The CD4E/LA4A-EL was sourced by Ford, and manufactured at Ford's transmission plant in Batavia, Ohio. It uses 16 valves in the valve body for shift functions. The CD4E/LA4A-EL has five solenoids and uses 13 different inputs to control it. This transmission first appeared Ford's European car, the Mondeo in 1993. It then made its United States debut in the 4 cylinder Ford Probe, Mazda MX-6 and Mazda 626. This transmission is still being used in vehicles today including the Mercury Cougar and Ford Escape.

This is probably the most problem prone of all the Probe/MX-6/626 transmissions. Problems include overheating, OD/Hold light flashing, harsh gear shifts, blowing out the pump gasket, the failure of the forward-clutch assembly, and line pressure occasionally goes off the scale.

Some of the reasons for this the problems of this transmission have to do with a computer problem with the shift solenoid, along with a quirk in the speedometer gear set. Problem's happen when the transmission shift solenoid give the computer the wrong information regarding the gear the transmission is in. The computer tells the transmission to switch gears to the right gear.

When the transmission switches to the next gear the computer is still receiving a bad signal from the solenoid, and tries to switch back. This overheats the transmission and boils the transmission fluid which leaves no fluid between the friction surfaces within the transmission.