There are 29 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2004 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES, BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND AT A STANDSTILL. I COULD PULL THE ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE BUT WHEN I SHUT THE DOOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. WHEN DRIVING IT MUST HAVE BEEN CONFUSING TO PEOPLE BEHIND ME THINKING I KEPT APPLYING THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACE AND FOUND THAT THERE WASN'T A REPLACEMENT SWITCH AVAILABLE AND A DIFFERENT ONE HD TO BE WIRED IN AT THE COST OF OVER $180.00.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE, BUT WHEN I DEEXCELLERATED USING THE THE STEERING WHEEL CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS DOWN TO A SPEED BELOW 40, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND POWER STEERING OFF, WHILE I WAS STILL IN MOTION ON THE STREET. I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND CRANK UP AGAIN (WHICH ALMOST DIDN'T CRANK BACK UP), TO GET BACK RUNNING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME USING MY CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE AND HAVE READ OTHER HORROR STORIES OF THEIR FORD EXPLORER SHUTTING OFF MID DRIVE DUE TO USING THE DECEL BUTTON DURING CRUISE CONTROL. MUST BE RECALLED FOR HIGHWAY AND INTERSTATE SAFETY HAZARD IMMEDIATELY.
THE THROTTLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AFTER STARTING. ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND ENGINE SERVICE WARNING LIGHTS LIT ON DASH. ENGINE WOULD NOT REV OVER 1000 RPM. HAD TO GET ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY REPLACED AT A COST OF $875 PLUS $65 TOWING. ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL FAILURE HAS BEEN COMMON FORDS GOING BACK TO 2002. FORD HAS REPLACED OVER 1.6 MILLION UNITS UNDER THEIR CONSUMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RECALL. CALLED FORD, AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASE #, HOWEVER, FORD WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH PAYMENT. VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY. 31,155 ACTUAL MILEAGE
GOOD MORNING, MY CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING, 11:15PM, WHEN HORN STARTED TO CONTINUOUSLY AND WOULD NOT STOP. SMELT WIRES BURNING. I STARTED THE CAR AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO MOVE IT OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND UPON DRIVING, I TAPPED THE HORN AND IT STOPPED. SMELL OF WIRES BURNING. IT HAPPENED AGAIN, YESTERDAY AM AND TODAY AM, ON THE WAY TO GO, AND I HIT THE HORN AND IT STOPPED. CAN THIS BE AIRBAG RELATED??? I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR, FEARING THE AIRBAG WILL OPEN OR A FIRE IS GOING TO START. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HUB AND WHEEL BEARING, THE REAR SPRINGS, THE THREE PASSENGER GEAR CALIPERS, FOUR REAR DRIVER SIDE CALIPERS, THE BATTERY, FIVE REAR BRAKE PADS, AND SIX REAR ROTORS PLUS AN OIL CHANGE. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,817.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NOT PROPERLY SPECIFY WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
PLASTICE PARTS ARE DETERIORATING, DESOLVING IN FRONT INSIDE DRIVE SUN VISOR-LIGHTED VISOR BROKE OFF; CENTERL REAR A/C AND HEAT MOON ROOF LIGHT CONSOLE FALLS OFF-PLASTICE CLIPS DESOLVED AND WILL NOT FASTEN INTO ROOF ASSEMBLY, CAUSING BLOCKED EYESIGHT AND AT TIME ON RIGHT TURN HITTING HEAD OR EYES . THIS IS UNSAFE AND FORD MOTOR KNOWS OF COMPLAINST. PART ARE NOT AVAILBLE. THIS IS A HIGHWAY SAFETY ISSUE. THE MODEL WAS THE EDDIE BAUER TOP OF THE LINE $40,,835 CAR FMV $5000 ONLY 54000 MILES PRI LEVEL CODE 450240U74 SHIP WGT 4357
MY SUV SHUTS OFF, AT FULL SPEED!!! I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FORD'S CORPORATE OFFICE, DEALERSHIPS AND OTHER MECHANICS..... IT IS AN ISSUE THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE HAD. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE! IT IS SO COMMON THAT MECHANICS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BEFORE YOU FINISH A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM. IT'S ALSOI COMMON FOR INDIVIDUALS TO REPLACE MOTORS AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLES SHUT OFF ON THEM, AT FULL SPEED!!!. I AM AFRAID FOR MY CHILD'S SAFETY, AS WELL AS MY OWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM ENGAGED AUTOMATICALLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 2 MPH IN REVERSE WHEN THE BACK UP SENSOR FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CRASH CAUSED NO INJURIES AND THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND ALL FOUR WINDOWS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V072000. (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT SHE COULD FILE A CLAIM AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS, RADIO AND WINDOWS STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURES PERSISTED FOR A DURATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1-5 MINUTES. DURING THE FAILURES, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING ALSO DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURES DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLEND DOOR MOTOR HAD FAILED. THE BLEND DOOR MOTOR WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,820.
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
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
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
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
HELLO, I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER TRUCK WITH A CRACK ON THE BACK OF THE HATCH DOOR. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS CRACK CAME FROM. I CONTACTED THE FORD COMPANY ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT SINCE MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY AREN'T WILLING TO HELP. I FIRST NOTICE THE CRACK ABOUT A YEAR AGO. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A RECALL THEY SAID NO. RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT A LOT OF THE FORD EXPLORER TRUCKS I SEE ALL HAVE A CRACK ON THE SAME PORTION OF THE TRUCK. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WITH A FORD EXPLORER AND SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THE CRACK ON THE BACK OF HER TRUCK CAME FROM EITHER. WE THINK THIS MAYBE A RECALL ISSUE. I JUST STARTED WRITING DOWN THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS OF THE VARIOUS EXPLORER TRUCKS I SEE WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR CRACK ON THE BACK HATCH. ALTHOUGH I ONLY HAVE SIX TAG NUMBERS RIGHT NOW, I KNOW THAT THEIR ARE MANY MORE TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I SEEN MORE TRUCKS BUT AT THE TIME I WASN'T DOCUMENTING THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS. THERE WAS ALSO A RECALL ON THE HATCH WINDOW IN 2003 FOR THE FORD EXPLORER TRUCK. IN 2007, I HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS THE 2003 RECALL ON MY 2004 VEHICLE BUT WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED MYSELF BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A RECALL REPORTED FOR 2004. ALTHOUGH IT WAS A YEAR LATER. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE ISSUE WASN'T RESOLVED BECAUSE I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO A BREAK LIGHT SWITCH PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE HAS YOUR BREAK LIGHTS RANDOMLY COMING ON ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. WHICH DRAINS THE BATTERY AND CAUSES YOU TO HAVE TO GET THE BRAKE SWITCH FIXED AND A NEW BATTERY. PLEASE HELP ME. I HAD NO LUCK WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN RESOLVING THESE ISSUES. *TR
I HAVE 2 ISSUES THAT I WOULD LIKE ADDRESSED. 1. I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SOMETHING BECAUSE MY RADIO KEEPS GOING OUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO NOW. NOT SURE HOW TO GO ABOUT CORRECTING THE ISSUE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT. 2. MY HATCHBACK HAS A CRACK IN IT AND I AM WONDERING IF IT IS ON RECALL TO BE REPLACED SINCE I SEE ALOT OF THE SAME CRACK ON OTHER EXPLORERS. *TR
WITHOUT WARNING, MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER TURNS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLASH (CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM ON MESSAGE CENTER) THEN I LOSE THE POWER STEERING WHEN THE ENGINE CUTS OFF. EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY AND START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. IT HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 5 MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED FOR CODES AFTER THE FACT BUT THERE WERE NONE (POSSIBLY BECAUSE THE BATTERY GAUGE SPIKED DURING THE INCIDENT). THEN THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, ONLY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN 2 TIMES AFTER THAT. YESTERDAY THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A DVR RECORDING DEVICE. CLEARLY, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *JB
Showing 1–20 of 29 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026