2004 Ford Explorer Power Train:automatic Transmission Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train:automatic transmission ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 1,304 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2004 Ford Explorer overview page.
What owners report
“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…”NHTSA complaint 10113873 — filed 03/10/2005
“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…”NHTSA complaint 10112776 — filed 03/09/2005
“THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 04 EXPLORER IS FAILING. FORD ISSUED A RECALL TO ADD AN ADDATIVE TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM…”NHTSA complaint 10112267 — filed 02/28/2005
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2004 Ford Explorer have power train:automatic transmission problems?
Power Train:automatic Transmission is the most-reported problem area on the 2004 Ford Explorer: 308 of 1,304 complaints on file (23.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2004 Ford Explorer have in total?
1,304 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 58 involved a crash, 15 involved a fire, 83 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train:automatic transmission category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
