the transmission locked for a few seconds, making a loud popping sound and then shifting into reverse. The vehicle has been seen by the dealer six times. The dealer was able to duplicate the problem, but could not been able to locate the source of the problem. The following items were replaced on order to fix the transmission, including the rear speed sensor, the solenoid body, and several components were lubricated. None of these replacements seemed to repair the transmission. During the most recent failure the contact's husband was involved accident when the transmission failed. He attempted to back into the driveway during icy conditions. The transmission locked. He shifted the vehicle into drive and stepped on the gas. The transmission immediately engaged and the vehicle crashed into a tree in the yard. The vehicle sustained heavy damage. The police were not contacted because the accident occurred on private property. The vehicle is now in the possession of the insurance company at their impound lot.

When shifting to reverse- step on gas - does not engage then suddenly a clunk and takes off very fast in reverse- worried about hitting someone- dealer has reflashed & then replaced solenoid in transmission problem still exists.

2004 Explorer - eddie bauer purchased new on 12/03. At 29,000 miles - noticed that when turning sharp radius in parking lots - felt like the transmission would go in and out of gear. Simultaneously noticed hesitation upon auto shifting, and hesitation upon putting in reverse. Took to dealer replaced solenoid. 2nd trip to dealer - similar complaint - they replaced rear axle. 3rd trip - similar complaint, but now upon heavy acceleration - vehicle pulls hard left. Service manager at Ford says they called factory, but nobody knows why. This is now not only a lemon, but because it's steering has become affected - I believe it is a safety concern. 3 major failures in 10 mos ownership, and some problems remain unresolved. This is not a safe or reliable vehicle.

The truck jerks into gear when put into reverse - it also jerks in drive but is more pronounced when backing up. The gears don't shift until I'm at 20 -30 mph and then they slip incredibly just to get get there. And even when I'm driving the car jerks as it is shifting gears. When I back into my parking space there is a full 10 second delay before the car to finally catapults into reverse. If there is ever anyone behind me they will literally be hit because of the jerking. The slow shifting into gears and jerking have been a consistent problem since taken brand new off the show room floor. Although the Ford dealership service department "tested trans; performed pinpoint test; r&r trans pan; and added a replaced solenoid body" - nothing has stopped this problem. It still persists to this day. And it has only gotten progressively worse.

Since owning the car, it has had trouble with the transmission. When shifting into reverse it will suddenly lurch backwards. Causing the car to momentarily loose control. It is a concern when backing out of parking spaces, and could potentiality cause an accident. The transmission solenoid and a few gaskets have been replaced, but the dealer does not know the true cause of the problem.

In may of 2004, I bought a new 2004 Ford Explorer. Two months later in July of 2004, I found problems shifting the car into reverse. It would pause for about 5 seconds, then jerk very hard before reversing. I complained to the dealership that I bought the new car from, who proceeded to tell me it was "nothing". The problem continued, and I continued to bring the car into the dealership where I bought it from with no resolve. This continued until January of 2005. I finally took the car to an out of town Ford dealership 2 hours away, who took my car for 5 days due to them having to replace the transmission solenoid. I waited for almost an hour the day I picked up my car for a service advisor to explain to me what this was, and the only answer I received was that it was a programming error. I since then looked up on the internet what this transmission problem was, and read an article that Ford knew about this problem and was not recalling cars since it is not a danger. This is a danger. It can cause numerous neck problems from the jerking. I have suffered from lower back pain before buying the car, and the jerking from putting the car in reverse was not helpful. If anyone or anything is around the car while putting it in reverse, they can be damaged badly. This issue needs to go public. The dealerships need to take responsibility before there are serious injuries due to responsibility neglect for a poor product.

-the contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact started the ignition on a warm engine, and then moved the gear shift from the "park" position into the "reverse" position. Immediately, the transmission exhibited extremely hard shifting. There were no prior warnings. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was able to proceed to normal operation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic tests. The technician stated the failure was related to the automatic transmission solenoid pack. The solenoid pack was replaced for the malfunction. The contact had concern on the safety risk involved. The failure mileage was 60,000. The current mileage was 81,000. Updated 05/15/09 updated 05/18/09.