• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Violent downshifts / "scrambling" upshifts -- anyone else experiencing this?

Q

QwikEVO

Member
Active Duty U.S. Air Force
#1
Messages
147
Reactions
59
Points
27
Location
New Baden, IL, USA
#1
So in the last couple days, my ST has been violently downshifting when coasting/slowing down to either stop or make a turn...so much it feels like slamming into "PARK" and it clunks.

Also, when I'm accelerating onto the highway the transmission seems to be searching for the right gear ("scrambling" seems to be the only word I can use to describe the rapid gear changes).

Anyone else have these problems? My ST is stock, no tunes.
 

C

Cdubya

1000 Post Club
#2
Messages
1,693
Reactions
842
Points
262
Location
NE Ohio
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#2
If you haven't done so already, try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes and have the transmission relearn timing. Mine was decidedly more herky jerky for the 6months before I tried the above. Much smoother shifting since.
 

OP
Q

QwikEVO

Member
Active Duty U.S. Air Force
Thread Starter #3
Messages
147
Reactions
59
Points
27
Location
New Baden, IL, USA
Thread Starter #3
Cdubya said:
If you haven't done so already, try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes and have the transmission relearn timing. Mine was decidedly more herky jerky for the 6months before I tried the above. Much smoother shifting since.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I’ll give that a try.
 

CapTom

CapTom

Member
U.S. Army Veteran
Firefighter/EMT
#4
Messages
236
Reactions
204
Points
37
Location
Anderson, SC, USA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#4
I read somewhere (probably here) that this is sometimes a problem after a few thousand miles, and can be fixed with a re-programming.
 

OP
Q

QwikEVO

Member
Active Duty U.S. Air Force
Thread Starter #5
Messages
147
Reactions
59
Points
27
Location
New Baden, IL, USA
Thread Starter #5
So update to this thread:

The unhooking the battery didn't do anything. Still slammed into the lower gears.

Took it in to Ford yesterday, they're replacing the transmission.
 

C

Cdubya

1000 Post Club
#6
Messages
1,693
Reactions
842
Points
262
Location
NE Ohio
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#6
Wow.
 

KegsBdry

KegsBdry

Active Member
#8
Messages
929
Reactions
415
Points
182
Location
WashDC
#8
QwikEVO said:
So update to this thread:

The unhooking the battery didn't do anything. Still slammed into the lower gears.

Took it in to Ford yesterday, they're replacing the transmission.
Click to expand...
I ran into another 2020 Explorer (not an ST) owner that was there for the same problem. It didn't sound good when the mechanic drove it off to the shop. :oops:
 

R

RED09GT

Member
#9
Messages
91
Reactions
46
Points
17
Location
Kelowna, BC, Canada
#9
That is why I wait until vehicles have around 10-15K miles before throwing a tune on it. Looks like you made a good choice by waiting it out as well.

Also, first year of production of any new model can be a bit of an adventure, I told myself to wait until next year and get a 2021 but I just got sick of my previous vehicle sooner than I thought I would.
 

OP
Q

QwikEVO

Member
Active Duty U.S. Air Force
Thread Starter #10
Messages
147
Reactions
59
Points
27
Location
New Baden, IL, USA
Thread Starter #10
RED09GT said:
That is why I wait until vehicles have around 10-15K miles before throwing a tune on it. Looks like you made a good choice by waiting it out as well.

Also, first year of production of any new model can be a bit of an adventure, I told myself to wait until next year and get a 2021 but I just got sick of my previous vehicle sooner than I thought I would.
Click to expand...
We had one problem with my '13 Sport (transmission as well - weird right?) in the 6 years and 197k miles I had it. Thought we'd bucked the trend.

As for tuning, yeah...I'm gonna let everyone else figure out the weak points of the drivetrain before I do lol
 

S

SeniorMasterST

New Member
#11
Messages
11
Reactions
11
Points
2
Location
Cabot, AR, USA
#11
Take it in to your dealer, there is a fix for it. If you get the run around PM me and I’ll give you the information you need.
 

OP
Q

QwikEVO

Member
Active Duty U.S. Air Force
Thread Starter #12
Messages
147
Reactions
59
Points
27
Location
New Baden, IL, USA
Thread Starter #12
SeniorMasterST said:
Take it in to your dealer, there is a fix for it. If you get the run around PM me and I’ll give you the information you need.
Click to expand...
my local dealer is taking care of it.
 

OP
Q

QwikEVO

Member
Active Duty U.S. Air Force
Thread Starter #13
Messages
147
Reactions
59
Points
27
Location
New Baden, IL, USA
Thread Starter #13
So folks, I won't have my ST back until mid-July.

Sheesh.
 

My ST is Better!

My ST is Better!

Member
U.S. Army Veteran
#14
Messages
102
Reactions
61
Points
27
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#14
QwikEVO said:
So update to this thread:

The unhooking the battery didn't do anything. Still slammed into the lower gears.

Took it in to Ford yesterday, they're replacing the transmission.
Click to expand...
Wow fukn suks sorry to here that!!!
 

OP
Q

QwikEVO

Member
Active Duty U.S. Air Force
Thread Starter #16
Messages
147
Reactions
59
Points
27
Location
New Baden, IL, USA
Thread Starter #16
My ST is Better! said:
Did you at least get a dealer loaner for the inconvenience?!!
Click to expand...
Well, got an Edge rental from Enterprise from them. Glad I got an Explorer lol
 

D

Dave

New Member
#17
Messages
2
Reactions
1
Points
2
Location
Canada
#17
Just had the exact issue with my transmission during downshift on my 2020 Ford Explorer ST over last two days with only 7600 km (4750 miles) on it. Taking it to dealer on Monday. This thread really helped convince me that this is a Manufacturing flaw that needs to be addressed immediately.

Senior Master,

You mentioned in the thread there is a fix for it if the dealer gives me the run around. Could I trouble you to comment?
 

D

Dave

New Member
#18
Messages
2
Reactions
1
Points
2
Location
Canada
#18
Just thought I would post update. Dealer inspected the transmission and found the problem. Changing the transmission! Not good and makes me wonder if Ford is burying a terrible secret given the cost of a major recall.
 

UNBROKEN

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
#19
Messages
4,585
Reactions
5,359
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#19
So has anyone stated what’s actually failing?
 

OP
Q

QwikEVO

Member
Active Duty U.S. Air Force
Thread Starter #20
Messages
147
Reactions
59
Points
27
Location
New Baden, IL, USA
Thread Starter #20
UNBROKEN said:
So has anyone stated what’s actually failing?
Click to expand...
My dealership said their troubleshooting tree led to the transmission.

Now if that means they actually troubleshot or just "shot gunned" the transmission, I don't know...
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Explorer ST Posts



Top