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2020-2025 Ford Explorer Transmission Problems: Rollaway & Power Loss
Class Action Investigation
My firm, Lemberg Law, is conducting a class action investigation into the Ford Explorer transmission after reviewing reports that some Explorer SUVs lose motive power while driving or roll after being placed in Park.
I’m Sergei Lemberg, and I’ve spent more than two decades working on consumer protection and lemon law cases. When I see the same complaint repeated across different owners, different model years, and different circumstances, it tells me something systematic is happening.
That is what led me to begin examining what is happening with certain Explorers. Since we began this investigation, Ford has issued two additional recalls related to this problem, including one covering hundreds of thousands of Explorers, F-150s, and other Ford and Lincoln models built on the same park system.
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What’s the Problem With the Ford Explorer Transmission?
Owner complaints consistently describe the same core problem. The Ford Explorer does not always stay in Park or respond correctly to gear selection. In multiple situations, drivers believed the vehicle was secure, only to see it begin rolling or shifting on its own. Others reported loss of power while driving.
The most common symptoms include:
- Vehicle rolling backward after being placed in Park
- Gear selector showing “Park” but transmission not fully engaging
- Front wheels rolling while rear wheels remain locked
- Gear shifter moving itself out of Park
- Temporary loss of acceleration while driving
- Vehicle failing to go into the selected gear
- Vehicle rolling and causing property damage
What Owners Are Saying
Here are a few real-world complaint examples that reflect the pattern we’re seeing with Explorer transmission problems
“[I] Put car in park. SUV rolled back & damaged my garage door. Also damaged my trunk of SUV.”
“After the Ford recall software update, the gear shifter will turn itself out of park and either into drive or reverse. The software update was in regards to the PCM resetting itself. We took it to the Ford dealer and because they can not duplicate the problem, the truck was returned to us. It has happened to us more than once and it is very alarming. I have two children on top of other children in the neighborhood. I don’t trust this truck to stay in park even with it off at this point.”
“Parked vehicle on snowy driveway, went to back to unload personal items from liftgate, and vehicle began sliding backwards towards me. Ran to the driver’s door, got in, put on brakes, started vehicle and pulled it forward. Put it in park, and as I was exiting the vehicle, it began sliding backwards again. Rear wheels were locked. However, the front wheels were rolling. Apparently the transmission park pawl did not engage.”
“[I] Put vehicle in drive to pull out of driveway started moving when all of a sudden the explorer started rolling in reverse and the the D on the transmission knob blinked green the E brake did not work I ended up in my garage door and in the back of an ambulance for neck pain and whiplash.”
“I had my car parked in a driveway that has a slight incline. I was buckling my child in their car seat in the back when the car started to roll backwards. The car had been parked prior and was off when the rolling occurred. Now my car is in for service requiring an entirely new transmission (under 80,000 miles) after un-smooth driving led me to bring it in.”
What Do the Explorer Recalls Say?
Recall 25V-239 (April 2025)
In April 2025, Ford issued safety recall 25V-239 covering 24,655 model year 2025 Explorers with 2.3-liter engines built between December 6, 2023, and September 6, 2024. The recall addresses a software programming error in the Powertrain Control Module that triggers unexpected resets.
According to Ford’s filing with NHTSA, the defect can cause:
- Park pawl to engage while the vehicle is moving, potentially damaging the park system if traveling above 10 mph
- Temporary loss of vehicle acceleration during a PCM reset
- Complete loss of motive power if eight consecutive resets occur within 18 seconds
- Roll-in-park condition if the park system is damaged and the electronic parking brake isn’t applied
- Malfunction indicator light or wrench warning light on the dashboard
Below is an excerpt from Recall 25V-239 so you can review the recall for yourself:
As of Ford’s most recent quarterly report, this recall is largely complete: over 20,000 of the 24,655 affected vehicles, about 83%, have been remedied.
Recall 26V-371 (June 2026)
A second, smaller recall followed in June 2026. Recall 26V-371 covers just 58 model year 2024 Explorers with 2.3-liter engines and 10R60 transmissions built between January 3, 2024, and April 25, 2024. Ford traced this batch using connected vehicle data after finding that a connected data request sent to affected vehicles contained more data than the Powertrain Control Module could handle, causing the same kind of reset and park system damage described above.
Recall 26V-402 (June 2026)
In June 2026, Ford issued a much larger recall covering 741,195 vehicles, including 313,147 model year 2020-2021 Explorers, plus F-150s, Lincoln Aviators, Lincoln Navigators, and Ford Expeditions built on the same park-by-wire system. Unlike the earlier two recalls, this one stems from a mechanical defect: a transmission valve body separator plate that can restrict flow to the park valve, causing the park pawl to temporarily engage while the vehicle is still moving.
According to Ford’s filing:
- 24 reports of property damage and 9 alleged injuries have been tied to this issue
- The vehicle’s “roll-away detection” safeguard may not work if the vehicle has been parked and powered down for a while
- The remedy includes a software update plus inspection and repair of damaged park system parts
- Full remedy letters won’t go out until Q2 2027
- Ford’s advisory: do not park the vehicle outside
Where the Recall Leaves Owners
Across all three recalls, the remedy follows a similar pattern:
- A PCM software update
- Inspection of the transmission park system
- Replacement of damaged components if necessary
But how far along that remedy is depends entirely on which recall applies to your vehicle. The original 25V-239 recall is well underway, with the majority of the 24,655-vehicle population already remedied. The much larger 26V-402 recall, by contrast, has a phased timeline that stretches into 2027, meaning many owners won’t see a fix for months.
Several owners also report that even after software updates, they continue to experience Explorer transmission problems like shifting or park-engagement issues, which raises the question of whether a software fix alone resolves the underlying risk.
What Can You Do If You Own One
If you own or lease a Ford Explorer, here are several steps you can take:
- Verify whether your vehicle is included in any of the three recalls (25V-239, 26V-371, or 26V-402). You can search by VIN at the NHTSA website.
- Schedule the recall repair promptly if your vehicle is covered.
- If your vehicle falls under 26V-402, follow Ford’s advisory not to park outside until it has been inspected.
- Document any rolling, shifting, or loss-of-power events with dates and conditions.
- Photograph or video evidence when safe to do so.
- Keep copies of all dealer repair orders.
Curious about recalls? Use our recall search tool
Get a Free Case Evaluation
If you have experienced rolling in Park, loss of motive power, or shifting problems in a Ford Explorer, you may request a free case evaluation with Lemberg Law. If you own an F-150, Lincoln Aviator, Lincoln Navigator, or Ford Expedition affected by recall 26V-402, we’d like to hear from you as well.
There is no cost to speak with us. We work on a contingency-fee basis, which means you do not pay legal fees unless there is a recovery. There is no obligation, no pressure, and no guarantees. The purpose is simply to help you understand your options.
Class action investigations are one possible path. Individual warranty, lemon law, or consumer protection claims may also be appropriate depending on the specific facts of your situation. Our role is to help owners make informed decisions as this investigation continues to develop.
Sources:
- 2025 NHTSA Complaints
- Recall 25V-239
- Recall 25V-239 June 2026 Quarterly Report
- Recall 26V-371
- Recall 26V-402
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
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