RoadVitals

1992 Ford Explorer Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
66
Latest Jan 2, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 633 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1992 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 66 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

The 25 most recent of 66, in the owner's own words

EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 2, 2008

1992 FORD EXPLORER REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION NEEDED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND OIL LEAK FIXED. SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY AND THE REPAIRS WILL COST AROUND $1500.00. *KB

NHTSA ID
10213906
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Transmission
Filed Feb 5, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT PURCHASED A 1992 FORD EXPLORER IN 1999 AND HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON 2002, 2003, 2006. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, BUT THE VEHICLEINOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE REGARDING TRANSMISSION FAILURES. WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM HAD A DEFECT INVESTIGATION NUMBER: EA93004 UNDER LEMON LAWS REGARDING THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH FORD REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10181725
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
Transmission
Filed May 24, 2004

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE IT FAILED TO TURN ON. CONSUMER TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES BUT IT FAILED TO TURN ON. MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND HE REPLACED IT TWICE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10074173
Transmission
Filed Sep 25, 2003

TRASMISSION OIL BURNT CAUSING TRASMISSION FAILURE AND WAS REBUILT. 20,000 MILES LATER TRASMISSION FAILED AGAIN (BURNT FLUID) DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEING TOO CLOSE TO ALUMINUM TRANSMISSION PAN. THERE NEEDS TO BE A HEAT SHIELD TO PROTECT IT FROM BURNING.

NHTSA ID
10039512
Incident
Nov 16, 2001
Mileage
153,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 4, 2002
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM A DEALERSHIP AND DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES TO HAVE EMISSION SYSTEM CHECKED. WHEN HOOD WAS RAISED FOR THIS EXAMINATION AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE STARTED. AN EXAMINATION OF VEHICLE DETERMINED THAT FIRE ORIGINATED CLOSE TO BOTTOM OF ENGINE WHERE IT MET THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. POSSIBLE CAUSE WAS AUTOMATIC TRANMISSION OVERHEATING AND CAUSING A GROUP OF WIRES AND GREASE TO IGNITE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. NOTE: PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE DEALERSHIP WAS EXAMINING THE FOR THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM, A HUB & WHEEL NOISE, AND A LEAKING EXHAUST MANIFOLD LOCATED CLOSE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001578
Transmission
Filed Nov 9, 2001

I AM VERY UNSATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE, PLEASE HELP. NO SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
754337
Incident
Jun 5, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jun 11, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMERS CHILD GOT HOLD OF KEY AND TURNED IT HALF WAY TO THE ON POSITION, PUT VEHICLE IN GEAR ROLLED DOWN THE HILL AND HIT A TREE. CHILD WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR TRAUMA. CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE THAT VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE A SAFETY DEVICE. CONSUMER WAS CURRENTLY CHECKING THINGS WITH THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE ADD THE VIN# TO COMPLAINT FORM.*AK

NHTSA ID
890116
Incident
Jun 9, 2001
Transmission
Filed May 22, 2001

WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED CLUTCH DIDN'T ENGAGE. DEALERSHIP WILL BE MADE AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
888865
Incident
May 13, 2001
Transmission
Filed Feb 8, 2001

TRANSMISSION STOPPED OPERATING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 75 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
880170
Incident
Feb 2, 2001
Transmission
Filed Nov 1, 2000

3 TIMES WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, WE COMMUTE 88 MILES ROUNDTRIP A DAY (HIGHWAY MILES) AND SELDOM IF EVER TOW ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
735592
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
Powertrain (other)SteeringTransmission
Filed Oct 26, 2000

TRANSMISSION QUIT, POWER STEERING QUIT, CLUTCH AND BEARINGS QUIT! *AK

NHTSA ID
735192
Incident
Apr 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Jul 16, 2000

THIS IS THE FOURTH TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
725504
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
Transmission
Filed Jun 13, 2000

EXPLORER (AUTO TRASMISSION) GETS STUCK IN SECOND OR THIRD GEAR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES, IT KICKS INTO GEAR AND IS FINE. IT SEEMS ONLY TO HAPPEN IN THE MORNING WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. *AK

NHTSA ID
723956
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Jun 9, 2000
Fire reported1 injury reported

REBUILT TRANSMISSION FAILED :AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BEING EXPELLED FORM THE FILLER TUBE , ALLOWING IT TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE MUFFLER , DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING FLUID TO INGNITE WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENSUING FIRE AND AND LOSS. THE REMAINING EVIDENCE AND EXAMINATION OF THE TRANSMISSION INDICATE THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER , INSTALLED JUST PRIOR TO THE FIRE FAILED RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
723781
Incident
May 7, 2000
BrakesTransmission
Filed Apr 21, 2000

WOULD SHIFT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE & APPLIED GAS, AND IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO KICK INTO REVERSE. ALSO, BRAKES WOULD MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *AK

NHTSA ID
860730
Transmission
Filed Jan 31, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
718119
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Dec 22, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. MJS

NHTSA ID
550073
Incident
Apr 1, 1992
Transmission
Filed Oct 15, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH TRANSMISSION DIED OUT, AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR. THIS WAS THE 4TH TRANSMISSION THAT CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
850912
Incident
Nov 1, 1996
BrakesTransmission
Filed Sep 2, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
710863
Incident
Aug 25, 1999
Transmission
Filed Jun 2, 1999

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, AND FLUID IS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CONSUMER CAN SMELL SMOKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
838761
Incident
Jun 21, 1998
Transmission
Filed Apr 30, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
706130
Incident
Apr 27, 1999
Transmission
Filed Feb 26, 1999

WHEN IN DRIVE CAR ACTS LIKE IN NEUTRAL, THEN WITH GAS ADDED, JERKS AND GOES INTO GEAR - ONLY IN COLD SEASON AND FIRST THING IN MORNING

NHTSA ID
703756
Incident
Feb 25, 1999
Transmission
Filed Feb 19, 1999

NONE

NHTSA ID
703511
Incident
Mar 6, 1997
Transmission
Filed Dec 24, 1998

STANDARD TRANSMISSION IS MAZADA-BUILT 5-SPEED AND WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. PROCEEDING ON INTERSTATE AT SPEED. DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH TO 4TH FOR TRAFFIC. COULDN'T UP SHIFT TO 5TH. COULD SHIFT FROM 4TH TO NEUTRAL. STOPPED VEHICLE. COULDN'T SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, 5TH OR REVERSE. ONLY HAD 4TH GEAR. AT APPROXIMATELY 78,500 MILES TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL AND QUALITY CHECKED BY OWNER AS PART OF ROUTINE SELF-MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGE. FLUID LEVEL AND QUALITY LAST CHECKED BY DEALER AS PART OF 60,000 MILE SERVICE. HAVE INVESTIGATED COMPLAINT DATABASE AND TSB DATABASE. I BELIEVE THERE MANY RECURRING INCIDENTS OF THIS PROBLEM. REPAIR SOLUTION WAS REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION BY THE DEALER. ATTEMPTING TO DETERMINE IF CONDITIONS WARRANTY INVESTIGATION AND POTENTIAL RECALL.

NHTSA ID
701582
Incident
Aug 24, 1998
Transmission
Filed Oct 2, 1998

VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
828495
Incident
Feb 23, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .