2004 Ford Explorer complaints

LEFT SIDE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDING REPLACEMENT. THE REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS SO BAD IT WAS ACTUALLY WOBBLING. *TR

MY COMPLAINT ISN'T SAFETY RELATED BUT I HAVE SAW THIS ON SO VERY MAY FORD EXPLORERS. THE REAR PLASTIC BELOW THE REAR HATCH WINDOW CRACKS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST MINE.. BUT I HAVE SEEN THIS ON SO MANY OF FORD EXPLORERS. TO ME THIS IS A DEFECT AND FROM WHAT I READ FORD SAYS ITS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. BUT TO ME IT IS, ITS A DEFECT THAT ALL THOUGH IT IS NOT SAFETY RELATED IS STILL A DEFECT NONE THE LESS.. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER. OD LIGHT IS BLINKING, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, TRANSMISSION SHIFT STALLS AND LURKS. MECHANIC SAYS ALOT OF FORD EXPLORERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND THERE IS NO RECALL. *TR

REAR GLASS ON EXPLORER BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM BRACKETS. THIS MATCHES PRIOR COMPLAINT NUMBER RQ08003. *TR

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN BRAKING. THIS FAILURE OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT 1/4 TANK OF GAS OR LESS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO FORD FOR REPAIR ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE HAVE REPLACED THE ABS SENSOR, THROTTLE BODY AND A FUEL INJECTION CLEANING WAS PERFORMED. NONE OF THIS HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. DEC 4 2009 WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AND HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE LAST BEING TODAY 2-24-2010. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED REAR PANEL. *TR

REAR WHEEL BEARING ON MY 2004 EXPLORER WERE BAD AND ON ONE SIDE THE WHEEL BEARING WAS SO BAD THAT THE ROTOR WAS MOVING WITH NO EFFORT TO MOVE IT AND THE SUV ONLY HAD 76,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN 2006, NOTICED AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT WHEN PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE WOULD DELAY A FEW SECONDS AND THEN IT WOULD MAKE A CLUNK SOUND AND THEN SPEED INTO REVERSE, THAT WAS AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES WHEN PURCHASED. IN APRIL OF 2009 CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, HAD A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. IT IS NOW LESS THEN A YEAR SINCE REBUILD AND IT IS STARTING TO SHIFT HARD AGAIN AND WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT TODAY WHEN I HAD MY ON THE BRAKE IT MADE A CLUNK SOUND AND JUMPED FORWARD? GOOD THING NO OTHER CAR WAS IN FRONT OF ME, I CHECKED MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND THERE WAS NO CAR BEHIND ME, SO I WAS NOT HIT. ALSO CAR IS STARTING TO DELAY WHEN AT A STOPPED POSITION TO START DRIVING THE CAR HESITATES TO GO INTO GEAR. DOES IT TAKE SOMEONE TO GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DIE BEFORE THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE RESOLVED BY AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER ERROR???? I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT GET DRIVEN AROUND ON A REGULAR BASIS AND I AM NOW WORRIED THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I AM TAKING MY FORD BACK IN TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION GUY THAT REPAIRED IT LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. UHAUL WILL NOT LET ANY FORD EXPLORERS TOW THEIR PRODUCTS. *TR

WENT TO LOAD SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF MY EXPLORER AND NOTICED A BLACK LINE RUNNING DOWN BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND TAILGATE AND COULD NOT BELIEVE IT WAS CRACKED,,DID NOTHING TO CAUSE IT TO CRACK. I GOT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME THING TO HAPPEN. I SUPPOSE IT WILL BE TREATED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT I AND MANY MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD ALSO, JUST IGNORED BUT NEVER RECALLED ALTHOUGH CASE AFTER CASE AFTER CASE HAVE BEEN REPORTED. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED FEB 2008. THE ONLY WORK DONE WAS OIL CHANGES, TIRE ROTATIONS ETC....AROUND 50,000 MILES SUDDENLY 1) THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHEN USED IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL..... 2) A CRACK APPEARED IN THE HATCH FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO ACCIDENTS, NO WEATHER ISSUES.... 3) THE O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND THE TRANSMISSION SYMBOL LIGHTS UP. HESITATES WENT PUT IN REVERSE THEN JERKS INTO MOVEMENT. REPAIR SHOP SAYS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPAIRS COSTING 2000+. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER (V8 EDDIE BAUER) I RECENTLY RAN INTO A STRANGE SITUATION. I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 35 MPH AND AS I WAS GOING DOWN A SMALL HILL, THE CAR STALLED. I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM AT ALL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THE 2004 EXPLORER STALLS WHENEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET AND IT IS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER RIGHT REAR LIFTGATE HINGE PIN HAS CORROSION CAUSING THE HINGE TO BREAK LOOSE FROM THE GLASS. WHEN OPENING THE WINDOW IT BROKE AND FELL ON MY HUSBAND WHILE LOADING CARGO. THE RIGHT SIDE SHOCK (STRUT) HAS SEEMED TO GET STUCK AT TIMES MAKING IT HARD TO CLOSE THE HATCH. *TR

CRACK IN REAR PANEL ON LIFT GATE BELOW WINDOW AT THE FORD EMBLEM. *CN

ON DECEMBER 15, I WENT SHOPPING AND WHEN I WENT TO PLACE ITEMS IN THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED A CRACK ALL THE WAY FROM THE BACK WINDOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PANEL. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN HIT AS THERE WERE NO DAMAGES. *CN

TL*THE DRIVER OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE DRIVER STATED THAT FOUR OF THE STUDS ON THE RIGHT REAR ROTOR BROKE OFF AND THAT THE WHEEL ALMOST FELL OFF. HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. A LOCAL MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE STUDS BROKE AND REPLACED ALL FIVE STUDS. THE CONTACT NEITHER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP NOR SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,950.

PLASTIC UNDER BACK GLASS AROUND FORD LOGO CRACKED AFTER A COOL MORNING. (MAYBE 35 DEGREES) NOW THE CRACK STRETCHES OPEN AND CLOSED VARIOUS AMOUNTS EACH DAY. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS JUST EXPERIENCED A RANDOM CRACK IN THE BODY IN THE HATCHBACK. THE CRACK APPEARS IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW, ABOVE AND BELOW THE FORD EMBLEM. THERE WAS NO PRECIPITANT TO THE EVENT AND THERE IS NO OBVIOUS TRAUMA TO THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD NO REPAIRS OR PROBLEMS WITH THIS AREA PREVIOUSLY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP I DO BUSINESS WITH SAID THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND COULD FIX IT FOR BETWEEN $600 & $700. I SPOKE TO FORD MOTOR CO. WHO SAID THIS IS NOT UNDER MY WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS NOT A RECALL. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A STRUCTURAL DEFECT ON MY VEHICLE, NOT CAUSED BY MYSELF OR A 3RD PARTY, CAN NOT CONSTITUTE A RECALL. HOW CAN FORD SAY THIS ISN'T DANGEROUS? IF A PIECE OF THE BODY WERE TO FLY INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE I AM DRIVING OR THE GLASS CRACKS AND SHATTERS, THERE COULD BE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO SOMEONE ELSE. WHY WOULD A "RECALL" ONLY BE INSTATED IF SOMEONE WERE TO BE HURT? WHY WAIT? I THINK FORD SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE AT NO CHARGE TO ME, THE OWNER. *TR

CRACKED TAILGATE FRAME UNDER THE WINDOW, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. *TR

I LEFT MY VEHICLE RUNNING IN PARK TO DROP OFF A GIFT TO A FRIEND. I ENDED UP STAYING LONGER THAN INTENDED, AND WAS TAKEN OUTSIDE BY A LOUD NOISE. AFTER IDLING IN PARKED FOR 20-30 MINUTES, MY EXPLORER HAD SMASHED INTO MY FRIENDS GARAGE DOOR CAUSING NEARLY $500 IN DAMAGES TO THE DOOR AND SCRATCHES TO THE VEHICLE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM, EXCEPT WE WILL NOT LET THE EXPLORER IDLE IN PARK. *TR

THE REAR PANEL UNDER THE BACK WINDOW OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER IS CRACK, THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THIS FAILURE, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS IT JUST CRACKED. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT AND I WAS CLOSING THE REAR HATCH WHEN THE HINGE PINS SNAPPED AND LUCKILY I WAS HOLDING IT WHEN IT BROKE. IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES THEN I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL 2004S. *TR

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER BACK HATCH HAS A BIG CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WITH THE WEATHER CHANGE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE THOUSANDS OD SIMILAR STORIES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND FINALLY ONE DAY I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE CAR DID NOT EVEN MOVE. I HAD TO GET MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT 60,000 MILES. I ALSO AM HAVING A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE PAINT PEELING OFF THE ROOF OF THE CAR NEAR WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY WHICH IS CRAZY ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SERVICE DEPT AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT MY YEAR AND MAKE HAS PAINT PROBLEMS AND THEY HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN MANY TIMES BUT NO RECALL WAS EVER ISSUED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2007. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HIT THE GROUND AND WOULD NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER. THE LUG NUTS AND BOLTS SHEARED OFF OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE LUG NUTS AND BOLTS. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 30 MPH GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SHE THEN MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE SHE FOUND THE BOLTS HAD SHEARED OFF INTO THE WHEEL COVER AND CAUSED THE LUG NUTS TO COME OFF OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY BACK GATE TO MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS CRACKED AND I HAVE READ WHERE THIS IS A SEVERE PROBLEM AS MY WINDOW COULD FALL OUT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND BY READING ONLINE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE THAT HAVE DONE THIS. WHICH MEANS THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR

A CRACK ON MY 2004 EXPLORER UNDER THE BACK WINDOW. THERE ARE 1000'S OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD ALSO HAVE SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. THIS HAS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE THE BACK WINDOW FALLS OUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. SHE STATED THAT WHEN CLOSING THE LIFT GATE THE HITCH SNAPPED AND THE GLASS ALMOST FELL OUT AS A CONSEQUENCE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE 2002 AND 2003 VEHICLES. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER, RQ08003, STRUCTURE BODY, HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, SUPPORT DEVICE VISIBILITY GLASS, SIDE /REAR STRUCTURE BODY, HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS WERE RELATED TO THE FAILURE AND WAS CLOSED ON OCTOBER 24, 2008. THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THE HINGE COULD SNAP AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES AND/OR A CRASH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79000.

WENT TO OPEN REAR DOOR AND NOTICED A CRACK RUNNING DOWN THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. MY FORD EXPLORER IS A 2004 WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT OF HAPPENED THIS IS A DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. INSTEAD I WAS TOLD TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY ARE YOU KIDDING THIS IS FORDS PROBLEM NOT MINE. IT COULD FALL OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING AND HURT SOMEONE WHAT IS GOING ON IN AMERICA. *TR

PLASTIC PIN SECURING BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR BREAKS, FREEZING BLEND DOOR IN POSITION.(COOL) UNABLE TO GET HEAT FROM VEHICLE HVAC SYSTEM. CAN NOT DEFROST/DEFOG WINDOWS IN COLD/WET WEATHER. VISIBILITY IS LIMITED DURING COLD/WET WEATHER. THE REDUCED VISIBILITY CAUSED ME TO VEER OFF OF PAVEMENT IN A RURAL AREA NEAR MY HOME BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE THE LANE MARKERS. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS IS A RECURRING, COMMON PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR CO. IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT TAKEN STEPS TO RESOLVE THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED, WALKED OUT OF MY HOUSE INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED "THE EXPLORER CRACK" ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM. TEMP WAS 26 DEGREES THAT NIGHT. *TR

PARKING LEVER DOES NOT PROPERLY LINE UP. HOPE THAT THIS DOES NOT LEAD TO THE "ROLL AWAY" ISSUES. *TR

MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL CRACKED DUE POOR DESIGN. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6 REAR PANEL UNDER WINDOW ON TAILGATE CRACKING AND FALLING OFF ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60,000 MILES WAS OUTRAGED BY FORD WHEN THEY STATED THAT AFTER THE CAR LEAVES THE FACTORY ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

THE BACK HATCH HAS A CRACK UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW IN THE MIDDLE AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM. JUST APPEARED....AS I'VE NOTICED SEVERAL FORD 2004 EXPLORERS IN THIS AREA HAVE THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. RECALL IS VERY MUCH NECESSARY. AS WELL AS THE CAR JOLTING INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE....I STILL OWE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THIS LOAN AND REFUSE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS....FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL ON BOTH...THEY NEED TO HIRE SOME JAPANESE WORKERS SINCE THEIR CARS SEEM NOT TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.....I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN FEB OF 2008 AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RIGHT AFTER THAT.....CAR ONLY HAD 48K MILES ON IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR WINDOW PANEL HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP . THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE SHIFTS VERY ROUGHLY INTO THE REVERSE GEAR. ALSO THE GLASS FROM THE REAR WINDOW HAS LOOSENED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO THE CLIPS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,240.

2004 EXPLORER/EDDIE BAUER - THE PLASTIC TRIM BELOW THE REAR WIDOW CRACKED. AS STATED IN MANY OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, THE FORD DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, IT'S A FORD PROBLEM. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 76,000. *TR

A CRACK FORMED BELOW THE REAR GLASS PANEL ON OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CRACK FORMED DUE TO A FLAW IN THE REAR DOOR PANEL. I HAVE NOTICED THE SAME CRACK ON THE SAME SPOT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM ON NEARLY 80% OF THE FORD EXPLORER'S WE SEE ON THE HIGHWAY 'S IN THE ATLANTA AREA. *TR

VEHICLE HAS BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS BROKE ON BOTH SIDES, EVIDENTLY IS SAME SPOT OF THE COIL. FORD REFUSES TO CONSIDER THIS PROBLEMATIC OR AN ISSUE TO THEIR CONCERN. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

CRACKS APPEARED BELOW THE REAR WINDOW OF MY FORD EXPLORER. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *TR

FIRST THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. THEN A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT. AFTER THE AUTO SHOP CALLED AND INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS ALL WHEEL BEARING AND BACKING PLATES WENT BAD AND$1500.00 DOLLARS LATER I LOOKED INTO PROBLEMS ON LINE WITH FORD EXPLORERS I SEEN OVER 42 COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME THING. THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY SEEING AS HOW IM STILL PAYING OF THE LOAN! *TR

2005 FORD EXPLORER HAS A CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH. OUR FRIENDS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THE REAR WINDOW EVENTUALLY SHATTERED WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING. THIS SEEMS TO BE DANGEROUS BUT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER WAS MAKING A HORRIBLE RUBBING/GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, THE NOISE WAS MORE PRONOUNCED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC THINKING IT WAS THE BRAKES AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS "LOOSE" AND I SHOULD HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE BY A FORD DEALER. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO OPEN IT TO FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER THAT BEING DONE, I WAS TOLD THAT HE FOUND "FAULTY" RING AND PINION AND CARRIER BEARINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SO AN ENTIRE NEW KIT HAD TO BE INSTALLED AND REFILLED WITH FLUIDS WHICH INTERN ENDED UP COSTING $1,400. I COULD NOT GET A SATISFACTORILY EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE WHICH ONLY HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT, NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT NOR HAS IT EVER TOWED ANYTHING. I TOLD MY MECHANIC THIS AND HE SAID THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THE CERTIFIED FORD DEALER ADMITS ON PAPER THAT MY VEHICLE HAD "FAULTY" PARTS YET I AM THE ONE WHO HAD TO PAY THE PRICE! *TR

CRACKED TAILGATE PANEL WHERE "FORD" EMBLEM IS. CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. HAVE NOTICED A LOT OF OTHER EXPLORERS WITH SAME CRACKS. I BELIEVE IT'S DEFECTIVE MATERIALS BEING USED AND FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

IN THE DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL FAR RIGHT OR LEFT FOR EXTREME TURNS, THERE WOULD BE A SLIGHT THUMP TO THE EXTENT I THOUGHT SOMETHING LET LOOSE. I HAD THE CAR IN FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE ETC(SCHEDULED MAINT) AND TOLD THE SHOP ABOUT THIS EVENT BUT THEY SAID THEY CHECKED IT AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I WAS TURNING INTO A HEAD IN PARKING SPOT AND NOTICED WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, I FELT THAT I HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FELL APART IN MY HANDS. IT HAD DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND I COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY. *TR

PAINT ON THE ROOF OF MY VEHICLE HAS PEELED OFF ONLY TO REVEAL RUST. OF COURSE, THE WARRANTY STATES THAT IF THERE IS NO PERFORATION THEN NOT THEIR FAULT IF MORE THAN 60 MONTHS HAVE PASSED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE MANUALLY OPENING THE REAR LIFT-GATE, IT SPONTANEOUSLY CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE LIFT-GATE HINGE KIT WAS ORDERED FOR THE REPAIR, BECAUSE THE LIFT-GATE HINGE HAD FRACTURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,400. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,450.

WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE CAR JERKS (SHIFTS HARD) BACKWARDS EVERY TIME. EVENTUALLY, TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. THE PROBLEM NO LONGER EXISTS. *TR

WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THERE IS A HARD SHIFT ALSO HARD SHIFTS UP AND DOWN WHILE GOING FORWARD. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER 4WD, XLT 6 CY ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING IT LAST WEEK AND THE FRONT END FELT LOOSE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK THE SHIFT LEVER FELL APART IN MY HAND AND THE STEERING COLUMN FELL APART. I WAS ONLY GOING 5 MPH AT THE TIME BUT I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I WAS GOING 40 OR SO., I HAD LOST CONTROL AS I PARKED!! THE FORD MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. *TR