I have a 98 Extracab 4.0 auto 2wd. The other day, I put the truck in reverse, felt a thump, and now the reverse will not engage. Just like its in neutral. The trany fluid looks ok and full, a little darker than usual, but still a clear red. What do you think may have happened? I have a feeling its something simple, since I have been driving through a 2 foot high snow bank, wondering if possibly just a cable came loose or something. Any ideas or thoughts?

 

You have a 5R55E automatic in a 1999 Ranger with 4.0l engine
Explorers 4.0ls used the same transmissions

No, nothing simple, or external on the transmission can cause loss of Reverse

Thread here on that: https://www.explorerforum.com/forums...everse.268475/

There are several different things that can happen so there is not one answer to loss of Reverse

Google: 5r55e clunk and lost reverse

And see if any of the links has something more specific to what happened to yours