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
1,408 reports, newest first.
Power train, Jul 27, 2005
WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN DECEMBER OF 2004 AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT. 8 TIMES IN THE PAST 7 MONTHS FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS. IT HAS BEEN IN 4 TIMES FOR "HARD CRANKS BUT NO START", 4 TIMES FOR ROUGH IDLING, 1 TIME FOR AN RPM PROBLEM (AND IN NEXT WEEK FOR A DIFFERENT ONE- IT STAYS AROUND 3 RPM AFTER ACCELERATING- I HAVE TO LET OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL FOR IT TO SHIFT DOWN), AND IT HAS BEEN IN FOR MISC. ISSUES (WHISTLING NOISE AT FRONT WINDOW, RATTLING CONSOLE, ETC.). EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR THE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, THEY "UPGRADE THE PCM". I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY NUMEROUS TIMES FOR A REPURCHASE BECAUSE OF MY DAUGHTER'S MEDICAL CONDITION. IT REQUIRES THAT SHE HAS RELIABLE AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP KNEW ABOUT HER NEEDS WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS SUV. HOWEVER, I KEEP GETTING SHUTTLED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE DEALERSHIP, (SCHIMMER FORD, ILLINOIS) AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY. AS A LONG TIME PURCHASER OF FORD VEHICLES, I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE TREATMENT THAT I AM RECEIVING.
Power train, Jul 27, 2005
TRANSMISSION SHIFT LAG- 2004 FORD EXPLORER I PRESENTED MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER [XXX] TO A LOCAL DEALER 2/28/05 FOR THE RECALL INVOLVING A CHANGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS HAS NOT ALLEVIATED WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IS A CHRONIC AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE, THERE IS OFTEN A NOTICEABLE SHIFT LAG OF A FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION ACTUALLY ENGAGES. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED YESTERDAY, 7/26/05, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED NOSE DOWN ON A HILL, REQUIRING ME TO BACK UP TO LEAVE A PARKING SPOT IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, WELL KNOWN FOR ITS HILLY TERRAIN. BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION LAG, I ALMOST DRIFTED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY WENT INTO REVERSE. I HAVEN'T NOTICED THIS IN ANY FORWARD GEARS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT THIS IS THE THIRD AND MOST NOTICEABLE EVENT TO DATE. HAD A PEDESTRIAN WALKED IN FRONT OF ME, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN INJURY, OR EVEN A FATALITY. AFTER THIS EVENT, I AM RETURNING THE VEHICLE ASAP TO THE DEALER. I WILL ONLY USE REVERSE AT THIS TIME WITH MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL I FEEL THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGE. UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power train, Electrical system, Tires, Seats, Jul 13, 2005
WITHIN THREE DAYS OF BUYING THE VEHICLE, I ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH REMOTE, SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK AND OTHER TIMES, IT WOULDN'T. DRIVER'S REAR WINDOW , SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK AND OTHER TIMES, IT WOULDN'T. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER THREE TIMES FOR SAME THINGS. REAR END MAKES A VERY LOUD WHINING NOISE. IT HAS BEEN TO DEALER'S THREE TIMES ALSO FOR FIXING. DEALER STATES THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND ALL OF THEM ARE DOING IT. VEHICLE, WHILE IN GEAR, WOULD JUMP/JERK. DEALER REPLACED SOLENOID, IT STILL DOES IT SOMETIMES.
Air bags, Jul 13, 2005, crash
MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A FAIRLY SEVERE SIDE-IMPACT COLLISON THAT KNOCKED OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER, EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL SIDE-IMPACT CURTAIN AIRBAGS, 4 FEET SIDEWAYS, DESTROYED THE DRIVER'S DOOR (DIRECT IMPACT TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR) COLLAPSED IT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND RESULTED IN $6,000 OF INSURANCE-ESTIMATED DAMAGE. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER THAT HAS THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THAT THE ON-BOARD CHECK SYSTEM DOES NOT INDICATE ANY FAULTS. MY WIFE DID KNOCK HER HEAD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DURING THE COLLISION, BUT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE SUSTAINED ANY LASTING INJURIES. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS SAFETY SYSTEM WE PAID EXTRA FOR DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED, AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFORD THE PROTECTION PROMISED BY FORD. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGED VEHICLE AND THE ACCIDENT IF YOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT THEM...JUST NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO UPLOAD THEM TO.
Vehicle speed control, Jul 13, 2005
IN FEB 05 TOOK CAR TO SHOP TO REPORT THAT IT REVS UP AT TIMES , WHEN FOOT NOT ON GAS PEDDLE.THEY SAID THEY REPLACED CLUTCH SOLENOID. IT SEEMED TO STOP, BUT TOOK IT BACK IN MAY AND WAS TOLD IT DID NOT SHOW ANY CODES WHEN THEY HOOKED IT TO COMPUTER AND TO MAKE SURE MY FOOT WAS NOT TOUCHING GAS PEDDLE WHEN I WAS STOPPING. THE EXPLORER CONTINUES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF REVING UP WHEN MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE GAS PEDDLE. I FEEL I CAN'T TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT IT. AS THEY ACK LIKE I AM STUPID AND DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM SPEAKING OF. I AM SCARED EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT.
Power train, Jul 9, 2005, crash
2004 FORD EXPLORER...WELL KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, DELAY AND "BUCKING" INTO REVERSE...FORD DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX BUT TO NO AVAIL...
Power train, Jul 9, 2005
PROBLEMS WITH A 2004 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION OPERATION. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION WILL DROP INTO 1ST GEAR, BRINGING THE VEHICILE ALMOST TO A FULL STOP. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO DROPS INTO A NETURAL GEAR ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Wheels, Jul 8, 2005
DT: THE CHROME ON THE WHEELS WAS CHIPPING OFF AND THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO GET THEM FIXED AND THAT THE CRACKING IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THEM FOR FREE. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THEY WILL ASSIST THE CONSUMER IN PAYING FOR THE PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER TURNED THEM DOWN. *AK *SC *JB
Power train, Jul 5, 2005
WITHIN 7,000 MILES OF PURCHASING MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER (EDDIE BAUER EDITION) I BEGAN NOTICING A PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING SLAMMING INTO GEAR. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST INTO REVERSE, THEN IT WAS FROM REVERSE INTO FORWARD DRIVE GEARS, THEN IT WOULD SLAM EVERY TIME IT CHANGED GEARS. WHEN I TOOK IT IN, FORD REPLACED THE VALVE BODY FOR THE TRANSMISSION, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, AND A SOLENOID. SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 10K MILES. THEN THE REVERSE SLAMMING STARTED AGAIN AND SOME SLIGHT SLAMMING WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO THE FORWARD GEAR. SO I TOOK IT BACK AND ALSO ASKED THEM TO DO SOME ROUTINE MAINTANENCE INSPECTIONS, DURING WHICH TIME THEY INFORMED ME MY REAR LEFT WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE. AT THIS TIME THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. NOW, 10K MILES LATER, IT'S BACK IN THE SHOP WITH SLAMMING GEARS AND WHINING NOISES COMING FROM WHEEL AREA. THE SLAMMING TRANSMISSION IS BASICALLY SHAKING MY VEHICLE APART BIT BY BIT. MY FEAR OF COURSE IS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. I'M HOPING I CAN GET RESOLUTION BEFORE A PART ACTUALLY FALLS OFF WHILE I'M GOING 70 DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I'VE BEEN READING NEWS RELEASES AND OWNER FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A RATHER COMMON ISSUE, THOUGH LUCKILY NO ONE HAS BEEN HURT AS OF YET.
Vehicle speed control, Jul 1, 2005
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. CONSUMER SMELLED WIRES BURNING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS NOT BEEN WORKING. *AK
Power train, Jul 1, 2005
2004 FORD EXPLORER, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE NEW, VISITED THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES WITH NO FIX
Power train, Exterior lighting, Jun 27, 2005
DT: THE CAR WILL NOT START IN THE MORNINGS, AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT SITS FOR A WHILE IT WILL NOT START. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND OUT WHY IT WILL NOT START. DEALERSHIP KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK, AND VEHICLE STARTED CORRECTLY AFTER THAT. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS THIS PROBLEM CAME BACK. OWNER HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK FOR REPAIRS YET. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT COVER IS LOSE AND COMING OFF. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2004. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED FORD AT THIS TIME. FORD WAS CONTACTED WITH THE FIRST TIME WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD, BUT WA GOING TODAY.*AK
Power train, Jun 23, 2005
TRANSMISSION GOING INTO REVERSE HAD STARTED TO BE DELAYED AND ABRUPT STARTING AROUND APRIL OF 2005 AT APPR. 12,000 MILES. IT SEEMED TO NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY AND WOULD LURCH INTO GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY. WE RECEIVED A RECALL FROM FORD IN MAY 2005 STATING THAT WE HAD NOT YET BEEN IN FOR OUR RECALL. NO NOTICE HAD COME BEFORE THAT ONE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED DEALER AND TOOK IN FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE 3 DAYS LATER. THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE AND IF ANYTHING THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. I NEED TO TAKE MY CHILD 75 MILES ONE WAY FREQUENTLY FOR DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND AM QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE.
Power train, Jun 23, 2005
SEE FORD MOTOR CO TSB 04B22 OR NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10013306, FORD EXPLORER 2004. SUBJECT VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION, TO A LESSER DEGREE, HAD STARTED TO EXHIBIT THE CHARACTERISTICS DESCRIBED THEREIN PRIOR TO RECEIPT OF THE 04B22 PROGRAM NOTICE. RANDOM VIOLENT TRANSMISSION OPERATION. CAUSES VEHICLE TO LURCH WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED AFTER PLACING TRANSMISSION IN GEAR WITH VEHICLE STATIONARY, OCCURS MOST OFTEN IN REVERSE , BEFORE OR AFTER VEHICLE STARTS TO MOVE, MOST OFTEN BEFORE VEHICLE HAS STARTED MOVING. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHORTENING SERVICE LIFE OF DRIVE LINE COMPONENTS. FIVE TIMES TO DEALERSHIP IN ATTEMPT TO HAVE PROBLEM CORRECTED UNDER WARRANTY, DEALERSHIP FINE; MANUFACTURER'S REPS. VERBALLY ADVISED ME THAT TRANSMISSION OPERATION IS "NORMAL", I REQUESTED THEY PUT IT IN WRITING, THEY REFUSED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, VERBALLY, THEY WILL NOT DO ANYMORE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. FORD RETAINED ALL ORIGINAL PARTS REMOVED FROM TRANSMISSION (WARRANTY WORK). AFTER FILING THIS COMPLAINT AND I RECEIVE CASE NUMBER I WILL FORWARD TO ODI COPIES OF ALL DOCUMENTS FROM MY FILES ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FAILURE MILEAGE(7500) LISTED ELSEWHERE HEREIN IS ONLY AN ESTIMATE OF THE MILEAGE AT WHICH THIS RANDOM MALFUNCTION OCURRED; IT STARTED SUBTLY AND INCREASED IN MAGNITUDE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 16, 2005
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE ENGINE WILL STALL. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR TOLD THIS WOULD FIX IT, BUT IT DID NOT. ALL BUT ONCE THE CAR HAS STARTED BACK UP IMMEDIATLY.
Power train, Jun 16, 2005
I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER .WHEN I GO FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE THERE IS A 5 TO 6 SECOND DELAY THEN A LOUD BANG. ALSO FROM PARK TO REVERSE THERE IS A 5 TO 6 SECOND DELAY THEN A BANG SOMETIMES IT HAS THE 5 TO 6 SECOND DELAY AND LOUNGES BACKWARD EVEN WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS COULD KILL SOMEONE THAT IS WALKING BEHIND YOUR TRUCK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF YOU NEED TO BACK UP FAST FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES OR MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF ON COMING VEHICLES. FORD MOTOR COMPANY RELEASED A STATEMENT ON NOV 22 FORD SPOKESWOMAN KRISTEN KINLEY SAID THEY KNOW ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS IT WAS DUE TO THE WRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID PUT IN DURING MANUFACTURE THEY ARE REPLACING THE SOLENOID AND THE FLUID. MY FORD DEALER KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THIS? AND ARE SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL BECAUSE THERE ARE NO REPORTED INJURIES. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS FIXED? FORD MOTOR CO. KNOWS ABOUT THIS THERE SPOKESWOMAN HAS COMMENTED ABOUT IT BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE??
Power train, Jun 13, 2005
2004 EXPLORER EXHIBITED SIGNS OF NOT SHIFTING SMOOTHLY INTO REVERSE AS EARLY AS AUG/SEP 04. PRONOUNCED DELAY OF SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AROUND 2004 HOLIDAY SEASON. CALLED DEALERSHIP UPON RECEIPT OF LETTER FROM FORD IN JANUARY, BUT TRANSMISSION ADDITIVE NOT YET AVAILABLE. AFTER ADDITIVE (MARCH 05), VEHICLE CONTINUED TO JUMP INTO REVERSE AND FORWARD SHIFTING AT LOWER SPEEDS BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED. THIS PRESENTS A HAZARD PARTICULAR IN CITY DRIVING AND IN BACKING OUT OF TIGHT PARKING AREAS. HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH DEALER TO ANAYLZE PROPER REPAIR AND MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY. NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION YET.
Electrical system, Jun 6, 2005
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. 1ST) MY TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MAKING A CLUNK OR THUD SOUND ALMOST EVERYTIME. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SOLENOID ASSEMBLY. I STILL FEEL SOME OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS WHEN REVERSING AND SLOWING DOWN. 2ND) MY EXPLORER NOW FAILS TO START. I DROVE TO PICK UP SOME FRIENDS. I DROVE A MAXIMUM OF 40 MILES THAT DAY BEFORE I WENT TO HIS HOUSE. AFTER 30 MIN I CAME OUTSIDE AND TRIED TO START MY VEHICLE BUT IT WOULD NOT EVEN TURN OVER. THERE IS ENOUGH POWER, THE BATTERY HAS A GREEN LIGHT, AND THE FUSE IS GOOD. I USED TO BE A LOYAL FORD MAN BUT AFTER THESE PROBLEMS I AM SERIOUSLY THINKING OF TRADING THIS VEHICLE IN FOR A DIFFERENT BROWN.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 3, 2005
THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF, COULDN'T STEER, AND COULDN'T PULL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE ABOUT A MINUTE DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT FELT LIKE THEY WERE STILL WORKING.*AK *SB *NM
Power train, Jun 2, 2005
TRANSMISSION LEAKS, HAS BEEN REPAIRED 4 TIMES BY DEALER. TRANSMISSION HAS NO DIP STICK TO MEASURE LEVEL AND NO WAY FOR USER TO ADD FLUID. WHEN LEAK IS NOTICED USER DOES NOT KNOW OIL LEVEL AND CAN BE LEFT STRANDED IN DANGEROUS LOCATIONS. HAS ALSO BEEN REPAIRED FOR SLAMMING DUE TO SOLENOID PROBLEMS ALSO.
Power train, May 29, 2005
MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAS A WHINE IN THE REAR END AT APPX 56-58 MPH. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE RING AND PINION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED.
Power train, May 29, 2005
MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAS A DELAY AND THEN HARD SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE SOLENOID BECAUSE OF HARSH REVERSE ENGAGEMENT AND NOW AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY.
Power train, May 24, 2005
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING GEARS SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. IT HESITATES CONSIDERABLY TO ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. WHEN ENGAGED IN DRIVE IT'S INITIALLY NONRESPONSIVE TO LIGHT ACCELERATION THEN SURGES FORWARD. AFTER TAKING TO A CERTIFIED FORD DEALERSHIP FOR SOLENOID WORK, IT CONTINUES TO MISENGAGE INTO MULTIPLE GEARS. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST FORD EXPLORER AND IS RADICALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE OF ANY SUV I'VE DRIVEN. MY CONCERN IS THAT AFTER THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED, RESIDUAL DAMAGE DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE STILL PRESENT, WHICH MAY NOT BECOME APPARENT UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND WARRANTY.
Power train, May 24, 2005, crash
FLASHING LIGHTS ON PANEL. ACCIDENT IN WHICH CAR SKIDDED. DEALER SAID DEFECT IN REAR AXLE OF2004 FORD EXPLORER.
Other or unspecified, May 22, 2005
WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON, THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAK EACH TIME THE CLUTCH ENGAGES. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER(JOHN CHANDLER FORD AMARILLO, TX), THEY STATE IT IS A NORMAL OCCURANCE. YOU CAN HEAR THE NOISE OVER THE STEREO AND ANY TALKING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP @ 6 TIMES, AND NO CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN DONE FOR THIS ISSUE.