Table 1 shows one common unknown or other related problems of the 2004 Ford Explorer.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other problems |
The rear liftgate window hinge broke off and the entire rear window fell on my wife. The hinges are made of a white type of metal that has corroded and sheared off. The pins inside apparently broke and it didn't appear to be falling off, it just came off. The window hit my wife in the arm and leg. We were lucky it wasn't one of our kids closing the gate at the time or that they weren't inside when it happened or this could have been a lot worse. After searching online for information about this issue I found thousands of complaints about this exact issue and hundreds of post of injuries incurred from this. Ford recalled other vehicles with the same issue with the same part and yet the 2004 was never included. Something needs to be done. A part over time shouldn't break off and cause a safety hazard.
While at work my rear lift gate window exploded. At first site I thought it was vandalism but nothing (car chargers/cd's/ road side kit etc) was taken. After further investigating, things just didn't add up nor were consistent with the site of my destructed rear window and uplifting of the panel underneath the shattered glass (which was mostly on the ground as opposed to being inside my vehicle. ).
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The hinge on the glass hatch broke as I opened the hatch. There was no damage to the hatch hinge prior to this.
Transmission was working just fine till one day it wouldn't shift into overdrive and then it was shifting hard from 2nd to 3rd. Rear window hinges broke. Rear tail gate cracked right down the middle by Ford symbol. Also just the other day my passenger window stopped working no signs nothing of anything wrong. I'm going to start buying chevy this is just unexceptable. No wounder America is not doing good our car company's can't make good products anymore.
The rear lift glass hinges on my 2004 Ford Explorer broke during use of the lift glass. The pin broke right through the hinge on both sides. This happened while car was parked and lift gate window was open. Left side just fell, and then right about 1 minute later, I just happened to to have some 2x4's in the back which prevented the window from falling to the ground. This seems like a pretty dangerous defect. Internet research has revealed this issue was cause for a recall on the '02 & '03 Explorer and seems to be wide spread on the '04, yet no recall for the '04.
I was at a grocery store with my young children, came outside, popped the tailgate (top half of the trunk on Ford Explorer) and loaded my groceries in the car. My 12 year old then went to close the trunk (top half only) and the left side of the tailgate came off of the hinges. The window/tailgate was extremely heavy, so I had to run to the back of the car and help her to hold the window up. Then, as we were trying to put the window/tailgate back onto the hinge, the other hinge broke and the whole window came down. The window was only connected by the wiring and the shocks that are inside the window. We easily could have been injured by this falling window/tailgate. Mind you I had no warning that these were going to fail. . . No cracks, no problems closing the tailgate, nothing! my daughter, a woman who was in the parking lot, and I could not get the window back on so I could drive it home (45 minutes away), so I had to call my brother in law to come help me because he was closeby. He ended up having to take the shocks of the window/tailgate off completely, so that we could put the window/tailgate into the car so I could drive it home. The wiring was still connected. I have contacted Ford directly, and they will not take responsibility for this failure. . . Even though they have done recalls on the 2002 and 2003 Ford Explorer plastic hinges for the tailgate. Same problem, different year. I have researched online looking to find if my 2004 Explorer had a recall, and found that many people had this same things happen to them on their 2004 Explorer. I am not the only one.
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.
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.
I purchased a 2004 Ford Explorer brand new from the dealership. At 70,000 miles I started to notice a change in the transmission slipping and suddenly kicking when going into gear. I took the vehicle to the dealership and they advised that the transmission would need to be replaced at my cost and there is no recall at the present moment. This is a safety concern because no transmission should start having problems with such little mileage. This matter really needs to be investigated and Ford needs to correct this issue promptly.
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.
I bought a used 2004 Ford Explorer in September 2009. In June 20111 my husband and was driving and I was in the passenger seat. We both could feel the transmission slipping as he drove but figured that it could not be the transmission because the vehicle only had 57,177 miles on it. We arrived at our destination 10 minutes later and by that time we could no longer reverse the vehicle at all. I called the local Ford dealership and they said to drive the vehicle over there and they would take a look at it. The paperwork I have from them states "verified concern, performed electronic transmission diagnosis, pulled code po731, checked fluid level - full. Dropped the transmission oil pan and found excessive metal debris indicating internal failure. Tech recommended replacing with a Ford reman unit. " the Ford dealership's estimate for me was almost $5,000. 00 for the transmission to be replaced. I called around to other shops and had the transmission replaced with a jasper unit which cost me $3467. 30. It has a three-year warranty on it. I have been reading online about this problem with 2004 Ford Explorers. For almost a year before the transmission died it would often have delayed shifting when going in reverse and I just assumed it was a touchy pedal, looking back now I realize it was most likely the transmission. This never occurred to me because of the vehicle only having 57,000 miles on it. I no longer feel comfortable driving this vehicle knowing that it has the problems that it does but I have no other choice because we still owe more on the loan than the vehicle is worth.
Pin on rear hatch window broke,which can cause window to fall out.
2004 Ford Explorer XLT, mileage at time of failure 28,819 left front bearing hub failed prematurely vehicle started to pull to the left. No injuries, repair cost $270,00. Vehicle off warranty due to age. All vehicles should be warrantied for 36,000 miles or more with no years . Wheel bearings should last at least 75,000 miles.
I have had the shifter lock actuator replaced twice in less than 2 years. This actuator defect prevents my Explorer from coming out of park.
Crack in rear hatch body panel containing Ford emblem. Defective part has not been replaced. Crack occurred by itself, no additional physical damage to hatch itself or rear end of vehicle. Ford had received over 900 complaints about this item and there is an ongoing class action lawsuit for this defect in California.
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?.
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.
The sun visor on the 2004 Ford Explorer has a weak bracket that holds the visor. If the bracket fails, that can cause the driver to lose control and have an accident.
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.
2004 Ford Explorer: 1) plastic exterior panel below rear window is cracked, in 2006 Ford had a repair assist program, thereby acknowling the failures. It no longer is offering that repair assistance?? there are numerous reports of this failure on internet forums. 2) left rear window hinge broke free from the window when I opened the window, I was fortuante it did not fall on my head (the riser piston was the only thing that kept it attached to the vehicle). I had to pay $50 for new hinges. I am waiting for the non-replaced hinge to fail as well. There are numerous reports of these hinge failures on the internet. The Ford dealer nearest Ford world headquarters in deaborn, mi where I bought the new hinges told me they have sold 10 new hinge packages in the last 2 months to customers due to the same failure.
The hatch back cracked down the middle. Right below the windows.
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.
One of the rear lift gate hinges has failed. The pin has pushed through the hinge. The structural strength of the aluminum used as seemed to failed. The other hinge shows similar signs of failing but has not completely failed.
About a year ago I noticed the panel below the rear window start to crack. As time went on the crack continued down the entire panel next to the Ford emblem. The rear window now makes a rattling noise. I don't know if it will loosen enough for it to pop out if I hit a bump in the road. It has certainly reduced the value of the vehicle. I went online to see if anyone else was having this problem and was shocked to see hundreds of comments. I contacted Ford and they said there was no recall from you and that until there was I should go ahead and have it fixed. Repair costs seem to be around $400. For the panel plus painting. I really think a design flaw should not be my problem. They know it was a flaw since the newer models are designed completely different.
The paint on the roof is all peeling off it looks like crap I was told that it would cost about 600. 00 to 1,500 to repaint and fix itcar paint should not peel off the roof I have read that other people have had the same trouble with the paint on there Explorers.
In April of 2009 I bought a 2004 Explorer from car connections in palm bay florida! this has been nothing but a nightmare! but my "main" complaint 2 weeks ago I took the truck in for regular service to find out that my "over drive" gear is gone. Aamco explained to me that Ford knew that and it is a defective part! so, to get a 2nd opinion I took my truck to meineke, they also made the same comment of "that is a defective part from Ford" and they will not recall the part! well, I am being charged from $3,400 to the lowest of $2,800 for repairs "excluding" tax! why am I and thousand of others paying for something that Ford knew was going to be a costly repair for us consumers in this horrible recession! I feel that we/I should be compensated in some sort of way just to help for something bad they sent out. I can't even trade the truck in due to the value has decreased tremendously! I am stuck with a vehicle that is basically going to rust in my driveway for being so costly! please let Ford know that they should honor what they knew was wrong! please help!.
The brackets holding both the driver and passenger sun visors broke in 2008, just four months after we bought the vehicle (may 2008). We had them replaced on 09/19/2008. The new sun visors on both the driver and passenger side are again cracking as of 09/02/2011, with the driver's side again almost falling off. This will be the third set of visors on this vehicle since we purchased it in may 2008. This is ridiculous. Ford will not replace them, even though they are under warranty. Many other Ford Explorer/ranger owner's are experiencing the same problem.
Automatic windows - rear windows - motor went out - replaced once - doing it again, have to take it back in. Rear air system does not blow out heat. Again, needing to take it in again. Had I not gotten the extended warranty on my vehicle I would be without rear heat.
2004 Ford Explorer - I bought this vehicle new in Dec. 03. Starting at approximately 14 months old, it starts stalling out, just dying completely. No signs, no symptoms, just die at a slow rate of speed. The first time it happened, I chalked it up to bad gas or something? finally, on the 3rd. Dead time, I took it into the dealer. They said they changed a fuse and it should be fine. It died again . . . And again. I took it back. They installed a black box (flight recorder & told me to drive it until the machine regestered "3". I had to keep the button by the steering column so I could push it quickly when the vehicle stalled. The first stall, I pushed the button & it registered "2". It died again just a block down the road (rush hour traffic on casino row, hwy 90). I pushed the button again & it registered "3". The next week I took it back to the dealer. They had the car 4 days this time & couldn't figure it out. Finally they called the engineers who said to "clean & tighten the grounding straps". That Friday, it died again. A couple of times it has dies, my newly licensed daughter was driving & now she is affraid of my car! the steering column locks when it dies. We were coming back from walmart & I kept telling her "turn, turn", she yelled "I can't". The car had died again! because of the hurricane, I couldn't take the vehicle back in. It died a total of 6 times during evacuation. 5 in slow traffic jams & once when coming 60 mph off the interstate onto an exit. I have since taken it back in to the dealer again (at the urging of Ford customer service) and they kept it 10 days & still do not know what is wrong! they gave me my car back & suggested I take it to another dealer. ?! I am a united states air force instructor and I do not have the time to take it in constantly to the dealer. Plus, I pay an outrageous car payment just to have my vehicle sit in repair.
When the air conditioner is on, there is a loud squeak each time the clutch engages. When taken to the dealer(john chandler Ford amarillo, TX), they state it is a normal occurance. You can hear the noise over the stereo and any talking. The vehicle has been to the shop @ 6 times, and no corrective action has been done for this issue.
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.