general problems of the 2004 Ford Explorer - part 1

The Ford motor company is well aware of the problem with its Ford Explorers produced 2002-2008. The back door panel cracks all the way through just under the window. There are thousands of owners with this problem and many documented who have been driving the vehicle and had the back window completely explode. There is no telling when this is going to happen only to alarm the driver and cause a major freeway accident. Right now there is a class action lawsuit moving to get the Ford company to repair this problem. But they are waiting for a major accident, injury or loss of life to do the right thing.

4 years ago the plastic next to the Ford emblem cracked right of the emblem on my back hatch. I looked into it and there was 10's of thousands of the same complaint that I had at an average cost of only $800. Then tonight my wife got some chairs out of the rear hatch then when closing it the rear glass falls out of the Explorer because " the aluminum rear hatch hinge on the right side broke" which has an average cost of $300. Mind you the little piece that holds the window hinge on is only the size of an eraser head, both of the rear hatch defects are not under any recall yet many complaints have been filed and or posted via the internet. This is a safety concern to families as it should be to the Ford motor company " which seems not to care " and also to the NHTSA as it could be a huge safety issue if this was to have happened traveling down the high way at 70 mph.

I purchased a 2004 Ford Explorer in July 0f 2011, and traded in my 2001 Oldsmobile of 5 years. I also purchased the 12 month 12,000 mile warranty. Before driving it off the lot I had the dealer fix the abs system because the light was on. There is a crack going down the back of the trunk but nothing else was wrong at the time so I left the crack alone. In April of 2012 I took it to the dealership for a belt, check trans, shocks, ball joints, and a ticking in the heater when knob was turned to heat (not cool). I told him to just fix what was on the warranty and also give it a oil change. He informed me that the trans was fine. After getting the car back my heat went out and I was told by a mechanic buddy that my brakes, rotters, emergency brake pads and the back tires were shot. So I had him replaced them because this was also not covered on warranty. Just last week my rpm started jumping with miles over 65. (no lights were on at the time)so I took it to 6 different places getting estimates on what could be wrong. All shops said the same thing. "start with fuel filter, oil filters and oil change". The day after I paid for all this the service engine light came on. (egr valve code) the man at auto zone told me to take it off and clean it with spray and let it dry before replacing. I took it to a shop and had them do this. The same day I picked up the car my service engine light came on again, o/d light and the car was driving like I was hauling a bus and jumping. I took it back the next day and he replaced the egr valve new since the same code was showing up. Later that day after getting it back the car started doing the same thing after driving for 5 miles this was Friday 9/21/12.

The rear hatch just came off as I was driving out out of a store, the hinge just broke off.

On 19 Apr 2012 while opening the back hatch window, the passenger side hinge of the window failed. When this occurred the driver side hinge was bent and the hydrulic lifts popped open the window rather rapidly which could have severely injured me if it hit me. I was unable to close the window myself so I could drive again. A bystander helped me out to close it. After reading other reports and complaints online, this is not an isolated incident for 2004 Ford Explorers.

The hinges that hold on the rear window are failing and I cannot open the rear window because I am afraid that it will fall off. Other year Explorers were recalled for this very reason and I cannot understand why the 2004 model was not recalled. The parts are the same as they were in other years.

While loading groceries, I noticed the hinges to my rear window were cracked. I quit using the window in fear of it breaking. The cost to replace the plastic hinge is completely outrageous! I also had a friend call today and his hinge broke, thankfully the glass did not break. Ford knows the hinges are defective. Why would a major company like Ford overlook this problem and take a chance of many law suits due to their negligence? there are over 1600 complaints recorded. How many more is needed for a recall? Ford needs to stand behind their product. I hesitated buying this Ford because my first Ford caught fire while I was driving it. Thirty years later I still think of all the bad stories and now, I want my chevy back.

I purchased a 2004 Ford Explorer from a Toyota dealership on 1/28/11. The car was a certified / warranteed 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 differential seal & noise in the differential. I had the car inspected at a Ford dealership & was told these problems needed repair. The Toyota dealership has not returned numerous phone calls, emails & when I brought the car back to them, I was told all these repairs had been fixed & later found out that nothing was done.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear door panel cracked underneath the window. The contact was concerned because the windows were not secure and could fall out at any time. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 74,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated the hatch back fiber glass failed. The fiber glass cracked in half. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the fiber glass failed due to stress. The contact stated the fiber class was defective. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but refused to assist with the repair. The failure and the current mileages were 110,000.

I awoke one morning and I found a large crack in the rear hatch of my 04 Ford Explorer. It was not like that the previous evening when I got home. I researched the problem online and found many similar stories. I also found that there is currently no manufacturer recall to remedy the situation. Plastic rear hatch cracked under extreme temperature. Rear glass may break while driving and pose hazard to other drivers. Plan on replacing, however I don't believe I should pay for it because of the poor quality of the original part.

Rear panel vertical crack below window.

Crack suddenly appeared in the rear panel below the window. From the glass to the bottom of the hatch. Had window tightened.

Letter to the deputy administrator from senator burr on behalf of constituent concerning a crack in the plastic surrounding the rear window of her 2004 Ford Explorer.

Noticed the lift gate hinge of our 2004 Ford Explorer is cracked. We've now removed the glass from the lift gate and are trying to find parts for it. This is a potential danger, not knowing when the glass can crack/shatter. This is obviously a defect in the manufacturing of the part.

Have a 2004 Ford Explorer I bought new. It now has approximately 95250 miles. After washing car 2-5-10, a mild day here in CT though wintertime, I noticed trim panel under rear window showed vertical crack most all the way through. Several days later crack had migrated all the way through to bottom of panel. Contacted Ford customer service online 2-17-10 asking if this was a safety concern as had read others had it happen to them as well on various automobile websites like edmunds. Understood before writing it was not a recall at that time. Got a polite response 2-18-10 that though sorry for the inconvenience, I should bring it to the dealer for assessment. I never thought it was bad enough to warrant such a trip. However, I am noticing that the window how seems to rattle when closing if only the window portion is opened rather than the entire rear door. I really want to believe that the window is not in jeopardy of separating from the frame when I'm driving down the road. Can you confirm that other Explorer owners of this vintage have in fact registered complaints with NHTSA as I am doing tonight. Will Ford be asked to make repairs to owner's vehicles for this defect? thank you in advance for your feedback.

I own a 2004 Ford Explorer that has just experienced a random crack in the body in the hatchback. The crack appears immediately below the rear window, above and below the Ford emblem. There was no precipitant to the event and there is no obvious trauma to the vehicle. I have had no repairs or problems with this area previously. The Ford dealership I do business with said they have seen several vehicles with the same issue and could fix it for between $600 & $700. I spoke to Ford motor CO. Who said this is not under my warranty because it is not a recall. I do not understand how a structural defect on my vehicle, not caused by myself or a 3rd party, can not constitute a recall. How can Ford say this isn't dangerous? if a piece of the body were to fly into another vehicle while I am driving or the glass cracks and shatters, there could be serious damage to someone else. Why would a "recall" only be instated if someone were to be hurt? why wait? I think Ford should fix this issue at no charge to me, the owner.

Went to open rear door and noticed a crack running down the back panel below the rear window. My Ford Explorer is a 2004 with less than 60,000 miles this should not of happened this is a defect that Ford should take care of. Instead I was told to call my insurance company are you kidding this is Fords problem not mine. It could fall off while I'm driving and hurt someone what is going on in America.

No accident involved, walked out of my house into the driveway and noticed "the Explorer crack" on the left side of the Ford emblem. Temp was 26 degrees that night.

Ford designed a plastic piece of molding that is glued to the back glass of every Explorer. This has cracked on every Explorer I have seen. It has been fixed once by Ford, but it has broke again. I assume that if it has broke every two years so far, it will continue to break. Ford has refused to fix this defect.

Cracked rear panel below window, this crack one day, no apparent reason.

I have 2004 Ford Explorer. I have a cracked panel below the rear window, it cracked in two places. While driving that piece can fall off and hit a person walking or hit the car behind, which would result in paying the other person for damages or hospital bills. This problem or defect, recall which ever you want to call it, Ford hasn't done anything about it so far. There are numerous people with the same vehicles, with the problem. I thought can bring this up to your company and see where this goes. Thank you for time hope to hear that this can be resolved.

2004 Ford Explorer. Large crack in hatch back between glass and handle (around the Ford logo). This occurred with normal vehicle use and dealer refuses to fix. Crack continues to expand. Afraid that if crack is left unfixed it will eventually cause the back glass to fall out of the hatch due to lack of proper support.

Noticed my 2004 Ford Explorer had a crack in the plastic panel under the rear window when I was washing it in my driveway. Not sure if this is a recall but I see about 100 others have filed a complaint about it. It should be a recall.

Paint on the roof of my vehicle has peeled off only to reveal rust. Of course, the warranty states that if there is no perforation then not their fault if more than 60 months have passed.

Crack on panel on hatchback below window to the emblem below emblem and then off to the right back to the main crack making a piece of pie look. Motor to the back wiper blade under there where rain can short it out. Also if pie shape flies loose could hurt someone out side the SUV.

Engaged release button to lift rear glass hatch. Glass was lifted and as I reached in to get something out of vehicle, glass fell on top of my head. I was dazed for a few seconds unsure of what had happened. When I pulled myself from under glass, I saw glass was hanging off of one side of vehicle. My husband inspected vehicle and found that left hinge on glass had broken causing glass to fall. He contacted Ford corporate office and was instructed to take vehicle to local Ford dealership where they would inspect vehicle. This was done and local dealership inspected and stated that this was a defected part and contacted Ford corporate office. Corporate office refused to cover this repair. We decided to have other hinge replaced also instead of risking chance of injury again. Cost $80. 00 + several nights of headaches (literally) from injury.

While driving 2004 Ford Explorer we heard loud noise, then noticed the rear hatch door had a 6 inch crack to the left of the Ford emblem. I believe this could become a road hazard to other vehicles while driving. I have also written down other local license plates with same problem with Ford Explorer.

2004 Ford Explorer with the back plastic door been split in half, it looks like this is happening to a lot of Ford Explorers, we have taken the truck to the dealer. The problem is not on a recall and it will be on our own expenses.

I wanted to file a concern/complaint about my 2004 Ford Explorer. The hatch door below my rear window has cracked. I am very disappointed in this as I have seen and found on the internet that this is very common in this make and model. Ford has no recall on this to my knowledge and should investigate the commonness of this problem and do right by their customers. Thank you,.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact noticed that the frame supporting the side/rear glass was fractured. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 07e104000 (visibility:glass, side/rear); therefore, the contact would be responsible for the repair costs. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 66,783.

Crack in panel under back glass.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. While the contact was attempting to close the rear glass door, the door completely detached from the hinge, which connected it to the vehicle. The failure occurred without prior warning. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 60,000. Updated 10/14/08 updated 10/23/08.

Went into my garage to get into my Explorer and noticed a cracked panel below rear window. Seen other Ford SUV's with same cracked panel by the Ford emblem on rear panel. Called Ford and asked if there was a recall on this and they told me no and refused to help me get the problem fixed. I did nothing. The crack just came out of no where. It wasn't something I did. Its a manufacture problem seeing that there is other SUV just like mine with the same problem and a crack in the exact same area!.

The back panel under the back widow cracked and Ford was contacted to see if any recalls were in place for that part. We were told there was not a recall for that issue. My husband was slowing down to turn into a parking lot and went over a bump. Because the glass runs under the panel, it got stressed and busted. We have replaced the part with another Ford back hatch.