2004 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

THE REAR WINDOW LIFTGATE HINGE ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER FRACTURED. THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE HINGE IN THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE WORN OUT LIKE IT DID. I HAD TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED BOTH HINGES FOR APPROX $165. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR THE YEARS PRIOR TO MY MODEL YEAR. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE HINGE WAS THE SAME TYPE THAT WAS FAILING IN THE PRIOR MODEL YEARS. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN ORDER TO HAVE ANY OF THIS TYPE OF HINGE THAT WAS USED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL WAS # 04V442000. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE LIFT GATE FELL OFF THE HINGES WHEN IT WAS BEING CLOSED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE LIFT GATE DISCONNECTED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT IT NEEDED TWO GLASS BRACKETS AND THE HINGES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE MORE THAN $600 AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT THE LIFT GATE WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY AVAILABLE. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000. UPDATED 11/14/07

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

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY '04 FORD EXPLORER SHIFTS INCREDIBLY HARD, WILL STALL IN MID SHIFT, AND CAN SLIP INTO REVERSE FROM PARK AT ANYTIME. I AM ONE OF THOUSANDS OF OWNERS IN THE 2002-2005 YEARS IN WHICH FORD/MERCURY PUT THESE TRANSMISSIONS INTO EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS AND THEY ARE JUNK. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BY FORD BEING THEY'VE FIXED THE PROBLEM IN THEIR 2006 MODELS. THE DEALERS DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE CONTACT'S HOME. WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALER AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN EACH GEAR, BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. WHEN IT ARRIVED, THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AND DROVE BACKWARDS. WHEN THE GEAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, IT DROVE FORWARD. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE SHIFT INDICATOR AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY WHEN IT WAS TEST DRIVEN. FOUR DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE TRANSMISSION IS MAKING NOISES WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BACK AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,578. UPDATED 12-12-07. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE USING THE REMOTE TO OPEN THE REAR WINDOW, THE GLASS HINGE FAILED AND CAUSED THE WINDOW TO FALL FROM THE WINDOW FRAME. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01I010000 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE WINDOW HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 33,500 UPDATED 01/02/08. UPDATED 01/02/08.*LJ

2004 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER. PANEL UNDER TAILGATE CRACKED. CLEAR CRACK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM WHERE FORD EMBLEM IS, APPEARED OVERNIGHT. WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. 53,385 MILES *JB

ON MY EXPLORER IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 5 OCCASIONS NOW FOR THE TRANSMISSION. DELAYED ENGAGEMENT WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, SOMETIMES FEELING AS IF SOMEONE HAS REAR ENDED ME. ON THE FIRST TRIP IN AN ADDITIVE WAS ADDED TO THE TRANSMISSION, SECOND TRIP THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK WAS REPLACED, THIRD TRIP THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK WAS REPLACED, FOURTH TRIP THE DEALER COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND THE FIFTH TRIP THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE REPRODUCED. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS IS WHAT THE TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO DO. 1 DAY AFTER GETTING MY EXPLORER BACK SAME ISSUE. I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *JB

FOUND A CRACK IN THE LIFTGATE PANEL. NO IMPACT WAS SUFFERED TO THE PANEL. CRACK GOES FROM TOP TO BOTTOM RIGHT THOUGH THE FORD EMBLEM. *TR

WHILE OPENING THE REAR LIFTGATE OF OUR 2004 EXPLORER AND REACHING THE MAX EXTENSION OF THE LEFT STRUT, THE STRUT BECAME LOCK AND WOULDN'T RETRIEVE CAUSING THE LEFT HINGE TO COME OFF AND THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE TO HANG FROM THE RIGHT HINGE. THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE STRUT AND TRIED TO REPAIR IT. I REQUESTED A NEW ONE TO BE INSTALLED SINCE I HAD SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE DEALER AGREED AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE EXPENSE. HOWEVER, MY DEDUCTIBLE APPLIED. *TR

EXPLORER JERKING AND BUCKING WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. PROBLEM EVENTUALLY WORSENED WITH BUCKING ONCE PUT INTO DRIVE. BOUGHT USED AT 31,000 MILES. SYMPTOM EVIDENCED AT JUST OVER 33,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT COST OF NEARLY $4,000. ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH FORD . RESPONSE- SYMPATHETIC BUT NOTHING THEY CAN DO? OR IS THERE? DESIGN OR MANUFACTURER ERROR. EITHER WAY ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. LAST FORD I WILL OWN. *TR

THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY WHEN GOING INTO FIRST, SECOND AND REVERSE GEARS. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS ON 10/07 AT 15,690 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SOLENOID AND ASSURED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. AT 24,190 MILES THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE DEALERSHIP RECALIBRATED AND CHARGED $118. NOW AT 26,900 MILES THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED AND AGAIN THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE SOLENOID. OF COURSE AT MY EXPENSE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG AND FORD IS REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD AT LEAST GUARANTEE THE WORK THAT WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GAS AND DRIVING A FEW MILES, THE FUEL CAP PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THE CONTACT HAS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND RETIGHTEN THE FILLER CAP, WHICH THEN ALLOWS THE ENGINE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN 3 OR 4 GAS TANK FILL-UPS AND USUALLY WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. HE HAS NOT YET TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,500. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STARTED AND BEGAN TO VIBRATE. SHE THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. SHE SMELLED A STRONG GAS ODOR INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT LOOKED IN HER REARVIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED. SHE THEN NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED OUT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND APPEARED TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HAD PROBLEMS PRIOR TO INCIDENT WITH SUN VISOR FALLING OFF, GEAR SHAFT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK, ENGINE SLUGGISH, AND WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL VEHICLE WOULD JUST SHUT OFF. UPDATED 10/22/07 *TR

APPROXIMATELY IN SEPTEMBER 2007, MY LIGHTER WENT OUT AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, CARL GREGORY ON BOX ROAD IN COLUMBUS, GA. THEY CHARGED ME $35.00 FOR A FUSE AND NOW IT WON'T WORK AGAIN THIS YEAR. THE FUSES ARE FINE BUT THE LIGHTER JUST ISN'T WORKING. I NEED THE LIGHTER TO CHARGE MY PHONE. IS THIS STILL COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 73600 MILES. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER 33,663. MILES PANEL UNDER WINDOW OF HATCHBACK HAS CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE. AFTER VIEWING THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM OWNERS OF THIS SAME VEHICLE, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEIR HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. *TR

SUN VISORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. HORIZONTAL PLASTIC PANEL WITH THE FORD LOGO HAS CRACKED AND BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. CURRENT ONE ON VEHICLE IS CRACKED. SENT AN E-MAIL TO FORD AND WAS TOLD BASICALLY "TOO BAD--OUT OF WARRANTY ". FORMOCO HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM ON BOTH THE FORD AND MERCURY BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. AND OF COURSE THIS " DAMAGE " WILL LOWER THE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE WHEN I SELL/TRADE IT FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN A FORD. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN PUTTING INTO REVERSE, VEHICLE BANGS, YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL IT. WAS IN SHOP, AND FFOUND NOTHING WRONG. OCCURRED OCCAISIONALLY, NOW ALOT! NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT 5,000 MILES AGO. I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL IN A NEWER CAR.

A CRACK HAS APPEARED IN THE PLASTIC PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW ON THE REAR LIFT GATE. IT EXTENDS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM JUST LEFT OF THROUGH FORD EMBLEM. IT HAS NOT BEEN HIT OR DAMAGED IN ANY WAY. IT SPLIT ON ITS OWN. *TR

CRACK IN PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW NEXT TO FORD EMBLEM. BOTH REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. *TR

2004 EXPLORER (AUTOMATIC) COLUMN GEAR SHIFT BROKE WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. PART WAS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY SO HAD TO PURCHASE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. ESTIMATE COST OF NEW PART WAS APPROXIMATELY $500. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO LOCATE USED PART FOR HALF THE COST. REPLACED ONLY THE BROKEN PART WHICH HAS GEAR SHIFT LEVER ATTACHED. *JB

DEVELOPED CRACK IN BACK PANEL UNDER REAR WINDOW ON LIFTGATE. NOTHING TOUCHED IT. CAME OUT ONE MORNING AND FOUND IT THERE. FORD WILL NOT FIX IT WITHOUT ME PAYING $150. I'VE SEEN 200+ COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I BET OVER 50% OF THE EXPLORERS SOLD DO THIS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL.

ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2007, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, STARTED MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER AND BEGAN SHIFTING THE GEAR OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE WHEN THE SHIFT BROKE. I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING, THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER OR ANYTHING. SINCE IT WAS LATE FRIDAY, I LEFT THE SUV PARKED UNTIL SATURDAY, THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO DOUG STANLEY FORD IN DESOTO, TEXAS, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. A SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER A NEEDED PART TO REPAIR THE SUV. HE SAID HE THOUGHT THEY'D RECEIVE THE PART BY MONDAY OR TUESDAY. ON MONDAY, HE TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T GET IT UNTIL NOVEMBER 12. HE SAID THAT HE'D CALLED ALL AROUND AND HAD TO GET THE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I CHECKED ONLINE AND OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. I AM THANKFUL I WASN'T SOMEWHERE FAR FROM HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE A NEW BABY AND NEED RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A DEALERSHIP NEEDING 2 MONTHS TO GET A PART. I TRULY THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD EVENTUALLY GET SOMEONE HURT.

OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS A SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. ONCE THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES THERE IS A LOUD AND HARD "CLUNK". THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE. *TR

Y 2004 EXPLORER (BOUGHT IN NOV. 2004) HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CRACK IN THE PANEL BELOW THE LIFTGATE WINDOW. THE CRACK JUST MIRACULOUSLY APPEARED ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO. THE CRACK STARTS RIGHT BELOW THE WINDOW THEN CURVES AROUND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FORD LOGO BEFORE TRAVELING STRAIGHT DOWN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 3-4 INCHES. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. I HAVE NOTICED A FEW OTHER EXPLORERS AROUND TOWN WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I SEARCHED THE WEB A FOUND THE SAME ISSUE AS WELL. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED PAINT CHIPPING ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND ADVISED HER TO REPAIR IT HERSELF. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PAINT JOB. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,500.

MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL CRACKED DUE POOR DESIGN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH BF GOODRICH RUGGED TRAIL T/A (TIRE SIZE 245/65R17). SHE NOTICED THE TREAD ON THREE OF THE TIRES BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE TIRES TO BF GOODRICH. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT TIRE ROT CAUSED THE TREAD TO SEPARATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,650. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THE TREAD SHOULD NOT HAVE SEPARATED AT 24,650 MILES.

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

FORD EXPLORER 2004, BACK TAILGATE WINDOW FELL OFF VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 2003, FORD REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIR, CLAIMING THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO WARRANT AN ADDITIONAL RECALL. THIS BACK WINDSHIELD FELL OFF THE VEHICLE INTO MY HUSBANDS HANDS. THANK GOD MY CHILDREN WEREN'T THE IN THE WAY OR INJURED. THIS RECALL OF THE 2003, TO PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 13,2004, WELL AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS MADE AND PURCHASED. I FEAR FOR THE OWNERS OF THIS $35,000.00 VEHICLE, AND WHAT MAY HAPPEN WHILE FORD DRAGS THEIR FEET WITH THIS RECALL. I IS SOMEWHAT APPARENT THAT THE SAME HINGES WERE USED ON THIS VEHICLE AS THE 2003. PLEASE LET THE PUBLIC KNOW. THANKS. *JB

(1) FORD RECALL 5R55S/5R55E/5R443 TRANSMISSIONS APRIL 04 2005. 04B22 FORD EXPLORER XLT (2) REPAIR INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO ACTION FORD MERCURY, HARTSVILLE, SC. ON 10/23/06 WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT I WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR A PORTION OF THESE REPAIRS. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE BACK TO ACTION FORD MERCURY (4) TIMES, FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. (SEE ATTACHMENTS),10/11/04, 06/08/05. OBVIOUSLY, WITH (4) REPAIRS , SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE. BOTH STATEMENTS REFERENCE SOLENOID REPLACEMENT. THIS TRANSMISSION OBVIOUSLY HAS A 'FACTORY DEFECT', AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED ONCE AND FOR ALL, OR REPLACED. EXPECTING A CUSTOMER TO CONTINUOUSLY BRING A VEHICLE BACK IN FOR REPAIRS, FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS, EVEN ONLY PAYING DEDUCTIBLE PAYMENTS IS LUDICROUS. I ALSO TALKED IN LENGTH WITH THE ACTION FORD MERCURY SERVICE MANAGER, 'RICHARD', AND HE STATED THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. SEEMS THAT THIS IS NOT QUITE TRUE, AT LEAST NATIONALLY, IN REFERENCE TO THE INFORMATION RETAINED ON CONSUMER WEB SITES (SEE ATTACHED). ACTUALLY , THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 MODELS. *TR

THE VISORS ON 2004 FORD EXPLORERS ARE MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC THAT ARE A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THE VISORS UP CRACKS, THE VISORS WILL FALL INTO THE VISION OF THE DRIVER. THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO TAKE THE VISOR DOWN AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO OBSTRUCT VISION UNTIL IT IS TAKE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. BOTH VISORS ON OUR VEHICLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE, AND A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH SHOWS THAT MANY OTHER HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPLORER. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE CAR JOLTS WITH A CLUNKING NOISE. ABS LIGHT IS ON AND 4X4 HIGH LIGHT FLASHES. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON BUT NO HOSE LEAKS CAN BE FOUND. WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON EVEN AFTER TPS REPLACEMENT SUGGESTED BY OBD-II. VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED 7 FORDS, THIS IS THE WORST I HAVE OWNED. *TR

EXACT DATES ARE VARIOUS , VEHICLE HAS 39000 MILES ON IT PRESENTLY , HAVE MULTIPLE VEHICLES , DRIVE OVER THE ROAD TRUCK DRIVER ... CHANGED BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE , EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT WORKING , HAD FIXED , HAD TO HAVE EKG REPLACED AND SOME EXHAUST SENSOR , TIRES WORE OUT AT 29000 , EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED , BOTH BALL JOINTS REPLACED , PINION GEAR GASKET LEAKING FROM REAR END , BOTH CV JOINTS LEAKING , APPEARS RIGHT CV JOINT NEEDS REPLACING , GETS 14 MPG ( 4.0 LITER ) PAINT PEELING FROM ROOF FOR QUITE AWHILE NOW , RUSTING AROUND FUEL TANK DOOR , AS ALL ARE ...... VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE , GETTING RID OF THIS AT 39000 MILES , FORD HAS A BETTER IDEA , BUY ANOTHER ONE ! *TR

I HAVE TAKEN MY FORD EXPLORER (2004 XLT V8 4WD) TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES TO HAVE THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID THAT IS LEAKING FIXED. I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $800 GETTING IT FIXED, NOT TO MENTION THE GAS THAT IT TAKES TO GET THERE AND BACK AND EACH TIME I PULL IN MY DRIVEWAY AND LOOK OUT TO SEE IT STILL LEAKING. AFTER THE SECOND TIME THAT I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT LADY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY IT WAS LEAKING AND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTACT FORD TO SEE IF IT WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM--AND OF COURSE IT IS---AND THEY HAD TO ORDER A DIFFERENT PART (THAT IS STILL NOT WORKING) TO FIX IT. COULDN'T THEY HAVE KNOWN THAT IN THE BEGINNING? NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IF THIS DOESN'T WORK THEY ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE AXLES. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT. I WILL NO LONGER BE A FORD CUSTOMER DUE TO THIS. THANK YOU FORD FOR WASTING MY TIME AND MY MONEY! *TR

FORD HAS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2004 EXPLORER. SIMILAR TO THOUSANDS OF OTHERS,WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR 5 - 10 SECONDS AND THEN BANGS INTO GEAR WITH A SUDDEN POWER SURGE. WE'VE BARELY MANAGED TO AVOID HITTING THE HOUSE AND OTHER VEHICLES. A "REPAIR" JUST COST US ~$900. FORD CLAIMS NO KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM. WHAT A JOKE! *JB

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,900.

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.

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLS AND THE BRAKES FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY COULD BE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE COAST BUTTON IS PRESSED, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

PAINT ON THE HOOD OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER BEGAN TO BUBBLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY PEEL OFF. NEEDED OTHER, UNRELATED BODY WORK, AND HAD THE DEALER SHIPFIX THE PAINT PROBLEM ALONG WITH OTHER BODY WORK. FORTUNATELY, THE BODY SHOP GUY ONLY CHARGED ME $100, SINCE HE ALREADY HAD THE PAINT (AND I THINK FELT A LITTLE SORRY FOR ME). HAVE HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT. *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

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

2004 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED WITH FAULTY GAS GAUGE. CAR SAID 70 MILES TO EMPTY YET MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS (AGES 3&5) RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY. THEY HAD TO HIKE 1 MILE DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY TO GET ASSISTANCE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN NO GAS GAUGE IS ONE THAT DOES NOT READ ACCURATELY. THANKFULLY THEY EVENTUALLY ARRIVED HOME SAFELY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF STRANGERS. *TR

BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES, 2004 FORD EXPLORER. BRAKING SYSTEMS MAKES A SIGNIFICANT BUMP AND NOISE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. *JB

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

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.

WHEN CLOSING REAR PANEL, THE PANEL CRACKED. *JS