35 of the 1,647 complaints about the 2004 Ford Explorer are about the other systems — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 91,515 miles.
35
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TIRES! TIRES! TIRES! AGAIN! A SECOND TIRE HAS SUFFERED TREAD SEPARATION AND FAILED COMPLETELY. WHY CAN'T I GET ANYONE TO TAKE THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY?
NHTSA complaint #11407982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE IGNITION KEYS LOSES THE PROGRAM AND I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO HAVE NOTH REPROGRAMED. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A RECALL THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT. THE CAUSE THE CAR INABILITY TO START
NHTSA complaint #11245234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS GETTING STUFF OUT OF MY BACK SEAT AND MY REAR WINDOW JUST BLEW OUT SHATTERING GLASS ALL OVER .THE BOTTOM PIECE THAT SECURES THE GLASS TO THE DOOR WARPRED ABOUT 6 INCHED ON EACH SIDE EXPLODING THE GLASS
NHTSA complaint #11174673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I GET A STRONG SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS WHEN DRIVING. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I DRIVE FOR A LONG TIME. MY BACK HATCH IS CRACKING IN 3 OR MORE SPOTS I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL PROBABLY FALL OFF AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO SOMEONE DRIVING BEHIND ME.
NHTSA complaint #11097563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN THE EXPLORER WAS BOUGHT USED IN 2015 THE CRACKS THAT ARE COMMON IN THE GLASS LIFT GATE COVER PANEL DID NOT EXIST. WE PURPOSELY DID NOT OPEN THE GLASS PART OF THE LIFT GATE TO AVOID CRACKING IT. EVENTUALLY IT CRACKED ON ITS OWN JUST FROM OPENING THE FULL TAILGATE. THEN RECENTLY THE LIFT GATE LATCH KEEPER BOLTS/STUDS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE BEHIND THE CRACKED PANEL AND THE GLASS LIFT GATE RELEASED ON ITS OWN. LUCKILY THE EXPLORER WAS PARKED. HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON AS A RESULT. THIS DRAINED MY BATTERY IN THIS SUMMER'S HEAT. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. TO AVOID THIS BATTERY ISSUE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, I RIGGED THE LIFT GATE LATCH WITH ZIP TIES THROUGH THE HOLES TO TEMPORARILY HOLD THE LIFT GATE SHUT. IT WON'T HOLD LONG LIKE THIS SO I NEED TO FIX THE ATTACHMENT PARTS THAT RUSTED BEHIND THE GLASS AND THEN THE COLORED COVER PANEL THAT IS NOW BADLY CRACKED, THE CRACKING OF THIS VERY POORLY DESIGNED AND POOR CHOICE OF MATERIAL BODY PART LET WATER GET BEHIND IT AND HOLD THERE AFTER IT CRACKED LIKE VIRTUALLY ALL THOSE ON OTHER EXPLORERS. THIS TRAPPED WATER CAUSED RUST OF THE LATCH ATTACHMENT STUDS BEHIND IT. FORD'S ISSUANCE OF VSB'S ABOUT THIS ISSUE ARE PROOF THEY WERE FULLY AWARE OF THERE BAD MATERIAL CHOICE FOR THIS PANEL AND I FEEL THEY SHOULD STILL BE ON THE HOOK TO REPAIR AND REPLACE PARTS DESPITE FAILURE OCCURRING AFTER THE VEHICLES WARRANTY EXPIRATION, BASED ON SUCH A POORLY DESIGNED AND WIDESPREAD TAILGATE ISSUE THAT IS LATER IN THE VEHICLE'S LIFE A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE THE GLASS LIFT GATE CAN OPEN UPON LATCH ATTACHMENT BOLT FAILURE, DUE TO RUST.
NHTSA complaint #11014034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN PUTTING THE EXPLORER INTO REVERSE IT WOULD SHIFT HARD AND THROW THE VEHICLE BACK AND THEN WHEN YOU PUT IT INTO DRIVE THE ENGINE WOULD RACE AND REV UP HIGH AND THEN SLAM INTO THE NEXT GEAR. IT MADE THE VEHICLE HARD TO BE RELIABLE. TOOK THE EXPLORER IN AND THEY SAID THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR FORD VEHICLES AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR IT BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT NOW HAVING TO PAY $4500 OUT OF POCKET TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED AS I NEED IT FOR DR APPOINTMENTS. THEY SAID THE O/D HAD PUT SHAVINGS DOWN IN THE PAN AS WELL AS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD COST MORE TO REPLACE INDIVIDUAL PARTS THAN TO DO THE ENTIRE THING. FRUSTRATING TO KNOW THAT FORD KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE AND DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #11000808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND NO WARNING LIGHT OF ANY KIND CAME ON. WE WENT TO GO START IT TODAY AND IT START UP FINE. WHEN WE TRIED TO PUT IT IN ALL THE GEARS AND PRESSING ON THE GAS IT DIDN'T DO A THING. I MEAN IT WON'T MOVE AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #11000945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE I285 INTERSTATE WE HEARD A LOUD POP/ SNAP AND WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IT CAME FROM, MY DAUGHTER NOTICED GLASS SHARDS ON CLOTHES AND THAT TS WHEN WE LOOKED UP AND REALIZED THE MOONROOF HAD SHATTERED.
NHTSA complaint #10983683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BOTH HINGES ON THE REAR HATCH GLASS BROKEN. WINDOW READY TO FALL OUT OF VEHICLE. CAN'T BELIEVE THIS ITEM HASN'T BEEN RECALLED AS THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE HINGES.
NHTSA complaint #10924476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2004 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED EDITION TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IT DOES NOT GEAR BACK WHEN AT A STOP AND FIXING TO GO. IT GOES VERY SLOW UNTIL IT SWITCHES GEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10871385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT APPROX 93,000 MILES, HEAT WENT OUT AROUND 85,000 MILES, SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND AGAIN DON'T WORK, ELECTRIC SEAT DOESN'T WORK, MISC. OTHER THINGS
NHTSA complaint #10839593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR PANEL UNDER THE REAR GLASS NEAR THE REAR WIPER CRACKS. THE FIRST TIME WE PAID TO HAVE THE PANEL REPLACED. BECAUSE WE WERE CONCERNED THAT THE GLASS WOULD COME LOOSE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. LESS THAN 18 MONTHS AND THE CRACKS HAVE REAPPEARED ONLY NOW THERE ARE TWO CRACKS IN THE SAME LOCATION. WE HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE CARS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS SAME CRACK. THE DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE SEEN AS WELL. CALLED FORD REGARDING THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A DEFAULT IN THE PANEL WHICH CAN CAUSES THE REAR GLASS TO FALL OUT CAUSING SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10810133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN DRIVING AND YOU THEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE IT GOES INTO REVERSE HARD. SOMETIMES IT EASES INTO GEAR AND OTHER TIMES IT IS VERY HARD. I THOUGHT WELL MAYBE IT WAS ME DID MY FOOT SLIP OFF BRAKE OR SOMETHING?? IT WASN'T THAT I MADE A VERY CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO MAKE SURE I DID IT CORRECTLY AND STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK CORRECTLY KIND OF STOPS YOU BEFORE ENTERING PARK THEN WILL GO IN AFTER YOU WERE DENIED THE GEAR THE FIRST TIME. CURRENTLY STILL DEALING WITH THIS WAS HOPING THERE WAS A RECALL FOR EITHER ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10787696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY RESIDENCE ON THE STREET, IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN THAT DAY. THE BACK WINDOW IN THE TAILGATE EXPLODED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TAILGATE. NO ONE WAS DRIVING IT, IT HAD NOT BEEN TOUCHED THAT DAY. THERE WAS A PRIOR CRACK IN THE TAILGATE WHICH I HAVE SEEN ON OTHER EXPLORER'S, AND SINCE LEARNED THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE CARE.
NHTSA complaint #10781412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTING BLINKING CAR STARTED SHIFTING REALLY HARD AND JERKING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD EXPLORERS AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. I DONT HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLEBI REALLY NEED HELP PLEASE
NHTSA complaint #10744717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 VERTICAL CRACKS IN UPPER REAR HATCH BELOW WINDOW
NHTSA complaint #10732780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TRUCK SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS IN TRAFFIC NOT MOVING.
NHTSA complaint #10717714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS.. CODED PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID. PUT ONE IN AND IT STILL HAS THE LIGHT BLINKING AND RUNS LIKE CRAP..
NHTSA complaint #10717387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A GROCERY STORE LOT. I USED THE REMOTE TO OPEN THE BACK LATCH TO STORE MY GROCERIES. IT DID NOT OPEN. I TRIED AGAIN. SUDDENLY THE BACK WINDOW EXPLODED AND THE BACK HATCH CAME OFF IT HINGES. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED. I FOUND MANY STORIES ONLINE THAT SAID THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER 2004 EXPLORERS AND FORD HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH THE COMPLAINTS. THIS EPISODE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS HAD IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING OR IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN HIT BY THE FLYING GLASS DEBRIS.
NHTSA complaint #10615460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN OPENING THE REAR HATCH WINDOW, THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE PIN IN THE HINGE CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL. THE WINDOW WAS NOT BROKEN HOWEVER A REPAIR HAD TO BE MADE BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE GLASS FALLING.
NHTSA complaint #10510632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
REAR BODY PANEL AROUND BACK WINDOW SPLIT
NHTSA complaint #10505215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN CLIMBING ELEVATION. STARTS CLUNKING NOISE AND WON'T SHIFT. RPMS GO WAY UP AND VEHICLE STILL WILL NOT SHIFT. HARD TO GET VEHICLE INTO PARK ON THE GEAR SHIFTER. HAVE THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK ONLY TO HAVE IT ROLL WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TODAY WHO SAYS A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED. APPX COST 3600.00
NHTSA complaint #10432694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER, ABOUT A MONTH AGO I NOTICED THE PLASTIC HINGE FOR THE BACK TAILGATE GLASS WAS BREAKING OFF. AFTER VISITING SEVERAL FORD USED CAR LOTS, I SEEN SEVERAL EXPLORERS WITH THE BROKEN HINGE AND REALIZED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS, BUT THEY ARE STANDING BY THEIR PRODUCT. I RECIEVED AN ESTIMATE OF $360 TO REPAIR THE HINGES, BUT BEING A SINGLE PARENT OF FOUR THERE IS NO WAY I COULD AFFORD TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE. I HOPE THAT FORD WILL STEP UP AND RECALL THIS ISSUE BUT NO LUCK YET.
NHTSA complaint #10432774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BLEND DOOR MOTOR FOR THE HEAT MELTED...APPARANTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR EXPLORERS...IS THIS NOT A FIRE HAZARD???? THE PIECE IS PLASTIC AND MELTS...COULD THIS NOT CAUSE A FIRE?
NHTSA complaint #10420688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PAINT ON THE ROOF OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER IS CHIPPING. I SPOKE WITH TWO AUTO BODY SHOPS AND 1 FORD DEALER, AND THEY ALL SAID THAT THE CHIPPING IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE PRIMER DID NOT ADHERE PROPERLY TO THE VEHICLE, SO THE PAINT IS CHIPPING. IN REVIEWING THIS ISSUE, I READ ONLINE THAT THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. I SPOKE WITH FORD, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO HELP ME, ALTHOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS ISSUE IS THEIR FAULT. I WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE A RECALL SO THAT I CAN GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10412989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IN SEPT 2009 THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER FAILED AN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS COVERED. 18 MONTHS LATER THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 60,400 OR 20,000 MILES AFTER THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 1/30/11 OR 60,000 MILES. THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION ACCORDING TO FORD EXPIRES WITH THE VEHICLE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IF YOU PURCHASE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION FOR A FORD VEHICLE NOT UNDER WARRANTY THEY WILL OFFER A 3 YEAR/100K MILE WARRANTY. I CALLED FORD WITH MY DILEMMA AND EXPLAINED THAT THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION WENT 33 DAYS AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY OR 400 MILES ABOVE THE 60,000 MILE LIMIT. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE VERY SORRY THIS HAPPENED BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. OUTSIDE THE ISSUE OF NOT BEING VERY FAIR SINCE IF I HAD PURCHASED THE TRANSMISSION ON MY OWN THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED, THIS 2004 FORD EXPLORER IS NOW ON ITS 3RD TRANSMISSION AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. SOMETHING SEEMS INHERENTLY WRONG WITH THAT. THANKS FOR READING MY COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10391188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE ARE MANY CRACKS BELOW REAR WINDOW WHICH ARE GETTING LARGER AND LARGER. THE SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THE ENTIRE WINDOW WILL FALL OUT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE HINGES ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THESE LARGE CRACKS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MANY CONCERNS ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND FOR SAFETY REASONS, FORD NEEDS TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES THAT THIS AFFECTS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR HURT REALLY BAD.
NHTSA complaint #10385608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE HATCH BACK CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE. RIGHT BELOW THE WINDOWS.
NHTSA complaint #10385148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PURCHASED 2004 EXPLORER IN NOVEMBER 2007. 95489 MILES. NO PRIOR INDICATION IN DRIVABILITY, NOISE OR LIGHTS COMING ON. GOING ALONG, MOST SPEED AVAILABLE WAS 20 MPH, RPMS ON 6; THEN JERKED TO CHANGE GEARS. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN TOWN DURING RUSH HOUR, OVERDRIVE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. LIMPED INTO NEAREST REPAIR SHOP, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A TRANSMISSION SHOP,. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. OBVIOUSLY FORD KNEW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY HAD SENT SHOP UPDATE NOTICES AND WHAT TO DO WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS
NHTSA complaint #10380355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I BACKED SUV OUT OF GARAGE AND PUT IN PARK, GOT OUT OF VEHICLE WHILE STILL RUNNING (TO CLOSE GARAGE DOOR), CLOSED THE SUV DOOR, TURNED AROUND AND SAW THAT SUV WAS MOVING FORWARD INTO MY GARAGE. I OPENED THE SUV DOOR WHILE IT WAS MOVING AND JUMPED IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, PUSHED ON THE BRAKE AND SUV DID NOT STOP, I WAS LOOKING DOWN AT THE FLOOR TO SEE WHY SUV DID NOT STOP, PULLED UP MY FOOT AND PLACED IT BACK DOWN ON THE BRAKE. SUV STILL DID NOT STOP. IT THEN MADE A LOUD NOISE LIKE THE ENGINE WAS REEVING UP AND THEN THE SUV TOOK OFF FORWARD, RAN THROUGH THE BACK OF MY GARAGE, RAN THROUGH MY BACK YARD, RAN OVER A TREE IN THE YARD, RAN THROUGH MY BACK YARD FENCE AND MY NEIGHBOR'S FENCE AND CRASHED INTO THE BACK SIDE OF NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. ALL WHILE THIS WAS OCCURRING, I WAS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH MY LEFT LEG STICKING OUT OF THE CAR (SINCE I JUMPED IN THE SUV IN A HURRY, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT MY LEG WAS STILL OUT OF THE SUV), I CONTINUALLY ATTEMPTED TO STEP ON THE BRAKES (EACH TIME LIFTING MY FOOT UP SO THAT I COULD PLACE IT DIRECTLY ON THE BRAKE), THE ENGINE REEVED UP AGAIN WHILE GOING THROUGH THE YARD. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE SUV WAS THE TALL CONCRETE FOUNDATION OF MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE THAT IT RAN INTO. I JUMPED OUT OF THE SUV, FELL TO THE GROUND AND LAID THERE FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE I REALIZED THAT MY SUV WAS STILL RUNNING, THEN I JUMPED BACK INTO THE SUV AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10368953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.