Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THE BODY OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC XLT HAS RIVETS ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF THAT HOLD WATER. INSTEAD OF BEING A FLAT SURFACE WHERE RAIN CAN NATURALLY FALL OFF THE TOP OF THE ROOF IT SITS IN THESE RIVETS AND ACCUMULATES RUST. THIS LEADS TO A LOT MORE PROBLEMS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND PARTS WERE FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME AND THE FRONT AND REAR MOTOR MOUNTS WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE FRONT END MOTOR MOUNT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE PINION, BARONS, AND SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. MA 10/23/15 *CN
THE DOORS DON'T OPEN GOOD AND THE DOOR HANDLES BREAK. WE HAVE HAD FIXED TWICE AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD FIXED ALSO! *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH NOTICED TOO MUCH BODY ROLL AND BOUNCING. INSTALLED NEW SHOCKS AND SWAY BARS AND HAD IT ALIGNED AND IT STILL HAD TOO MUCH BODY ROLL AND BOUNCING. HAD IT UP ON A LIFT AN NOTICED THE BODY BUSHING WERE ALL DETERIORATED AND FALLING APART. GOOGLED THIS ITEM AND FOUND MANY SPORT TRAC OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS FORD PURCHASED INFERIOR BODY BUSHINGS FROM A VENDOR AND HAS NEVER CORRECTED THIS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE FEELS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE! IN ORDER TO CHANGE THESE OUT YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE 1ST. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND IF LEFT UNDONE THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEING A MAINTENANCE ITEM ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE TIRE WELL FROM UNDER THE CARRIAGE. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A FRACTURED CABLE HARNESS. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,600.
BODY/CHASSIS MOUNTS ARE DETERIORATING AND CRUMBLING. BODY IS NOW LOOSE ON THE FRAME AND HAS SLIGHT MOVEMENT. THESE MOUNTS ARE NOT RUBBER LIKE MOST; THEY ARE SOME SORT OF URETHANE COMPOSITE. INTERNET RESEARCH AND TRUCK OWNER SITES CONFIRM THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. FORD DOES NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY/RECALL ISSUE AND HAS DIRECTED OWNERS OF SUSPECT VEHICLES TO YOUR DEPARTMENT. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN SALT OR SNOW . THE CAB SHAKING AND RATTLING IS CAUSING MOVEMENT THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY EFFECT THE BRAKE LINES AND STEERING COLUMN AS THEY ARE ATTACHED TO BOTH THE BODY AND THE CHASSIS. FORD IS NOW USING ANOTHER COMPOUND FOR THE MOUNTS APPARENTLY IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS. *TR
I WENT TO INSTALL A PAIR OF STEP BARS ON MY TRUCK, AND NOTICED THAT MY BODY BUSHINGS LOOKED ODD. I TOUCHED ONE OF THEM AND IT CRUMBLED, AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED AT LEAST 3 SETS ON EACH SIDE WERE IN THE SAME SHAPE. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED, AND THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PLAN, OR RECALL. I TOLD THEM I WAS A MECHANIC AND DID NOT NEED TO GO TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY DID REGISTER MY COMPLAINT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN BODY BUSHINGS IN SUCH STATE ON ANY NAME BRAND OR MODEL VEHICLE, EVEN AFTER THEY WERE 20 OR SO YEARS OLD. I HAVE SEEN THEM FLATTEN OUT, BUT NEVER DETERIORATE. I FEEL SURE THAT THE MATERIAL USED IS OF POOR QUALITY. BY NOT REPLACING THEM, THERE IS A RISK OF BODY CRACKING OR OTHER FAILURES. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THEM. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I FIND THAT I AM NOT ALONE, AND FEEL THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY JUST DONT KNOW IT. *KB
WHILE OPERATING 2004 FORD EXPLORER, STOPPED AT STOP SIGN AND THE REAR HATCH GLASS LITERALLY EXPLODED. UPON LOOKING, IT WAS REALIZED THE HATCH ARMS/ SPRINGS LET GO, BENDING THE HATCH CAUSING THE GLASS TO COMPLETELY SHATTER. *TR
I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE REAR HARD COVER THAT COVERS THE BED OF THE TRUCK DOES NOT SEAL TIGHTLY. DURING HEAVY OR STEADY RAIN, WATER WILL TRICKLE INTO THE BED OF THE TRUCK. DAMPENING ANYTHING STORED IN THAT AREA. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TO LODGE A COMPLAINT. FORD CLAIMS THE COVER WAS NEVER ADVERTISED AS BEING WEATHER SEALED. HAS ANYONE ELSE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM? IS THERE A CURE FOR IT ? I HAVE TRIED ADJUSTING THE COVER. THIS ONLY HELPED SLIGHTLY. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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