2004 Ford Explorer complaints

FORD EXPLORER 2004 - BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2004 MY FORD EXPLORER STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS AFTER 1 YEAR I BOUGHT IT. FORD DEALER FIXED IT BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CLAIMED THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE 1 YEAR AFTER THE FIX WAS MADE AND WENT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE AND IT WILL COST ME AROUND 1400 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I DID NOT HAVE THEM FIX IT AND FIGURED THAT I CALL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO GET THIS FIXED FOR FREE. THAT DID NOT GET ME ANYWHERE. THIS WAS BACK IN 2006 OR 2007 AND I AM STILL HAVING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A MECHANICAL HAZARD BECAUSE A FAILED TRANSMISSION DRIVING ON A FREEWAY CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT. I HAVE A WIFE, A 4 YEAR OLD AND A 1 YEAR OLD AND ALWAYS FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THEM. *TR

EXTERIOR PAINT ON THE HOOD OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2004 IS BLISTERING AND CHIPPING. I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER LAST YEAR. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PURCHASE BUT AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW WHEEL BEARING. A FEW MONTHS AGO I HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND WAS TOLD THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS ISSUES. A LOUD ROAR AS I DRIVE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO I HEARD THE FAMILIAR SOUND OF ANOTHER WHEEL BEARING TALKING TO ME. I PICK MY DAUGHTER UP EVERYDAY FROM SCHOOL AND RELY ON THIS VEHICLE TO BE FUNCTIONING IN A SAFE MANNER. I RESEARCHED A BIT AND FOUND COMPLAINT AFTER COMPLAINT REGARDING THESE ISSUES. I CAN SEE THAT THIS COMPLAINT IS OLD NEWS BUT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND AN ON GOING PROBLEM. IT IS NOT CHEAP EITHER! I AM DISGUSTED WITH THIS CAR AND DEMAND THIS WIDESPREAD ISSUE BE RESOLVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. JOSEPH SULLIVAN *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH SEALS LEAKING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT AXLE SEAL AND PINION SEAL WERE REPLACED. THE REAR AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING AND ALSO WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE CHARGES. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED ON MARCH 31, 2008 THE REAR AXLE SEAL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING, AFTER HAVING THE FRONT AXLE SEAL AND PINION SEAL REPLACED 2 WEEKS PRIOR. *JB

PURCHASED 2004 FORD EXPLORER USED WITH 9K MILES ON IT. IMMEDIATELY NOTICED STRONG JERKING MOVEMENT WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE. DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM, STATED IT WAS COMMON. NOW 43K MILES, SAME PROBLEM; MUCH STRONGER. I'M NOTICING THIS JERKING WHILE DRIVER FORWARD AS WELL. ON OCCASION THE CAR WILL JUST JUMP FORWARDED AS IF SOMEONE WAS JUMPING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I'VE READ SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, SOME WITH INJURIES ON WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM; OVER 197 COMPLAINTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. FORD NEED TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES PEOPLE ARE BEING QUOTED OVER $3K TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

THE REAR WINDOW LIFTGATE HINGES ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER FAILED. HINGE PINS ARE CORRODED AND JUST SHEARED RIGHT OFF. LOOKS LIKE THE HINGES BECOME LOOSE AND GO SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND WHEN HATCH IS OPENED THE PINS BREAK. APPEARS THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR THE YEARS PRIOR TO MY MODEL YEAR. FROM THE REVIEW OF THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE FORD HAS SOLVED THE HINGE PROBLEMS. THE EARLIER RECALL WAS # 04V442000. CAN THE RECALL BE EXTENDED TO COVER THE 2004 (AND MAYBE LATER YEARS)? *TR

THIS IS A ON GOING PROBLEM, OUR FORD EXPLORER HAS TROUBLE WITH THE LINKAGE TO THE CARBURETOR, THE FIRST TIME WE HAD PROBLEM WITH THE EXPLORER WAS OCT OF 04. BICKFORD FORD IN SNOHOMISH WA. TRIED TO REPAIR IT. THEN THERE WAS TWO TIMES BICKFORD TRIED TO FIX IT, THE LAST TIME WE TALKED TO BICKFORD THEY SAID THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT FORD MOTOR CO. DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT EITHER. WE ALSO TUCK IT TO ANOTHER AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT EITHER. WE HAVE NO CHOSE BUT TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT , BUT WE ARE ALSO AFRAID IT COULD CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM IS , WHEN YOU ARE STOPPED OR JUST STARTING OUT AND GIVE GAS IT DOSE NOT START TO GO SO YOU GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE GAS AND THEN IT WILL JUMP FORWARD OR BACKWARD( IF YOU ARE BACKING UP) TO APPOINT THAT IT WILL SOME TIMES SQUEAL THE TIRES. IT ALL SO STALLS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN TO TURN A CORNER. THAT IS ALSO DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AFTER FOUR ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. *TR

CLOSED THE BACK GLASS OF THE TAILGATE WITH NORMAL AMOUNT OF FORCE AND CRACK APPEARS FROM GLASS TO FIBERGLASS ( RIGHT NEXT TO FORD SYMBOL). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. DIRECTLY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW, NEAR THE REAR TRUNK DOOR, THE FIBERGLASS WINDOW WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL AND REPAIR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52,800.

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I WENT TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE SO I COULD BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. IT WAS DANGLING BY SOME SORT OF CORD. I COULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK, AND COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUT THE PARKING BRAKE ON. I'VE HAD THREE MECHANICS LOOK AT IT, AND ALL OF THEM SAID THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BREAK. IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1100 TO FIX, BECAUSE A WHOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE ORDERED FROM FORD. I CONTACTED FORD VIA EMAIL, AND THEY ARE NOT ISSUING A RECALL AT THIS TIME, WHICH I THINK IS UNACCEPTABLE GIVEN HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS. *TR

TURNED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE ENGINE CUT OUT - NO POWER. PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED. *TR

MY GAS GAUGE ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS FAILED ME MANY TIMES. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP & THEY TOLD ME TO ADD SOME FUEL ADDITIVE TO MY GAS TANK & THIS WOULD CURE THE PROBLEM. WELL IT HAS NOT & MY WARRANTY IS OUT!!! I'M VERY CONCERNED FOR MY WIFE'S SAFETY IF SHE RUNS OUT OF GAS, SO WE HAVE TO KEEP A WRITTEN LOG AS TO THE MILEAGE BEFORE FILL-UP'S. I'M TOLD THE SENSOR IS BAD & WOULD COST CLOSE TO $1,000.00 TO REPAIR. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO FORD & THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR SINCE THE WARRANTY IS OUT. I HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED TO FORD ABOUT A BACK HATCH PANEL THAT HAS CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON DIRECTLY UNDER THE EXTERIOR FORD EMBLEM & THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THIS SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THESE ARE BOTH FOR SURE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS, THAT FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR AT THEIR COST. *TR

PURCHASED A NEW 2004 FORD EXPLORER AUTOMATIC V6 IN NOV 04. OCCASIONALLY WHEN SHIFTING IN REVERSE, ENGINE WOULD GIVE A "HARD" JERK. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, STOPPED(ESPECIALLY) IF ROADS WERE WET, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PROCEED FORWARD, VEHICLE TIRES-GOOD TIRES/EVEN WEAR,ROTATED REGULARLY AND/OR VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE CONTROL AS ENGINE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE FORWARD. ALWAYS A VERY ANNOYING NOISE IN REAR RIDING AS PASSENGER. BUT IT TO DEALER @ BEGINNING, CHECKED IT OUT UNDER WARRANTY, NOE VEHICLE HAS A LITTLE OVER"75930". DROVE IT FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER, PARKED IT, NEXT DAY DROVE IT < THAN A 1/4 MILE TO STORE, SHOPPED, RETURNING HOME THE "TRANSMISSION" GAVE A VERY LOUD NOISE, GRINDING AND A HARD JERK, ENOUGH TO HURT ONE DRIVING OR PASSENGER'S BACKS. 2ND GEAR UNABLE TO ENGAGE, RPM RACE TO 4000 2ND GONE! FORD DEALER QUOTES A REPAIR(REBUILT) @ $3555.0+TAXES @ RATE OF "$100.00" AN HOUR = LABOR NEARLY A "$1000.00. BROUGHT IT TO A REPRIABLE TRANS SHOP QUOTED $3000.00 COMPLETE WE HAVE BEEN A"DIE-HARD" OWNERS OF FORDS FOR YEARS, EVEN OWN A 1956CROWN VIC., 86 F250, 99 LINCOLNCON'T, 00MUSTANG, AND THIS )$ FORD EXPLORER IS THE WORSE VEHICLE PUCHASED @ "$38,000". NEVER MIND ALL THE PREVIOUS ONES, NEVER HAVE I EVER DEALT WITH A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE OF POOR WORKMANSHIP/DESIGN. REPORTS REVEAL THAT THESE 04'S DEFINITELY HAVE FORD MANUFACTUTRER DEFECTS OR CRAFTMANSHIP FAULTS. WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE UP ON "AMERICAN" VEHICLES, AH AH? @ "75,930+ MILES A BROKEN TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE OPERATOR OF THE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE OPENED THE REAR WINDOW TO OBTAIN MATERIALS IN THE BACK OF THE SUV. ONCE THE REAR WINDOW WAS LIFTED OPEN. THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE HINGE TO THE WINDOW SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL DOWN AND STRIKING THE OPERATOR IN THE HEAD AND NECK. THE PART WILL BE REPLACED (HINGE AND BOLT). THE FAILED PARTS WILL BE KEPT. *TR

FAILURE OF AUXILIARY SUCTION LINE LEADING TO REAR AC IN VEHICLE. PAID FOR REPLACEMENT AT FORD DEALERSHIP. PART SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO FUNCTION FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. FORD REFUSES TO ACCEPT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PIPING AND REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR. *TR

MY FORD EXPLORER HAS A TWO PART REAR LIFT GATE. THE MAIN LIFTGATE WORKS FINE, HOWEVER, THE SMALLER GLASS LIFT GATE "COLLAPSED" WHEN I WAS OPENING IT. IT IS A HINGED LIFT GATE WITH HINGES THAT ATTACH TO THE GLASS. ONE OF THE HINGES FAILED AND THE GLASS DOOR COLLAPSED (HITTING ME ON THE HEAD AND CUTTING MY HAND). THE HINGE THAT BROKE LOOKS AS IF IT MAY HAVE CRACKED RIGHT WHERE THE RETAINING PIN IS LOCATED SECURING THE GLASS DOOR TO THE HINGE ATTACHED TO THE BODY. THE HINGE APPEARS TO BE MADE OF A CAST IRON OR "POT METAL", WHICH COULD BE SUBJECT TO BREAKING OR CRACKING. WHEN IT BROKE IT ALSO CAUSED THE OTHER HINGE TO COME DISCONNECTED. THE DOOR IS JUST "HANGING" BY THE DOOR SHOCKS. THE AUTO IS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I AM TAKING IT IN TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, BUT WANTED TO FILE THIS REPORT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE OF THE PART AND THE POTENTIAL FOR PHYSICAL INJURY. *TR UPDATED 05/05/08. *JB

TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING HARD THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED IN 2004. NOW THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT AT ALL AND THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IS NOT DRIVABLE. I ASKED THE FORD DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE SHIFTING PROBLEM WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASE AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THAT THEY COULD FIND. *TR

OUR VEHICLE ONLY HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS SUCCUMB TO AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION AFTER WARRANTED FACTORY REPAIR FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT WHILE DRIVING AND BASICALLY LEAVES YOU COASTING WITHOUT SPEED CONTROL DURING A REGULAR SHIFT INTERVAL. *TR

MY 2004 BACK REAR WINDOW PANEL CRACKED- DEFECTIVE PANEL FROM FORD, APPROX EVERY FORD EXPLORER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND FORD WILL NOT RECALL AS A MFG DEFECT YOU CAN FIND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS ON ALL FORD EXPLORERS 2002 TO 2005. *TR

PAINT ON TOP OF HOOD BUBBLING AT TWO SPOTS ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND ALSO ON NUMEROUS LOCATIONS ON UNDER SIDE EDGE ON FRONT OF HOOD, A LARGE PAINT BLISTER ON UNDERSIDE AT HOOD LATCH AND SEVERAL PAINT BLISTERS ON BACK UNDER SIDE OF HOOD BY DRIVER WINDSHIELD. *TR

A CRACK APPEARED ABOVE AND BELOW THE FORD EMBLEM ON THE BACK FLIP UP WINDOW AT APPROX 50,000 MILES. *TR

OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER TAILGATE BACK PANEL WITH THE FORD EMBLEM CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM ON THIS PANEL RIGHT NEXT TO THE EMBLEM. KNOW IDEA HOW IT HAPPENED BUT WE SEE MOST OF THE EXPLORERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. CHEAP MATERIALS BY FORD TO CUT COSTS TO MAKE A PROFIT. *TR.UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ

PAINT PEELING FROM VEHICLE. *TR

PARKED CAR OUTSIDE GARAGE @ 23:00 HOURS. APPROX. 01:15 AM NEIGHBORS WERE BANGING ON OUR WINDOWS TO WAKE US UP SAYING OUR CAR AND HOUSE WERE ON FIRE. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. REAR LIFT GATE CRACKS WITHOUT CAUSE. RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM SINCE EARLY 2000 WITH NO CORRECTIVE RESOLUTION BY FORD. WHAT HAPPENS IF THESE PIECES FALL OFF DURING INITIAL CRACKS WITHOUT DRIVE AWARENESS AND INJUIRES SOMEONE OR PROPERTY? I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THIS KNOWN ERROR BEFORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR AND NOTIFY CUSTOMERS THE CHANCES OF THIS OCCURRING IS HIGH. *TR

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS SEVERAL ISSUES SINCE 38,000 MILES, THE RECENT COMPLAINT AT 57,000 MILES IS THE ABS MODULE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND AT THE SAME TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL STOP WORKING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT AT. THEY TRIED TO RESET THE COMPUTER. ADVISED ME I WOULD NEED A NEW ACS MODULE FOR THE ABS. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO TRY AND GET THE MODULE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE BEST FORD WOULD DO IS TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE MODULE WITH ME, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR LABOR TO INSTALL. WHEN ASKED HOW MUCH THE MODULE COST. WAS TOLD 1160.00. THIS WOULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY WOULD TRY TO FIND A USED MODULE. I CALLED BACK AFTER SEVERAL DAYS AND WAS INFORMED THEY COULD NOT FIND ONE. THE NEXT DAY I GOT ON THE PHONE AND WITHIN 20 MINS HAD FOUND A MODULE AT A LOCAL SALVAGE YARD. ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF THEY WOULD PURCHASE THE USED MODULE WITH THE MONEY FORD WAS GOING TO PROVIDE WITH THE NEW MODULE TO FIX IT. THEY SAID NO. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS AWARE THAT MANY OF THE 2004 EXPLORERS HAVE ABS AND POWERTRAIN ISSUES, YET THEY FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE. NOW I CAN TELL A DIFFERENCE IN MY BRAKING. SOMETIMES NOW WHEN I HAVE TO USE THE BRAKES, I CAN FEEL SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. I AM WORRIED THAT WHEN I WILL NEED THE ABS TO WORK I WILL NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO STOP. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING AS WELL WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN U

IN FEB. 2004 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW EXPLORER. ABOUT 6 MONTHS INTO OWNERSHIP THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS WITH A DELAY IN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED IT WAS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, WHICH THE DEALER DID REPLACE. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I TOOK THE EXPLORER BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE SAME PART AGAIN. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE SO I WAS FORCED TO TAKE IT BACK AGAIN IN DECEMBER OF 2006 TO THE DEALER. THEY PROCEED TO TELL ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED, TWICE. THIS TIME THEY TELL ME MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. WELL IT SEEMS TO ME IF IT WAS REPAIRED CORRECTLY THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME THEN IT WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING JUST ABOUT EVERY YEAR. I WOULD DRIVE MY TRUCK LOCALLY AND IT NORMALLY WOULD NOT WANT TO MOVE. ONE DAY ON MY LUNCH HOUR, I TRIED TO CROSS A MAJOR 4 LANE HIGHWAY AND THIS 2004 FORD EXPLORER, LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS LUNCH RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, TO BE T-BONED BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. TALK ABOUT, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS; I WAS SO UPSET THAT I HAD TO GO HOME FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. IT IS JUST AS SCARY TO THINK MY TRUCK WOULD BREAK DOWN DUE TO MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS WITH MY KIDS IN THE TRUCK. THIS HAPPENED SO OFTEN AND MOST TIMES AT NIGHT. THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION FLUID COST ME $550.00 AT 80K MILES. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT YOU ARE NOT SUPPO

ON FRIDAY THE 7TH OF MARCH 2008 I WENT TO OPEN THE TAILGATE OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER WHEN THE HINGES BROKE AND THE GATE FELL OFF. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR AND WAS INITIALLY TOLD THAT THE HINGES WERE ON A RECALL. THE COLLISION CENTER OF THE DEALER PICKED UP MY VEHICLE AND TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. WHEN I GOT TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT I HAD A CALL FROM THE DEALER STATING THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL. I CALLED FORD MOTOR AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS INDEED NOT ON THE RECALL AND THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN ON THE 2002 AND 2003 MODELS. I FELT THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN FIXED ON THE 04 MODELS AS THEY STATED BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUSLY STILL HAPPENING. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER BODY SHOP THAT WAS QUITE REPUTABLE AND HAD IT REPAIRED AT A CONSIDERABLE LOWER RATE PER LABOR HOUR. WHY WOULD THE HINGES JUST BREAK; SUPPOSED MY GRAND CHILD HAD GONE TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE BACK, HE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT WHEN THAT GATE FELL. I FEEL THAT FORD HAD NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM OF THE FAULTY TAIL GATE HINGES BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO THE 2004 MODELS OR AT LEAST NOT ALL WERE REPLACED WITH THE UPDATED ONES. I WAS TOLD THAT RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC, BUT I FEEL THAT IF YOU HAVE A PARTS PROBLEM ON A GRAND SCALE SOME MAY HAVE BEEN PUT ON OTHER CARS WITHOUT BEING RECOGNIZED ON A SPECIFIC VIN. I THINK THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS THERE MAYBE MORE TRUCKS OUT THERE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OR CAN HAPPEN TO. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH PEELING PAINT ON THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED FORD'S HOME OFFICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR MECHANISM TO REPAIR THE DEFECT EXPIRED AFTER 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS NOT OLD ENOUGH OR EXPOSED ENOUGH TO THE ELEMENTS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH 57,000 THAT STARTED STALLING WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 3 MONTH AGO. IT SHUTS OFF LIKE SOMEONE TURNED THE KEY. THE OCCURRENCE IS VERY RANDOM AND THERE IS NEVER ANYTHING COMMON BETWEEN OCCURRENCES EXCEPT IT TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM BRAKING. IT'S AS IF IT'S RUNNING OUT OF GAS. IT TOOK ABOUT 10 MINUTES EACH TIME BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. ALL 4 TIMES, EVEN THOUGH IT DIED LIKE THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF, IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GAS WHEN I WAS TRYING TO RESTART IT AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT WOULD START LIKE NORMAL. SINCE THEN THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN DONE: FUEL FILTER REPLACED, MAF SENSOR CLEANED AND THE IAC VALVE INSPECTED. THE SERVICE SHOP WHERE IT IS TAKEN SAYS THERE IS NEVER AN ERROR CODE IN THE SYSTEM WHEN I BRING IT IN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS CONDITION. *TR

PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER NEW AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SOON AFTER PURCHASE. NOT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE PROPERLY. TOOK THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BACK TO DEALERSHIP. RECEIVED TRANSMISSION ADDITIVE RECALL AND TOOK VEHICLE BACK AGAIN. ABOUT 5,000 MILES AFTER ADDITIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WORSENED. SOLENOID REPLACE AT 20,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 35,000 WITH OTHER TRANSMISSION PARTS REPLACED. NOW AT 59,000 MILES OF USE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY GONE AND MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

MY VEHICLE WHEN PUT IN REVERSE WILL HESITATE THEN ENGAGE APPROX. 30 SEC. LATER AS IF REARENDED. WHEN I AM IN DRIVE AND ACCELERATE MY 04 EXPLORER XLT WILL HESITATE THEN ENGAGED. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER, PURCHASED IN AUGUST. THE TRUCK SAT FOR 16 MONTHS WHILE I WAS DEPLOYED TO IRAQ. WHILE DRIVING ON A 3 HOUR TRIP, I HEARD A METALLIC "CLATTER" NOISE FROM MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE "#2 WRIST PIN" HAD FAILED., REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. TOTAL COST WOULD BE $5500. THIS SEEMED EXCESSIVE FOR SUCH A YOUNG VEHICLE, CONSIDERING THAT IS WAS DRIVEN INFREQUENTLY FOR OVER A YEAR, AND MOST OF THE MILEAGE WAS HIGHWAY. MILEAGE AT FAILURE: 55,300. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED A USED FORD EXPLORER XLT FROM A DEALER AND TOOK FOR TEST DRIVE SEEMED OK PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE NEXT DAY UPON DRIVING THAT THE TRANSMISSION GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OUT OF MY GARAGE TOOK A FEW SECONDS BEFORE CLUNCKING INTO GEAR ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT MY GARAGE I TOOK TO MY MECHANIC WHICH HE CHANGED OUT MY FLUID ADDING THE ADDITIVE THAT HE NEW WAS REQUIRED HE OWNS A TRANS SHOP AND IS VERY REPUTABLE HE STATED ABOUT THE RECALL ALSO HE CHECKED MY DIFFERENTIALS IN FRONT AND REAR AND NOTICED REAR WAS ALL FULL OF SILVER SHAVINGS WE CHANGED OUT FLUIDS ALSO BUT THE SHIFTING AND VIBRATING STILL IS OCCURRING I DID PURCHASE A FULL WARRANTY AND AFTER READING ALL THE NEGATIVE PRESS ON THIS SITE I HOPE THE PURCHASE OF A FORD VEHICLE AND WARRANTY WAS WORTH THE MONEY. *TR

SINCE OWNING THE CAR, IT HAS HAD TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE IT WILL SUDDENLY LURCH BACKWARDS. CAUSING THE CAR TO MOMENTARILY LOOSE CONTROL. IT IS A CONCERN WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACES, AND COULD POTENTIALITY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID AND A FEW GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN JUNE 2005. IN 2006 HAD TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSOR. IN MAY 2007, HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME O2 SENSOR. NOW IN JANUARY 2008, WAS DRIVING AND TRUCK JUST STOPPED ON A HILL WITH TRAFFIC COMING UP, LARGE DIESEL TRUCK, ALMOST CAUSING AN REALLY BAD ACCIDENT. HAD VEHICLE CHECKED AND THE EXACT SAME 02 SENSOR IS OUT FOR THE 3RD TIME AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND THAT THERE IS A LARGE NUMBER OF 2004 VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THIS BY 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IN TWO DIFFERENT STATES. CONTACTED FORD AND WAS PRETTY BLOWN OFF AND STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BECAUSE I HAD AN OUTSIDE WARRANTY AND NOT A FORD WARRANTY. THEY DIDN'T EVEN CONTACT THE DEALERSHIPS AFTER CLAIMING TO HAVE DONE A INVESTIGATION. WAS TOLD I JUST HAD TO PAY AGAIN. NOW WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN AND I'M NOT SO LUCKY THAT A BIG DIESEL TRUCK CAN WHIP INTO THE OTHER LANE TO AVOID HITTING ME. *TR

HI! MY 2004 FOR EXPLORER HAS BEEN SUFFERING FROM TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR OVER 3 YEARS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WHILE UNDER WARRANTY MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE DEALER DOING LITTLE TO SATISFY ME OR ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO A POINT THAT IT HAS BECOME A PUBLIC HAZARD TO DRIVE. IT SEEMS TO JUMP IN AND OUT OF GEAR AS IT WISHES WITH A CLUNKING SOUND, ESPECIALLY WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS PAST WEEK AFTER BEING ADVISED TO DO SO WHEN I CALLED FORD'S 1-800 NUMBER AND THEY ARE SUGGESTING THAT I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CATCH IS THAT MY SUV IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AT ONLY 46K MILES. BEAR IN MIND THEY FAILED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE IN THE PAST. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR. MANY COMMENTS FROM OTHER DISGRUNTLED OWNERS MAY BE FOUND AT: HTTP://WWW.OFFROADEXCHANGE.COM/MODFORUMS/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=26.NEW EVIDENTLY THE PROBLEM GOES AS FAR BACK AS PRODUCTION OF 2004 FORD EXPLORERS. FORD IS FAILING TO OWN UP TO THIS. I URGE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE ACTION SO THAT THIS ISSUE MAY BE DEEMED PART OF A RECALL. THESE VEHICLES ARE POSING A PUBLIC THREAT AND FORD IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOAD THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN 1/8 INCH WIDE AND 6 INCH LONG CRACK IN THE CENTER BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE DUE TO THE CRACK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,551. UPDATED 05/06/08. *LJ THE TOP PORTION OF THE HATCH HAS SHIFTED. UPDATED 05/06/08

DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT WHEN DRIVING SUV REAR AXLE GRINDS CHATTER. *TR

MY WIFE AND I NOTICED A CRACK UNDER THE REAR WINDOW, (1/8 BY 6") TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM IN THE CENTER OF THE REAR HATCH.. THERE WAS NO IMPACT INVOLVED, IT JUST APPEARED OVERNIGHT. LATER THE REAR WINDOW WAS RAISED AND THE HINGE ON THE LEFT SIDE IS LOOSE, AND CANNOT BE TIGHTENED. NOW WE CAN'T CLOSE THE THE REAR WINDOW ALL THE WAY. WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 EXPLORERS? FORD IS VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND AND THEY COULD CARE LESS. I COULD HAVE TAKEN OUR EXPLORER TO A KIA DEALER INSTEAD OF A FORD DEALER AND RECEIVED THE SAME TYPE OF SERVICE..NO HELP AT ALL. IT SEEMS THAT FORD DOESN'T CARE ABOUT QUALITY ANYMORE AND ONLY ABOUT THE MIGHTY DOLLAR, NO MATTER HOW THEY GET IT! *TR

THE BACK PANEL OF THE CAR UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW HAS DEVELOPED A 4 INCH VERTICAL CRACK OVERNIGHT. THE HATCH HAS NOT BEEN OPEN OR CLOSED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND HAS NOT BEEN BUMPED OR HIT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. *TR

WHILE GOING TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE HATCH DOOR FROM JUST BELOW THE WINDOW DOWN TO THE NEXT PANEL. WHEN I OPENED THE WINDOW ON THE HATCH DOOR, I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT HINGE THAT HOLDS THE GLASS IS COMING LOOSE. I AM UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE REAR CARGO AREA OF MY VEHICLE NOW FOR FEAR THAT THE LEFT HINGE WILL BREAK OFF RESULTING IN THE ENTIRE DOOR COMING OFF THE VEHICLE AND FALLING OR DROPPING ONTO ME OR ONE OF MY CHILDREN, CAUSING SEVERE PERSONAL INJURIES. THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE IS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE BECAUSE AFTER READING OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE WITH HAVING FORD REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND THE GOVERNMENT THUS FAR REFUSING TO ISSUE A RECALL, MY HANDS ARE TIED. I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY BEEN BURNED BY FORD ON OTHER ISSUES RELATING TO THIS VEHICLE, I.E., THE ABS MODULE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. *TR

THE PAINT ON MY HOOD IS PEELING AWAY. I DID NOT NOTICE SOME PAINT "BUBBLING" ON THE HOOD OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER WHEN I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. AFTER WASHING IT I SAW THE PAINT WAS CLEARLY DEFECTED. IT DID NOT BOTHER ME AT FIRST, BUT NOW AFTER 3 YEARS AND 52,000 MILES THE PAINT IS CHIPPING AWAY WHERE IT WAS "BUBBLED". THE AREA IN QUESTION IS THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF THE HOOD, IN TWO SMALL PLACES. WHEN I NOTICED IT WAS CHIPPING AWAY THERE WAS ALREADY 4" SQUARE INCHES OF SHEET METAL SHOWING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE (FORD TSB 04-25-1) BUT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SINCE MY TRUCK IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THEY EXPLAINED THE ALUMINUM HOOD IS THE PROBLEM AND AN ENTIRE NEW HOOD WOULD COST $1300. THEY EXPLAINED THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT HAS DECIDED NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW PANEL CRACKED DOWN THE CENTER. THE WINDOW SEEMED HARD TO CLOSE, DID NOT SEEM TO ALIGN WITH THE LATCH. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILURE, SHIFT SLIPPAGE, DELAYED ACCELERATION. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER AND IN 2006 I HAD TO HAVE THE SOLENOID SHIFTERS REPLACED IN MY VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THE 2004 EXPLORER MODEL. MY VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WILL TAKE THIS COMPLAINT AND RESEARCH FOR YOURSELF THE MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND PLACE A GOVERNMENT RECALL CORRECT THE MATTER ONCE AND FOR ALL. IT IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO HESITATE BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR IN MY CASE. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE SERIOUS ISSUES WHILE AT HIGH SPEEDS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANKS. *CN

I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE HANDLE ON THE DOOR THAT ALLOWS THE DEFROST TO OPERATE WAS BROKE OFF. NOT SURE WHY THIS WOULD EVER OCCUR. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST CLOSE TO 1,000.00 TO FIX. IT IS NOW A SAFETY HAZARD WHEREAS WINDOW WILL NOT DEFROST IN BAD WEATHER. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS WAS A DEFECT, AND OTHERS HAD THIS PROBLEM? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS QUALITY CHECKED WITH A 115 POINT INSPECTION; HOWEVER, SHE WAS LATER NOTIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A MAJOR CRASH. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS MISALIGNED. THE SUNROOF WAS REPLACED WITH TAPE. SHE DOESN'T KNOW IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAGS. THE WINDOWS HAVE CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER THE PROPER SPEED IN THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE SPEED CAN RANGE FROM 20 TO 50MPH. THE FUEL PUMP AND SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED MARCH 20, 2007. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OPERATING NORMALLY. THE DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

1 - TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD INTO REVERSE. STARTING HAPPENING AT APPROX. 11K MILES. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE UNDER WARRANTY TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE, BUT STILL SHIFTED HARD. ONE REPAIR AT 11K AND ONE REPAIR AT 34K. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS 'NORMAL' BY DEALER (BERGSTROM FORD OF NEENAH). HOWEVER, AFTER REPEATED COMPLAINTS, DEALER (BERGSTROM FORD OF NEENAH) MADE REPAIRS THAT THEY BELIEVED WOULD HELP RESOLVE THE ISSUE. ISSUE NEVER WENT AWAY. 2 - COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 67K. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. COULD NO BACK OUT OF A PARKING STALL AT A RETAIL STORE. TOOK TO FORD DEALER (LES STUMPF FORD) AND GOT NO ASSISTANCE. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. NO ASSISTANCE FROM FORD TO MAKE REPAIRS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED ON OCTOBER 16, 2007 UNDER RECALL NUMBER 05S28. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH OF 2008. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THIS WAS AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.