Three problems related to vehicle shudder 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.
The transmission on my 2004 Ford Explorer is failing; is will slip out of gear, and then shift back into gear hard enough that it makes the entire vehicle shake and lurch forward. The vehicle only has 68k miles on it, and is only used as a commuter vehicle. It has never been taken off road, and I have never used it to tow anything.
Multiple problems with my Explorer. When shifting into reverse car jolts with a clunking noise. While driving car jolts occasionally. When braking car shakes. Abs light is on and 4x4 high light flashes. Explorer was taken in December 2004 and fixed for the truck jolting into reverse. Truck now having the same problem. Truck to be taken back to the dealer next week.
2004 Explorer has had ongoing transmission problems since the day I purchased it. I only became aware of the factory mistake in transmission fluid two weeks after purchasing a leftover. Somehow it wasn't discovered until more than a year later? I have problems with the car lurching into reverse and not engaging in park correctly. The car rolls about 2-4 feet when in park and now the new problem is it refuses to go into drive and revs in neutral until you press on the arm of the gear shifter with considerable force. I have brought this into the dealer two times for this problem. Twice I was told there was nothing wrong and they couldn't duplicate the problem. When I was leaving the dealership the second time the car lurched into reverse in their parking lot, I'm only sorry that the service manager's care wasn't parked behind me! I am bringing it in again since the new trick is when you stop on the highway (to pay a toll) the entire chassis and body of the car shake and vibrate so violently that things fall off the dashboard. Only by depressing and holding the brake pedal to the floor can I diminish the shaking. I use my car for transporting my family. If it is not corrected this time to my satisfaction, Ford will take this car back. I'm disgusted with the attitude of the dealerships I have taken it to and the incompetent service I have received since the day I purchased this vehicle.