2004 Ford Explorer complaints

HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2004/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_SLIPPING_SHIFTS_HARD.SHTML. VIEW THIS WEBSITE. I TOO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT 10000 MILES. I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED, AND AM NOW EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN BACKING AGAIN. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. I DID NOT REALIZE THE WIDESPREAD PROBLEM UNTIL I SAW THE RECENT COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB-SITE FOR THIS VEHICLE'S YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. THIS WA S A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

THE HINGES ON THE LIFT GATE WINDOW ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER BROKE CAUSING THE REAR WINDOW TO FALL OUT OF THE WINDOW FRAME. FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM ON THE 2002 AND 2003 MODELS BUT WERE NOT "AWARE" OF ANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE 2004 MODEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE AND OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATORS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE CYLINOID CIRCUIT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 41,124 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER 4 DOOR. ON JULY 5, 2007 WHILE CLOSING THE WINDOW PORTION OF THE BACK HATCH THE GLASS CAME LOOSE FROM THE HINGES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GULLO-HASS FORD IN CONROE TEXAS TO HAVE THEM REPAIR IT, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE HINGES AND BACK WINDOW SECTION WERE THE SUBJECT OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. IT WAS APPARENT THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE BACK HATCH WINDOW AND THE HINGES, SINCE ,IT SENT OUT A TSB ADVISING ITS SERVICE PERSONNEL ON THE BEST WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THE TSB WAS ISSUED ON 1/1/05. FORD WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE QUICKEST WAY TO FIX IT WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. FORD FAILED TO ADVISE ME AS AN OWNER THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE REAR WINDOW HATCH AREA. THIS CONCERNS ME AS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE GLASS HAD BEEN OPEN AND I WAS STANDING UNDER THE GLASS WHILE LOADING OR UNLOADING MY VEHICLE, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT BY THE FALLING GLASS OR KILLED AS WELL AS ANY OTHER PERSON STANDING NEXT TO ME OR A CHILD NEXT TO ME. FORD ADVISED ME THAT BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN FORCED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A RECALL THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO ADVISE VEHICLE OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM.

ON JUNE 21, 2007 I USED THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE TO OPEN THE REAR WINDOW OF THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER FOR MY 11 OLD DAUGHTER TO PUT MY SON'S BABY BAG IN THE BACK. WHEN THE GLASS OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HINGE FATIGUED AND BROKE, TWISTING THE GLASS HARD ENOUGH TO CAUSE A DENT IN THE WINDOW RECESS AND FALLING ON MY DAUGHTER'S HEAD, BENDING BOTH STRUTS. AFTER INVESTIGATING OTHER MODELS I DISCOVERED THAT MODEL YEARS UP TO 2003 WERE COVERED UNDER A RECALL ,BUT THE 2004 WAS NOT. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION ,AND THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY NO HELP, TELLING ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS 72,000 MILES ON IT. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS NOT MUCH MORE HELP, REPLACING MY HINGES WITH THE 2003 RECALL PACKAGE AND INFORMING ME THAT 33% OF THE TIME WHEN THEY REPLACE THE HINGES THE GLASS BREAKS AND THE REPLACEMENT COST WILL BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE PARTS WERE $102 AND THE LABOR $100. *AK

ON JUNE 4 2007, I OPENED THE HATCH ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT. WHEN I SHUT THE HATCH, THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY FELL AND THE GLASS HATCH SHATTERED SHOWERING ME AND THE EXPLORER AND THE GARAGE WITH THOUSANDS OF SHARDS. I SUSTAINED SOME SMALL CUTS ON MY FACE. I WAS LUCKY THAT MY SON WAS ALREADY IN THE CARSEAT AND NOT OUTSIDE BY THE SUVLIKE HE USUALLY DOES. OTHERWISE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT BY THE THOUSANDS OF GLASS SHARDS. LATER, I NOTED THAT THE HINGE ON WHICH THE HATCH WAS SUSPENDED, THE ONE SIDE BROKE OFF CAUSING THE WHOLE HATCH ASSEMBLY TO FALL AND THE GLASS TO SHATTER.I WAS ALSO LUCKY I WAS WEARING MY SUNGLASSES(WHICH BROKE). I NOTICED THAT THE METAL PART ON WHICH THE HATCH WAS HUNG WAS PUT ON COCKEYED WHICH PROBABLY CAUSED THE PROBLEM. HATCHES ARE MEANT TO BE OPENED AND CLOSED AND THE WHOLE HATCH ASSEMBLY IS NOT SUPPOSED TO FALL DOWN ON SIMPLY CLOSING THE HATCH. I E MAILED FORD AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE DEFECT BUT THEY WERE LESS THAN HELPFUL. MY SUV IS STILL IN THE SHOP. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE AND THE GLASS SHARDS WHICH WENT OVER THE EXPLORER ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD.

2004 FORD EXPLORER HESITATED AND DID NOT SHIFT WHEN GOING OVER 40 MPH. DOWN SHIFTED S FOR NO REASON AND MADE A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE, HAD TO PULL OVER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT TIMES; ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. *AK

I HAVE AN 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE CRACK IN THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW/HATCH. I THINK THAT FORD MOTOR CORP NEEDS TO REPAIR THESE FOR ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED THESE VEHICLES AND ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CRACK LEADING TO WATER DAMAGE. *TR

REAR PANEL TO THE LEFT BELOW THE BACK WINDOW, NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM IS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT, IT JUST HAPPENED ON IT'S OWN. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY 2004 FORD EXPLORERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST APPROX. $400 TO REPAIR. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, AS IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT. *TR

HINGE ON LIFTGATE GLASS FRACTURED AND BROKE. 2004 FORD EXPLORER. SEE 2003 NHSTA RECALL 04V442000. LIFTGATE GLASS HANGING OFF AND CAR UNUSABLE. METAL FATIGUE ON HINGE/GLASS ATTACH POINT ON GLASS. COULD MY CAR HAVE RECEIVED "OLDER" DEFECTIVE PARTS FROM PREVIOUS YEAR AS IT HAS A MANUFACTURE DATE OF 08/03? NUMEROUS PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR PROBLEMS WITH SAME PART. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT CERTAIN SPEEDS IT SOMETIMES SHUTS THE ENGINE OFF. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY TELL ME THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN THREE OF THEIR TECHNICIANS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND SHOWN THEM THAT IT SHUTS THE ENGINE OFF. HOWEVER, THEY SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT. EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE THE FIRST DAY I OWNED THE CA, THEY NOW WANT ME TO PAY TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX IT.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD BANGING NOISE, HESITATED, AND THEN LUNGED INTO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING AND VIBRATING WHEN MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUTCH IN THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS FAILING. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED, AND THE FAILURE NO LONGER OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 45000. *AK

CRACK IN PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

FORD MOTOR COMPANY REGARDING DISSATISFACTION WITH LACK OF PERFORMANCE, RELIABILITY AND QUALITY OF 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT**CC CONSUMER STATES HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH 2004 FORD EXPLORER SUCH AS VERY HARD SHIFTING GEARS FROM A PARKED POSITION, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON I95 HIGHWAY TWICE AND PEDALS BECAME INOPERABLE, VEHICLE ALSO SLAMS INTO GEAR AT HIGH SPEED AND WANTS TO REIMBURSED FOR THE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS OF HIS 3 YEAR OLD TRUCK. *TR

THE AREA ON THE BACK HATCH UNDERNEATH THE GLASS CRACKED IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I CAME OUT OF MY HOUSE AFTER A COLD MORNING AND THAT'S WHAT I FOUND. *TR

THERE IS A LAG BETWEEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE CAR ACTUALLY GOING BACKWARDS. WHEN IT DOES BACK UP THE CAR JERKS BACKWARDS AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. IT ALSO DOES THIS WHEN CHANGING GEARS WHILE DRIVING. THIS STARTED RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, AND I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS HAS NOT HELPED. IF FACT AS THE CAR AGES, IT IS GETTING WORSE. *AK

AFTER ONE MONTH OF PURCHASING MY EXPLORER IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS GOING INTO REVERSE AND ALSO SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING. WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IT WILL JERK WITH A LOUD BANG OR CLANK AND THEN SURGE. IT CONTINUES TO GET MORE FREQUENT. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT HITTING ANOTHER CAR OR EVEN WORSE A PERSON. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD ASKING THAT I TAKE TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE GOING TO ADD SOME ADDITIVE TO THE TRANSMISSION. I DID RETURN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SERVICED THE SUV. IT DID SHIFT CORRECTLY FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH, BUT THEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS OR RECALLS FROM FORD. I FIND THIS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN I SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO OWN EXPLORERS. I WANT FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I WAS HAVING THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS OUT I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE FORD CORRECTS THIS ISSUE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET HURT? *AK

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED THE WEEK BEFORE LAST ON THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT I BOUGHT NEW FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT 2 YEARS AND 45,500 MILES AGE. I REPLACED BOTH AFTER A DIAGNOSES OF FAILURE BY A FORD DEALERSHIP BY GOING TO A PRIVATE, NON-FORD REPAIR SHOP AT A COST OF JUST OVER $ 781.00. THE LABOR HERE WAS $ 142.00 - THE BALANCE WAS LOCAL TAXES AND THE REPLACEMENT BEARINGS WHICH WERE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM AND PURCHASED FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE DEALER ALSO DIAGNOSED A DEFECTIVE RING AND PINION GEAR WHICH IS NOT THE CASE - YET. DIDN'T EVEN GET TO THE DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT BACK WHICH HAS COLLAPSED WITHOUT ACCIDENT ON THE DOOR SIDE. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CONTACT FELT THE BRAKE PEDAL SHUTTER WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE CONTACT FELT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ROTORS. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS AT 12,000 MILES. APPROXIMATELY ELEVEN MONTHS LATER THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AT 24,000 MILES. TWO MONTHS LATER ,THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AGAIN, AND THE ROTOR ASSEMBLY AT 26,000 MILES. FOUR MONTHS LATER THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS AT 30,000 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 36000 MILES. *AK

RIGHT-REAR WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH. FORTUNATELY NOBODY WAS HURT THIS TIME. AFTER READING OTHER POSTS ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH WHEELS FALLING OFF AND WITH LUG:NUTS I DECIDED TO POST OUR INCIDENT TOO. *AK

TRANSMISSION IS SLOPPY WHEN SHIFTING IN GENERAL, SOMETIMES HAS LAG TIME WHEN SHIFTING FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE AND A CLUNKING NOISE CAN OCCUR. DEALER HAD INVESTIGATED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MINOR ADJUSTMENTS HELPING TO REDUCE ABOUT 50-75% OF THE ISSUE. *JB

REAR PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW CRACKED.*AK

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR HATCH LIFT NEAR THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE WINDOW BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,400. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF UNTIL THE HATCH WAS PUSHED AND THEN THE LIGHT WOULD STOP FLICKERING. *AK

WE HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER, ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN MAY 20'06 WITH APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES . AT APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES IN AUGUST 2006 WE WERE TOLD THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THAT WAS ABOUT $500. MY HUSBAND DROVE IT TO WORK ON 3-19-07 AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. HE TOOK IT TO LUNCH, EVERYTHING WAS STILL FINE, AND WHEN HE CAME OUT, HE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLEM AND IT WOULD NOT START. THERE WERE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, NO NOISES, NOTHING OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY AT ALL. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, WHO RAN SOME TESTS, AND INITIALLY COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT. THEY RAN MORE TESTS, AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CAMS ARE NOT WORKING. THEY TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. $5,600.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH 46,000 MILES. FORD IS NOT OFFERING US ANY HELP. THEY REFUSE TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THEY SAID IF WE HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IT WOULD BE COVERED. BUT THE POINT IS THAT IT HAS 46,000 MILES. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME BEFORE I EXPLODE! *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK OF THE HATCH OF THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH 74050 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE HATCHBACK GLASS COULD FALL OUT AND INJURE HER CHILDREN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AND WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE OPENING THE REAR GLASS HATCH THE CONTACT HEARD THE GLASS CRACK ,AND NOTICED THAT THE HINGE CAME LOOSE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE HATCH. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,283. *AK

WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR WHEEL OF MY 2004 FORD, EXPLORER BROKE OFF GOING 65 ON THE INTERSTATE. ALL FIVE LUGS SNAPPED OFF. NO ONE TOOK RESPONSIBILITY. I HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. IT WAS EITHER A DEFECT OR NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE DEALER WHERE I HAD IT SERVICED. *NM

DELAYED SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND REVERSE TO DRIVE, SOMETIMES 10 SECONDS TO CATCH GEAR. HARD SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, SLAMS INTO GEAR. CLUNKING WHEN PARKING OR WHEELS AT FULL LOCK. *NM

AUTO-TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE THEN LUNGES ONCE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED. WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD SOMETIMES WHILE IN DRIVE. FORD SERVICE SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES. VEHICLE NOW HAS ALMOST 36,000 MILES AND PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. ENGINE DIES WHEN TRAVELING LOW SPEEDS AND USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. EACH TIME I TRY TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN TRAVELING 40 MPH OR LESS THE ENGINE DIES. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN YOUR DRIVING ALONG THEN SUDDENLY YOU LOSE POWER TO THE STEERING AND BRAKES BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS DIED! THE SEATS ARE ALSO PROBLEMATIC. THE 2 BACK SEATS FOLD DOWN. BOTH OF THE RELEASE MECHANISMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ONE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. BOTH HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF TWICE. THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS CRACKED AND WORN PREMATURELY. THE LUMBAR SUPPORT KNOB ON THE DRIVERS SEAT FELL OFF BUT I DIDN'T NOTICE WHEN IT HAPPENED SO IT WAS LOST AND FORD WILL NOT REPLACE IT WITHOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART. ALSO THE HANDLE THAT IS USED TO ADJUST THE BACK OF THE SEAT HAS FALLEN OFF. I AM A 53 YEAR OLD WOMEN AND 98% I AM THE ONLY ONE USING THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT ROUTINELY HAUL KIDS OR OTHER CARGO AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE SO YOU WOULD THINK THE SEATS WOULD BE HOLDING UP MUCH BETTER. *JB

SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AND FORD IS NOT WILLING TO HELP AT ALL. THEY SAY IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING. (REPAIR OR RENTAL). *NM

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 38000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WHEN THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE THE COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT AND THE DEALER KNEW THAT THE WAS NO CRASH AND WHEN THIS INFORMATION WAS GIVEN TO THE MANUFACTURER, THEY STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSES MACHINE WAS THE INFORMATION THAT THEY CONSIDERED AND THAT IT WAS NO LONGER THEIR PROBLEM. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN HIS 2004 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED IN WHICH THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN HIM. THE AIR BAGS ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY. *CC THE SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN RECALLED AND FIXED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED AND ONLY SUSTAINED MINOR SCRAPES. *NM

2004 FORD EXPLORER HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS**CC THE ABS LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERTURN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. *NM

WHINING NOISE IN REAR END OF 2004 FORD EXPLORER, DEALER SAID THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT, SAID DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT , IT DOESN'T HURT ANYTHING, 36,000 MILES. *JB

AUTOMATIC WINDOWS - REAR WINDOWS - MOTOR WENT OUT - REPLACED ONCE - DOING IT AGAIN, HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK IN. REAR AIR SYSTEM DOES NOT BLOW OUT HEAT. AGAIN, NEEDING TO TAKE IT IN AGAIN. HAD I NOT GOTTEN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE I WOULD BE WITHOUT REAR HEAT. *JB

ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2006 I WAS SHOPPING FOR PRESENTS... WENT TO MAY BE 5 STORES. AFTER LAST STORE, I STARTED CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO PUT IT IN GEAR, THE GEAR STICK BROKE OFF INTO MY HANDS. TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE! THERE WAS NO WAY TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AS IT BROKE OFF AT THE BASE. DEALER REPLACED $1000 WORTH OF PARTS. I FEEL THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT ANY TIME AND WAS LUCKY VEHICLE WAS IN PARK RATHER THAN IN DRIVE WHEN IT HAPPENED. *JB

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. LAST YEAR AT 38,000 MILES, THE KEY LOCKED IN THE IGNITION AND I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET IT OUT. PORTSMOUTH FORD N.H. SAYS TOO BAD: IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT WILL COST ME $400 TO GET IT OUT. TODAY I HAVE 56,000 MILES ON MY EXPLORER AND THE KEY IS STILL IN THE IGNITION. IT IS A PAIN. I WAS HOPING FOR A RECALL. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM?*JB

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OF OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER ALONG WITH OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROBLEMS. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED TO DATE. IN NOVEMBER 2006, THE REAR WINDOW OF THE LIFTGATE BROKE OFF THE HINGE. WE WERE TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND HAD TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR OUT OF OUR POCKET. TODAY, JANUARY 16, 2007 THE FRAME OF THE REAR LIFTGATE CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE. *NNM

WITHIN A WEEK OF BUYING MY 2004 EXPLORER I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHEN SHIFTING OUT OF REVERSE. I ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOUD "CLANG" WHILE DOING STEADY INTERSTATE DRIVING (OVER 200 MILES). OVER TIME TRANSMISSION SHIFTING BECAME SLUGGISH, UNTIMELY, AND LOUD. A RECALL WAS RECEIVED AND A TRANSMISSION ADDITIVE WAS ADDED. PROBLEMS CONTINUED WITH THE TRANSMISSION (SAME AS NOTED ABOVE). IN JUNE '06- DEALERSHIP REPLACED SOME PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION (UNDER WARRANTY). FIVE MONTHS LATER, I'M CONTINUING WITH PROBLEMS. LOUD "CLANG" DURING LONG ROAD TRIP. JERKY, HESITANT SHIFTING CONTINUES. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE DURING 30 MILE TEST DRIVE. CAR STALLED IN PARKING LOT THIS WEEK, JERKY MOTION CONTINUES GOING UP STEEP INCLINE AND LOUD "CLANG" EXISTS ON LONG ROADTRIP. WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO RUN OUT IN ABOUT 400 MILES. I HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE CENTER RESULTING IN NO HELP. ALSO HAVE REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH FUEL GAUGE NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY. *NM

PURCHASED THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN SYRACUSE, NY IN THE FALL OF 2004. WE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AND HAD THE SERVICE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO THE DEALER TO FIX A CONTINUING PROBLEM ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND WHEN GOING UP HILL, ON OCCASION. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION ALSO CONTINUES TO MAKE A "CLUNKING" NOISE AND PHYSICALLY LURCHES ON OCCASION WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 - 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE IS WITHIN A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRATION AND FORD HAS STILL NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO THE FORD MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND THEY HAVE ONLY OFFERED TO SELL US AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE LOCAL DEALER SERVICE MANAGER DID INDICATE THAT HE IS AUTHORIZED TO OFFER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 75,000 MILES AT NO COST, BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT IN WRITING. WE FEEL THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM CAUSED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE VEHICLE AND ALL REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD, BUT THEY ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT AWD REQUIRED A SIGNIFICANT REPAIR IN 7/05 AT 11,311 MILES BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. DEALER REPLACED SHIFT SOLENOID AND REFILLED FLUID. DEALER ESTIMATED THAT COST TO REPLACE SHIFT SOLENOID WAS $3,500 BUT IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM RECURRED AND IN DECEMBER 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILES, MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN SHE BACKED INTO A PARKED CAR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE SHIFT SOLENOID A SECOND TIME. *JB

2004 FORD EXPLORER GEAR SHIFTER LEVER BROKE IN MY HAND WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC. THIS IS A HUGE SAFTEY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN DRIVE AT THE POINT OF THE LEVER BREAKING. THE LEVER WAS NOT A STEEL PIECE AND WAS DEFECTIVE. FORD IS UNRESPONSIVE TO THIS ISSUE. *JB

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY EXPLORER WOULD TURN OVER BUT REFUSE TO START. THE THIRD TIME IT TOOK 2 DAYS FOR IT TO FINALLY START. ON THE WAY TO THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER, THE SUV STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T PIN-POINT ANY PARTICULAR CAUSE BUT THEY DID HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT CALLED FOR UPDATING OF SOME SOFTWARE. *NM

TRANSMISSION/DIFFERENTIAL/REAR-END PROBLEMS, PURCHASED 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT IN MARCH OF 2006, FIRST COMPLAINT WAS THAT THE PRNDL INDICATOR WOULD NOT MOVE INTO THE RIGHT GEAR,REPORTED THE DEFECT IN MAY, PROBLEM STOPPED BUT THEN STARTED AGAIN. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAD TO PAY TO GET THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. BUT ALSO FOUND THAT THE REAR-END IS SHOT THE DRIVE SHAFT KEEPS TURNING AND THE VEHICLE KEEPS ROLLING WHILE IN PARK. THE VEHICLE ALSO LURCHES WHEN BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. DEALER STATES THAT THE REAR-END AND DIFFERENTIAL IS BAD HOW CAN THIS BE ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 49000 MILES ON IT . *JB

WHEN THE EXPLORER IS PUT IN REVERSE IT TAKES UP TO 5 SECONDS TO ENGAGE AND THEN JERKS BACKWARDS AFTER MAKING A LARGE CLUNKING NOISE. U JOINTS AND WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.

WE HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH 41,000 MILES. IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED, UNIVERSAL BALL JOINT REPLACED, WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED, PARKING BRAKE REPLACED. ALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALER. ON THE EVENING OF 11/21/06, WE WERE LEAVING MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL AND I GOT IN THE VEHICLE TO BACK THE CAR UP A FEW FEET SO THAT MY WIFE WOULD NOT HAVE TO STEP IN THE MUD. I STARTED THE CAR, PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE (FOOT ON BRAKE), AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO MOVE THE CAR A FEW FEET, IT SURGED BACKWARDS, LIKE A CANNON BALL IN REVERSE; IT CRASHED INTO A NEON, WHICH WAS PARKED 6 FEET FROM OUR CAR, SENT THE NEON FLYING ABOUT 15 FEET INTO ANOTHER CAR; (THE NEON'S FRONT END WAS CRUSHED). I FELT I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THIS VEHICLE WHATSOEVER. WE ARE THANKFUL THAT IT HIT A PARKED CAR, RATHER THAN TRAFFIC COMING FROM BEHIND. WHAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS? THE POLICEMEN THAT RESPONDED TO OUR CALL SUGGESTED THAT WE NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SO WE PUSHED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER. THE OTHER CAR IN THE INCIDENT WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND ALSO HAD TO BE TOWED. ONE OF THE POLICEMEN THAT RESPONDED TO OUR CALL SAID THAT THEY HAD A SIMILAR ACCIDENT HAPPEN WITH ONE OF THEIR POLICE CRUISERS (ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT); WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT INTO REVERSE IT SHOT BACKWARDS AND HIT ANOTHER POLICE CAR, BUT THEY DID NOT SUSTAIN DAMAGE BECAUSE THE CARS WERE PARKED SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. PLEASE HELP US FIGURE THIS OUT. WE ARE AF

ON 11/23/2006, MY WIFE, PUT SOMETHING IN OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER VIA THE REAR HATCH WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE GLASS HINGE BROKE. THE GLASS REMAINED IN TACT, BUT TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE THE HATCH I HAD TO REMOVE THE TWO STRUTS. THIS APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO RECALL #04V442000 ON THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE IN 2002. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDOW HINGE IN THE REAR LIFT GATE FRACTURED, AND THEN THE WEIGHT OF THE WINDOW FRACTURED THE SECOND HINGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL #04V442000 REGARDING THE STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE WAS THE SAME.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE JUMPED. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND PROPERLY TO THE DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.