2004 Ford Explorer complaints

NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY HAS OCCURRED. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER BINDS WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK. THE INTERLOCK SOLENOID PIN HAS WORN A GROVE IN THE CAM IN WHICH IT CONTACTS. WHEN SHIFTING FROM ANY GEAR TO PARK, IF YOU RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THE RIGHT TIME THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO FULLY INTO PARK. *TR

I WALKED AROUND TO THE BACK OF MY EXPLORER TO PUT GROCERIES IN THE BACK TRUNK AREA TO FIND THE PLASTIC CRACKED BY THE FORD EMBLEM. IT RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE FLIP OPEN GLASS PANEL THAT HAS NOW BROKEN THE INTEGRITY OF THE CAR LEAVING IT MUCH EASIER FOR SOMEONE TO BREAK IN. THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY SORT OF COLLISION, NO OTHER MARKS WERE SEEN. *TR

WE HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAD A SPONTANEOUS CRACK OCCUR ON THE BACK LIFT GATE BELOW THE GLASS AND THROUGH THE FORD EMBLEM. WE HAVE SEEN MANY EXPLORERS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS DEFECT AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE RECALLED AND WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING. ALTHOUGH WE CONSIDERED; MOST PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS FIXED; THE CRACK HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS WOULD COST 4-8 HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX AND WILL PROBABLY OCCUR AGAIN. *TR

DRIVER WINDOW STOPPED ROLLING DOWN. *TR

WALKED OUTSIDE ONE DAY AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC PANEL BELOW MY REAR WINDOW. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNS OFF AND RESTARTS THE VEHICLE, IT RESUMES NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT THEY COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE, FUEL INJECTOR, AND RESET THE POWER MODULE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,600.

THE REAR TAILGATE CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR GLASS AND PROPAGATED DOWNWARD AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM AND FINALLY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFTGATE PANEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A 2004 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED, V8 WITH . *TR

AUG 2008 I WAS CLOSING MY REAR WINDOW ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER WHEN THE RIGHT HINGE BROKE AND SHATTERED THE WINDOW AND STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *TR

WENT INTO MY GARAGE TO GET INTO MY EXPLORER AND NOTICED A CRACKED PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW. SEEN OTHER FORD SUV'S WITH SAME CRACKED PANEL BY THE FORD EMBLEM ON REAR PANEL. CALLED FORD AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND THEY TOLD ME NO AND REFUSED TO HELP ME GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. I DID NOTHING. THE CRACK JUST CAME OUT OF NO WHERE. IT WASN'T SOMETHING I DID. ITS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM SEEING THAT THERE IS OTHER SUV JUST LIKE MINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND A CRACK IN THE EXACT SAME AREA! *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN 2004 AND HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION - HARD SHIFTING, SLIPPING, AND DELAYED SHIFTING. I BROUGHT IT BACK MULTIPLE TIMES TO 2 VERY GOOD DEALERS AND THE PROBLEMS REMAINED. THEY REPLACED MY REAR AXLE THREE TIMES BUT SAID BECAUSE THERE WERE NO STORED CODES FROM THE TRANSMISSION, FORD WOULDN'T LET THEM DO ANYTHING ELSE. MY TRANSMISSION KEPT HAVING DELAYED SHIFT AND HARD SHIFT PROBLEMS SO I KEPT BRINGING IT IN TO MY LOCAL DEALER EVEN AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. AFTER 6 TIMES AT 2 DEALERS, IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. I DO NOT BLAME THE DEALERS, AS THEY WERE ONLY TAKING FORD FACTORY DIRECTION. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO MY WARRANTY END, AND WAS ALWAYS TOLD TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER. DURING THOSE CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, I REQUESTED A FORD FACTORY REP CONTACT ME BUT CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED AND ADVISED ME AGAIN TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. LAST WEEK, MY TRANSMISSION FINALLY FAILED AT 87K MILES. IT STILL SHIFTED HARD, AND HAD DELAYED SHIFTS, BUT IT SUDDENLY HAD NO REVERSE, AND EXTREME SLIPPAGE IN FIRST GEAR. THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT STARTED FLASHING FOR THE FIRST TIME SO IT STORED A CODE. I TOOK MY EXPLORER BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CODE MEANT AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF A BAND OR OTHER PART AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $4500. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WAS VERY GOOD ABOUT THE ENTIRE PROBLEM, SO I AM STILL NOT AT ALL UPSET WITH THE LOCAL DEALER. I PAID AL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT BECAME DISENGAGED FROM THE HINGE, WHICH ALLOWED THE GLASS TO LOOSEN. THE GLASS APPEARS THAT IT COULD FALL OUT AT ANY MOMENT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT FOUND RECALLS ON THE 2002 AND 2003 EXPLORERS, BUT NOT FOR 2004. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR HER VEHICLE AND IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

FORD EXPLORER LIFT GATE PANEL CRACKED I HAVE NOT REPLACED IT YET I SEE A LOT OF THESE ON THE ROAD SINCE MY HAS CRACKED. *TR

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS A CRACKED REAR LIFT GATE JUST BELOW THE WINDOW, ADJACENT TO THE CENTER FORD EMBLEM. IT WAS DESCRIBED TO ME BY MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AS A MANUFACTURED DEFECT AS A RESULT OF THE HORIZONTAL PLASTIC DECK LID BEING GLUED TO THE METAL LIFT GATE. DURING CONTRACTION AND EXPANSION OF THESE TWO MATERIALS DURING FLUCTUATIONS IN WEATHER, THE LID WILL CRACK. I HAVE NOTICED APPROXIMATELY 30-40% OF 2002-2005 EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD COULD ELEVATE THIS PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE PLASTIC PANELS WITH A BETTER MATERIAL OR GLUE. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36K AND I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WON'T OCCUR UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT 50K-75K OF 3-4 YEARS. FORD WANTS $500 TO REPAIR PLUS PAINT FOR A TOTAL OF $700 DOLLARS. *TR

CRACK APPEARED ON PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW. CRACK EXTENDS FROM THE REAR WINDOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TOP REAR HATCH. NO MISTREATMENT OF VEHICLE HAS OCCURRED; CRACK APPEARED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE UNOCCUPIED IN MY GARAGE. WILL BRING TO FORD DEALERSHIP TOMORROW TO INQUIRE ABOUT REPLACEMENT. *TR

PAINT ON THE HOOD OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER BEGAN TO BUBBLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY PEEL OFF. NEEDED OTHER, UNRELATED BODY WORK, AND HAD THE DEALER SHIPFIX THE PAINT PROBLEM ALONG WITH OTHER BODY WORK. FORTUNATELY, THE BODY SHOP GUY ONLY CHARGED ME $100, SINCE HE ALREADY HAD THE PAINT (AND I THINK FELT A LITTLE SORRY FOR ME). HAVE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE FAILED WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING WHENEVER THE SPEED CONTROL SELECTOR WAS ACTIVATED. THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER COULD NOT BE FOUND ONLINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 04/15/09. *LJ UPDATED 04/16/09.*JB

PAINT IS PEELING ON THE ROOF OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY SAID I"N 6 YEARS I AM ONLY THE 2ND PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM" AND "THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY". THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OR PROBLEM. I AM JUST WRITING HERE TO GET THIS INFORMATION ON RECORD, BECAUSE IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THIS IS VERY TYPICAL WITH FORD VEHICLES. THANK YOU *TR

I BOUGHT THIS 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN 2006. THE PANEL BELOW THE BACK WINDOW WAS LOOSE. THEY SENT A GLASS DEALER OUT TO FIX IT. THEY JUST PUT HOT GLUE OR SOMETHING TO MEND IT FOR THE TIME. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT'S 1/2 FALLING OFF NOW. *TR

I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE REAR PANEL OF THE TAILGATE OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. IT IS IN THE MIDDLE, RIGHT NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE ARE BRINGING IN TO THEM. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR IT. THEY SAID MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO PAY TO GET IT REPAIRED, WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT $450.00. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD ABOUT 48,000 MILES, BUT WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. THE MANAGER ALSO SAID THAT IF I DO CHOOSE TO GET IT FIXED, TO KEEP THE RECEIPT BECAUSE IF THERE EVER IS A RECALL ON IT, I COULD BE RE-IMBURSED. *TR

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE WORSE VEHICLE FAILURES OUT THERE, BUT THE SHEER FACT THAT SO MANY OWNERS OF MY VEHICLE, 2004 FORD EXPLORER (AND ITS RESPECTIVE BROTHERS: LINCOLN AVIATOR AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER) ARE EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAS LED ME HERE. THE TRANSMISSION IN MY TRUCK IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND AT THE MOMENT I AM ALMOST AFRAID TO HAVE MY WIFE AND OUR 2 CHILDREN RIDE IN IT. THE DELAY IN THE SHIFT CAUSES US TO SLOW SLIGHTLY IN TRAFFIC AND I FEAR (AS DO SO MANY OTHER FORD/MERCURY AND LINCOLN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM) THAT ITS INEVITABLE FAILURE MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. FORD REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH EVERY OWNER IS EXPERIENCING THIS AT THE SAME MILEAGE ON THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE. ONE RECALL, IN 2005 I BELIEVE, ADDRESSED A NEED FOR "SOLENOID ADDITIVE" TO THE TRANSMISSION. MANY FEEL THIS WAS JUST A BAND-AID PLACED OVER A BROKEN BONE FOR FORD AND MERELY DELAYED THE TRANSMISSIONS FAILURE. (PAST THE WARRANTY) COULD IT BE THAT SO MANY EXPLORER / MOUNTAINEER / AVIATOR OWNERS ARE SIMPLY RUNNING THEIR $30,000+ VEHICLES INTO THE GROUND? OR IS FORD REFUSING TO STAND BEHIND A FAULTY PRODUCT? JUST LIKE THE FIRESTONE TIRES SEVERAL YEARS BACK, FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE A BAD SITUATION BECOMES DISASTROUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SERVICING THE VEHICLE, HE OBSERVED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A BRAKE LINING DEFECT ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE BRAKE LINE HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 04/15/09. *LJ WHILE CHANGING THE ROTORS ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE LINING FOR THE PARKING BRAKE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SHOES . UPDATED 04/16/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLOWER THAT RECIRCULATES AIR HAS FAILED. AS A RESULT, FUMES AND ANTI-FREEZE CONSUME THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERS FROM NUMEROUS HEADACHES AND SLEEPINESS. SHE CONSULTED WITH A MEDICAL PHYSICIAN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AMOUNT OF FUMES BEING CONGESTED POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLAPPER FOR THE BLOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $300. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 3/24/09 *CN UPDATED 03/27/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A WHINING NOISE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONTINUOUSLY AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 39,000. UPDATED 03-27-09 *BF UPDATED 04/01/09. *JB

WHEN YOU ENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL IT SHUTS DOWN THE ENGINE. *TR

SPARKPLUG BLOW OUT OF ITS SOCKET, TEARING THE THREATS OFF, THIS SEAMS TO BE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF FORD'S ENGINE, I DO HAVE A MAINTAINENCE PROGRAM OFF CHECKING ALL OF THE STANDARD POINT ON MY EXPLORER, MY MECHANIC CHECKS LIQUIDS, OILS GREASE, FILTERS, TIRES, SPARKPLUGS ETC. I BELIEVE THAT AFTER SO MANY COMPLAINS AND A WELL DOCUMENTED MANUFACTURES DEFECT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUE, BECAUSE I INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE AND IT VERY POSSIBLE TO OCCUR AGAIN, THIS REPAIR COST ME 2,154.97 CANADIAN DOLLARS, AND IT COULD COST ME THE SAME IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. *TR

THE TAILGATE ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED LAST WINTER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT RECALLED. I NOTICED MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY FORD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PLASTIC TRIM PIECE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THAT WAS GLUED ONTO THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW, WHICH HOLDS THE FORD EMBLEM. HE NOTICED THAT THE PIECE WAS CRACKED RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE AND THAT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL HAD THE SAME FAILURES. HE CONSULTED A PLASTIC EXPERT, WHO STATED THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND MOLDED INCORRECTLY. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE COMPLAINT WOULD BE ESCALATED. THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 35,000.

GAS TANK HAS A LEAK AND I CAN SMELL FUMES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2008, THE CONTACT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE REAR HATCH DOOR. THERE IS A CRACK DIRECTLY IN THE CENTER OF THE HATCH WHERE THE LOCK IS LOCATED. AS A RESULT, THE REAR WINDOW OPENS WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR POTHOLES, THE WINDOW OPENS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. SHE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,106.

CRACKING TAILGATE PANEL BELOW REAR TAILGATE WINDOW EXTENDING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TAILGATE. THE CRACK EXTENDS ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS IS THE SECOND CRACK SINCE I HAVE HAD IN 2 YEARS IN EXACTLY THE SAME LOCATION. THE PREVIOUS CRACK APPEARED IN JANUARY 2007 AND WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER AT NO COST. THIS TIME THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $450 TO REPAIR AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP AND OR MATERIAL. *TR

DEAR NHTSA, BELOW IS MY ORIGINAL CONTACT TO FORD MOTOR CORP (FMC). I RECENTLY REPLACED THE BRAKES ON MY 2004 EXPLORER, BUT WHEN I PULLED THE REAR ROTORS, THE FRICTION MATERIAL FROM THE E-BRAKE SHOES FELL ON THE GROUND. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! SUMMARY: FRICTION MATERIAL WAS NOT BONDED TO E-BRAKE SHOE. BASED ON THE EXTENSIVE CORROSION OF THE E-BRAKE SHOES AT TIME OF REPLACEMENT, THIS CONDITION HAS EXISTED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. FMC REQUESTED MORE INFORMATION, AND I COMPLIED. I HAVE PICTURES, BUT DO NOT KNOW HOW TO ATTACH THEM. I ALSO HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE IN MY AREA (S.E. MICHIGAN, AND IT IS COMMON BASED ON INPUT FROM A FORD DEALER AND ANOTHER SERVICE FACILITY) PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN ATTACH PICS. *TR

I HAVE HAD 2 PROBLEMS WITH MY FORD EXPLORER. 1. CRACK IN THE REAR WINDOW PANEL, FORD WON'T FIX. 2. TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE, HAD TO REPLACE AT MY COST. *TR

BACK REAR HATCH CRACKED. JUST LIKE THE 100'S OF OTHERS I FOUND ON MY INTERNET SEARCH OF THE PROBLEM. OUR TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT OUR OWN COST. *TR

I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN I WAS HAND WASHING IT I NOTICED A CRACK IN MY BACK HATCH. *TR

CAR SAT IN DRIVEWAY. NOTICED REAR HATCH WAS CRACKED. NOTHING HAD HIT THE CAR AND HATCH WAS NOT OPENED THEREFORE IT WAS NOT SLAMMED. WENT TO INTERNET TO LOOK UP A RECALL BUT THERE ISN'T ONE. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. I FOUND MANY SITES OF THE SAME CRACKS IN THE SAME PLACE. TALKED TO MY SERVICE MANAGER, HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS HEARD OF MANY EXPLORERS THAT DID THE EXACT SAME THING! *TR

PURCHASED USED 2004 EXPLORER XLT 12/6/07 AT 53,000 MILES. APPROX 6 MOS LATER, IT BEGAN HAVING DELAYED SHIFTING AND WOULD JERK INTO REVERSE. AT TIMES I HAD PULLED OUT TOO FAR INTO THE ROAD AND NEEDED TO BACK UP TO AVOID A COLLISION AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SAFELY REVERSE QUICKLY. IT WOULD HESITATE AND THEN JERK INTO REVERSE AT A HIGH SPEED. THE TRANNY WOULD SLIP AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATING. ONCE AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, I HIT THE GAS AND IT REVVED UP AS IF IN NEUTRAL. I PAUSED AND HIT THE GAS AGAIN WITHOUT CHANGING GEARS AND IT REVERSED. THE FIRST DEALER SAID ITS TRANNY FLUID WAS LOW AND THEY TOPPED IT OFF. NO CHANGE. THE SECOND DEALER REPROGRAMMED IT WITH NO CHANGE. THEY REPLACED THE SOLENOID WHICH SEEMED TO FIX THE JERKY SHIFTING AND IMPROPER ACCELERATION. NOW IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE AGAIN, JUST LIKE LAST TIME. IT STARTS OUT ONLY HAVING ISSUES ONCE A MONTH AND THEN THEY BECOME MORE REGULAR UNTIL IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE THE CAR. I DON'T THINK THE CAR IS SAFE AS I CANNOT GET IT TO MOVE QUICKLY WHEN I NEED IT TO. THE CAR HAS A NEW APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE SEEN SITES WHERE HUNDREDS OF OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SOMETIMES EVEN MUCH WORSE THAN THIS ONE. THE DEALERS ARE STUMPED BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SHOW ANY CODES. ACCORDING TO THE COMPUTER NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY CAR WHEN EVEN I CAN TELL THAT IT HAS MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT NOW HAS 80,000 AND I HAVE PAID THE

THE HATCH OF OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED ON ITS OWN AND THEN 2 WEEKS LATER ANOTHER CRACK APPEARED NOW THE GLASS IS STARTING TO SHIFT. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. THE FORD BODY SHOP TOLD US THAT HE HAS SEEN OVER 500 EXPLORERS WITHIN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. IF IT DOES NOT GET FIXED THE WINDOW COULD FALL OUT DURING DRIVING AND BE A DANGER TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. IF THERE ARE THAT MANY VEHICLES THAT "MYSTERIOUSLY" CRACK THERE HAS GOT TO BE A PROBLEM. *TR

THERE IS A LONG CRACK IN THE BACK AREA BELOW THE BACK HATCH WINDOW, IT LOOKS LIKE WATER RUNNING DOWN BY THE FORD EMBLEM BUT IT IS A CRACK. I HAVE SEEN THIS SAME CRACK ON OTHER FORD EXPLORER. THAT WHY I BELIEF IT IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE ITSELF. *TR

CRACKED PLASTIC PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW BY THE FORD EMBLEM. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE BABIED IT FOR QUITE AWHILE BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAD PLENTY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH IT THAT HAD COST US A LOT OF MONEY AND WE REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO GET THE MONEY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. WE STILL OWE A LOT ON IT. WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, I SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC AND LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR A SOLUTION. IF YOU GOOGLE "2004 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION", YOU WILL SEE A HUGE LIST OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD HAS THE NERVE TO ASK FOR A BAILOUT WITH MY MONEY, BUT THEY WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR LOUSY PRODUCT!!! THIS IS GOING TO COST ME AT LEAST $2500 TO FIX AND I THINK SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FROM THE START, THEY SHOULD HAVE TO CORRECT IT BEFORE WE START HANDING THEM MONEY. THIS IS MORE THAN UNFAIR! FURTHER, THE PLASTIC PARTS ON THESE VEHICLES ARE CHEAP AND BREAK EASILY. ONE OF MY VISORS IS SUSPENDED FROM THE SUNROOF BY A PHONE EARPHONE CORD BECAUSE THE PLASTIC HINGE BROKE AND IT DANGLES IN YOUR WAY WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. PLEASE HELP!*TR

2004 FORD EXPLORERS HAVE A TON OF PROBLEMS, BUT ONE OF THE WORST IS THAT THE SUN VISOR HINGES BREAK CAUSING THE VISOR TO DANGLE BY IT'S ELECTRICAL CORD THAT POWERS THE VANITY MIRROR ON IT. EVERY MORNING I HAVE A 7 MILE DRIVE HEADED SOUTH ON A MAIN THOROUGHFARE AND I CAN'T SEE TO CHANGE LANES BECAUSE I HAVE LOST THE USE OF MY SUN VISOR BECAUSE FORD HAS NOT BEEN HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHEAP GARBAGE THEY PRODUCED IN 2004! THE DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS BAD ENOUGH, BUT TO HAVE A VISOR DANGLING IN YOUR FACE WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO DRIVE IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE! AND THEY ARE ASKING US FOR MONEY FOR A BAILOUT?! AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THEY SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING BAILED OUT OF JAIL FOR STEALING FROM PEOPLE AND THEN ENDANGERING THEIR LIVES! PLEASE HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CHEAP GARBAGE THEY SOLD TO PEOPLE FOR $30.000 PLUS IN 2004. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE A WRECK BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE? ARE WE TO CONSIDER A SUN VISOR A LUXURY ITEM NOW? PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU LISA HAYES *TR

MY CONCERN IS IN REGARD TO AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT MY VEHICLE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS LIKE IT HAVE; THE LACK OF SAFETY ONE MAY BE FACED WITH IF THE REAR ON THESE VEHICLES FAIL DUE TO SUBSTANDARD PARTS USED IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON THE FORD SUV'S AND F-150'S. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE COSTLY REPAIR THAT IS REQUIRED THE MANUFACTURE WILL NOT HONOR AFTER THE BASIC WARRANTY IS OVER EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. ON THESE VEHICLES. I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE POINT OF COMPLETE FAILURE I RISK THE VEHICLES BACK WHEELS LOCKING UP. MY QUESTION TO THE NHTSA IS WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES KNOWING THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE DRIVETRAIN OF THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE 79K ON MY VEHICLE AND A FRIEND HAD THEIR REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED AT 22K AND THE PROBLEM IS PREVALENT AGAIN ON THAT VEHICLE AGAIN AS WELL. IN MY ESTIMATION THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM? DOES HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE OR SUFFER SERIOUS INJURY FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE? I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE BACK TO FORD FOR ONE BANG OR CLANG OR ANOTHER SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD 18K ON IT. WILL THE NHTSA EVER SEE FIT TO MAKE A RE-CALL ON THESE VEHICLES OR AGAIN DOES SEVERAL PEOPLE NEED TO SUFFER INJURY OR LOSS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? *TR

MANUFACTURERS DEFECT: 2004 FORD EXPLORER; 6" PLASTIC PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW RUNNING ACROSS THE CAR HAS CRACKED TOP TO BOTTOM BECAUSE OF COLD WEATHER. A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BUT FORD DOES NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY PROBLEM AND THEREFORE WILL NOT COVER THE TOTAL COST OF REPLACING IT. *TR

THE VISORS ON 2004 FORD EXPLORERS ARE MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC THAT ARE A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE VISORS UP CRACKS, THE VISORS WILL FALL INTO THE VISION OF THE DRIVER. THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO TAKE THE VISOR DOWN AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO OBSTRUCT VISION UNTIL IT IS TAKE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. BOTH VISORS ON OUR VEHICLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, AND A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH SHOWS THAT MANY OTHER HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR

PURCHASED 2004 EXP XLT IN 2007 WITH 34,600 MILES. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SAID JERKING INTO REVERSE AND DELAYED SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND + 3RD WAS "NORMAL". FOUND OUT "NORMAL" MEANT THEY ALL DO IT, BUT NOT THAT IT IS CORRECT. A FORD DEALER TOLD ME SOLENOID BODY REPLACEMENT WILL FIX IT. AFTER READING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON-LINE, AM NOT SURE. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS DO NOT WORK (DIDN'T ON THE '94 EITHER) BUT AT LEAST THE SEATS IN THE 94 WERE COMFORTABLE. JUST DO NOT EVER BUY A FORD AGAIN!. A FRIEND HAS EXACTLY THE SAME MODEL WITH EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE. HARD TO BELIEVE FORD DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. BUT IT DOES MAKE IT EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY LIFE-LONG FORD OWNERS WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER ONE. MY FROEND SAID THEY ONLY OFFERED HIM $3200 FOR HIS 2004 EXP XLT ON A TRADE-IN. NOT VERY MUCH UNLESS THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. REALLY SAD FORD WILL DO NOTHING. I FEEL BAD FOR ALL THE GOOD SERVICE PEOPLE THAT ARE FOCED TO LIE TO CUSTOMERS WHILE FORD HIDES BEHIND THE CURTAIN. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6. ON 2/9/2009, I LEFT MY WORKPLACE AT ABOUT 6PM AND WITHIN ABOUT 1/4 MILE MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. I SHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR AND IT DID NOT SLIP. WITHIN ABOUT 1 MILE AFTER SHIFTING TO 3RD, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. WITHIN ABOUT 5 MILES THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL, WHILE I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A CAUSEWAY! I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF. TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON, PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED. I CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 1 MILE, AND DRIVE STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. I PUT IT INTO 3RD, OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 5 MILES THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT. TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, BACK ON, AND AGAIN PROCEEDED HOME. I MADE IT HOME. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT LUCKILY WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY FAILED AND THEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE STEERING COULD'VE LOCKED AND THE POWER BRAKES COULD'VE DISENGAGED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OFF. *TR

ON MY ROOF I NOTICED THAT THE PAINT IS PEELING JUST TO THE OUTSIDE OF BOTH SIDES OF THE ROOF RACK. THE PAINT IS CRACKED AND PEELING UNIFORMLY ON BOTH SIDE WHICH INDICATED IT IS A DEFECT IN THE PAINTING PROCESS. *TR

THE BACK PANEL UNDER THE WINDOW ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED BY THE EMBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD ON DEC 1, 2008 AND WAS TOLD THAT NOBODY HAS FILED A COMPLAINT. SINCE THEN I'VE NOTICED OVER 15 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, HOWEVER FORD DENYS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS RESOLVED. *TR

THERE ARE MANY KNOW PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. I HAVE MADE REPAIRS TO MANY 5R55 SERIES TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY ARE ALL DEFECTIVE IN A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS. I SPENT 5 YEARS AT FORD REPAIRING THESE PROBLEMS AND NOW MY PERSONAL VEHICLE IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE. THE ONLY PROPER REPAIR FOR THIS IS THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF SAID PART. ALTHOUGH THE REPLACEMENT PART IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE A FAILED UNIT FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR

THE PLASTIC PIECE BELOW THE REAR HATCH GLASS HAS CRACKED BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND THE TOP OF THE TAIL GATE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD WITH NO RESPONSE. I HAVE SEE MANY EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME SAY THE DAMAGE IS CASED BY WATER GETTING BEHIND THE PLASTIC AND FREEZING, CAUSING THE PLASTIC TO CRACK. THIS COULD ALLOW MORE WATER INTO THE PANEL CAUSING MORE PROBLEMS. *TR