2004 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD WHILE THE CONTACT WAS STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GATE AND THEN BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF YET THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 9/20/11 *CN UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IT UNWARRANTLY STALLED. SPONTANEOUS ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING INCREASES THE RISK OF VEHICLE CRASH. SHE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE.HOWEVER HE SPECULATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE,BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

ABRUPT SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOUR TIMES FOR REPAIR. SOLENOID WAS REPLACED TWICE, TRANSMISSION FLUID ADDITIVE, THEN TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH. UNINTENDED SHIFTING BY TRANSMISSION RESULTING IN VEHICLE TO SWERVE AT 50 PLUS MILES PER HOUR. OCCURS DAILY ON HIGHWAY AFTER LETTING OFF ACCELERATOR AND COASTING. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER, REAR LIFT HATCH FAILURE. THE HINGE SIMPLY BROKE WHILE THE HATCH WAS BEING CLOSED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS ISSUES. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED AT FORD IN ANNAPOLIS, MD FOR $150.00. I NOTE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS FOR PRIOR YEARS AND INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE 2004 MODEL. *TR

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

I AM HANDICAPPED AND LIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY, THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE BILL I HAD TO PAY. I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON A USED 04 EXPLORER, THEY ARE QUITE HIGH SO I GOT THE EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN. THE REAR AXLE HAS WHINED EVER SINCE I GOT IT. WHEN IT WAS DROWNING OUT THE RADIO AND FINALLY STARTED LEAKING THE DEALER, DON JENKINS FORD FINALLY AGREED TO LOOK AT IT. I WAS REDUCED TO LAYING ON THE FLOOR WHILE I WAITED BECAUSE IF I BROUGHT MY WHEELCHAIR I WOULD HAVE NO WAY TO GET IT HOME. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RING AND PINION UNDER THE WARRANTY COMPANY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, THE CAR ONLY HAS 65K MILES. THE PARKING BRAKE FELL APART WHEN THEY REMOVED THE AXLES BUT THEY COULDN'T GET THE WARRANTY COMPANY TO PAY FOR ANOTHER FACTORY DEFECT SO I HAD TO GIVE THEM ALMOST $400 TO GET MY CAR BACK. IT WAS OKAY FOR THE WARRANTY COMPANY TO PAY FOR SHODDY PARTS AND QUESTIONABLE WORKMANSHIP BUT NOT FORD. I AM DISGUSTED WITH THIS MODERN MORALITY, IN MY DAY THEY CALLED THESE PEOPLE BY THEIR PROPER NAME, THIEVES. NO WONDER THE CAR COMPANIES ARE IN TROUBLE, CARS COST ALMOST ONE THIRD THE PRICE OF A STARTER HOME AND ARE MADE WITH SECOND RATE CHINESE PARTS JUST TO SUPPORT THE UNIONS. IT WILL BE A COLD DAY IN '!@#$% AND THE DEVIL WILL COME UPSTAIRS SELLING SNOWCONES BEFORE I WILL BUY ANOTHER CAR MADE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. *TR

THERE IS NO FAILURE YET FOR OUR VEHICLE BUT THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE THAT HAS. DO A INTERNET SEARCH FOR THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER COMPLAINTS AND SEE FOR YOURSELF THE COMPLAINTS FOR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY GET SOMEONE KILLED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER AWD HAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN REVERSE OR INTO DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL OFTEN SHIFT INTO GEAR VERY HARD AND CAUSE THE CAR TO SUDDENLY MOVE BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS IN A VIOLENT MANNER. THE CAR WILL MOVE WHILE THE BRAKE IS APPLIED AND I FEAR THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE WILL CAUSE SOME TYPE OF FAILURE IN THE FUTURE CAUSING THE CAR TO GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD WITH NO CONTROL. IT SHIFTS SO HARD FROM PARK INTO GEAR IT FEELS AS IF ANOTHER CAR HAS RAN INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR. I HAVE READ IDENTICAL REPORTS ONLINE FROM NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVING FORD EXPLORERS AROUND THIS MODEL YEAR TIMEFRAME. *TR

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN KILLING WHEN COMING TO A STOP, SLOWING DOWN AND WHEN I AM DRIVING AT SPEEDS UP TO 40MPH. MY POWER STEERING THEN GOES. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT IS OCCURRING DAILY AND I THEN HAVE TO PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK, REMOVE THE KEY AND THEN RESTART. WHEN I DO THAT, IT RUNS LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ECT... I HAVE BEEN CALLING THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS FROM DAY ONE. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT DOES NOT FAIL WHEN I BRING IT IN IT WILL BE HARD TO SAY WHAT IT IS. THEN I CALLED BACK BECAUSE IT WAS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN THURS. THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT ALL DAY AND SAID IT WAS READY TO GO. I DROVE 1/2 MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK KILLED. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THEM BACK TO LET THEM KNOW. I WILL BE BRINGING IT BACK NEXT WEEK. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT THIS FAILURE AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE FORD. *TR

THE REAR LIFT GLASS HINGES ON OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER BROKE DURING USE OF THE LIFT GLASS. THE PIN BROKE RIGHT THROUGH THE HINGE. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN PARKED IN A GARAGE WITH ONLY MINIMAL USE OF THE ACTUAL LIFT GLASS. WE ARE NOW SEARCHING JUNK YARDS FOR REPLACEMENT HINGES BUT ASSUME THESE WILL ALSO BE BAD. *TR

WHEN I SHIFT FROM DRIVE OR NEUTRAL INTO REVERSE, THERE IS A LONG HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR THEN LEAPS BACKWARD HARD. DELAY THEN HARD REVERSE. WHEN I AM PARALLEL PARKING, I HAVE SOMETIMES HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME HARD BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXTENTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2004. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AT LEAST TEN TIMES WHEN IT WAS NEW. THEY MADE MANY CHANGES, INCLUDING AN ENTIRELY NEW "BOX" OF A SORT I DON'T RECALL, ALL TO NO AVAIL, FINALLY TELLING ME THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY INSTALLING THE WRONG TRANS FLUID AT MANUFACTURING. RECALL NECESSARY. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER 30JUN08, IN MARCH 2009, IN LESS THAN A YEAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MODULE/ENGINE CONTROL, THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR AT THE WILLOWBROOK FORD DEALERSHIP. I PAID A TOTAL OF 2033.60 IN REPAIRS. WHEN I GOT HOME LAST FRIDAY NIGHT AND WAS PARKING MY CAR, AS I WENT INTO REVERSE I FELT A JOLT IN SHIFTING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. YESTERDAY DRIVING TO WORK AGAIN I FELT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND HARD SHIFTING. THE O/D LIGHT BEGIN TO FLASH AND I COULDN'T ACCELERATE OVER 40MPH. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, AGAIN I COULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30MPH BUT NOW ITS MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE AND O/D LIGHTS ARE FLASHING. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AS I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT ONLINE. WHY HASN'T FORD RECALLED THESE FAULTY TRANSMISSION? I HAVE UNTIL JUL10 BEFORE THIS CAR IS PAID OFF AND STILL OWE OVER 6000.00. THIS IS THE FIFTH FORD I'VE OWNED AND I AM TOTALLY DISGUSTED BY THIS WHOLE SITUATION. AS A SINGLE MOM OF 3, I DON'T HAVE ANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SITTING AROUND WAITING TO THROW IT AWAY IN FORD REPAIRS. SOMEONE HAS TO STEP IN FOR US CONSUMERS WHO ARE BEING RIPPED OFF. PLEASE HELP US. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER CRACK BACK TRUNK LIFT. *TR

I WAS DROPPING MY SON OFF AT HIS FRIEND'S HOUSE. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK. I OPENED MY DOOR, GOT OUT, WALKED AROUND THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE AND ACCOMPANIED MY SON UP TO THE FRONT DOOR. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRUCK STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD ON THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASH INTO THE HOMEOWNERS FENCE. WHEN I GOT INTO THE TRUCK, IT WAS STILL IN PARK. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO MY FRONT BUMPER AS WELL AS THE FENCE THAT IT CRASHED INTO. THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE I WAS WALKING IN FRONT OF IT! THIS TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE BEGINNING. I TOO EXPERIENCED THE "THUMP" AS IT SLAMMED INTO REVERSE, ONLY FOR FORD TO DENY THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND FINALLY PUT THE ADDITIVE INTO THE TRANNY. WHAT A WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM! ...NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY A FORD. I JUST HOPE NO ONE HAS TO LOSE THEIR LIFE FOR FORD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT BEARINGS AND NOW THE REAR BEARINGS ARE BAD AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS WITH MY VEHICLE. I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. WHAT STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TO HAVE FORD RECALL THE EXPLORERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

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

I FINANCED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN 2008 AND ABOUT 6 MONTH LATER I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION STARTING TO SLIP. SOON AFTER IT WOULDNT HARDLY GO INTO GEAR UNLESS I REVED UP THE ENGINE THEN IT WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR REALLY HARD. NOW IT IS GETTING WORSE. IM A DISABLED SINGLE FATHER OF MY SON WHO IS ALSO DISABLED AND WE ARE ON A FIXED INCOME AND DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS, [XXX] I STILL OWE ON IT. I PAY ALMOST 300 BUCKS A MONTH CAR PAYMENT ON IT. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE PANEL BELOW MY REAR WINDOW HAS CRACKED ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I DID NOT DRIVE IT THAT DAY, SO I KNOW I WAS NOT HIT, OR THE DOOR WAS NOT SLAMMED. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH 54K MILES HAS SLIP IN TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND WILL SLIP WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AUTOMATICALLY. IT CATCHES AND WILL PRODUCE A LOUD BUMP. IT TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO CATCH WHEN SHIFTED TO REVERSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUN VISORS WERE FRACTURED. THE DEALER ADVISED REPLACING THE VISORS AT HER EXPENSE. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WAS NEVER REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,607.

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, ALMOST RAN INTO ANOTHER CAR. CHEAP PLASTIC PART ONLY DEALER HAS FOR $116.43 WITHOUT INSTALLATION. *TR

1. THE EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE WERE NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE. 2. REAR LIFT-GATE HINGES ON 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT BEGAN FAILING WITH A LOUD BANG FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR WINDOW BEGAN TO SAG AND OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS CRACKS APPEARED IN THE HINGE STRUCTURE. I HAVE PURCHASED NEW HINGES, BUT AT THIS TIME I STILL NEED TO INSTALL THEM. *TR

I'VE HAD TWO (2) ACCIDENTS (REAR-ENDED AND FRONT ACCIDENT), IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I DIDN'T THINK OF IT AT THE TIME, BUT BOTH ACCIDENTS SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, YET THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I HIT THE WHEEL HARD AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR X-RAY, BUT IT WASN'T AN INJURY THAT REQUIRED ANYTHING FURTHER. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIR BAGS DON'T WORK. WHAT SHOULD I DO? I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER.

I NOTICED MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS DEVELOPED A VERTICAL CRACK IN THE PLASTIC TAILGATE ATTACHED TO THE REAR WINDOW LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RECOGNIZED IT AS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 EXPLORER AND ALSO WARNED ME THE HINGES ON THE REAR GLASS FAIL OFTEN AS WAS THE CASE ON MY VEHICLE. SERVICE TECH STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AS YET AND I GOT TO PAY FOR THE NEW HINGES AND HOLDING OFF ON THE CRACK THINKING FORD MADE DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPAIR THE FAULT. *TR

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE,WHILE I GRABBED SUN VISOR TO TURN TO SIDE IT FELL OFF AND I WENT OFF ROAD BUT GOT SAFELY BACK ON. NO INJURIES TO ME OR WIFE. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED REAR PANEL. *TR

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS A CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH. IT APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE. IT WAS NOT PRECEDED BY AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING. UPON TALKING TO A FRIEND WHOSE CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IT HAPPENS A LOT. *TR

THE PANEL UNDER THE REAR HATCH WINDOW HAS CRACKED AND KEEPS GETTING WIDER. *TR

REAR HATCH HINGE PIN BROKE BREAKING GLASS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD AND SOMETIMES STALL. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE THROTTLE SENSOR ASSEMBLY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE WERE ONLY FOUR PARTS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,200. UPDATED 0/01/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED, HOWEVER IT TOOK A TOTAL OF 7 WEEKS, DUE TO ISSUES WITH PARTS. ALSO THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT TIMES. UPDATED 09/09/09*JB

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAITED A FEW MOMENTS BEFORE RESTARTING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION, BUT THERE WAS A LOW POWER RESPONSE DURING ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A VALVE SPRING FAILED. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $5,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36,323. UPDATED 07/08/09 *BF UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB

2004 FORD EXPLORER FACTORY INSTALLED CHROME WHEELS HAVE SEVERE PEELING, CRACKING AND FLAKING AROUND LUG NUTS INCLUDING INSIDE, OUTSIDE AND TOP OF RIMS ON WHEELS. POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES CRACKING, PEELING AND FLAKING OF WHEEL MATERIALS COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF WHEEL AND /OR TIRE SEAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. FORD SERVICE TECH STATED THE ALL WHEELS MUST BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS. *TR

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER WITH V-8. HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT ABRUPT AND DELAYED SHIFTING WITH TRANSMISSION. DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED TRANSMISSION WITH NO LUCK, NO RECALL FROM FORD BUT HAVE HEARD HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON-LINE ABOUT SAME PROBLEM. TRUCK NOW HAS OVER 90,000 MILES AND STILL HAS SAME PROBLEM. REPLACED LEAKING TRANSMISSION PUMP LAST DECEMBE08 AND STILL HARD SHIFTING. WILL NOT RETURN TO FORD FOR REPAIRS WHEN TRANSMISSION OR OTHER DRIVE TRAIN PARTS FAIL DUE TO THE HARD UP AND DOWN SHIFTS, PLEASE HELP! *TR

I HAVE 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE A CRACKED PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW, IT CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. WHILE DRIVING THAT PIECE CAN FALL OFF AND HIT A PERSON WALKING OR HIT THE CAR BEHIND, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN PAYING THE OTHER PERSON FOR DAMAGES OR HOSPITAL BILLS. THIS PROBLEM OR DEFECT, RECALL WHICH EVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, FORD HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT SO FAR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLES, WITH THE PROBLEM. I THOUGHT CAN BRING THIS UP TO YOUR COMPANY AND SEE WHERE THIS GOES. THANK YOU FOR TIME HOPE TO HEAR THAT THIS CAN BE RESOLVED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HINGE LIFTGATE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V44200(STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS)BUT THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE YET THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.MANUFACTURED NEAR THE CUTOFF DATE OF MENTIONED CAMPAIGN. SAME EXACT PROBLEM. PAID FOR REPLACEMENT HINGES. REPLACED MYSELF. UPDATED 09/14/2011 *LN UPDATED 12/13/11

2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT CLOSING LIFTGATE GLASS AND HINGES SHEARED ON BOTH SIDES. HINGES NEED TO BE REPLACED WAITING FOR PART. HAVE ORIGINAL HINGE PARTS. NO REAR GLASS ON VEHICLE UNTIL REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

FAILURE OF THE LIFT GATE HINGE PIN. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE TWO COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST IS THAT THE BACK GATE CRACKED FROM THE WINDOW. THE SECOND COMPLAINT IS THAT MY TRUCK IS MAKING A LOUD THUMP IN REVERSE, AND AFTER I PUT IT IN DRIVE AFTER BEING IN REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS ALMOST HIT TWICE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM THE ENGINE SLIPPING. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER REQUIRED NEW TRANSMISSION IN FIRST YEAR. LATER, A LOUD WHINE DEVELOPED FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR ON ACCELERATION. ANNOYING, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF MEANT TROUBLE. ABS AND 4X4 HIGH LIGHTS LATER BEGAN TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. MECHANIC FOUND NO CAUSE. JUST RECENTLY, AT 79,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO FALL APART. FORD DEALER HAS HAD IT FOR OVER A WEEK, THEY SAY, AFTER DOING $1000 WORTH OF USELESS WORK ON IT, THAT THE ENTIRE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS GONE BAD, AND MUST BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY THIS WAS NOT CAUGHT UP TILL NOW, BUT MUST HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WHINE, THE ERRANT LIGHTS, AND A KA-CHUNK THAT THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN MAKING FOR YEARS, ALSO NEVER ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. (NOTE: I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO CATEGORIZE THIS, SO I ENTERED IT IN THE OTHER CATEGORY BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO MISCLASSIFY; ALSO DO NOT HAVE VIN AS THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP). *TR

THE PAINT ON THE ROOF IS ALL PEELING OFF IT LOOKS LIKE CRAP I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT 600.00 TO 1,500 TO REPAINT AND FIX IT CAR PAINT SHOULD NOT PEEL OFF THE ROOF I HAVE READ THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME TROUBLE WITH THE PAINT ON THERE EXPLORERS. *TR

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4.0 WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP OR EXITING A FREEWAY. THE EXPLORER WILL START RIGHT UP AFTERWARDS. IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO LOSE ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. RIGHT BEFORE THE STALL THE RPM'S SEEM TO DROP BELOW 400 AND THE POWER STEERING STARTS TO GO OUT. IT HAPPENS AT VARYING TIMES AND TEMPERATURES AND WITH PLENTY OF GAS. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS EXTREME ENGAGEMENT INTO REVERSE. HAVE HAD MULTIPLE TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR PRIOR TO THIS FINAL REPAIR BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. IF DRIVER DOESN'T ANTICIPATE THIS CONDITION PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE COULD OCCUR. *TR

REAR PANEL OF THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER IS CRACKED, WE ARE AFRAID TO OPEN AND CLOSE WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE WINDOW WILL FALL OUT AND POSSIBLE HURT SOME ONE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES, SIZE 255/55/ R18. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE CRACKING BETWEEN THE TREAD. SEARS STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE AND COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE CRACKS IN THE TREAD. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CRACKS ARE ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,746. UPDATED 5/28/09 *CN THE INSIDE GROOVES OF THE TIRES SHOWED CRACKS. UPDATED 05/29/09.*JB

TRANSMISSION SLIPS - LURCHES INTO REVERSE - RECENTLY SLIPPED AND WOULDN'T PULL GOING UP HILL - 2 TIMES IN 2 DAYS. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER - EDDIE BAUER. IN MAY OF 2009 THE PAINT BEGAN TO BUBBLE IN PLACES ALONG THE FRONT OF THE HOOD. THESE SPOTS BECAME LARGER AND EVENTUALLY THE PAINT CHIPPED OFF, REVEALING A CORRODED BARE ALUMINUM SURFACE. THE HOOD IS NOT METAL, THEREFORE IT CAN NOT RUST. IT MUST BE A PAINT DEFECT. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER. LARGE CRACK IN HATCH BACK BETWEEN GLASS AND HANDLE (AROUND THE FORD LOGO). THIS OCCURRED WITH NORMAL VEHICLE USE AND DEALER REFUSES TO FIX. CRACK CONTINUES TO EXPAND. AFRAID THAT IF CRACK IS LEFT UNFIXED IT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE BACK GLASS TO FALL OUT OF THE HATCH DUE TO LACK OF PROPER SUPPORT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-65 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY. ALSO, ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE VEHICLE WOBBLED AND MADE A ROARING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE MORE THAN 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WHEEL BEARING; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

I AM ALSO HAVING THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. MY VEHICLE JUMPS VIOLENTLY WHEN IT IS PUT IN REVERSE. WHEN YOU FIRST PUT IT IN REVERSE IT WILL NOT MOVE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUMPS BACKWARD. I ALSO HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE TRUCK FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT IN GEAR FEELS LIKE IT SLIPS . I HAVE MADE NO REPAIRS ON MY VEHICLE AS OF YET, BUT AFTER READING THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE I SEE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING WITH OTHER VEHICLES,. WE ALL SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HOPE THAT FORD WILL TAKE CARE OF THESE FORD EXPLORER PROBLEMS BEFORE THEIR ARE MORE ACCIDENTS. I HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT AS OF THIS DATE 4/30/09, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN I PUT MY VEHICLE IN REVERSE I AM VERY WORRIED BECAUSE OF HOW VIOLENT THE TRUCK JUMPS BACKWARD. *TR