2004 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

PROBLUMS WITH TIMING CHAIN THE GUIDES AND TENTIONER ALWAYS BRAKING OR THE TIMING CHAIN IT SELF BRAKING , IT IS ALL I HEAR ABOUT THE 4.0 MOTORS , I MY SELF THIS IS THE SECOND ONE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME

CAME HOME FROM WORK FRIDAY EVENING AND SAT. MORNING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK BATTERY IN AND TESTED, IT WAS DEAD. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. ONLY CLICKED, RELAY AND STARTER WERE FINE. HAD TO TOW IT TO A MECHANIC WHO HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAS SHUT DOWN MY ENGINE FOR NO REASON. THE KEY NO LONGER CONNECTS TO THE SYSTEM. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE?? I HAVE SEEN ONLINE FORUMS AND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. NOW I HAVE TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO A DEALER 40 MILES AWAY AND PAY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE AND KEYS REPROGRAMMED. OVER $120!!! THIS ISSUE LEFT ME STRANDED WITH NO VEHICLE FOR OVER A WEEK. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR AND TOW COSTS!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND DISCOVERED THAT HIS PARKED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND VARIOUS UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE TIMING BELT FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND STARTED BLOWING FUEL FUMES INTO THE DRIVER'S CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. MA 08/06/15 UPDATED 10/11/2017*CN

WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP, THE TRUCK CUTS OFF. EVEN WHILE IN MID TURN. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE JUST STALLED . WE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I HAD IT TOWED HOME THAT DAY. LATER I FOUND OUT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD COME OFF. *TR

THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT HARMONIC BALANCER CAME APART. THE INNER PORTION SEPARATED FROM THE REST. THIS ALLOWS. IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SERPENTINE BELT, AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IF I HAD NOT CAUGHT IT IN TIME. THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES! THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 FORD 4.0 LITER V6. THIS COULD RESULT IN SOMEBODY LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. I WAS REPLACING THE WATER PUMP ON MY VEHICLE WHEN I SAW THIS DEFECT. *TR

WHILE WAS DRIVING ON I-95 I GAVE THE CAR A BOOST OF SPEED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. I NOTICED MY BACK WINDOW BECOME "DIRTY" (COVERED IN COOLANT) AND WHILE THE CAR SEEMED OKAY I MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OFF DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. WITHOUT A SHOULDER I HAD TO KEEP GOING ANOTHER COUPLE MILES; AFTER A COUPLE MILES I STARTED LOOSING SPEED GRADUALLY. WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE - I WAS FORTUNATE TO MAKE IT TO AN EXIT WHERE UPON IMMEDIATELY THE CAR DIED AS I SLOWED AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE COOLANT. SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OVER IT RESULTED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DUE TO DESIGN OF THE ENGINE THIS REPAIR IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE SEEN THIS THERMOSTAT COMPLAINT NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT IS TIME THAT FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PLASTIC PARTS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE. THIS PART SHOULD BE ALUMINUM ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. PLEASE CONSIDER RECALL TO REPLACE PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING WITH METAL: FORD MUST USE METAL PARTS BECAUSE PLASTIC WARPS IN THE HEAT. THE AFFECTED PARTS ARE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND IT'S CONNECTION TO THE ENGINE. I HAVE GOOD MAINTENANCE, OIL CHANGED REGULARLY, FLUIDS CHECKED AND MAINTAINED REGULARLY. I ALSO DRIVE VERY CONSERVATIVELY AND AM EASY ON MY DRIVING. FORD MUST FIX THIS! BETWEEN THIS ISSUE AND A BOLT IN MY STEERING COLUMN FALLING OUT (CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING) MY CONFIDENCE IN FORD IS DIMINISHED. *TR

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE INVESTIGATION OF FORD FOR "LIMP MODE". EVERY TIME THAT I USE MY CARS CRUSE CONTROL UNDER 50 MPH THE CAR GOES IN TO LIMP MODE. AFTER I PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR IT RUN NORMALY, *TR

AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLOWLY ACTING UP; IT VWAS DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO GEAR AND CLUNKS WHILE DRIVING. IT IS GETTING WORSE, AND FORD WILL NOT HELP WITH REPAIRS BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

FIRST ISSUE WAS WITH THE SOLENOIDS NOW THE ISSUE IS WITH 1-2 SHIFT RATIO. SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. *TR

I HAD JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TO TOW WITH. I WAS DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND SET AT ABOUT 45MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I REALIZED I THE VEHICLE HAD TURNED ITSELF OFF. NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES NOTHING. IT DID START RIGHT BACK UP AFTER GETTING OFF THE ROAD. LATER IN THE DAY RETURNING HOME IT DID THE SAME EXACT THING AT 50MPH WITH CRUISE ENGAGED. I TALKED WITH FORD SHOP AND THEY SAY IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NO KNOWN FIX. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS, DUE TO OTHER DAMAGE TO ONE OF THE COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HAD FAILED, BROKE THE V-BELT, WHICH IN TURN HIT AND DAMAGED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE TRANSITIONED INTO SAFE MODE AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE PCM, THROTTLE, JACK SHAFT CHAIN, AND BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THEY RECOMMENDED ATTEMPTING VARIOUS TRIAL AND ERROR REMEDIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PCM AND THROTTLE AGAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,861.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, SLIPS BETWEEN GEARS, REPLACEMENT REQUIRED. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER AND WHEN I HIT THE 84000 MILE MY CAR STARTED FALLING APART STARTING WITH THE HEATER A/C VENT ACTUATOR FIRST TIME IN LATE 2011 THEN AGAIN IN JAN 2015 THIS REPAIR HAS COST ME OVER $1200 THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND I'VE BEEN TOLD BY FORD REPAIR SHOP WHICH WAS $97 JUST TO LOOK AT IT THAT IT WAS FROM DIFFERENT COILS THAT WERE OVER $300 A PIECE WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACES A COUPLE OF TIME TO THE CADILLAC CONVERTER WHICH WAS OVER $3500 TO REPLACING THE BEARINGS A COUPLE HUNDRED MANY TIMES. I'M AT THE POINT WHERE I'M NOT SURE TO KEEP THIS CAR OR JUNK IT THESE REPAIRS ARE BREAKING ME! I SEE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS.... THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF RECALL....!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ANYWHERE FROM 30-50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL GAUGES WERE ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY, AND WAS TAKEN THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 42,933. UPDATED 9/16/11 *CN UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE FOLLOWED BY BANGING NOISES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED EXHAUST FUMES WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.