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.
Fuel system, Other, Apr 15, 2004
WHILE FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK GASOLINE GAUGE REGISTERED FALSE READING. CONSUMER HAD A FULL TANK OF GASOLINE THAT DAY. THE NEXT DAY THE GASOLINE GAUGE REGISTERED A HALF OF A TANK. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK
Power train, Apr 13, 2004
WHINING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM BUT DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE A FIX FOR IT! THEY ASKED ME TO CALL THEM BACK IN 30 DAYS.
Steering, Suspension, Mar 17, 2004
4THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IT'S TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND DOES NOT RETURN WITHOUT PULLING IT BACK. *PH THIS WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR GOING AROUND A SHARP BEND. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE FORD DEALER THREE TIMES AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL THE NEW EXPLORERS WERE MADE THAT WAY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. THERE WAS A BIG CLUNK AT TIMES WHEN BACKING UP AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THE RIDE WAS VERY BUMPY AND CAUSED THE OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING. *SC
Structure, Feb 26, 2004
OTHE VEHICLE WAS RECEIVED ON 2/16/2004, ON 2/18/2004 THE DRIVERS SIDE RUNNING BOARD BROKE WHEN I STEPPED ONTO IT WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE I STEPPED UP ONTO THE RUNNING BOARD AND IT CRACKED AT THE SEAM CAUSING ME TO FALL BACK INTO THE DRIVING LANE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE RUNNING BOARD ON 2/24/2004. ON 2/26/2004, THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING BOARD CRACK IN THE SAME PLACE, THIS WAS ONLY THE SECOND TIME SOMEONE ENTERED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I AM WAITING FOR THE DEALER TO REPLACE THIS ONE. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN WHILE THERE IS TRAFFIC MOVING NEAR THE VEHICLE A PERSON COULD FALL BACK AND BE STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK
Other or unspecified, Feb 26, 2004
THE TRUCK DOESN'T COME WITH A CARGO NET OR A DEVICE THAT CAN BE USED TO SEPARATE THE CARGO AREA FROM THE TRUCKS CABIN. WHICH IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS BECAUSE THE CARGO CAN FLY FORWARD AND HIT THE OCCUPANTS. CONSUMER WAS TOLD AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE A NET, BUT HAS NOW FOUND OUT THE NET CANNOT FIX THIS TRUCK. *NM *SC
Power train, Feb 19, 2004
VIBRATION IN DRIVE TRAIN STARTS AT 45 AND CONTINUES THROUGH 60 MPH. DEALER HAS CHECKED ALL 4 WHEELS FOR BALANCE, REPLACED REAR DRIVESHAFT, REPLACED TRANSFER CASE, AND NOW WANTS TO REPLACE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. FRONT CRANKSHAFT SEAL HAS NOW STARTED TO LEAK ENGINE OIL.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 2, 2004
THIS IS INTERMITTENT STALLS, POOR THROTTLE, NO START. *JB
Power train, Jan 30, 2004
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE FAILED. *AK