general problems of the 2004 Ford Explorer - part 1

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?.

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.

While driving the vehicle dash lights start blinking and car stops accelerating, turns on by won't move. Mechanic says engine is not communicating with transmission. Electrical issue seems like. When it rests it will work but then after driving it happens again. It just stops while you are driving, dangerous.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Takata recall: while driving, especially uphill or at high speeds (such as the interstate) the vehicle will sputter and shake and lose horsepower (this especially happens during warm weather). When this happens, the odometer drops, and you cannot get the speed to increase, which is a terrifying experience when you're travelling on the interstate with cars going 70+ mph behind you and you have tractor trailers beside you. I've taken my Jeep to 3+ garages to remedy the issue, and they're all left scratching their heads because the system has wiped every code that was thrown, and everything they try does not help matters - none of them know what to do aside from guessing and replacing parts. The last garage I went to researched the issue, as did I, and there are countless forums with these complaints about jeeps. Furthermore, a lot go on to say they replaced this, that, and the other and the problem goes away for a small amount of time before starting up again, and they and their mechanics are also at a loss. This has been about 2 years of researching, garage work, and an inability to take the vehicle long distances or high speeds. One post I read even said it could be a serious fire hazard which is dangerous for those in the vehicle and those on the roadway.

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.

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.

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.

Truck suddenly accelerated when I was in traffic not moving.

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.

Had my used 2004 Ford Explorer for one week and the liftgate latches both broke. If it hadn't been for the shocks that were on the liftgate, the window would have crashed to the ground and shattered in a thousand pieces. From what I'm told, I'm going to have to contact the dealership and pay god knows what to have it fixed. Can't even use my trunk now. The dealership is a joke.

While closing the rear window glass hatch the driver side hinge broke allowing the window to fall out on that side. The rear glass hatch window is heavy and could have easly broken the hinge side allowing the glass to fall off the vehicle. A previous Ford recall on the very same component covered vehicles up to 2003. The exact same problem is occurring to this 2004 vehicle. Contacted Ford and they are not willing to help owners out. Had the vehicle been traveling at highway speeds and the hinge let go, there would be a very high probability of property damage and a very high probability of personal injury to others on the road.

Transmission failure, common for Ford Explorer 2004.

The rear lift gate window of my 2004 Ford Explorer exploded while the vehicle was parked. According to the Ford dealer, this apparently is something that is known to happen.

When starting the vehicle, its not wanting to run. Then when I start to pull out it stalls. I mean, u push the gas pedal and it takes maybe four seconds before anything happens, then the tires spin it jerks forward and my kids scream. It jerks u back in the seat. Ok, we're on the road, I dont know if its going to run. One minute its acting like its getting enough fuel. The nexts its like it isnt. Now the service engine light has come on. I call the guy who works on cars, he use to be a head mechanic for for has his own shop now, he automatically tells me its the throttle body and says if I cant find a used one, u wont like buyin a new one. An the bad thing is u have to replace them about every 120000 miles. Now isnt that great. The auto parts store says about $725 will take care of the part, what about the labor??? I bought this vehicle because it had a third row seat. I have three kids. I need it to be safe, not a death trap. Ford knows it has a problem, fix it!!!.

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.

The rear window latch on the right side facing the vehicle broke off and nearly caused the right side to also break. I am uncertain as to whether or not the hydraulic lift for the window failed or the latch just broke.

While opening the smaller window in the back of the car, the window started to fall. Luckily there were two people to catch it. I noticed the passenger side hinge was broken. We usually take our infant around to the back of the car while we load things. Fortunately, we had already buckled her in. Had the glass fallen or we not paid attention , it could have seriously injured her or us.

I driving through town was out in intersection and it just took off speeding slammed on breaks and I shut it off. Started it back up and like lost all power no control of foot feet Explorer started shaking and died tried to start no success. Towed it home had mechanic put it on computer and got p2111 Ford -throttle accuator control system stuck open. And I changed the tps and no luck changed the whole throttle body no luck still won't start. Was doing research and several Fords have been having same problem but when I called dealership he said he couldn't do anything about it because my VIN. # wasn't on the list. If other people are having the same thing happen to them that I am having why can't he help me too.

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. .

I was driving interstate 64 getting off the exist going around the ramp and a knocking noise started as I rounded the curb, then oil pressure dropped, my power was gone and, I barely made it off the ramp, but luckily the vehicle had enough speed to coast the curb to get to a safe place to stop. Upon having it checked out by a local mechanic he suggested that the engine and oil pump needed to be replaced? as a single mother I don't have the money for the repairs, and from others complaints that I've seen it makes me wonder if its worth the trouble to find another engine and will it happen again. I thought had found a good vehicle that only lasted a few months. . . Feeling irritated. . . Get it together Ford because this 2004 Explorer is trouble!! was this just a test dummy model to see what problems would come of it??? we want and need answers to these problems. We're spending so much hard earned money on a vehicle that has more problems that keeps happening often.

While driving my Explorer down the highway, the transmission blew with out much warning with my baby in the car. The vehicle went from driveable to not moving within one day. It started with a hard shift and acceleration being delayed when trying to make a turn. Then the o/d light came on and the vehicle lost all power within ten miles of my home leaving us stranded in the dead of winter on the highway with very little room to pull over so we could have been hit at high speeds.

In winter the blend for actuator went out in Explorer and left me with no great so when I drive I have to continue to try and wipe frost off of the inside of windshield it is dangerous to have to drive vehicle in winter and always wiping windows especially with kids in the car there are many reports of this happening in this model and year of vehicle this is definitely a safety issue you are driving down road at night and as soon as you pass a car the cars headlights mess with frost on window and it is blinding not to mention when it rains and the windows steam up and you can't see then either.

I was on my way to work on a Tuesday morning with my son who is a college student at my school on August 20, 2013. I work at a community college and it was the first week of the fall semester 2013 starting. I arrived about 10:15 a. M. And could not find parking. I found a parking stall in the staff parking lot. I put the Ford Explorer in reverse and was going backwards to park in the stall. When I moved the shift gear handle to put the truck into drive into the parking stall, the gear shift was just broke off. I couldn't believe it! I had to act quickly and hit the emergency brake and trun the ignition off from the car to make it stop. I was really scared! luckily, I dropped off my son so he can go to his first class. I had to have the car towed to banning, California and have my mechanic fix it. Still to this day, Ford cannot provide a part to fix the steering column shift level. Ford says its on backorder, no one has the part. They don't know when I will have the part to fix my truck. I need help, I hope you can issue a recall on all 2004 Ford Explorers with gear shift level breaking off. Very upset need your help to get my truck fixed. This matter has made me sick with high blood pressure and would appreciate someone to investigate this matter right away.

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.

We was drive the the street doing 30 mph until we came until a stop light . When the light turn green the transmission strated to act like in didnt wont to go into gear . When only had the car for a year in only put almost less then 9 to 8 thousand mile on it. When the car full service every time. . . Dont know what to do any more.

I was closing the upper door on the back of my SUV when the right hinge broke and the door almost dropped to the ground. I managed to wrestle it back up but the hydraulic shock on the door broke and leaked fluid all over the car. I cannot get it back into the window opening properly it is open about an inch. I am afraid to drive the car in case the window falls out.

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.

2000-2005 Explorers have a rate of 1 out of 10 having transmition failure. I want to know why there is not a recall or a class action law suit for this vehicles transmition problems and failures. I would like any information possible to further this. There was mention on Ford complaints and failures website for out of waranty Explorers a "goodwill repair"? I contacted the Ford company and said my vehicle did not fit the criteria. Yet when I asked for the guidelines to be sent or emailed to me, I was told this was confidential information and was told nothing could be done. . . I purchased this vehicle with my daughters disability money so that she would have a safe ride to dr's etc. A little over a year later the geers went totaly out while driving. Road side assistance took 4 hours up until 4am. Lengthy wait for anyone let alone a disabled child. Now my daughter and I as a single mother can not afford another vehicle. Or the repairs for Fords mistakes. Ford really needs to aknoweledge thier mistakes and fix them on a case by case basis or someone needs to put thier foot up thier tailpipe and sue the company. Any help suggestions or other ways to deal with this matter would be greatfully appreciated. Thank you . . Wheels4jocilyn.

While removing grocery bags from the rear of my 2004 Ford Explorer XLT, the left liftgate hinge snapped and the windowed half of the rear liftgate door came apart leaving the left side of the door still attached to the hydraulic liftgate bar but otherwise dangling and unsupported. Then I could not shut the door so we propped it with pillows to ease the stress on the left side. I had problems with the liftgate hydraulic bar collapsing on my prior Ford Explorer but those repairs were covered under a recall. This morning Ford denied there was a recall for my present vehicle and refused to provide any information on prior recalls involving the same liftgate apparatus failure that occurred to my 2004 model. I called the Ford dealer who said they would have to charge me for towing to bring my SUV for repair there. My local repair shop that is less than one mile away is coming to pick up the vehicle and repair it. I think Ford has still not resolve these liftgate apparatus problems after all these years of being on notice of the structural problem and even having prior recalls for 2002-03 Explorers!! I could have been seriously injured had the door collapsed on me. It also could have caused the window to shatter and my liftgate glass door fully breaks aways from the car, it will result in body damage to the rear bumper.

2004 Ford Explorer, was eastbound when the tongue of the trailer he was pulling broke off due to rust. The trailer traveled across all three lanes striking the center wall and overturning. (ohio traffic crash report #10-0447-90) updated 09/13/bf.

Rear body panel around back window split.