On my 2020 Explorer ST, I recently experienced a situation where the motor sounded fine (idle or revved), but no power was transferred to the wheels.
1. Sequence of events. I backed out of a parking spot, switched to Drive, then switched from Normal Mode to Sport Mode. Suddenly, the car was super sluggish. Like 30 seconds later, however, power arrived, but the car seemed stuck in a certain gear because revs sounded high. I experimented with Manual Mode (not sure I was able to get into Manual Mode; not sure I know how to get into Manual Mode--not important to me). Anyway, I took off down the Interstate and noticed the car was super loud, moving at 70 mph, 4,500 rpms, and stuck in 2 gear! I drove for a few miles and I think I pulled over and turned off the car. Now, see #2.
2. I restarted the car and could drive normally in Normal Mode for several miles until I lost all power to the wheels! The car was coasting with the engine sounding fine. In frustration I rotated the dial (gear shift) from D to N to R to P and could still only coast! It's a 10-speed transmission - all gears are neutral! Interestingly, I discovered (see the beginning of #2) I could pull over, turn off, restart, and drive a few miles until I lost power to wheels again. So, I got it towed to the nearest Ford Dealer (I was 200+ miles from home) and spent a night in a hotel. Dealer is short staffed and told me 3 weeks b/f looking at car. I looked for a car rental, but all rentals are going to Western North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene. Fortunately, I got a ride from a relative back to my starting point (150 miles away). Surprisingly, Dealer fixed car the next day, and I drove another 150 miles to pick up the car and continue my journey to my original destination (another 200+ miles). Ok, great.
3. Dealer's analysis:
CONFRIMED CUSTOMER CONCERN. FOUND BULLETINS REFFERING TO SIMILIAR
CONCERNS. FOUND DTCS STORED FOR ACM U0293 OO 0B LOST COMM W/YBRID PCM
'A' BCM B1330 49 08 DC/AC IVERTER MODULE, B1533 08 08 HEADLAMP SWITCH
MODULE
PCM P062C 00 68 INTERNAL CONTROL MODULE VEHICLE SPEED PERF.
FOLLOWED PROTOCOL IN BULLETIN AND PROGRAMMED MODULE PER BULLETIN.
RETESTED AND FOUND PROBLEM FIXED.
4. What does all that mean? Seems the problem was electrical, not busted metal bouncing around in some box. Are there others with my experience?
5. I like my 2020 Explorer ST, but is it reliable? 6 times a year I do a 385-mile/7-hour road trip (one-way). The contrast between leisurely riding down the Interstate versus standing on the outside of the guard rail (only several feet from the 70-mph traffic) is extreme.
6. Is the 2025 Explorer ST any better? Buying "New" is fun, but I feel like I'm paying Ford to be a part of their Operational Testing Team.
Keys1970
1. Sequence of events. I backed out of a parking spot, switched to Drive, then switched from Normal Mode to Sport Mode. Suddenly, the car was super sluggish. Like 30 seconds later, however, power arrived, but the car seemed stuck in a certain gear because revs sounded high. I experimented with Manual Mode (not sure I was able to get into Manual Mode; not sure I know how to get into Manual Mode--not important to me). Anyway, I took off down the Interstate and noticed the car was super loud, moving at 70 mph, 4,500 rpms, and stuck in 2 gear! I drove for a few miles and I think I pulled over and turned off the car. Now, see #2.
2. I restarted the car and could drive normally in Normal Mode for several miles until I lost all power to the wheels! The car was coasting with the engine sounding fine. In frustration I rotated the dial (gear shift) from D to N to R to P and could still only coast! It's a 10-speed transmission - all gears are neutral! Interestingly, I discovered (see the beginning of #2) I could pull over, turn off, restart, and drive a few miles until I lost power to wheels again. So, I got it towed to the nearest Ford Dealer (I was 200+ miles from home) and spent a night in a hotel. Dealer is short staffed and told me 3 weeks b/f looking at car. I looked for a car rental, but all rentals are going to Western North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene. Fortunately, I got a ride from a relative back to my starting point (150 miles away). Surprisingly, Dealer fixed car the next day, and I drove another 150 miles to pick up the car and continue my journey to my original destination (another 200+ miles). Ok, great.
3. Dealer's analysis:
CONFRIMED CUSTOMER CONCERN. FOUND BULLETINS REFFERING TO SIMILIAR
CONCERNS. FOUND DTCS STORED FOR ACM U0293 OO 0B LOST COMM W/YBRID PCM
'A' BCM B1330 49 08 DC/AC IVERTER MODULE, B1533 08 08 HEADLAMP SWITCH
MODULE
PCM P062C 00 68 INTERNAL CONTROL MODULE VEHICLE SPEED PERF.
FOLLOWED PROTOCOL IN BULLETIN AND PROGRAMMED MODULE PER BULLETIN.
RETESTED AND FOUND PROBLEM FIXED.
4. What does all that mean? Seems the problem was electrical, not busted metal bouncing around in some box. Are there others with my experience?
5. I like my 2020 Explorer ST, but is it reliable? 6 times a year I do a 385-mile/7-hour road trip (one-way). The contrast between leisurely riding down the Interstate versus standing on the outside of the guard rail (only several feet from the 70-mph traffic) is extreme.
6. Is the 2025 Explorer ST any better? Buying "New" is fun, but I feel like I'm paying Ford to be a part of their Operational Testing Team.
Keys1970
