RoadVitals

1995 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.
99
Latest Aug 9, 2010
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.
12%
of 843 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.
1
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 1995 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 99 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 99, in the owner's own words

SteeringTransmission
Filed Aug 9, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD "SHIMMY AND SHAKE". RECENTLY, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK SO SHE HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO KEEP IT STABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 184,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ID
10348273
Incident
Mar 17, 2009
Mileage
170,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 9, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING THE OVER-DRIVE WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE BEFORE DECELERATING. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS MODEL TYPE. HE THEN ADDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE PCM HAVE FAILED. THE PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $500.00. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID
10291482
Incident
Nov 6, 2007
Mileage
55,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 8, 2009

ON MY SIXTH TRANSMISSION ON 1995 FORD EXPLORER HAVE A LIFE TIME WARRANTY FROM TANNER TRANSMISSION BUT THEY WILL NO LONGER STAND BEHIND THERE WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION BEING JUNK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10264495
Incident
Mar 28, 2009
Transmission
Filed Jul 15, 2008

I OWN A 1995 FORD EXPLORER 4X4. I PURCHASED IT NEW AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION UNTIL LAST YEAR WHEN I HAD IT FLUSHED. I STARTED TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP COMING OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I TOOK IT INTO AAMCO AND THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THE ENGINE WAS STRONG, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE NO PROBLEM AFTER IT GETS TO SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. IT IS REALLY UNSAFE TRYING TO MERGED INTO TRAFFIC, BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION TRYING TO GET OUT OF FIRST. IF FORD KNOWS THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR VEHICLE, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST AGREE TO RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I AM SURE MOST PEOPLE HAVE JUNKED THERE TRUCKS BY NAME, BUT I AM STILL HANGING IN STRONG 237,000 MILES AND COUNTING, WITH THE SAME SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. IF ANYONE KNOWS A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE, PLEASE LET THE REST OF US KNOW HOW TO RECTIFY OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE 1995 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234351
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
200 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 19, 2008

1995 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION. O/D OFF LIGHT BLINKING. FROM THE SOURCES ON THE NET IT LOOKS AS THOUGH I WILL HAVE TO JUNK IT. FORD KNOWS THIS TRANS IS NO GOOD. IT JUST STARTED TONIGHT. MY WIFE HAS HEART DISEASE AND MY HAVE TO CARRY TO HOSPITAL AT ANYTIME NOW I LEARN I WILL HAVE TO HAVE A NEW TRANS. WE ARE BOTH DISABLED AND BOUGHT THIS FOR DEPENDABILITY. NOW FROM ALL THE SITES I HAVE CHECKED IT IS A PIECES OF JUNK. ON THE HIGHWAY IT JUST REVS AND GOES NO WERE THAT IS BAD IN TRAFFIC CAN CAUSE WRECKS. IT IS NOT RIGHT FOR FORD TO KNOW THIS IS JUNK AND NOT RECALL THESE TRANSMISSION HOPEFULLY U CAN HELP ALL OF US WITH THESE JUNK FORDS. IF SOMEONE THERE WOULD GET ON THE NET AND CHECK OUT O/D OFF BLINKING ON FORD EXPLORER YOU WILL SEE WHAT I AM AND OTHERS ARE TALKING ABOUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10231554
Incident
Jun 17, 2008
Transmission
Filed May 19, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE FIRST AND SECOND GEAR SLIPPED. THIS FAILURE OCCURS ON ALL ROAD SURFACES, INCLUDING HILLS AND LEVELED ROAD AND BEGINS AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE FAILURE BEGAN SIX YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, FLUID BEGAN LEAKING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT YET BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 06/25/08 *BF

NHTSA ID
10228228
Incident
Aug 8, 2006
Mileage
120,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 7, 2008

O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH THEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, FORD WANTS $2,000, SO IM GOING THROUGH AN AUTO SALVAGE FOR $845, WILL NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN, THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THERE TRANSMISSION. OF COURSE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT 2 WEEKS AFTER MY WARRANTY! I GOT A 1 YEAR WARRANTY FOR FREE FROM THEM BECAUSE I HAD GONE TO CARFAX.COM AND FOUND OUT THAT WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM THEM THERE WAS AN ODOMETER ROLL BACK! *TR

NHTSA ID
10223538
Incident
Sep 2, 2007
Mileage
165,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 12, 2007
1 injury reported

1995 FORD EXPLORER XLT ROLLED BACKWARDS AFTER PUT IN PARK. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE PINNED HER AGAINST THE GARAGE DOOR. CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS ON AN INCLINE AND PINNED HER AGAINST THE DOOR. *KB THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. THE MUSCLE TISSUE AND NERVES TO HER RIGHT PELVIS AND UPPER THIGH WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10203729
Incident
Jun 5, 2006
Transmission
Filed Mar 14, 2005

ONE YEAR AGO I NOTICED THE OVERDIRVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING ON MY 1995 FORD EXPLORER. I WAS TOLD BY A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. WE SPENT $1000 ON THE REPAIRS. NOW, ONE YEAR LATER, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT IS FLASHING AGAIN AND I'M TOLD THAT ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS TO CLEAR THE CODE BECAUSE EXPLORERS DO THIS ALL THE TIME. I'M HEARING FROM SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF EXPLORERS THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE VERY FREQUENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH WOULD INDICATE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10114072
Incident
Mar 7, 2004
Exterior lightingTransmission
Filed Oct 27, 2004

CLEAR COAT IS PEALING ON HOOD AND OVER BACK HATCH, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS THE HEADLIGHT WILL NOT WORK ON DIM I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE SENSOR KEEPS GOING OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10096529
Incident
Oct 17, 2004
Mileage
171,214 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 22, 2004

IN APRIL 2003, THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 95 FORD EXPLORER WENT BAD. THE PROBLEM PRESENTED ITSELF BY THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMING ON AND BLINKING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FASTER THAN 35-40 MILES PER HOUR. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS REPLACED BY COTTMAN TRANSMISSION. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS FOR REPLACEMENT OF A "MODULE" IN THE TRANSMISSION. AS OF JULY 17, 2004, THIS "MODULE" IS CONTINUING TO FAIL CAUSING THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT TO COME ON AND CONTINUOUSLY BLINK. WHEN DISCUSSED WITH COTTMAN, I WAS TOLD THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE DEFECT OF THIS ITEM BUT WOULD ONLY CONTINUE TO REPLACE IT AND NOT REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. SINCE I AM A HEAVY INTERSTATE USER, I AM CONCERNED THAT MY TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL WHILE SPEEDING ALONG THE INTERSTATE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10082459
Incident
Apr 8, 2003
Transmission
Filed Jun 12, 2004

I HAVE HAD 3 TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON MY 1995 FORD EXPLORER. I BOUGHT IT NEW. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURED JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. IT WAS REBUILT. THE NEXT FAILURE OCCURRED JUST OUT OF THE WARRANTY FOR THE FIRST REBUILD. I HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN. THE THIRD FAILURE IS JUST BEGINNING WITH THE OD LIGHT FLASHING AND A HARD CLUNK WHEN THE AUTO TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS INTO FIRST GEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10075259
Incident
Jul 15, 1997
Mileage
61,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 16, 2004

OVER DRIVE LIGHT FLASHING, TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND NOISY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ,AND ALSO WHEN IT STOPS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10066330
Incident
Apr 16, 2004
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Feb 6, 2004

I HAVE A 1995 FORD EXPLORER THE WINDOWS WORK SOMETIMES YOU MIT DRIVE A BLOCK THAN THAY DON'TAND THE 4/4 WILL THE SAME THING . MY SON HAS 1995 EXPLORER IT WILL DO THE SAME THING IS THERE A RECALL IF NOT THER SHOUGH BE THANK YOU . *AK

NHTSA ID
10056704
Incident
Feb 6, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 2, 2003

VEHICLE EXHIBITED HESITATION WHILE SHIFTING, THEN, THE PICK UP WAS SLOW. SIX MONTHS AGO CONSUMER HEARD A CLANKING SOUND AT SLOW SPEED. CURRENTLY, THERE WAS DELAY WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE AND REVERSE. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10049908
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Tires & wheelsTransmission
Filed Nov 6, 2003

HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10045575
Incident
Aug 20, 1998
Mileage
80,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 27, 2003

I HAVE A 1995 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS..CURRENTLY I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE COVERTER CLUTCH. I HAVE CHECKED INTO THIS AND IT SEEMS THAT MANY EXPLORERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME TROUBLE. I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD MOTORS COMPANIES AND RECIEVED A PHONE CALL FROM THEM TELLING ME HOW SORRY THEY WERE TO HEAR OF MY COMPLAINTS... I THINK THIS IS PRETTY POOR THAT THEY WON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS

NHTSA ID
10040835
Incident
Jul 10, 2003
Mileage
91,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 29, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10031435
Incident
Jun 12, 2003
Transmission
Filed May 27, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH O/D LIGHT FLASHING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD. *MR

NHTSA ID
10022270
Mileage
103,310 mi
Transmission
Filed May 14, 2003
1 death reported

O/D LIGHT FLASHING/TRANSMISSION FAILURES. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10018679
Incident
May 6, 2003
Mileage
103,310 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 21, 2003

TRANSMISSION FAILED. FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR DRIVE TOOK 8-10 SEC'S FOR IT'S POSITION. DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG. TRANS. SPECIALISTS CHARGED $2500.00 FOR REBUILT FORD TRANS.

NHTSA ID
10007956
Incident
Jan 13, 2001
Mileage
63,957 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 4, 2002

THE VEHICLE HAS GIVEN US GOOD SERVICE UNTIL MAY OF THIS YEAR, WHEN A PROBLEM DEVELOPED IN THE TRANSFER CASE. AN OIL PICKUP TUBE HAD BROKEN, THE UNIT HAD TO BE DISASSEMBLED AND REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1304.53. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT 72,202 MILES AND SEEMED PECULIAR AT THE TIME, BUT WE ACCEPTED IT AS UNUSUAL WEAR AT TEAR. ON OCTOBER 21ST WE TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP AS THE OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE SERVICE ADVISOR (JASON SAVIDGE) CALLED LATER THAT DAY AND INFORMED US THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS A TOTAL SHOCK TO ME AS AN AUTOMOBILE DRIVER FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS. HAVING OWNED MANY VEHICLES (AND DRIVEN MANY MORE) OF VARIOUS MANUFACTURERS BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH FAILURES. I DO NOT ABUSE MY VEHICLES AND HAVE THEM SERVICED REGULARLY. AS A ONE TIME APPRENTICE AUTO MECHANIC, A GRADUATE MECHANICAL ENGINEER WITH 40 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE I KNOW THAT PROPERLY DESIGNED ROTATING MACHINERY, MAINTAINED AND NOT ABUSED WILL LAST ESSENTIALLY INDEFINITELY. I HAVE RETAINED MOST OF MY VEHICLES FOR 100,000 MILES AND MORE WITHOUT SUCH FAILURES. I NOTED ON YOUR WEB SITE A NUMBER FAILURES SIMILAR TO OURS, SOME MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS. I ALSO REALIZE THIS MAY NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE. BUT WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET THE MANUFACTURER TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD MOTOR CO. AND RECEIVED AND I AM SORRY BUT NOTHING IN OUR RECORDS INDICATE FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD PAY OR HELP PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. DT

NHTSA ID
769269
Incident
Oct 21, 2002
Transmission
Filed Nov 1, 2002

THIS IS THE SECOND FORD MOTOR CO REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE LAST ONE LASTED 18,00 MILES. FORD MOTOR COMPANY INFORMS ME THAT THERE ARE OVER 500 BACKORDERS FOR THIS REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. IF THIS IS THE CASE THEN THERE SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. I'VE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND FOR TWO WEEKS, TOLD TODAY 10/31/02 THAT IT WILL BE ANOTHER MONTH BEFORE I CAN GET A TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR PRODUCING INFERIOR EXPLORER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THANK YOU, DT *TR

NHTSA ID
769161
Incident
Oct 16, 2002
Transmission
Filed Aug 28, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL JUMP OUT OF ITS ORIGINAL GEAR. THIS SLOWS VEHICLE DOWN. CONSUMER IS AFRAID OF BEING REAR ENDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017461
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Transmission
Filed Aug 8, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE OVERDRIVE OFF INDICATOR LIGHT LOCATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLASHED STEADILY, THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN BRAKING ROUGHLY INCLUDING A SLIGHT GRINDING SOUND DURING BRAKING, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, STATING THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION DEFECTS.*JB

NHTSA ID
566936
Incident
Jan 13, 2002

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .