2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Defect. CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.

Risk. FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

All four side curtain airbags deployed while I was driving my car in a parking lot. There was no collision and no reason whatsoever for the airbags to deploy. The airbags in the dash did not deploy. The airbag hit me in the side of the head and shrapnel from the airbag, hit me in the face and eyes and knocked me sideways toward the passenger seat. I was completely stunned and had piercing pain throughout my head and neck. I was able to pull into a parking spot and call police dispatch, and get the car towed. The car will be inspected tomorrow by the insurance company, but because there was no reason for the airbags to deploy, this could be a major problem! Imagine if I was driving on the freeway or in another situation and the airbags just deployed for no reason with no warning. Please take immediate action to get these unsafe airbags off the road. The car will be inspected by the insurance company in the morning and the service provider in the following days. If you would like those reports, I will be happy to send them to you.

THE BODY OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC XLT HAS RIVETS ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF THAT HOLD WATER. INSTEAD OF BEING A FLAT SURFACE WHERE RAIN CAN NATURALLY FALL OFF THE TOP OF THE ROOF IT SITS IN THESE RIVETS AND ACCUMULATES RUST. THIS LEADS TO A LOT MORE PROBLEMS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AND LOCK IN POSITION. THE CONTACT CALLED SANDERS FORD (LOCATED AT 1006 W CORBRELT AVE, SWANSBORO, NC 28584, 910-326-1801) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

SEATBELT MECHANISM FOR DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE IS INOPERABLE. IT DOESN'T LOCK AFTER YOU PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON. THE MECHANISM YOU PUT THE SEATBELT BUCKLE IN IS GOOD BUT AFTER THAT THE LOCK MECHANISM FOR THE BELT TO RETRACT ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE DRIVING OR PARKED.

DURING NORMAL USE, USUALLY WHEN IN MOTION BUT FREQUENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION, THE DRIVERS SEAT SUDDENLY FLOPS BACKWARDS TO THE RECLINE POSITION. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE TRUCK WAS ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ONE TIME BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO KEEP THE TRUCK; THAT DIDNT WORK FOR ME BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION AND I ALWAYS HAVE TO GO TO WORK, THEN AND NOW. I SAW A RECALL ON THE 2010 FOR THIS AND FIGURED I WOULD LET YOU KNOW IT WAS FOR A LOT LONGER THAN THAT. IT MIGHT HELP EXPLAIN SOME DEAD PEOPLE IN SPORT TRACS. I CERTAINLY HAD SOME ANXIOUS MOMENTS AT TIMES IN THE 15 YEARS WITH MY TRUCK..IVE TRIED TO FIX IT SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO REAL SUCCESS, A NEW SEAT IS EXPENSIVE, USED SEATS ARE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING BUT SINCE MY SEAT HAS ALSO COLLAPSED I GUESS I NEED TO REPLACE IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A LOSS OF TRACTION AND STEERING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, ROLLED OVER AT LEAST FIVE TIMES, AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINED THE DRIVER; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE BRUISING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BODY, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. MILLER MOTOR SALES INC (1196 MILWAUKEE AVE, BURLINGTON, WI 53105, (888) 449-0974) WAS NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A YARD BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,000.

INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER GAUGES AND ODOMETER DROP TO ZERO AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING, AND I DON'T KNOW MY SPEED AND WELL AS RPM'S. AFRAID THE ENGINE MIGHT SLOW DOWN OR STOP CREATING A POSSIBLE FREEWAY ACCIDENT. ON LINE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

HAVE HAD 2 OF THESE 2004 FORD SPORT TRAC TRUCKS. ONE WHICH WAS FLIPPED ONTO MY DRIVER SIDE AND TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS HIT DOING 25MPH DOWN A BACK ROAD WHITH A STOP SIGN INTERSECTION, NO AIRBAGS WENT OFF THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME WAS MY SEAT BELT FROM WORSE INJURES. MY CURRENT TRUCK WHICH HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND I STILL HAVE ALL RECEIPTS FOR OVER 5000 WORTH OF WORK DONE, RECENTLY WITH OVER A QUARTER TANK OF GAS TURNING LEFT WILL CUT OUT AND DIE COMPLETELY IN TRAFFIC WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSE ME TO BE HIT A COUPLE TIMES WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR. ALSO MY TRANSMISSIONS WENT OUT AND LOST GEARS AT LOW MILEAGE. I TOOK MY CURRENT TRUCK TO RICHARDS TRANSMISSION WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE FORD SPORT TRACK TRANSMISSION NORMALLY DOESN'T LAST PAST 50,000 MILES THAT FORD DID NOT MACHINE THE TRANSMISSION CORRECTLY WHICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE FORD SPORT TRAC. BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP MY O/D WOULD KICK ON AND CAUSE SEVERE JERKING OUT OF FIRST GEAR BUT ONLY WHILE THE O/D WAS ON. I COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN OFF UNLESS I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I'VE HAD MY COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID MIX AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS ABOUT 3000 MILES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY LOST SECOND GEAR. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD FIX THIS, I ENJOY MY TRUCK BUT COULD HAVE BEEN CRITICALLY INJURED A FEW TIMES DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING THAT FORD SHOULD FIX.

I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE LIFTGATE BOTTOM ABS PANEL TO THE RIGHT OF THE FORS EMBLEM IN OCTOBER 2015. ON DECEMBER 8, 2015 THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BACK WINDOW GLASS IN THE LIFTGATE BLEW-OUT. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT FILE IN CALIFORNIA REGARDING THIS SAFETY DEFECT. I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE, BECAUSE I COULD BE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AND THE GLASS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BREAK-OUT WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING OPERATOR DISTRACTON TO DRINING WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND PARTS WERE FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME AND THE FRONT AND REAR MOTOR MOUNTS WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE FRONT END MOTOR MOUNT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE PINION, BARONS, AND SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. MA 10/23/15 *CN

MY GAS GAUGE NEEDLE STARTED GOING BEYOND FULL THEN INTERMITTENTLY WOULD BE ON E WHEN I JUST FILLED IT. EACH TIME I WOULD START THE TRUCK THE GAS GAUGE WOULD SHOW DIFFERENT NEEDLE READINGS. AFTER A MONTH OR SO IT THE GAS NEEDLE QUIT MOVING OR READING AT ALL. I ASSUMED IT WAS IN THE FUEL TANK. I TOOK IT IN TO SHOP AND AFTER TAKING OFF THE FUEL TANK THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FOUND. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CLUSTER PANEL. COST ALMOST $1000. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW COMMENTS ON THE GAS GAUGE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. *TR

I HAD UNEVEN WEAR ON MY TIRES THAT WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES FROM THE FACTORY. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THE FORD DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE SPECS AND BRAND WERE NOT THE IDEAL TYPE FOR THIS KIND OF VEHICLE. NO WARRANTY COVERAGE GIVEN. I DID BUY MICHELIN AT OWL AND THEY HAVE HELD UP TO PRESENT 2014 AT 106250 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,300.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR, AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED BY THE CONTACT BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T NOTICE WHEN YOU GO FROM AN EMPTY TANK TO FULL. STILL READING NO CHANGE. THEN SLOWLY WILL CLIMB TO THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL WITHIN AN HOUR. THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCURATELY TELL HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE DOORS DON'T OPEN GOOD AND THE DOOR HANDLES BREAK. WE HAVE HAD FIXED TWICE AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD FIXED ALSO! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS LOOSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED AND WAS ADVISED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,437.

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH NOTICED TOO MUCH BODY ROLL AND BOUNCING. INSTALLED NEW SHOCKS AND SWAY BARS AND HAD IT ALIGNED AND IT STILL HAD TOO MUCH BODY ROLL AND BOUNCING. HAD IT UP ON A LIFT AN NOTICED THE BODY BUSHING WERE ALL DETERIORATED AND FALLING APART. GOOGLED THIS ITEM AND FOUND MANY SPORT TRAC OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS FORD PURCHASED INFERIOR BODY BUSHINGS FROM A VENDOR AND HAS NEVER CORRECTED THIS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE FEELS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE! IN ORDER TO CHANGE THESE OUT YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE 1ST. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND IF LEFT UNDONE THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEING A MAINTENANCE ITEM ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE TIRE WELL FROM UNDER THE CARRIAGE. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A FRACTURED CABLE HARNESS. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,600.

BODY/CHASSIS MOUNTS ARE DETERIORATING AND CRUMBLING. BODY IS NOW LOOSE ON THE FRAME AND HAS SLIGHT MOVEMENT. THESE MOUNTS ARE NOT RUBBER LIKE MOST; THEY ARE SOME SORT OF URETHANE COMPOSITE. INTERNET RESEARCH AND TRUCK OWNER SITES CONFIRM THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. FORD DOES NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY/RECALL ISSUE AND HAS DIRECTED OWNERS OF SUSPECT VEHICLES TO YOUR DEPARTMENT. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN SALT OR SNOW . THE CAB SHAKING AND RATTLING IS CAUSING MOVEMENT THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY EFFECT THE BRAKE LINES AND STEERING COLUMN AS THEY ARE ATTACHED TO BOTH THE BODY AND THE CHASSIS. FORD IS NOW USING ANOTHER COMPOUND FOR THE MOUNTS APPARENTLY IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS. *TR