KnownCarProblems2004 Ford Explorer Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,304 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Explorer, most often about the transmission (35% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles). It is 7th of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints.
Most common 2004 Ford Explorer problems
Transmission
460 complaints · 35%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, axle assembly, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
2004 Ford Explorer having transmission problems. Does not shift properly from park to reverse or drive to reverse. Has a hesitation before it goes into gear. They should be recalled. There could be injuries because when it hesitates one is pushing on the gas pedal and all of a sudden it goes into gear.
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.
Body and structure
426 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
While going to open the rear hatch of my 2004 Ford Explorer, I noticed a crack in the hatch door from just below the window down to the next panel. When I opened the window on the hatch door, I noticed that the left hinge that holds the glass is coming loose. I am unable to utilize the rear cargo area of my vehicle…
- the contact stated that the back of the hatch of the 2004 Ford Explorer with 74050 failure mileage was cracked. The contact was concerned that the hatchback glass could fall out and injure her children. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer, but they have been contacted and were aware of the problem. The…
Engine
114 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system.
On my way to the airport for a business trip, I was driving the vehicle on the interstate when all of a sudden and without any warning, the engine stopped. I had to maneuver onto traffic and stop to try to start the engine without success. I called aaa and they had the vehicle towed to my home. When I came back I sent…
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer xlt. The contact stated that minutes after starting the vehicle it unwarrantly stalled. Spontaneous engine failure while driving increases the risk of vehicle crash. She towed the vehicle to a dealer but the technician could not identify the cause of the failure.however he…
Visibility and wipers
112 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: glass, side/rear, power window devices and controls, defroster/defogger/hvac system, sun/moon roof assembly.
2004 Ford explorers have a ton of problems, but one of the worst is that the sun visor hinges break causing the visor to dangle by it's electrical cord that powers the vanity mirror on it. Every morning I have a 7 mile drive headed south on a main thoroughfare and I can't see to change lanes because I have lost the…
My 2004 back rear window panel cracked- defective panel from Ford, approx every Ford Explorer has the same problem and Ford will not recall as a mfg defect you can find hundreds of complaints for the same problems on all Ford explorers 2002 to 2005.
Speed control
76 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 73,500 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control, accelerator pedal, linkages.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. While driving approximately 65 MPH on normal road conditions, the engine failed when the speed control switch was activated. The failure occurred without warning whenever the speed control selector was activated. The engine was able to be restarted and resume normal operation. The…
Parked car outside garage @ 23:00 hours. Approx. 01:15 am neighbors were banging on our windows to wake US up saying our car and house were on fire.
Wheels and tires
60 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs, pressure monitoring and regulating systems, rim, tread/belt.
I purchased a 2004 Ford Explorer from a toyota dealership on 1/28/11. The car was a certified / warranted vehicle. I was assured by the toyota salesman that any problem with the car would be fixed under the warranty. Several problems which the car has include: mismatched tires, inoperable sunroof, leak in the…
3 out of 4 wheel bearings have had to be replaced on 2004 Ford Explorer between 71,000 and 82,000 miles. Drivers side front was replaced between 71,000 and 72,000 miles, drivers side rear replaced shortly after and now the passenger front needs replacing at 82,000 miles. Several posts on the internet with the same…
Electrical
55 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 51,000 miles. Parts named most often: starter assembly, ignition, instrument cluster/panel, wiring.
Transmission slamming into reverse / drive, took to dealership, solenoid pack replaced 6 months ago, started having same problems and now this time also, rpms shoot up to 7 when accelerating. Took back to dealer, said they had to replace the solenoid pack again. Won't honor warranty after the $800.00 problem was just…
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. When he activated the cruise control while driving, it deactivated itself without warning. He had to restart the vehicle to re-set the error code. The failure occurred intermittently, and mostly on the interstate. Also when he would turn on the turn signals, the automatic warning…
Brakes
52 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, fluid, pedals and linkages.
Easter sunday, my family was on their way back home on the freeway. Out of no where they hear loud snapping noises and next thing they knew the rear passenger tire came off. The cars skidding on the road and finally comes to a stop. Luckily for my family they walked away unharmed. The car is currently at my home…
While driving, the vehicle just shut off. I had no control of the vehicle once it shut off, except to utilize the emergency brake to get me stopped. Once stopped, I put it in park and it started up first try. No check engine light came on. Same thing happens on a regular bases. Usually happens while braking or turning…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Ford Explorer recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Vehicle rollaway allegations
Summary
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.by the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (I.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during ea09-013, odi identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.the highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the automatic transmission parking system, was 4.4/100k.the next-highest failure rate was for the bsi system, at 3.4/100k.for all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent
Vehicle rollaway allegations
Summary
In response to an information request (ir) letter sent by the office of defects investigation (odi), ford stated consumer reports of higher than expected efforts when shifting into and out of park could be a result of a groove being worn into the swing arm ramp of the steering column. The swing arm is a component bolted to the steering column that assists in shifting through the transmission gears.an engineering evaluation conducted by ford of returned steering columns found the groove could be created over time if consumer shift more quickly from the drive or reverse to park than the brake shift interlock (bsi) solenoid pin retracts after the brake pedal is applied. In november of 2004, for
Rear liftgate glass hatch failure
Summary
This investigation was opened on june 23, 2008, based on 34 complaints involving eight injuries in which the rear liftgate glass hatch on model year 2004 ford explorers or mercury mountaineers broke off and fell, usually while individuals were operating the glass hatch or loading or unloading items from the rear of the vehicle.ford conducted recall 04v-442 in 2004 to address similar problems on model year 2002 and certain model year 2003 ford explorers and mercury mountaineers.the information ford provided in response to odi's information request letter indicated that failures with 2004 vehicles were primarily liftgate glass hatch hinge failures related to corrosion at the hinge pin, whereas
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Summary
On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehi
Questions about the 2004 Ford Explorer
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford Explorer?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (460 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); body and structure (426 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles); engine (114 complaints, typically around 73,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Explorer have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 Ford Explorer. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Ford Explorer?
- It is 7th of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints, with 1,304 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.