2004 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

THE BACK HATCH HAS A CRACK UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW IN THE MIDDLE AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM. JUST APPEARED....AS I'VE NOTICED SEVERAL FORD 2004 EXPLORERS IN THIS AREA HAVE THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. RECALL IS VERY MUCH NECESSARY. AS WELL AS THE CAR JOLTING INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE....I STILL OWE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THIS LOAN AND REFUSE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS....FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL ON BOTH...THEY NEED TO HIRE SOME JAPANESE WORKERS SINCE THEIR CARS SEEM NOT TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.....I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN FEB OF 2008 AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RIGHT AFTER THAT.....CAR ONLY HAD 48K MILES ON IT. *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 OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. CAR STARTED VIBRATING AT LOW SPEEDS ESPECIALLY AFTER A STOP AND WHEN TURNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO MECHANICS AND BOTH TOLD ME THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AND JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SO I WILL BE UNABLE TO PAY FOR THE COSTLY REPAIR. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT MANY MANY OTHER FORD CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN NOVEMBER 2006 WITH 16,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES, I NOTICED THAT IT SHIFTED HARD GOING INTO 3RD GEAR AS I ACCELERATED. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD REV UP, THEN SHIFT WITH A THUD. I DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE HARD. THIS WAS NOTICED DURING NORMAL IN TOWN DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. AT 38,000 MILES I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED (AS MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE). I EXPLAINED THE SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION PROBLEM IN DETAIL. THEY REPORTED THAT THIS WAS WITHIN THE SPECS FOR THIS TRUCK. THAT IT WAS NORMAL ACCELERATION. IT IS NOW 54,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL, THEN CLUNKS AND GRABS THE NEXT GEAR. THERE IS ALSO A DELAY AND CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. I'VE JUST TAKEN IT IN AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED. THE SHOP REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO PARTICULATE OR DEBRIS IN THE PAN, SO IT IS PROBABLY SOMETHING INTERNAL. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND THEY ARE SAYING I NEED A NEW/REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *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

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

A CRACK FORMED BELOW THE REAR GLASS PANEL ON OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CRACK FORMED DUE TO A FLAW IN THE REAR DOOR PANEL. I HAVE NOTICED THE SAME CRACK ON THE SAME SPOT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM ON NEARLY 80% OF THE FORD EXPLORER'S WE SEE ON THE HIGHWAY 'S IN THE ATLANTA AREA. *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

THERE IS ALOT OF WHISTLING AND SQUEAKING IN MY FRONT END AND EVERYTIME I HAVE IT LOOKED AT I AM TOLD IT JUST NEEDS LUBRICATION AND AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE NOISE IS BACK WHICH I AM SURE MEANS SOMETHING IS WRONG AND NO ONE SEEMS TO FIND IT. THE SQUEAKING IS DRIVING ME NUTS AT EVERY TURN WHENEVER YOU BRAKE SOMETIMES JUST ACCELERATING WILL CAUSE IT TO SQUEAK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR PRESSURE HOSE THAT CONNECTS TO THE AIR COMPRESSOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM BECAME INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW HOSE WOULD COST AT LEAST $400. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,080. UPDATED 09/17/08. *LJ THE AIR CONDITIONERS HIGH PRESSURE HOSE FAILED TWICE. ONE FORM THE HOSE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE GOING TO THE RADIATOR. UPDATED 09/25/08. *JB

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

THE BLEND DOOR BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WON'T CLOSE. THIS PREVENTS PROPER DEFROSTING, HEATING AND COOLING REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER. IN THE WINTER FREEZING AIR BLOWS THROUGH, CHILLING ALL PASSENGERS. IN THE SUMMER, ALL THE HEAT FROM THE ROADS COMES THROUGH. OUR FORD DEALER SAYS THEY CAN FIX IT FOR OVER $1000!! THERE ARE TOO MANY OF THESE DEFECTS ON THE ROAD AND FORD KNEW OF THE DEFECT AT LEAST 2 YEARS BEFORE MY SUV WAS EVEN MADE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN HE ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING, IT DEACTIVATED ITSELF WITHOUT WARNING. HE HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO RE-SET THE ERROR CODE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY, AND MOSTLY ON THE INTERSTATE. ALSO WHEN HE WOULD TURN ON THE TURN SIGNALS, THE AUTOMATIC WARNING SYSTEM WOULD MAKE AN ALARM NOISE AND BLINK UNTIL THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD CUT OFF. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION APPEARED TO LOSE FLUID, WHEN HE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. HE HEARD A ROARING NOISE NEAR THE TIRE AREA. HE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE HUBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LASTLY, THE AESTHETIC PIECE ON THE LOWER HALF OF THE HATCH-BACK HAD CRACKED AND SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO USE MY CRUISE CONTROL AROUND 30 -35 MPH MY VEHICLE TURNS OFF AND ALL THE GAUGES TURN ON. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED I WAS ON A CURVE GOING ABOUT 32 MPH AND I NEARLY RAN HEAD ON TO THE CAR IN THE ONLY LANE BECAUSE YOU LOOSE POWER STEERING AND IT GETS DIFFICULT. EVERYTIME I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON. IT ONLY HAPPENS AT THIS SPEEDS AND DRIVING ON A MILITARY POST WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 30MPH CAN BE DANGEROUS. *TR

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

ALL OF THE PAINT ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER IS FALLING OFF JUST ON THE ROOF. *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

WE PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 LITER V6 APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO (46,000 MILES). SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT HARD FROM "PARK" INTO "REVERSE". THE VEHICLE ALSO SHIFTS HARD WHILE IN MOTION. IT FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. MECHANIC ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $600.00 IN PARTS, AND APPROXIMATELY $800.00 IN LABOR. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW LONG THE TRANSMISSION WILL LAST UNTIL COMPLETE FAILURE. I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS THAT IT MAY FAIL AS WE ARE ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

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

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

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

DEFECT IN HATCH AREA OF FORD EXPLORER CAUSING A CRACK NEAR THE FORD EMBLEM. HAPPENED WHEN VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 60K MILES. CALLED FORD DEALER WHO SAID NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER'S REAR HATCH/TAILGATE HINGES BROKE. *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

TOOK CAR BACK TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM, COMPLAINED OF A ROUGH SHIFT INTO REVERSE, TECHNICIAN SAID NORMAL WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER IN CITY WHERE I WORK THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A SOLENOID IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. 20000 MILES LATER AND 18 MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM DIAGNOSED, NOT IN WARRANTY ANY LONGER I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY GAVE ME A DECISION THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. THIS SAME PROBLEM APPEARS AT LEASE 3 TIMES ON YOUR WEBSITE AS SERVICE BULLETINS. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON FORD EXPLORER 2004... THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY EXPLORER, 3 OF THE 4 GEARS WERE GONE!.... THIS COST $7,000 TO BE REPLACED... I BELIEVE THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A 3 YEAR OLD CAR TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AT THIS COST. NOT TO MENTION I WORKED WITH A GUY WHO HAD AN EXPLORER AND A MOUNTAINEER AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT ON BOTH OF THOSE VEHICLES.. THEY WERE AN 02 AND 04. THEN THIS PAST WEEK I HAD TO HAVE MY BRAKES DONE. AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID I NEEDED A FEW OTHER MINOR THINGS DONE... BUT I TOLD THEM I HAD ALREADY SPENT $8,000 (ALL BALL BEARINGS REPLACED $1000 + 7000 FOR TRANSMISSION)ON THE VEHICLE RECENTLY AND CAN'T GET IT DONE RIGHT NOW. AND THEY ASKED IF THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION... I SAID, "YES WHY", THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD 5 EXPLORERS FROM THE AROUND THE SAME AGE AS MINE THAT HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURES. NOW THAT'S A TOTAL OF 8 EXPLORERS IN MY AREA AND I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS FROM OTHER PEOPLE. FORD NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THIS AND OFFER SOME DISCOUNT ON A FIX FOR THIS OR HAVE ALL THE EXPLORERS FROM THIS TIME PERIOD RECALLED. I BOUGHT A NEW TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH IS WAS $4000 MORE THAN A REBUILT ONE, BECAUSE IT CAME WITH A LIFE-TIME WARRANTY.... I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION MADE INTO FORD'S EXPLORER SO, THAT PAST AND FUTURE PROBLEMS CAN BE RECTIFIED. *TR

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

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

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

FOUR WEEKS AGO I DISCOVERY AN CRACK JUST BELOW MY REAR WINDOW OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4.0 V6...LATER I HAVE SEEN THIS DAMAGE ON THREE OTHER CARS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND IN PARKING LOTS. JUST TODAY I NOTICE I THIS PROBLEM IN YET ANOTHER EXPLORER, AND I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THE OWNER, AND HE SAID IT JUST HAPPEN TWO WEEK EARLIER. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE HINGE OF MY 2004 EXPLORER TO BREAK ALSO, I HAD READ THAT THIS WAS AN PROBLEM WITH THE 2003- 2003 MODE. WELL TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE IT AND PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 MODEL ALSO. IT COST ME 80 DOLLARS TO GET THE HINGES PLACED WITH LABOR. I HAVE READ THE IT WILL COST BETWEEN 300 TO 600 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE CRACK. *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

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.

DRIVING VEHICLE, STOPPED, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, GOT OUT OF VEHICLE BRIEFLY , GOT BACK IN VEHICLE, PULLED ON GEAR SHIFT LEAVER TO PUT IN DRIVE WOULD NOT GO IN DRIVE OR ANY OTHER GEAR, PRNDL LEAVER BROKE OFF, COULD NOT REMOVE KEY, COULD SHUT OFF THE MOTOR, HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR $1,501.19. I DID NOT BY THIS VEHICLE FROM OURISMAN FORD. I BOUGHT IT FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. *TR

PAINT PEELING FROM VEHICLE. *TR

REAR HATCH WINDOW DROPPED OFF HINGES. *TR

IN ORDER TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE PARK POSITION, IT IS NECESSARY TO PUSH THE LEVER UP, LET IT RETURN DOWN A SHORT BIT, AND THEN PUT IT INTO PARK. THE LEVER WANTS TO STOP HALF WAY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE MAY RETURN TO REVERSE WITHOUT ACTUALLY BEING IN THE PARK POSITION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH OF THE LIFTGATE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. AS OF DECEMBER 4, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED RESTITUTION OF $150; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DECLINED THE OFFER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,846 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,946. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE COST OF REPAIRS SHOULD NOT BE PASSED ONTO THE CONSUMER. UPDATED 12/31/07 *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

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

CRACKED PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SHE APPROACHED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE HORIZONTAL PANEL UNDER THE REAR LIFT GATE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED FOR THE HORIZONTAL PANEL AND EMBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,652. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. *TR

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE-I THINK THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. MAYBE IT WAS NOT THE TIRES CAUSING ALL THE CRASHES BUT THE BAD REAR ENDS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF. REAR WHINING NOISE AND GRINDING FROM ALL SUV MODELS. *TR

THE HEATERS BLENDING DOOR IS BROKEN SO THE AIR FLOW WILL NOT BE REDIRECTED. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE DASHBOARD SETTING AND I AM UNABLE TO REDIRECT AIR FLOW TO THE DEFROSTER. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED $1500 TO REPLACE THE HEATER BECAUSE THE BROKEN PART IS MOLDED ONTO THE HEATING ELEMENT AND THEY NEED TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. I SEARCHED FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, AND FORDS VEHICLES HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF BLENDING DOOR PROBLEMS. NOT BEING ABLE TO REDIRECT THE AIR FLOW IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER. A CRACK APPEARED ON THE REAR TAILGATE PANEL DIRECTLY BELOW THE TAILGATE GLASS AND NEXT TO THE FORD EMBLEM. THE DEALER, SUMMERVILLE FORD, SUMMERVILLE, SC, INFORMED ME THAT ALTHOUGH HE SEES THIS PROBLEM OFTEN ON THIS EXPLORER BODY STYLE, NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AND FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. OBVIOUSLY, FORD IS AWARE OF THIS POOR DESIGN RESULTING IN BODY INTEGRITY FAILURE, BASED ON THE OTHER EXPLORERS I HAVE WITNESSED ON OUR ROADS WITH THE SAME DAMAGE AND THE OTHER COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA. BUT FORD IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE. I NOTICE THE NEW EXPLORERS NO LONGER HAVE THIS POOR TAILGATE DESIGN. THIS IS DAMAGE CAUSED BY FORD'S POOR DESIGN AND SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND REPAIRED BY FORD. *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 UNABLE TO TELL ME IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS RELATED TO THE ABS MODULE. THEY NEVER CHECK THE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM AND WAS NOT AWARE OF IT TILL I HAD CALLED THEM BACK ON THE USED ABS MODULE. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THESE MAJOR ISSUES WITH THESE EXPLORERS....POOR PARTS INSTALLED AT TIME OF MANUFACTURING. FORD SHOULD BE LIABLE. *TR

I HAVE A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFT GATE OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. IT RUNS VERTICALLY FROM UNDER THE WINDOW, AROUND THE LEFT SIDE OF EMBLEM, TO THE BOTTOM OF PANEL. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON DESIGN FLAW. I HAD THIS REPAIRED ONCE ALREADY IN SEPTEMBER 2006. THIS IS THE 2ND OCCURRENCE AND FORD IS NOT REPAIRING IT UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE MY 12 MONTH PERIOD ENDED 6 WEEKS AGO. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED, AS IT IS A 2ND OCCURRENCE AND OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER FLAW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECREASED DRAMATICALLY. ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. TWO MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AUTOMATICALLY. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,325. UPDATED 03-05-08 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE GLASS ON THE REAR HATCH DOOR HAS CRACKED AND THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT MAY SHATTER AT ANY MOMENT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT IS NOT A DEFECT AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 49,000.

REAR AXLE NOISE/WHINING. *TR