Seven problems related to frame and members have been reported for the 2004 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2004 Explorer.
My 2004 Ford Explorer has a crack on the rear window panel by the Ford emblem, its been this was for awhile, just Thursday night I noticed glass on the ground behind my vehicle then looked up and it was my back window. It shattered, the panel bowed out as if it warped outward and shattered the window. Luckily it had been parked and no one was around when it happened. As a result of this the entire lift gate and rear window will need to be replaced. I'm still waiting for my insurance to come and appraise the damages.
2004 Ford Explorer. Consumer states cross member support snapped forcing the vehicle to become inoperable an inspection revealed the cross-member support was not welded properly during the manufacturing process of the vehicle. (son wrote in on behalf of his father who owns the vehicle).
2004 Ford Explorer. Consumer states rear cross member support snapped forcing the vehicle to become inoperable after further inspection by a Ford mechanic and the insurance company, they concluded it was due to a manufacturing defect as the cross member support was not welded properly when the vehicle was built.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. While examining the vehicle the contact noticed a crack on the panel below the rear window. The vehicle has not been diagnosed and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 89000. Updated 01/03/11.
Rear panel on 2004 Ford Explorer is cracked. This happened in February of 2009. Nothing has been done to repair this due to the cost. This is a defect common to this model and should be repaired by Ford. This could cause shattering of glass window if it becomes loose.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact heard a loud noise in the rear of his vehicle. He noticed that the panel under the rear window of the vehicle was cracked in half. He does not know how the failure occurred. The dealer stated that the failure was caused by a defect in the materials and changes in the temperature. The contact has to pay for the repair because there is no recall on this failure. The failure mileage was 64,000. Updated 03/09/09. Updated 03/10/09.
On August 8, 2008 I opened the back glass of my 2004 Ford Explorer at which time the bracket at the top of the glass broke loose causing my glass to fall. It hit me in the head when it fell and would have possibly fell on me if the other bracket had not stayed in place. I contact Ford motor company but have been unable to determine what model years of the Ford Explorer were recalled previously for this same problem. My Explorer was not covered under the recall but I believe it should have been as Ford installed faulty brackets on my truck. Currently my husband purchased a "recall kit" from Ford to correct their faulty equipment and is in the process of trying to fix my back glass so that my vehicle is drivable again.