Ford Explorer Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. Owners have filed 1,526 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Ford Explorer. For the Ford Explorer, that's 0.6 transmission complaints per 1,000 sold across the 2015–2022 cohorts, 2.1× the median of the 53 models we can rate. The worst years are 2020, 2016 and 2017.
Transmission complaints
1,526
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
0.6
2015–2022 cohorts
Share of all complaints
10.1%
of 15,072 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
14
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Ford Explorer transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline), and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 35 | — | 23.8% | 1 | 07V453000 | 7 |
| 2009 | 3 | — | 9.1% | 1 | — | 4 |
| 2010 | 28 | — | 24.3% | 3 | — | 6 |
| 2011 | 64 | — | 5.4% | 3 | — | 0 |
| 2012 | 55 | — | 6.7% | 2 | — | 0 |
| 2013 | 119 | — | 5.4% | 9 | — | 18 |
| 2014 | 79 | — | 4.7% | 3 | 20V692000 | 16 |
| 2015 | 83 | 0.33 | 4.7% | 6 | 20V692000 | 22 |
| 2016WORST | 214 | 0.86 | 8.8% | 10 | 20V692000 | 36 |
| 2017WORST | 121 | 0.45 | 7.3% | 4 | — | 28 |
| 2018 | 45 | 0.17 | 6.4% | 1 | — | 33 |
| 2019 | 34 | 0.18 | 12.1% | 0 | — | 24 |
| 2020WORST | 451 | 1.99 | 38.9% | 8 | 26V40200025V16600023V67500023V19900023V06900020V69300019V575000 | 99 |
| 2021 | 109 | 0.5 | 27.2% | 3 | 26V40200025V16600023V67500023V19900023V069000 | 93 |
| 2022 | 59 | 0.28 | 24.2% | 2 | 25V16600023V67500023V19900023V07000023V069000 | 67 |
| 2023 | 11 | — | 10.9% | 0 | 23V070000 | 44 |
| 2024 | 1 | — | 3.6% | 0 | 26V371000 | 23 |
| 2025 | 15 | — | 16.9% | 1 | 25V23900025V16400025V020000 | 22 |
- Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Ford Explorer transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 1,526 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Ford Explorer years to avoid for the transmission
2020 Ford Explorer
451 transmission complaints (38.9% of the year's 1,158), 1.99 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts. Covered by transmission recalls 26V402000, 25V166000, 23V675000, 23V199000, 23V069000, 20V693000, 19V575000.
2016 Ford Explorer
214 transmission complaints (8.8% of the year's 2,445), 0.86 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: loss of power or limp mode. Covered by transmission recall 20V692000.
2017 Ford Explorer
121 transmission complaints (7.3% of the year's 1,666), 0.45 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: jerking, lurching or harsh shifts.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Ford Explorer years to avoid.
Ford Explorer transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Ford Explorer model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 26V402000 · 2026-06-24 · 2020–2021 models
The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
- 26V371000 · 2026-06-09 · 2024 models
An unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) reset may occur while the vehicle is in motion and result in park system damage.
- 25V239000 · 2025-04-11 · 2025 models
The powertrain control module (PCM) may reset while driving, which can damage the park system or cause an engine stall.
- 25V164000 · 2025-03-14 · 2025 models
The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
- 25V166000 · 2025-03-14 · 2020–2022 models
The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
- 25V020000 · 2025-01-17 · 2025 models
The transmission may be improperly secured due to loose cross member bolts.
- 23V675000 · 2023-10-06 · 2020–2022 models
The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
- 23V199000 · 2023-03-24 · 2020–2022 models
The previous powertrain control module (PCM) update completed under recall 22V-255 did not include the automatic electronic parking brake feature when the vehicle is shifted to park, as intended. In addition, the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may…
- 23V070000 · 2023-02-10 · 2022–2023 models
The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."
- 23V069000 · 2023-02-10 · 2020–2022 models
An unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) reset may occur while the vehicle is in motion and result in park system damage.
- 20V693000 · 2020-11-10 · 2020 models
The drive shaft may fracture along the weld seam.
- 20V692000 · 2020-11-10 · 2014–2016 models
The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail.
Showing the 12 most recent of 14.
Which transmission does the Ford Explorer use?
- Ford 10R80 — 2020–2022, 2025
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2020 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 451 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2020 Ford Explorer, 38.9% of all 1,158 complaints for that year, or 1.99 per 1,000 sold. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (169 complaints). 7 transmission-related recalls cover it: 26V402000, 25V166000, 23V675000, 23V199000, 23V069000, 20V693000, 19V575000. 8 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2016 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 214 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Ford Explorer, 8.8% of all 2,445 complaints for that year, or 0.86 per 1,000 sold. The most common description is "loss of power or limp mode" (39 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 20V692000. 10 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2017 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 121 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 Ford Explorer, 7.3% of all 1,666 complaints for that year, or 0.45 per 1,000 sold. The most common description is "jerking, lurching or harsh shifts" (27 complaints). 4 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Ford Explorer years have the most transmission complaints?
2020 (451), 2016 (214) and 2017 (121), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.
What are the most common Ford Explorer transmission problems?
In the 1,526 transmission complaints, owners most often describe jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (20.9%), transmission repaired or replaced (11.3%) and loss of power or limp mode (11%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Ford Explorer model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration