2004 Ford Explorer complaints

MY 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WENT TO CLOSE THE REAR WINDOW GATE AND THE RIGHT HINGE BROKE OFF AT WHERE THE HINGE ATTACHES TO THE WINDOW. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER TRIED TO GET IT LINED UP WITH THE HINGE AGAIN BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT AND HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH THE WINDOWS HANGING BY THE STRUTS. LATER WHEN I GOT HOME I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT STRUT WAS NOT DECOMPRESSING AS WELL WHICH PROBABLY PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THE HINGE. I TRIED TO PUSH IT BACK UP MANUALLY IT WOULDN'T BUDGE. I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE RIGHT STRUT AND CLOSE AND LATCH THE WINDOW BUT NOW IT'S CROOKED AND OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING. I DID RESEARCH AND SEE THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING HAPPENING ON 04 EXPLORERS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE WINDOW WILL FALL OFF AND THIS ALMOST CAUSED BODILY HARM TO MY DAUGHTER WHEN IT FAILED AND FELL. *TR

ON 19 APR 2012 WHILE OPENING THE BACK HATCH WINDOW, THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE OF THE WINDOW FAILED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE DRIVER SIDE HINGE WAS BENT AND THE HYDRULIC LIFTS POPPED OPEN THE WINDOW RATHER RAPIDLY WHICH COULD HAVE SEVERELY INJURED ME IF IT HIT ME. I WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOW MYSELF SO I COULD DRIVE AGAIN. A BYSTANDER HELPED ME OUT TO CLOSE IT. AFTER READING OTHER REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS ONLINE, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT FOR 2004 FORD EXPLORERS. *TR

WHILE LOADING GROCERIES, I NOTICED THE HINGES TO MY REAR WINDOW WERE CRACKED. I QUIT USING THE WINDOW IN FEAR OF IT BREAKING. THE COST TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC HINGE IS COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS! I ALSO HAD A FRIEND CALL TODAY AND HIS HINGE BROKE, THANKFULLY THE GLASS DID NOT BREAK. FORD KNOWS THE HINGES ARE DEFECTIVE. WHY WOULD A MAJOR COMPANY LIKE FORD OVERLOOK THIS PROBLEM AND TAKE A CHANCE OF MANY LAW SUITS DUE TO THEIR NEGLIGENCE? THERE ARE OVER 1600 COMPLAINTS RECORDED. HOW MANY MORE IS NEEDED FOR A RECALL? FORD NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I HESITATED BUYING THIS FORD BECAUSE MY FIRST FORD CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. THIRTY YEARS LATER I STILL THINK OF ALL THE BAD STORIES AND NOW, I WANT MY CHEVY BACK. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, SLIPS BETWEEN GEARS, REPLACEMENT REQUIRED. *TR

FIRST HAD MY TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT IN MAY 2008 WHERE IT WAS SLIPPING INTO REVERSE AND JOLTING THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAD ONLY 44133 MILES. HAD IT LOOKED AT MY A FORD DEALER THAT TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. NOW IN MAY 2012 AT 110,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION WAS RE-LOOKED AT FOR SLIPPING INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. WHICH AT THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND YET I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS. FORD COMPLAINT LINE TELLS ME THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AT THIS TIME AND NOW ME AND MY 3 CHILDREN ARE WITHOUT A VEHICLE BECAUSE MY TRANSMISSION HAD NOW COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN A STORE PARKING LOT BROKE DOWN. THANKS FORD! *TR

REAR WINDOW HINGE FRACTURED CAUSING GLASS TO FALL OFF OF REAR DOOR. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2002-2003 FORD RECALL #04S20. REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 2004 EXPLORER IN THEIR RECALL BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER 2004 EXPLORER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE HINGE SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2004 MODEL YEAR. I FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM EXTENDED INTO THE 2004 MODELS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THE 2002-2003 MODELS. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE BOLT TO THE LUG NUTS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SPECIALIST WHERE THE LUG NUTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING AND THERE WAS UNCONTROLLED DECELERATION AND WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS HIGHER THAN THE USUAL RPM'S NEEDED TO SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. MY INVESTIGATION REVEALED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR OF FORD EXPLORER AND THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN APRIL, 21, 2009, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION-JOURNAL REPORTS REGARDING AN ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE NHTSA REGARDING THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER, IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR TO CONSUMERS FOR AN ISSUE WHICH FORD AND THE NHTSA IS AWARE OF. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AFTER ABOUT 2-3 YEARS AGO. I NOTICED IT WOULD JERK & WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEARS. IT WOULD SOMETIMES BE IN GEAR & NOT GAS. AFTER I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT IT WAS A WIRE OR CABLE LOOSE TO THE TRANS. EVERYTHING SEEMED OK FOR AWHILE THEREAFTER BUT THEN IT STARTED AGAIN. JUST RECENTLY AS I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED LIGHT SENSOR CAME ON & THEN THE CHECK TRANSMISSION SENSOR FOLLOWED. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT 1 OUT OF EVERY 10 CUSTOMERS WITH A FORD EXPLORER BETWEEN 2000-2004 HAVE TRANSMISSIONS ISSUES. ALSO I CALLED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL EVEN WITH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS AND THAT NO GOODWILL OR FINANCIAL SERVICES COULD BE OFFERED TO ASSIST ME WITH THE REPAIRING OF MY VEHICLE, EVEN AFTER I STRESSED MY COMPLETE DISSATISFACTION WITH THE OUTCOME. *KB

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND MOVING SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE - ROTATING SHIFT HANDLE MOUNT BROKE OFF- REQUIRED TOWING AND $1800 REPAIR COST. HAVE SEEN SIMILAR INSTANCES ON CONSUMER COMPLAINT BOARDS - FORD FAILS TO RECOGNIZE AS BEING A SAFETY MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO VARIOUS GEARS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY THE FIRST GEAR COULD BE DISENGAGED WAS TO APPLY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

THE HINGES THAT HOLD ON THE REAR WINDOW ARE FAILING AND I CANNOT OPEN THE REAR WINDOW BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL FALL OFF. OTHER YEAR EXPLORERS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS VERY REASON AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE 2004 MODEL WAS NOT RECALLED. THE PARTS ARE THE SAME AS THEY WERE IN OTHER YEARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED, THE FIFTH GEAR FAILED AND THE HOUSING ROD WAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON IN THE PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,435. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ UPDATED 04/30/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ANYWHERE FROM 30-50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

THERE IS A LONG HESITATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE EITHER FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ROLLING. *TR

AFTER A COLD SPELL IN JANUARY THE PANEL UNDER THE REAR WINDOW FRACTURED FROM THE WINDOW DOWN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS IS VERY COMMON AND IT WOULD BE AROUND $400.00 DOLLARS TO FIX. IF THIS IS COMMON WHY IS FORD NOT CORRECTING THIS WITHOUT THE CUSTOMER HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. IT SEEMS THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM NOT A CONSUMERS! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A 6-INCH CRACK FROM THE BASE OF THE REAR WINDOW TO THE LICENSE PLATE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ON THE HIGHWAY, PASSING A TRACTOR TRAILER AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS GAVE OUT. WHEEL FROZE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. PULLED OVER AND FORTUNATELY OTHERS HAD STOPPED AND ASSISTED IN PUTTING FIRE OUT. WAS TERRIFYING - OUR CHILDREN WERE SITTING IN THE BACK! WE THEN ENDED UP STRANDED AWAY FROM HOME AS WE WERE ON A FAMILY TRIP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEAT NO LONGER FLOWED THROUGH THE VENTS AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, HER VISION WAS OBSTRUCTED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

REAR BODY PANEL APPLIQUE FORD SERIES PART #402A30. *TR

A YEAR AGO MY REAR LEFT WINDOW HINGE BROKE. COST TO REPAIR $50 FOR PART. NOW THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW HINGE BROKE COST NOW HAS INCREASED TO $80 FOR REPAIR. REAR PANEL CRACKED WHEN HEAT WAVE OCCURRED. FORD SAYS NO RECALLS FOR EACH ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE ON THIS MODEL OF FORD. FORD HOLDS NO RECALL FOR BOTH ISSUES. *KB

WHEN WE HAD THE COLD SNAP A FEW WEEKS AGO, A PLASTIC PANEL, UNDER THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS IS ABOUT $450 TO $550. SEARCHING ON LINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM OVER A NUMBER OF MODEL YEARS, AS THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED REPORTS. IN THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE SEEN 7 MORE EXPLORERS WITH A SIMILAR CRACK. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL. IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT IS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. *TR

TRANSMISSION AND THROTTLE BODY FAILED. *TT

UPDATE ON REAR CRACKED PANEL: REAR BACK PANEL REPLACED TWICE. FORD SERVICE TOLD ME IT WOULD COST APPROX $800 TO REPLACE CRACKED PANEL AGAIN THEN SUGGESTED I TAKE MY '04 FORD EXPLORER TO A BODY SHOP FOR A REPAIR AT A COST OF APPROX $200 WHICH I DID. THAT REPAIR LASTED ABOUT 3 MONTHS...PANEL HAS CRACKED AGAIN. IF THE GLASS FALLS OUT SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT FORD WILL NOT TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART.

WIFE AND KIDS WHERE DRIVING HOME AND THE TRANNY STARTED KICKING IN AND OUT OF GEAR (SLIPPING). IT JERKED INTO FIRST AT THE STOPLIGHT IN TOWN. *TR

WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND GOT OFF WENT TO TURN. THE LUG NUTS SHEARD OFF, THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS. I HAD MY KIDS IN THE VEHICLE ALL THREE TIMES. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS MATTER RESOLVED.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO I NOTICED THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW START TO CRACK. AS TIME WENT ON THE CRACK CONTINUED DOWN THE ENTIRE PANEL NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM. THE REAR WINDOW NOW MAKES A RATTLING NOISE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL LOOSEN ENOUGH FOR IT TO POP OUT IF I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT HAS CERTAINLY REDUCED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FROM YOU AND THAT UNTIL THERE WAS I SHOULD GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT FIXED. REPAIR COSTS SEEM TO BE AROUND $400. FOR THE PANEL PLUS PAINTING. I REALLY THINK A DESIGN FLAW SHOULD NOT BE MY PROBLEM. THEY KNOW IT WAS A FLAW SINCE THE NEWER MODELS ARE DESIGNED COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. *TR

WHILE AT WORK MY REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW EXPLODED. AT FIRST SITE I THOUGHT IT WAS VANDALISM BUT NOTHING (CAR CHARGERS/CD'S/ ROAD SIDE KIT ETC) WAS TAKEN. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATING, THINGS JUST DIDN'T ADD UP NOR WERE CONSISTENT WITH THE SITE OF MY DESTRUCTIVE REAR WINDOW AND UPLIFTING OF THE PANEL UNDERNEATH THE SHATTERED GLASS (WHICH WAS MOSTLY ON THE GROUND AS OPPOSED TO BEING INSIDE MY VEHICLE.) *TR

I WAS TRYING TO PARK THE CAR WHEN I TOOK IT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE THE WHOLE GEAR SHIFT CAME RIGHT OFF. IT WILL NO LONGER SWITCH GEARS NOR CAN I DRIVE IT. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER 2004 EXPLORERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO. THERE ARE 16 DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS WHICH ALL WERE EXACTLY LIKE MINE ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. THIS IS SUPER DANGEROUS, IMAGINE IF MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WHEN I WENT TO SWITCH GEARS AND IT BROKE OFF AND THE WERE NO WAY TO MOVE OR STOP IT FROM HITTING SOMEONE. THE EXPENSE TO FIX THIS 'LITTLE' PROBLEM OF FORDS IS COSTING ME MORE THAN I MAKE IN 2 MONTHS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE EXHIBITED A FRACTURE THAT STARTED FROM THE TOP OF THE MANUFACTURING EMBLEM AND DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFTGATE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THERE WAS A NOTICEABLY JERK AND THE O/T OFF LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE COMPUTER SAYING TO "CHECK TRANSMISSION". THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC SAID REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW HINGE BROKE CAUSING THE GLASS TO FALL ON TOP OF ME AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD AND KNOCK ME DOWN TO THE GROUND. *TR

CRACKED PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW. ALSO, REAR WINDOW APPEARS LOOSE. *TR

CRUISE CONTROL IS INTERMITTENT, SOMETIMES ACCELERATES UNEXPECTEDLY ESPECIALLY WHEN PUSHING THE BUTTON TO TURN IT OFF. SO FAR HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP CAR, BUT IT IS A SCARY SITUATION. ALSO, REAR WARNING INDICATOR WORKS ONLY OCCASIONALLY. COULD RUN OVER OR INTO SOMEONE IF DEPENDING ON IT. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. AT 70,000 MILES I STARTED TO NOTICE A CHANGE IN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND SUDDENLY KICKING WHEN GOING INTO GEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST AND THERE IS NO RECALL AT THE PRESENT MOMENT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE NO TRANSMISSION SHOULD START HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE. THIS MATTER REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND FORD NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE PROMPTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS FRACTURED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WINDOW WOULD POSSIBLY FALL OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

I HAVE THIS CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF MY LIFTGATE AND I HAVE SEEN SOME OTHER FORD EXPLORERS AND FOUND ON INTERNET COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. I CALLED FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS. AS I HAVE SAID. I HAVE SEEN OTHER FORDS WITH THE SAME CRACK ON THE MIDDLE OF THE LIFT GATE. *TR

WITH NO WARNING OR ABNORMAL INSTRUMENT INDICATIONS, BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. VEHICLE WAS ON A LEVEL PAVED STATE HIGHWAY, BETWEEN INTERSECTIONS, OPERATING BETWEEN 30-35MPH. *KB *TR

IN APRIL OF 2009 I BOUGHT A 2004 EXPLORER FROM CAR CONNECTIONS IN PALM BAY FLORIDA! THIS HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE! BUT MY "MAIN" COMPLAINT 2 WEEKS AGO I TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE TO FIND OUT THAT MY "OVER DRIVE" GEAR IS GONE. AAMCO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT FORD KNEW THAT AND IT IS A DEFECTIVE PART! SO, TO GET A 2ND OPINION I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MEINEKE, THEY ALSO MADE THE SAME COMMENT OF "THAT IS A DEFECTIVE PART FROM FORD" AND THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE PART! WELL, I AM BEING CHARGED FROM $3,400 TO THE LOWEST OF $2,800 FOR REPAIRS "EXCLUDING" TAX! WHY AM I AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT FORD KNEW WAS GOING TO BE A COSTLY REPAIR FOR US CONSUMERS IN THIS HORRIBLE RECESSION! I FEEL THAT WE/I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED IN SOME SORT OF WAY JUST TO HELP FOR SOMETHING BAD THEY SENT OUT. I CAN'T EVEN TRADE THE TRUCK IN DUE TO THE VALUE HAS DECREASED TREMENDOUSLY! I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS BASICALLY GOING TO RUST IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR BEING SO COSTLY! PLEASE LET FORD KNOW THAT THEY SHOULD HONOR WHAT THEY KNEW WAS WRONG! PLEASE HELP! *KB

TRANSMISSION WAS WORKING JUST FINE TILL ONE DAY IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE AND THEN IT WAS SHIFTING HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD. REAR WINDOW HINGES BROKE. REAR TAIL GATE CRACKED RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE BY FORD SYMBOL. ALSO JUST THE OTHER DAY MY PASSENGER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING NO SIGNS NOTHING OF ANYTHING WRONG. I'M GOING TO START BUYING CHEVY THIS IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE. NO WONDER AMERICA IS NOT DOING GOOD OUR CAR COMPANY'S CAN'T MAKE GOOD PRODUCTS ANYMORE. *KB

MY VEHICLE FAILED TO ENGAGE IN PARK EVEN THOUGH I SHIFTED INTO PARK AND CONSOLE INDICATOR DISPLAYED PARK. I HAD SHIFTED INTO PARK ON A STEEP HILL. AS I EXITED THE VEHICLE, I RELEASED THE BRAKES AND ONE OF MY PASSENGERS ALERTED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS. I JUMPED BACK INTO THE VEHICLE, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE MOTION STOPPED. I VERIFIED THAT PARK WAS DISPLAYED ON THE CENTER CONSOLE, WHICH IT WAS. I THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO PARK, AND THE SECOND TIME THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED INTO PARK. WITHOUT MY PASSENGERS ALERTING ME TO THE VEHICLE MOTION, MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CRASHED AND POTENTIALLY INJURED THOSE IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER DETERMINING THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, I EXAMINED THE TIRE TRACKS IN THE SNOW TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY CHANCE THAT THE VEHICLE SLID RATHER THAN ROLLED ON THE ROAD. THE TIRE TRACKS SHOWED CLEAR TIRE INDENTATIONS AND DID NOT INDICATE SLIDING, LEADING ME TO DETERMINE THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE INTO PARK EVEN THOUGH THE CONSOLE INDICATED IT WAS IN PARK. *TR

HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SUPPORTS_FOR_SUN_VISORS_CRACKED.SHTML THE SUN VISOR CLIP HAS BROKEN AND I AM UNABLE TO USE THE VISOR, IT JUST DANGLES. IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ONE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO USE THE VISOR FOR SUN PROTECTION. I FEEL FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL BECAUSE SO THIS IS HAPPENING IN TOO MANY VEHICLES SO THERE HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE HINGE ON THE GLASS HATCH BROKE AS I OPENED THE HATCH. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE HATCH HINGE PRIOR TO THIS. *TR

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN CLIMBING ELEVATION. STARTS CLUNKING NOISE AND WON'T SHIFT. RPMS GO WAY UP AND VEHICLE STILL WILL NOT SHIFT. HARD TO GET VEHICLE INTO PARK ON THE GEAR SHIFTER. HAVE THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK ONLY TO HAVE IT ROLL WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TODAY WHO SAYS A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED. APPX COST 3600.00 *TT

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER, ABOUT A MONTH AGO I NOTICED THE PLASTIC HINGE FOR THE BACK TAILGATE GLASS WAS BREAKING OFF. AFTER VISITING SEVERAL FORD USED CAR LOTS, I SEEN SEVERAL EXPLORERS WITH THE BROKEN HINGE AND REALIZED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS, BUT THEY ARE STANDING BY THEIR PRODUCT. I RECIEVED AN ESTIMATE OF $360 TO REPAIR THE HINGES, BUT BEING A SINGLE PARENT OF FOUR THERE IS NO WAY I COULD AFFORD TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE. I HOPE THAT FORD WILL STEP UP AND RECALL THIS ISSUE BUT NO LUCK YET. *TT

REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH FAILURE HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS BACK GLASS FAIL OFF. *TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD O/D LIGHT FLASHES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 145,000.

PAINT BUBBLES IN THE HOOD. THE DEALER JUST RESPONDED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM AND THAT I WOULD JUST NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HOOD AT A LARGE COST. *KB