7.8
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$2,334.00
Average Mileage:
88,322 miles
Total Complaints:
17 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (11 reports)
- rebuild transmission (3 reports)
- replace solenoid body (3 reports)
transmission problem
Helpful Websites About 2004 Ford Explorer O/D light is flashing
2009Sep 03
Explorer XLT 4.O V6
- Automatic transmission
- 71,458 miles
One bright day my O/d light started to flash. Then a few days later it felt like i got rear ended when it shifted into 3rd then engine light came on. a few days of living with it then i went to Mr. Transmission to get an estimate. They said $450 will tell me what is wrong as it is a totally sealed unit. I still owe like $10,000 on this thing so fixing it is the only option. luckily i did some research before i went to the dealer and therefor i never did go to the dealer. Back to Mr. transmission. they got it ripped apart and estimated the repairs at $2900 dollars...that includes a few different things that were wrong with it. one of the big parts was a UPGRADED solenoid that was not a ford part because ford makes a sh*tty one and Mr transmission researches the problem and knows that the Solenoid the factory put in is a Piece of crap. Yeah, if that isnt a damn recall then i don't know what is. so everyone that raves and rants on here, I hope you are complaining to ford also. anyway if your reading this and your thinking about buying a ford explorer. Its NOT TO LATE. DO NOT buy a ford especially a explorer. Seriously DO NOT BUY A FORD. they do not stand behind their horrible problems with these transmissions!. so Monday when i go pick up my ford explorer i think im gonna sell the damn thing cause It scares the hell out of me regardless of my 3 year warranty from Mr. transmission. Hopefully the person who buys it doesn't read this. I wish i had enough money i would bring it to the wrecking yard!!! Nissan's are nice i hear!!
2009Sep 19
Explorer Eddie Bauer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 118,900 miles
I am terrified because I bought the vehicle in October 2007. I still owe $10,000 on it and I can't afford to replace a transmission if that is the case. The over drive light is flashing once you reach 70 mph. The cruise control works fine until you reach 70mph then the O/D light jumps on and turns the cruise control off. What a mess.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Aug 28
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 89,000 miles
O/D light flashing, could not go faster than 30mph, sounded as though I was reving up the engine in park. Took to Edwards Transmission in Castleton. Was told there was internal damages and they had to rebuild it.
CAUTION!!! If you are very unfamiliar with auto repairs, please take someone with you. Out of insecurity I went back to Edwards and asked to the read codes and to see my transmission tore down. He showed me a sheet where they hand printed the codes. Then took me into the shop and showed me my transmission which was sitting on a bench next to my truck. It had not been dissassembled at all. He then said the transmission getes taken some place like 30 mins from there and disassembled. Just 2 hours later I received a call from Jay describgin my problems. Being naieve I didnt think did they have enough time to pick up my transmission, dissassemble it and come up with this amount in repairs in just 2 hours. Anyway, he quoted my with different types of warranties. Then when I went to get financing he quoted the company a hundred dollars more. Anyway, to make a long and painful story short. I was so anxious to get my truck back I let them rip me a new one.
2009Sep 02
Explorer Eddie Baeur 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 85,460 miles
I have plenty of complaints, first of all my check engine light was on for a few days, then the o/d light and transmission light came on... turned out to be a fuel censor and still having transmission issues... now week after getting the fuel censor fixed while i was driving and stopped on stop light my low oil pressure light comes on and oil gauge goes all the way low and battery light come on???? wtf
My truck rear latch door has a crack on the middle of the door.... I seen lots of explorers like that.... what is wrong with these cars??????????????/
2004Jan 20
Explorer
- Manual transmission
- 30,000 miles
Another 2004 Ford Explorer slipping problem. It is obvious that Ford manufactured a defective car and won't stand behind it. I have sought Ford's assistance only to be told it is my problem. I could go into the details .. but why bother?
I will never buy another Ford again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Feb 27
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 58,500 miles
This wasn't the first issue I have had with my Ford Explorer but it was the biggest one so far.......I have owned this vehicle for a little over one year since Oct 2007 and I am not very happy with this product at all! First off when I bought the car the dealership played a shady deal but tried to make good on it and now I am having all these mechanical issues on top of it all.......I sure won't be in any hurry to buy a Ford Product ever again.
On a Thursday my OC light starts flashing and I stop in to tell the dealer - they want me to leave it there and RENT a car at $30. a day while they look at it but probably wont get to it til Monday....so the rental car is on me til then.....(what ever happened to the loaner they promised when they sold me the car)......also I asked them to check the brakes and the seat belt retractor since that never worked properly since I purchased the vehicle...of course none of that was covered under the warranty. $110. for warped rotors and $180 for the seat belt.....unreal! The transmission when all said and done cost $349. in parts and some $1500 in labor. to replace some pistons, bands, gaskets and fluid. Hopefully this fix does the trick but I have my doubts.
2009Feb 15
Explorer XLT 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 113,000 miles
I was driving home from a ski trip in Michigan, coasting down I-35 at about 72 mph when I heard and felt a big *thud* and my transmission shifted out of overdrive down into 4th gear. The O/D light was flashing on the dash, so I slowed down to about 62 mph to keep the rpms down the rest of the way back to Minneapolis. Then the service engine soon light came on, so the next morning I took the thing to a transmission repair shop to have them look at it. Turns out that Ford went cheap on their design of a servo pin actuator for the drum band that engages second and fifth gear, so now my truck shifts straight from 1st gear to 3rd gear, and has no fifth gear or overdrive. This problem is rampant and I cannot believe that Ford took out the lever that used to be included in the actuation mechanism. How much money could removing that part from the design really have saved? I'm having the transmission repaired and rebuilt, but I can tell you one thing for sure - when it comes time to buy a different vehicle (which from the sounds of things from other posters, may be sooner rather than later) I am much less likely to buy another Explorer, and will probably take a really good look at getting a 4Runner.
2009Mar 06
Explorer Limited 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 118,000 miles
Had the transmission rebuild less than a year ago..... with 104,000 miles on it. FIRST FORD and last the way it is working. I found out AFTER I bought the explorer that U-Haul would not rent to anyone with an explorer.
2009Feb 25
Explorer XLT 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 86,000 miles
Well looks like the Ford company has some serious issues with these transmissions...
I had some of the same issues as most rear end small leak...Trans shifting hard into reverse...now the slipping between 1st and 3rd..and now o/d light flashing and service engine light is on....I am bring to trans shop next week ....anyone know how much its gonna cost???
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Jan 30
Explorer Limited 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 171,000 miles
While returning from Savannah, Ga on Thursday, the O/D light started flashing and the check transmission light came on. This vehicle has no dipstick since the transmission is a sealed unit. After checking all I could check, I shut off the O/D and continued home without the benefit of the overdrive. I placed the Exploder in the shop early Friday morning and the news was not good! The selenoid body is going to need replacement, then we will see what else may be wrong. As I have checked this is a typical Explorer problem. It should be recalled, but I do not imagine that will ever happen. This transmission has been serviced regularly. I have driven 80,000 miles this year but the miles were almost entirely interstate miles. This is the second Explorer that I have owned; it is also the last! Honda, here I come! Isn't it amazing that our big three is suffering great losses to the International Auto Builders! Yoo Hoo! Wake up guys!!!!!!
2009Jan 03
Explorer 4.6L
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
My O/D light came on and my truck already had some electrical problems with the windows so I figured there was just some kind of blockage or short in the system - then my check service engine light came on - that's not electrical - for sure - bought from a local dealer and no warranty - so I'm basically screwed - sure enough i just took my truck to the shop and said there was some type of CDL or CLD blockage or something like that but they still said they had to look into it - i bet i can guess now whats going to happen - have to replace the transmission - sweeeet - this is a pain in the ass, seriously, all these damn people and no recall on the transmission - when someone really gets hurt it will be the end of ford - which is really sad, ive always had a ford and they have all had little issues, but what car doesn't? this one will be the end of it for sure - - -
2009Jan 02
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 148,000 miles
We were driving home from Florida and was towing a trailer. About 15 miles into the trip the O/D light started flashing. well 900 miles later the vehicle is now having problems shifting into first gear. The check engine light is on also. After seeing this I will probably go buy a CHEVY or an American made foreign car and just park the 02 explorer and wait to see what happens.
2008Sep 01
Explorer XLT V8
- Automatic transmission
- 100,150 miles
We just bought a 2004 Ford Explorer with 100,000 on it, and I wish I would have found this website first because now I see my tranny problems were inevitable. Within two months, the tranny was shot...completely charred and worthless. I can see now why this guy got rid of the thing and why we got such a good deal. My problem started with clunking reverse, then a hard shift from first to second, then flashing OD light, and then a check engine light, and then BOOM!! no tranny... this was all within weeks of each other. Any one that can tell me whether replacing the tranny is even worth it, I would REALLY appreciate it!! My first and last ford...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Sep 25
Explorer 4.0L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 82,000 miles
just not good timing for this problem o/d light is on engine light is on they tell me its skipping second and third gear i cant afford this at this time my wife could lose her job because theres no way to get there someone told me they had ford drain and replace fluid and the filter and it runs much better? but with my luck its the transmission.
2008Jul 14
Explorer XLT V8 4.6L
- CVT transmission
- 79,500 miles
I bought this truck in January '08 and have since had it in the shop for a total of 8x, 4 of which were for the tranny alone. 1st was the rear differential, 2nd complete tranny replacement (thank god I purchased the extended warranty), 3rd and 4th the solenoid pak. I just picked up the vehicle on 7/27/08 from Continental Transmission and am so far pleased with the results of this latest repair. It started with the O/D light flashing off and on when first started and a harsh engagement going into gear (F/R), which you are all familiar with from the sounds of it. But there may be a solution as my vehicle is running 100% better as of current as I immediately put 200 miles on it in 1 day to be sure of it. The manager told me that there is a spout/drain that all the water runoff goes into, which is located immediately above the transmission electrical system, rotted out and fell off causing all the water to run onto the main electrical component causing it to corrode. When the vehicle was plugged into the machine it was shooting all different codes, some of which they said they have never seen, but couldn't figure it out. They went back to '01-'02 and found a report that mentioned the above issue and checked it and found this component to be completely corroded causing the problems that we have all experienced. So far I have not had any problems and am pleased but will wait before I am in true belief of this repair. Hope this helps out!!!!
2007Oct 04
(reported on)Explorer V6
- Automatic transmission
- 38,000 miles
My O/D light keeps flashing, I've had the transmission and the computer replaced and nothing seems to fix this problem. The mechanics can't figure out whats wrong with it.
Has anyone been through this problem, and got it fixed?
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your transmission problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Oct 08
Explorer 4.0L V6
FORD NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING HERE and help all of these loyal customers with this problem that is so obvious due to a flaw with this transmission. The O/D light started to blink and the check engine light came on last week. Second gear and overdrive were gone. Two shops and $150 for diag fees later the consensus is the trans needs to be replaced, a $2,800 fix. This car had a recall in '05 for a clunky reverse - the dealer poured some kind of fluid into the tranny which never did stop the clunking. And now this. My wife and I have been trying to do the right thing buying American but I never had these problems when I owned VW's or Toyota's. The trans went in my 2002 MontiCarlo with 103,000 miles - and I purchased the 100k mi insurance for $3k when it was new. That trans cost me $1,900.
Frank S.
Murrells Inlet, SC, USA
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