NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Ford Explorer. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
2004 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION PROBLEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND THEN THERE WAS A HARSH BANG WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO REVERSE. THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS NOT LONG AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THE FACTORY PUT IN THE WRONG FLUID. HOWEVER, TWO YEARS LATER THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A WEEKS, BUT SOON RETURNED. *JB
THE TRUCK DOESN'T COME WITH A CARGO NET OR A DEVICE THAT CAN BE USED TO SEPARATE THE CARGO AREA FROM THE TRUCKS CABIN. WHICH IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS BECAUSE THE CARGO CAN FLY FORWARD AND HIT THE OCCUPANTS. CONSUMER WAS TOLD AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE A NET, BUT HAS NOW FOUND OUT THE NET CANNOT FIX THIS TRUCK. *NM *SC
4THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IT'S TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND DOES NOT RETURN WITHOUT PULLING IT BACK. *PH THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR GOING AROUND A SHARP BEND. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE FORD DEALER THREE TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL THE NEW EXPLORERS WERE MADE THAT WAY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. THERE WAS A BIG CLUNK AT TIMES WHEN BACKING UP AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE RIDE WAS VERY BUMPY AND CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING. *SC
AT SLOW SPEED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND VIBRATES. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, DEALER IS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. *AK