80% of 2005 Explorer Transmissions Fail

[bbowers]

I had a transmission shop owner tell me that 80% of Explorer transmissions fail within 80,000 and 120,000 miles.

It was a specific type of transmission that failed, of which I don't remember the name. (I think he said that particular type didn't have a dip stick.)

In fact, he suggested I get rid of my 2005 Explorer. The transmission shop owner might have been exaggerating but he sure didn't sound like it. He said my Explorer with 115,000 miles was just lucky that it hadn't gone out yet. He said it would cost thousands of dollars to fix if I waited until it went out.

Is he full of BS or is there at least some truth in his statement.

Thanks!

Bill

 

[esclamada]

true since it's the same transmission starting at 2002. When they redesigned it the goal was to make everything cheap as possible, starting from the seals, bearings, coil springs, intake manifold, diffs, HVAC..etc..

http://www.carcomplaints.com/worst_vehicles/

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[94Eddie]

Your mechanic is right. There aren't many that go beyond 120k miles without a rebuild. The 80% by 120k number seems a little high to me but by 150k to 200k he might be right.

 

[Robsbrd99]

I think how its driven and if it's had a new filter every now and then can really help too.

 

[94Eddie]

I think how its driven and if it's had a new filter every now and then can really help too.

I agree. I think the third gen transmissions are very depend on regular maintenance to have much longevity. Without fresh fluid they seem to wear parts down fast. I flush and replace the filter every 30k-40k miles in all our automatic tranny equipped vehicles. This allowed my '94 explore to run on the original transmission until I sold it with 200k miles on it. Even then it ran for several thousand more miles until it was totaled in an accident by the buyer.

 

[Exproblems]

I had a transmission shop owner tell me that 80% of Explorer transmissions fail within 80,000 and 120,000 miles.

It was a specific type of transmission that failed, of which I don't remember the name. (I think he said that particular type didn't have a dip stick.)

In fact, he suggested I get rid of my 2005 Explorer. The transmission shop owner might have been exaggerating but he sure didn't sound like it. He said my Explorer with 115,000 miles was just lucky that it hadn't gone out yet. He said it would cost thousands of dollars to fix if I waited until it went out.

Is he full of BS or is there at least some truth in his statement.

Thanks!

Bill>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I would think Ford would have to do a factory recall on the trannys in 3rd generation Explorers if 80% of all of them made crapped out. Mine crapped out, but I made the dealership pay for a rebuilt one. Don't think any of the 3rd's have dip sticks and "I" really believe Ford did this on purpose to keep us from seeing and checking the tranny fluid condition as the vehicle aged. They knew these trannys were junk. Ever since they came out with default OD or overdrive transmissions I've had nothing but problems with them, I think they all suck. Too much shifting for city driving, that extra gear shift just wears them out. Overdrive should be a gear you can select, like during highway driving at 65mph, where your speed is constant and you want to save fuel by using a lower rpm. It shouldn't be a default gear from vehicle start up. Bad design and it doesn't save on fuel economy in the city, I'm living proof, 10.4 mpg.
As far as keeping your Ex, keep it if you still like it. If your tranny takes a dump, it won't cost you any more than any other transmission job on another SUV vehicle would. Where I live near Buffalo, NY, you can get a rebuilt or remanufactured Explorer tranny done for around $1550-$2300, depending on shop.

 

[IZwack]

This applies pretty much across the board for all Generations -- all the way back from the A4LD. Yes there are some that last longer but in general, they do tend to go out right around the 100k mark - give or take a dozen or so thousand miles.

 

[tower]

So does that mean I now need to rebuild mine 2 times

I highly doubt that the failure rate is anywhere near 80% in fact a would bet good money that it's a lot closer to 10% then 80%.

If anything had a rate that high it would be front page news as they sold over a million 3rd gens so that would be at least 800,000 failures but yet when you check the reliability ratings some don't even mention the trans.

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Reliability.aspx?year=2003&make=Ford&model=Explorer

I am not saying that they don't have problems but like just many things it is exaggerated.

 

[94Eddie]

I think a lot of reason for the auto overdrive is CAFE standards. The automakers are going to extremes to meet the requirements and consumer demand for better mileage. I have seen some crazy things done in the name of CAFE standards like the Corvette that forced you to skip gears in an attempt to improve mileage during light acceleration.

 

[esclamada]

It's a bad design, so even if you have a rebuild now and it doesn't have the update servo pin bore (brass instead of using the aluminum body) then it's possible for another rebuild. It's just a matter of luck. IMHO frequent oil changes will not help either. Ford engineers were probably using crack when they designed this.

http://www.servobore.com/kits/5rw.html


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[94Eddie]

It's a bad design, so even if you have a rebuild now and it doesn't have the update servo pin bore (brass instead of using the aluminum body) then it's possible for another rebuild. It's just a matter of luck. IMHO frequent oil changes will not help either. Ford engineers were probably using crack when they designed this.

I agree. Anyone with even the cheapest of engineering degrees wouldn't have designed such a train wreck of a transmission.

 

[cvett67]

interesting thread.

My wife's 2002 had the tranny rebuilt about 119K....it now has 159.

She loves the Explorer, and it's been a great SUV, but yes...it's now having many HVAC issues.

Looking to replace it in the next couple years, but not with another Explorer....I refuse to pay $40K for a new one. That's ridiculous and way overpriced.

 

[kert0307]

Not saying it's right, but the design life for any transmission really only has to get the manufacturer past the warranty period.

 

[jrford]

ya, mine went at 50k, although i've been known to be tough on things. . . .
When it was rebuilt, i asked my trans guy, and he said to increase mpg they tried to used as many light weight materials as they could. less spinning mass = less energy loss = increase mpg so the theory goes. Oh and lets not forget about the bean counters who might be motivated to save that .02c worth. There really is no 'charge back' for a lost customer.

Not much you can do with the aerodynamics of a loaf of bread, i'd would have voted for a stronger transmission, but what do i know?

 

[Exproblems]

Not saying it's right, but the design life for any transmission really only has to get the manufacturer past the warranty period.

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I know you said it isn't right that they do this and it isn't, but what ever happened to selling quality products in America that are built to last? 45K plus for a new Explorer these days isn't chump change, it's top dollar. You'd like to think a major vehicle component like a transmission would last, "well past" the 3 year, factory warranty period. A 3 year warranty is nothing in todays life of a vehicle. Most new vehicle auto loans are taken out for 5-6 years before the vehicle is paid off. I've also seen ads for some of the Asian made vehicles coming with 10 year, factory powertrain warranties (engine and transmission). Why can't Ford back up their vehicles the same way?

 

[Exproblems]

Looking to replace it in the next couple years, but not with another Explorer....I refuse to pay $40K for a new one. That's ridiculous and way overpriced.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I don't know how accurate any of this is, but earlier this year I hired this guy to install new carpet in my house. While talking to him while he worked, he told me the local Ford Dealership (Delacy Ford) he buys his business vehicles from "Cube Vans" , that he uses to haul around his carpeting supplies. He said he buys a new one every few years. He said he knows the General Manager at this dealership really well, from years of doing business with him. They were talking about a new 2011 Lincoln Continental that was sitting in the showroom selling for 50K. The General Manager told him that the Lincoln cost "Ford/Lincoln" an entire 10K to build, all manufacturing costs incl. The mark up is 40K for that vehicle. Not a bad profit margin if that story is accurate.

 

[piercesean]

my first tranny went out at 80k then the ford rebuild went dead after 50k. that was 3200.00 now im on tranny number 3 and it was built by aamco for 2900.00 so i would have to say that they are cheaply made and the rebuilds are not any better. i have one more year to pay then gonna let the motha burn at the bank and hand them the keys!

 

[Mikes1961]

2005 ford AWD explorer with 160000 miles and the first transmission finally went. The improvements that can be made to this transmission can increase both the life and the MPG. I rebuilt it myself. Along with the newer mods, I flushed and refilled both the transfer case and rear end. The rear drive axle got Royal Purple. Changed the fuel filter since it is easier to get to with the trans out of the way. My milage went up from 17 to 22. Shifts smoother than it ever has. The key is changing the fluid every 30000 miles. It is expensive but so is a rebuild. Every major brand has some drawbacks. The offshore brands are no better. Do the maintenance at or before the intervals call for it and you can avoid most problems.

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

They were talking about a new 2011 Lincoln Continental that was sitting in the showroom selling for 50K. The General Manager told him that the Lincoln cost "Ford/Lincoln" an entire 10K to build, all manufacturing costs incl. The mark up is 40K for that vehicle. Not a bad profit margin if that story is accurate.

Not accurate...especially since they have not built the Continental for a decade.

 

[Exproblems]

Not accurate...especially since they have not built the Continental for a decade.[/QUOTE>>>>>>>>

It was definately a "Lincoln" type car the carpet installer mentioned that was selling for 50K. The only part of the story I got wrong was the "Continental" part of of it. It was 8 months ago when I heard the story. I've never owned any type of Lincoln vehicle myself and I'm not sure what models they still make, so the story about the accuracy regarding the price market up over production costs on that 50K Lincoln model is still alive. I know Lincoln made Town cars and Continentals as their premier pricey models at one time.