2004 Ford Explorer
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 1,408 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 26 Explorer model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 75 involved a crash and 16 involved a fire. 105 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, headlightsMay 11, 2009
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, glass, side/rearDec 11, 2007
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.
SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
Campaign 07E104000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Campaign 06E049000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: vehicle speed control
84 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Nov 29, 2004
WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGINE STALLED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. *AK
Vehicle speed control, Nov 23, 2004
WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER ACCELERATED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE HADN'T BEEN FIRMLY PRESSED THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE SHOT INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IN ORDER TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY. DEALER CANNOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED A COMPUTER SOFTWARE UPGRADE. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Electrical system, Structure, Vehicle speed control, Tires, Nov 23, 2004
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WOULD SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THEN IT WILL SHUT DOWN BY ITSELF. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO AS OF TODAY, WAS UNABLE TO FIND A DEFECT. *JB THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH ON IT'S OWN WHILE HITTING THE RESUME BUTTON IN CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR OF THE BRAKING AND TIRE PRESSURE GAUGES, THROTTLE CONTROL, TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, CRUISE CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL DEFAULT, GENERAL COMPUTER DEFAULTS AND THE REAR TRIM PIECE AT THE LIFTGATE OPENING WAS DISTORTED. *SC
Suspension, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Nov 19, 2004
CAR HAS A HARD TIME ENGAGING INTO GEAR, WHEN BACKING UP IT FEELS LIKE I'VE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE JUST JUMPS IN REVERS.I HAVE ALMOST RAN OVER SOMEONE BECAUSE OF A DELAY IN ENGAGING INTO REVERSE. IN DRIVE IT DOES THE SAME THING. I WORRY THAT I AM GOING TO HIT A CAR THAT MIGHT BE PARKED IN FRONT OF ME OR EVEN A PERSON. NOT ONLY THAT I WORRY THAT IF I DID HIT ANOTHER CAR I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT I DID IT. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING. IT HAS LEFT US ALMOST STRANDED TWICE. THE CARS BATTERY HAS DIED FOR NO REASON, EVEN AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE OF HOURS PRIOR TO TRYING TO RESTART IT. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOW MOTORS HAVE GONE OUT, THE REAR WINDOWS WERE STUCK OPEN IN A RAIN STORM WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASH, THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 5,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE KEYLESS ENTRY QUITE WORKING, WICH ALSO KEPT OUR KEY CHAIN LOCKERS FROM WORKING. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER, IT WOULD JUST MAKE A CLICK, WHEN IT WOULD TURN OVER, IT SOUNDED LIKE GEARS WERE GRINDING. THE VEHICLE WENT IN FOR TO BE SERVICED FOR THE FIRST TIME A MONTH AFTER WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, DEC. 5, 2003 AND HAS GONE IN ATLEAST ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS SINCE. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICING A TOTAL OF 3 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR THAT WE HAVE OWNED IT. WE HAVE REQUESTED SINCE IT HAS BEEN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 8 TIMES AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED THAT THE DEALERSHIP LEMON THE VEHICLE. BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEY HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY CANNOT FIX IT.WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM NOW. IT CAN POTENTIALLY HURT SOMEONE. *AK
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Nov 3, 2004
WHEN SHIFTING GEARS FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE A HEAVY KNOCKING NOISE IS PRODUCED. *AK THE GEAR SELECTOR WOULD HANG UP IN DRIVE AND THE SELECTOR DID NOT RETURN. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO UNEXPECTEDLY JUMP OUT OF DRIVE. THE SHIFT SOLENOID WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. *SC
Vehicle speed control, Jul 6, 2004, crash
WHILE TURNING LEFT AT LOW SPEED, WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED INTO A GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM CONSUMER WAS TURNING LEFT TOWARDS GARAGE WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 50 TO 60 MPH. *LA
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed control, Jun 16, 2004
LOUD POP FROM REAR-END. ABS LIGHT,WRENCH,AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FOUND TO BE A BAD SPEED SENSOR AND DEFECTIVE REAR-END. SUV HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS AND NO REAR-END IN SIGHT. *AK
Vehicle speed control, May 20, 2004, crash
WHEN VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN THE PARKED POSITION VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARDS. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE.THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *AK
Vehicle speed control, May 19, 2004, crash
I WAS PARKING IN AN UNDERGROUND GARAGE AT JEFFERSON/WOODWARD IN DETROIT. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 5-7 MPH LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPOT. I FOUND AND SPOT AND BEGAN TO TURN INTO IT. WHEN I TURNED MY WHEEL, MY TRUCK IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED AND WOULDN'T STOP EVEN THOUGH I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BREAK. I JUMPED A CURB AND HIT A BRICK WALL. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT ED SCHMID FORD IN FERNDALE. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT MY INSURANCE PREMIUM MAY INCREASE BECAUSE THIS ACCIDENT IS VIEWED AT AND AT FAULT ACCIDENT. FORD IS GOING TO SEND SOMEONE OUT TO CHECK OUT MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR.*AK