2004 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO THE GARAGE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE TIRES STARTED SQUEALING AND SPINNING. THE VEHICLE THEN HAD GONE OUT OF CONTROL AND LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO GO THROUGH A SET OF CABINETS AND PINNED THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND BETWEEN A WALL AND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND SPENT A WEEK IN THE TRAUMA UNIT. THE ACCIDENT HAD BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. PICTURES AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION ARE AVAILABLE. THERE WAS OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE. *AK (12/08/05) *SC

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER .WHEN I GO FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE THERE IS A 5 TO 6 SECOND DELAY THEN A LOUD BANG. ALSO FROM PARK TO REVERSE THERE IS A 5 TO 6 SECOND DELAY THEN A BANG SOMETIMES IT HAS THE 5 TO 6 SECOND DELAY AND LOUNGES BACKWARD EVEN WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS COULD KILL SOMEONE THAT IS WALKING BEHIND YOUR TRUCK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF YOU NEED TO BACK UP FAST FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES OR MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF ON COMING VEHICLES. FORD MOTOR COMPANY RELEASED A STATEMENT ON NOV 22 FORD SPOKESWOMAN KRISTEN KINLEY SAID THEY KNOW ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IT WAS DUE TO THE WRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID PUT IN DURING MANUFACTURE THEY ARE REPLACING THE SOLENOID AND THE FLUID. MY FORD DEALER KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THIS? AND ARE SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL BECAUSE THERE ARE NO REPORTED INJURIES. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS FIXED? FORD MOTOR CO. KNOWS ABOUT THIS THERE SPOKESWOMAN HAS COMMENTED ABOUT IT BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE??

TRANSMISSION ON 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4.6 AWD DOESN'T ENGAGE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE WITHOUT HESITATION. ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE ABOUT 15K. TOOK TO THE DEALER AFTER RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD. DEALER PUT "ADDITIVE" IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SAID IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 3K MILES TO WORK OUT OF THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE 24K ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE SHIFTING IS GETTING WORSE. WORRIED ABOUT PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ETC, NOT KNOWING IF THE TRUCK WILL MOVE OR NOT. LEATHER SEAT COVERS WERE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE DEALER, AS AFTER 6 MONTHS THERE WERE NUMEROUS CRACKS IN THE LEATHER. *NM

2004 EXPLORER EXHIBITED SIGNS OF NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY INTO REVERSE AS EARLY AS AUG/SEP 04. PRONOUNCED DELAY OF SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AROUND 2004 HOLIDAY SEASON. CALLED DEALERSHIP UPON RECEIPT OF LETTER FROM FORD IN JANUARY, BUT TRANSMISSION ADDITIVE NOT YET AVAILABLE. AFTER ADDITIVE (MARCH 05), VEHICLE CONTINUED TO JUMP INTO REVERSE AND FORWARD SHIFTING AT LOWER SPEEDS BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED. THIS PRESENTS A HAZARD PARTICULAR IN CITY DRIVING AND IN BACKING OUT OF TIGHT PARKING AREAS. HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DEALER TO ANAYLZE PROPER REPAIR AND MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY. NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION YET.

2004 FORD EXPLORER - I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN DEC. 03. STARTING AT APPROXIMATELY 14 MONTHS OLD, IT STARTS STALLING OUT, JUST DYING COMPLETELY. NO SIGNS, NO SYMPTOMS, JUST DIE AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I CHALKED IT UP TO BAD GAS OR SOMETHING? FINALLY, ON THE 3RD. DEAD TIME, I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THEY CHANGED A FUSE AND IT SHOULD BE FINE. IT DIED AGAIN ... AND AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK. THEY INSTALLED A BLACK BOX (FLIGHT RECORDER & TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT UNTIL THE MACHINE REGESTERED "3". I HAD TO KEEP THE BUTTON BY THE STEERING COLUMN SO I COULD PUSH IT QUICKLY WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FIRST STALL, I PUSHED THE BUTTON & IT REGISTERED "2". IT DIED AGAIN JUST A BLOCK DOWN THE ROAD (RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON CASINO ROW, HWY 90). I PUSHED THE BUTTON AGAIN & IT REGISTERED "3". THE NEXT WEEK I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY HAD THE CAR 4 DAYS THIS TIME & COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. FINALLY THEY CALLED THE ENGINEERS WHO SAID TO "CLEAN & TIGHTEN THE GROUNDING STRAPS". THAT FRIDAY, IT DIED AGAIN. A COUPLE OF TIMES IT HAS DIES, MY NEWLY LICENSED DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING & NOW SHE IS AFFRAID OF MY CAR! THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS WHEN IT DIES. WE WERE COMING BACK FROM WALMART & I KEPT TELLING HER "TURN, TURN", SHE YELLED "I CAN'T". THE CAR HAD DIED AGAIN! BECAUSE OF THE HURRICANE, I COULDN'T TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK IN. IT DIED A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES DURING EVACUATION. 5 IN SLOW TRAFFIC JAMS & ONCE WHEN COMING 60 MPH OFF THE INTERSTATE ONTO AN EXIT. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN IT BACK IN TO THE DEALER AGAIN (AT THE URGING OF FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE) AND THEY KEPT IT 10 DAYS & STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG! THEY GAVE ME MY CAR BACK & SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER.?! I AM A UNITED STATES AIR FORCE INSTRUCTOR AND I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO TAKE IT IN CONSTANTLY TO THE DEALER. PLUS, I PAY AN OUTRAGEOUS CAR PAYMENT JUST TO HAVE MY VEHICLE SIT IN REPAIR.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. 1ST) MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MAKING A CLUNK OR THUD SOUND ALMOST EVERYTIME. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SOLENOID ASSEMBLY. I STILL FEEL SOME OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS WHEN REVERSING AND SLOWING DOWN. 2ND) MY EXPLORER NOW FAILS TO START. I DROVE TO PICK UP SOME FRIENDS. I DROVE A MAXIMUM OF 40 MILES THAT DAY BEFORE I WENT TO HIS HOUSE. AFTER 30 MIN I CAME OUTSIDE AND TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT EVEN TURN OVER. THERE IS ENOUGH POWER, THE BATTERY HAS A GREEN LIGHT, AND THE FUSE IS GOOD. I USED TO BE A LOYAL FORD MAN BUT AFTER THESE PROBLEMS I AM SERIOUSLY THINKING OF TRADING THIS VEHICLE IN FOR A DIFFERENT BROWN.

TRANSMISSION LEAKS, HAS BEEN REPAIRED 4 TIMES BY DEALER. TRANSMISSION HAS NO DIP STICK TO MEASURE LEVEL AND NO WAY FOR USER TO ADD FLUID. WHEN LEAK IS NOTICED USER DOES NOT KNOW OIL LEVEL AND CAN BE LEFT STRANDED IN DANGEROUS LOCATIONS. HAS ALSO BEEN REPAIRED FOR SLAMMING DUE TO SOLENOID PROBLEMS ALSO.

2004, V-6, AUTO TRANSMISSION, FORD EXPLORER, AN INTERMITANT PROBLEM WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. ENGINE REVS,FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO CONNECTION TO THE TRANSMISSION, AS IF IN NEUTRAL, THEN UNEXPECTANTLY IT ENGAGES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH BACKWARD. WE RECEIVED A SERVICE NOTICE FROM FORD THAT THIS CONDITION ONLY HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER, TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO OUR DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM PUT IN A SPECIAL FLUID WHICH WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WELL IT IS NOW MAY 16 HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA AND IT, THE REVERSE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. WE ARE GOING TO THE DEALSHIP AGAIN,

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE GEAR SHIFTED FROM THE "PARK" POSITION TO "REVERSE". THERE WAS A FORCEFUL FORWARD SHIFTING MOTION WHEN THAT OCCURRED. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT WAS PLACED IN THE "REVERSE POSITION" AND SHIFTING INTO THE "DRIVE" POSITION THERE WAS IMMEDIATE HESITATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SHIFT SOLENOID WHICH WAS REPLACED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE SOLENOID FOR IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,804 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

PROBLEMS WITH A 2004 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION OPERATION. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION WILL DROP INTO 1ST GEAR, BRINGING THE VEHICILE ALMOST TO A FULL STOP. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO DROPS INTO A NETURAL GEAR ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

2004 FORD EXPLORER...WELL KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, DELAY AND "BUCKING" INTO REVERSE...FORD DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX BUT TO NO AVAIL...

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAS A WHINE IN THE REAR END AT APPX 56-58 MPH. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE RING AND PINION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAS A DELAY AND THEN HARD SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE SOLENOID BECAUSE OF HARSH REVERSE ENGAGEMENT AND NOW AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY.

THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF, COULDN'T STEER, AND COULDN'T PULL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE ABOUT A MINUTE DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT FELT LIKE THEY WERE STILL WORKING.*AK *SB *NM

2004 FORD EXPLORER ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THERE IS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR BOTH OF THESES MALFUNCTIONS PRESENT A DANGER AND A HAZARD AND ARE VERY SERIOUS DEFECTS. *BF *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC LINING UNDER THE TAILGATE WINDOW WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE FAILURE WITHOUT A RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY YEAR AND MODEL OF HIS VEHICLE THAT HE HAS OBSERVED EXHIBITS THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 52,000. UPDATED 07/23/10*JB

FORD 2004 EXPLORER PAINT BUBBLING AT FRONT OF ALUMINUM HOOD. CLEARLY A DEFECT. TOOK TO DEALER WHERE THE BODY SHOP MANAGER SAID HE REPAINTED 70 SO FAR THIS YEAR BUT FORD WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF IT. ASKED TO MEET WITH THE DISTRICT SUPERVISOR. SET UP A MEETING WHEN HE WOULD BE IN TOWN. HE WOULD NOT EVEN COME OUT TO TALK TO ME AND SENT SOMEONE ELSE OUT TO TELL ME FORD WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE IN MY WARRANTY IT READS, "RUST MUST PERMANENT FROM THE INSIDE OUT". I ARGUED THAT IT IS AN ALUMINUM HOOD AND WILL NEVER RUST! I THEN WROTE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND HAVE NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I KEEP CHECKING FOR RECALLS AND HAVE SEEN NOTHING TO DATE. MY WIFE AND I SEE MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. SHAME ON FORD!! I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING TAKEN CARE OF WITH THIS. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT AND NOT SOMETHING ANY OF US CONSUMERS EVER DID TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD SPORTS TRAC EXPLORER. THERE WAS A RECALL TO PUT AN ADDITIVE INTO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH I DID. I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. OCASSIONALLY WHEN STOPPING THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT STEP DOWN GEARS AND I HAVE TO JUST ABOUT STAND ON THE BREAK AND QUICK PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL TO STOP THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO CAVALIER FORD IN CHESAPEAKE VA. . THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS A SAFTEY ISSUE THEY COULD GO NOFURTHER. I COMPLAINED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING.

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

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE ENGINE WILL STALL. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR TOLD THIS WOULD FIX IT, BUT IT DID NOT. ALL BUT ONCE THE CAR HAS STARTED BACK UP IMMEDIATLY.

2004 FORD EXPLORER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION. *MR THE THROTTLE RESPONSE SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS. FORD ISSUED ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO REFLASH THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SURGE THAT ACCELERATES 3-5 MPH FROM SPEEDS BETWEEN 10 TO 15 MPH WITH A DEAD SPOT PROCEEDING THE SURGE. *SC *JB

TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE/ SLAMS INTO REVERSE AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS OF HESITATION/DELAYS IN SHIFTING IN FORWARD GEARS, AND IS DANGEROUS!. AFRAID EVERY TIME CAR SHIFTS GEARS BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL LURCH OR HESITATE. BOUGHT THIS CAR 2 WEEKS AGO, USED, 19,750 MILES ON IT IN 37 YEARS OF DRIVING HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS WITH ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED . EVERY PERSON I KNOW WHO HAS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM - FORD IS A LARGE AUTOMOBILE MAKER, SHOULD PROVIDE A RECALL TO ITS CUSTOMERS. *AK

WE RENTED A FORD EXPLORER 2004. MY 6YR OLD WAS IN THE 2ND ROW PUTTING ON HIS SEAT BELT WHEN IT SLIPPED OUT OF HIS HAND OVER HIS SHOULDER AND HAD HIM STRANGLED AROUND HIS NECK. WE (HIS PARENTS) COULD NOT LOOSEN IT. IT ONLY BECAME TIGHTER. WE DROVE UP TO A HOTEL WHERE THEY HAD SCISSORS AND CUT IT OFF HIS NECK SO HE BREATHE PROPERLY AGAIN.*AK

CONSUMER WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT WAS HEADING SOUTH AND WENT LEFT OF CENTER, HITTING CONSUMER WHO WAS HEADED NORTH. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO BECOME AIRBORNE, FLIPPING, ROLLING AND LANDING ON PASSENGER SIDE. *BF *NM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EXCESSIVELY. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN DRIVER HIT THE CURB AND FLIPPED FOUR TIMES LANDING UPSIDE DOWN IN A DITCH. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED BY AN AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

AUTO TRANSMISSION JUMPING IN AND OUT OF REVERSE GEAR.

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN, MOMENTS LATER THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND DOWN, AND THE BRAKES FAILED, NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE JUMPED TIMING. *AK

2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT 22,000 MILES. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE UNLESS YOU STEP ON THE ACCELLERATOR. THEN IT ENGAGES WITH A LOUD BANG, SLAMS INTO GEAR AND LURCHES BACKWARDS. CAR ALSO PAUSES BETWEEN SHIFTS DURING ACCELERATION. HAVE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER YET WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION SOLENOID TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS ON BACK ORDER. *AK

2004 EXPLORER 4DR; DRIVER'S AIRBAG POOR FIT, COMING OFF STEERING WHEEL.*AK

FLASHING LIGHTS ON PANEL. ACCIDENT IN WHICH CAR SKIDDED. DEALER SAID DEFECT IN REAR AXLE OF2004 FORD EXPLORER.

DT: THE CHROME ON THE WHEELS WAS CHIPPING OFF AND THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO GET THEM FIXED AND THAT THE CRACKING IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THEM FOR FREE. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THEY WILL ASSIST THE CONSUMER IN PAYING FOR THE PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER TURNED THEM DOWN. *AK *SC *JB

DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND VEHICLE HESITATED. THEN, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ON ITS OWN. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SOLENOID BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

MY EXPLORER LIMITED HESITATES A FEW SECONDS BEFORE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. WHEN IT FINALLY DOES SHIFT, IT SLAMS INTO GEAR. THE ENGINES DOES NOT REV DURING THIS PERIOD AS I HAVE HEARD OTHERS SAY THEIRS DOES. IT SEEMS TO ONLY DO THIS WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP AND NOT EVERY TIME. ALSO, IT SOMETIMES SLAMS INTO GEAR AFTER YOU'VE SLOWED DOWN TO TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET THEN HIT THE GAS. I HAVE BEEN TO A FORD DEALER AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION ADDITIVE PUT IN. THIS ACTUALLY MADE THINGS WORSE! I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND EXPECT IT TO PERFORM AS SUCH.

2004 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. DELAYS WHEN PUT IN REVERSE AND THEN LUNGES BACK WITH A CLUNKING SOUND. ALSO, HARD SHIFT AND CLUNKING IN DRIVE. *JB

AFTER ONLY 300 MILES ON THE ODOMETER---DISCOVERED THE 2 FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND THE CAR SHOOK WHEN BRAKING. WE ASKED THAT THEY BE REPLACED. FORD AREA REP WOULD NOT ALLOW IT...THE DEALER, INSTEAD, "TURNED" THE ROTORS BY TAKING OFF 50% OF SURFACE. FORD SAID THIS STILL MET THEIR SPEC FOR WARRANTY REPAIR. WE BELIEVE IT IS UNFAIR!! *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE AND THE ATTENDANT SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT AUTOMATICALLY BURNED WHILE PARKED. *AK

WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT WENT INTO GEAR ROUGH AND I ASKED THE SALES PERSON ABOUT IT AND HE SAID THAT IS HOW THIS VEHICLE GOES INTO GEAR. WE STARTED TO NOTICE HESITATION WHEN WE ACCELERATED FROM EITHER A STOP OR WHILE DRIVING. WE BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY CALIBRATED THE COMPUTER. THEN WE STARTED TO GET REAR END LEAKS AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED 3 TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CONTINUED AND WE BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER DEALER BECAUSE OF THE POOR SERVICE AT THE PURCHASING DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED A SOLENOID VALVE AND OVERHAULED MAIN CONTROL. THIS DID NOT HELP AND THEN THE PROBLEM BEGAN TO SHOW NEW SYMPTOMS. NOW WHEN WE BACK UP IT LOCKS UP AND THEN JERKS BACK INTO GEAR GOING BACKWARDS. I HAVE TOLD BOTH DEALERSHIPS OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT RESIDUAL DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND WAS ASSURED THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN. IT HAS. OUR LAST COUPLE OF VISITS WE HAVE BEEN LIED TO AND THE WORK ORDER HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTLY REFLECTING WHAT WE SAID AND WHAT WAS FOUND BY THE TECH'S. THERE IS NO MENTION ON THE REPORT THAT TWO OF THEN HAD THE REVERES PROBLEMS HAPPENING TO THEM. I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE WITH IT LIKE THAT BUT THEY WOULD NOT CHANGE IT. I DO HAVE A TECH'S STATEMENT WRITTEN ON IT AND SIGNED. NOW THEY REPLACED THE REAR END ABS SENSOR AND FOLLOWED THE 05-3-8 RECALL 4X4 CONTROL MODULE PER HOTLINE. THEY SAID THEY DID TWO ROAD TESTS BUT I CHECKED MY MILEAGE AND THEY ONLY DROVE 1.9 MILES. HOW CAN YOU DO TWO TRANSMISSION ROAD TESTS WITHIN 1.9 MILES? WE ARE VERY CONCERNED AND AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND INJURE OR KILL OUR FAMILY AND POSSIBLE SOMEONE ELSE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER AND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION WITH NO RESOLUTION IN SIGHT. THIS AT THE VERY LEAST WILL COST US ALL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR FORDS MISTAKE AND LACK OF RESPONSIBLE ACTION. BUT IN TRUTH OUR FAMILIES WILL END UP EITHER INJURED OR DEAD FIRST. WHY WILL NO ONE HELP US WITH THIS PROBLEM? R.S. *NM

VEHICLE HESTITATES BETWEEN GEAR CHANGES ESPECIALLY ON LOWER GEARS. ALTHOUGH AN ADDITIVE WAS PUT IN BY THE DEALER, GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE IS EVEN WORSE. THE VEHICLE OFTEN SITS FOR 10-15 SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE AND EVEN THEN, THE CHANGE FEELS "ROUGH."*AK

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

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

WHEN AT A STOP THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE UNTIL ENGINE RPMS ARE TOO HIGH FOR SAFE INITIAL FORWARD OR REARWARD MOVEMENT. ACCORDING TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY CITY THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SOLINOID BODY INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION.THERE WAS ONE ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN 2005 WHEN THE CAR HAD 11127 MILES. AT THAT TIME THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SOLENOID VALVE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. THAT DEALERSHIP WENT OUT OF BUSINESS ABOUT A YEAR LATER. JUST LATELY THE NEW DEALERSHIP THOUGHT THAT THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO RETURN THE CAR TO A SAFE AND NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. THE COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $3500. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS TO THE US DOT NHTSA , BUT NOTHING HAS COME OF THESE COMPLAINTS. THE FORD MOTOR CO. ALSO REFUSES TO DO ANY REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY AND/OR DUE TO A FACTORY RECALL, ETC. THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED REFERS TO A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION IN WHICH THE DRIVERS OF 2004 FORD EXPLORERS DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHEN OR AT WHAT RMP LEVEL THEIR CAR WILL SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATE FROM A STOP.

WHEN PLACING MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN REVERSE, IT HESITATES THEN ENGAGES IN GEAR WITH A NOTICEABLE JUMP AND "CLANGING" NOISE. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN 8/2004. *NM

WHEN REVERSING, LOUD BANGING CLUNKING NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE BACK. THE CAR JERKS BACK HARSHLY AFTER LONG DELAY IN GOING BACK INTO DRIVE. *AK

IN ADDITION TO HARD SHIFTING IN THE TRANSMISSION, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL "CHATTERS" LOUDLY WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE FEELS EXTREMELY LOOSE AND SLOPPY AT 14,000 MILES. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AFTER JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO ADD AN ADDITIVE TO THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN IN 2 MORE TIMES FOR THIS AND THIS FRIDAY I JUST GOT IT BACK FROM TRANSMISSION REPAIR ONLY TO GO OUT AND FIND TRANNY FLUID ALL OVER MY GARAGE (70 MILES AFTER THEY FIXED IT AGAIN) I ALSO HAD THE STARTER GO OUT IN IT AND NOW THEY STILL CANT FIND WHAT IS CAUSING IT...(LIKELY STORY). *NM

THE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *JB

AFTER SHIFTING IN REVERSE GEAR VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DELAY/HARSH CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING TO REVERSE. *NM

*AKI WENT TO TAKE MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN FOR A STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION. IT FAILED DUE TO FAULTY BALL JOINTS. THE EXPLORER HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. ALSO, IF I DID NOT NEED AN INSPECTION, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

2004 FORD EXPLORER, PURCHASED NEW. EVERY SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR IT HAS HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND WILL NOT GEAR DOWN WHEN TURNING OR SLOWING DOWN FROM A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED. THEN TAKES APX 20-25 SECONDS TO CATCH BACK UP WHEN ACCELERATOR PRESSED..HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST BE HIT SEVERAL TIMES.. BECAUSE IT WON'T GO WHEN IT DOES CATCH UP THERE IS A HARD BUMP IN THE CAR AND LOUD SOUND..VERY AGGRAVATING AND SCARY. HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD ITS A (SP) SOLENOID PROBLEM AND HAD BEEN FIXED, BUT IT HASN'T HAVE BEEN DISGUSTED AND BEEN DRIVING IT THIS WAY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE $2000 FOR REPAIRS. *TR