Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 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.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTING BLINKING CAR STARTED SHIFTING REALLY HARD AND JERKING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD EXPLORERS AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. I DONT HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLEBI REALLY NEED HELP PLEASE
THE REAR WINDOW LATCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE FACING THE VEHICLE BROKE OFF AND NEARLY CAUSED THE RIGHT SIDE TO ALSO BREAK. I AM UNCERTAIN AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR THE WINDOW FAILED OR THE LATCH JUST BROKE. *TR
CONCERNING MY 2004 EXPLORER XLT. THE REAR HATCHBACK THAT OPENS THE BACK WINDOWS HAS A BROKEN LATCH. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THIS PART JUST SEEMED TO IMPLODE AND LEFT ME UNABLE TO CLOSE THE REAR BACK WINDOW. THE GARAGE I TOOK IT TO SAID FORD INFORMED THEM THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL 07-18-2011. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A RECALLED ITEM FOR THE GARAGE INFORMED ME IT HAPPENS QUITE REGULARLY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE OR AM ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE NEEDED REPAIR. . *TR
A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO, THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE ON OUR REAR WINDOW HATCH BROKE. MY MOM OPENED THE BACK WINDOW HATCH ON MY VEHICLE & WHEN SHE WENT TO SHUT IT, THE ENTIRE WINDOW CAME DOWN ON HER. THEN WE COULD NOT GET IT SHUT. WE HAD TO STAND THERE IN 80+ DEGREE HEAT HOLDING THE ENTIRE WINDOW (WHICH IS QUITE HEAVY), WHILE MY 2 YEAR OLD BAKED IN THE CAR, UNTIL MY DAD & BROTHER COULD GET TO THE STORE WE WERE AT TO RESCUE US. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT TO SHUT (THOUGH WE WERE TERRIFIED THE GLASS WAS GOING TO SHATTER AT ANY MOMENT DUE TO THE TENSION ON IT) & WE DUCT TAPED IT TO KEEP IT IN PLACE. WE HAD THE HINGE REPAIRED BY OUR LOCAL BODY SHOP, & HAD THEM REPLACE BOTH HINGES TO BE PROACTIVE. IT COST ABOUT $200. AFTER THIS HAPPENED I DID SOME INTERNET SEARCHES & WAS UPSET TO FIND SO MANY OTHER 2004 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAD EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM & I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAS RECALLED THE SAME HINGES ON 2002 & 2003 MODELS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE 2004 EXPLORER HAS NOT HAD THE SAME RECALL WHEN THEY'RE THE SAME HINGES? THIS SEEMS LIKE SUCH A BLATANT DISREGARD BY FORD. PEOPLE COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THIS WINDOW EITHER FALLING ON THEIR HEAD, OR FALLING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER RECALL WAS EXPLAINED AS THIS: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED OR THE HINGE MAY FRACTURE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK. THE EXACT SAME THING COULD BE SAID OF 2004 FORD EXPLORERS. I AM WRITING THIS IN THE HOPES THAT A RECALL CAN BE MADE ON THIS EQUIPMENT. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT. THANK GOODNESS MY 11 YR OLD WASN'T THE ONE UNDER THIS WINDOW WHEN IT BROKE!! I DID EMAIL FORD REGARDING THIS ISSUE & THEY WEREN'T EXACTLY HELPFUL. THEY BASICALLY SAID, SORRY & THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE 04 AT THIS TIME & THAT THEY WORK WITH NHTSA TO STAY ON TOP OF AREAS OF CONCERN. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WHICH WHILE DRIVING LAST YEAR I WAS TOLD THAT MY HUB ASSEMBLY ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE WAS BAD AND THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE IT. I REPLACED IT WITH A HUB ASSEMBLY FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS IN JAN 2010. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART AGAIN IN DEC 2010. I LOST BREAKS. I ALSO HAVE A HORRIBLE JERKING WHEN I AM BACKING UP FROM A TIGHT SPOT AND THE WHEELS ARE TURNED SHARPLY. MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT GO OFF WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED OR THE VEHICLE IS CRANKED UNLESS I TURN THE INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION AND BACK TO THE ON WHEN THE DOORS OPEN POSITION. I HAVE HAD THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE REVIEWED TWICE IN THE PAST. I HAVE HAD THE JERKING LOOKED AT WITH NO REASON GIVEN MORE THAN ONCE. I HAD MY VEHICLE INSPECTED ON NOV 30TH AND NOTHING WAS MENTIONED ABOUT THE TERRIBLE CONDITION THE HUB ASSEMBLY WAS IN NOR THE BEARINGS THAT A MOBILE MECHANIC SHOWED ME WERE TERRIBLY WORN. I AM REPLACING THEM SOON. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD MUST KNOW ABOUT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS AND IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO HELP THE CONSUMER IN FIXING SINCE MOST FORD BUYERS ARE DIEHARD FORD OWNERS LIKE MYSELF. *TR
I HAVE HAD MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER FOR 3 YEARS NOW. TODAY I WENT TO OPEN MY REAR HATCH AND THE WINDOW HINGES JUST BROKE. NOW MY WINDOW IS HANGING THEREAND I DON'T KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO GET THEM FIXED SINCE I DON'T HAVE ANY EXTRA MONEY. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TAILGATE WINDOW HINGES FAILED ON 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE WINDOW FELL OUT AND DAMAGED THE LIFT STRUTS. I WAS NOT INJURED. *TR
2004 EXPLORER WITH 110K MILES - DEVELOPED CRACK IN LIFTGATE PANEL APP DEC 2008. FORD COVERED 80% OF REPAIR COST OF $750 SINCE VEHICLE WAS UNDER 75K MILES, EVEN THOUGH AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. SEPT 29, 2010 REAR HATCH WINDOW HINGE BREAKS CAUSING DOOR TO FALL ONTO MY HANDS AND LEGS...SORE BUT NOT PERMANENT. TWO CO-WORKERS HAD TO HELP ME RAISE IT UP ENOUGH TO LOCK IT IN PLACE. DEALER REPAIRED FOR $65 PARTS IN $170 LABOR. DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE. *TR
IN JULY 2010, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE PANEL PORTION OF THE BACK WINDOW HATCH OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I REPORTED THIS TO MY DEALER, WHO MORE OR LESS SAID WELCOME TO THE CLUB, AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE BODY SHOP. THE COST OF $500-600 WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID BY ME AND THERE IS NO REASON TO THINK THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED IN FORD MOTOR CO., I THOUGHT I COULD EXPECT MORE FROM A LOCAL MANUFACTURER. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN PRODUCT TESTS AND/OR TRIALS. WHY DIDN'T FORD KNOW THAT THE MATERIAL THEY USED WAS NOT CAPABLE OF STANDING UP TO THE USE IN THE AREA THEY PLACED IT? *TR
DEFECTIVE REAR WINDOW HINGES ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I RARELY USE THE WINDOW HATCH AND TODAY I AM SORRY I DID. WHILE OPENING THE REAR WINDOW IT FELL ON TO MY HEAD. THE BRACKETS ON THE WINDOW BROKE. I AM WAITING FOR MY MECH. TO HELP ME REMOVE THE WINDOW SO I CAN BRING IT INTO TO GET REPAIRED. I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER AND IT HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME THING. SO WHY NOT THE 2004, IT IS THE SAME HINGE. *TR
REAR RH HINGE FAILED ON 2004 FORD EXPLORER, WHEN WIFE WAS CLOSING GLASS HATCH, SHE WAS VERY LUCKY SHE DID NOT GET HURT, BECAUSE IT PUT TO MUCH STRAIN ON LH HINGE, DAMAGING IT ALMOST TO POINT OF FAILURE ALSO. *TR
THE HATCHBACK HINGE ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER BROKE YESTERDAY, LUCKILY I CAUGHT IT BEFORE IT HIT MY 4 YEAR OLD IN THE HEAD. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON A 2002 FORD EXPLORER I OWNED BEFORE, BUT THAT WAS RECALLED AND FORD FIXED IT. THIS MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE PART IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. IT COULD HAVE EASILY HIT SOMEONE AND HURT THEM, OR FALLEN OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
2004 FORD EXPLORER, REAR LIFT HATCH FAILURE. THE HINGE SIMPLY BROKE WHILE THE HATCH WAS BEING CLOSED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS ISSUES. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND REPLACED AT FORD IN ANNAPOLIS, MD FOR $150.00. I NOTE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS FOR PRIOR YEARS AND INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE 2004 MODEL. *TR
WHILE OPENING THE REAR LIFTGATE OF OUR 2004 EXPLORER AND REACHING THE MAX EXTENSION OF THE LEFT STRUT, THE STRUT BECAME LOCK AND WOULDN'T RETRIEVE CAUSING THE LEFT HINGE TO COME OFF AND THE ENTIRE LIFTGATE TO HANG FROM THE RIGHT HINGE. THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE STRUT AND TRIED TO REPAIR IT. I REQUESTED A NEW ONE TO BE INSTALLED SINCE I HAD SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE DEALER AGREED AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE EXPENSE. HOWEVER, MY DEDUCTIBLE APPLIED. *TR
I NOTICED MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS DEVELOPED A VERTICAL CRACK IN THE PLASTIC TAILGATE ATTACHED TO THE REAR WINDOW LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RECOGNIZED IT AS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 EXPLORER AND ALSO WARNED ME THE HINGES ON THE REAR GLASS FAIL OFTEN AS WAS THE CASE ON MY VEHICLE. SERVICE TECH STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AS YET AND I GOT TO PAY FOR THE NEW HINGES AND HOLDING OFF ON THE CRACK THINKING FORD MADE DO THE RIGHT THING AND REPAIR THE FAULT. *TR
REAR HATCH HINGE PIN BROKE BREAKING GLASS. *TR
HINGE OH REAR LIFT-GATE FRACTURED CAUSING LIFT GATE TO SAG DOWN AND BREAK HYDRAULIC LIFT ON THAT SIDE. *TR
2004 FORD EXPLORER RIGHT REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH HINGE HAS FAILED. GLASS HATCH DID NOT FALL BUT IS HANGING BY REMAINING HINGE AND IS UNSTABLE OR UNSAFE. ISSUE SAME AS NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: RQ08003. *TR
I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 XLT. I OPENED THE TOP PORTION OF THE HATCH AND 100+ LBS. CAME CRASHING ON MY HEAD. (THE WEIGHT IS FROM MORE THAN JUST GLASS.) I AM PREGNANT AND ALMOST PASSED OUT ON MY CONCRETE DRIVE. THE LEFT HINGE BROKE OFF AND OBVIOUSLY DID NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT ANYMORE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND WAS GIVEN A $500.00 BILL. I STILL BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO WARRANT IT FALLING ON MY HEAD. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, "WHEN DOES A SAFETY ISSUE BECOME A RECALL?" *TR
ON FRIDAY THE 7TH OF MARCH 2008 I WENT TO OPEN THE TAILGATE OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER WHEN THE HINGES BROKE AND THE GATE FELL OFF. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR AND WAS INITIALLY TOLD THAT THE HINGES WERE ON A RECALL. THE COLLISION CENTER OF THE DEALER PICKED UP MY VEHICLE AND TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. WHEN I GOT TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT I HAD A CALL FROM THE DEALER STATING THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL. I CALLED FORD MOTOR AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS INDEED NOT ON THE RECALL AND THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN ON THE 2002 AND 2003 MODELS. I FELT THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN FIXED ON THE 04 MODELS AS THEY STATED BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUSLY STILL HAPPENING. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER BODY SHOP THAT WAS QUITE REPUTABLE AND HAD IT REPAIRED AT A CONSIDERABLE LOWER RATE PER LABOR HOUR. WHY WOULD THE HINGES JUST BREAK; SUPPOSED MY GRAND CHILD HAD GONE TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE BACK, HE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT WHEN THAT GATE FELL. I FEEL THAT FORD HAD NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM OF THE FAULTY TAIL GATE HINGES BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO THE 2004 MODELS OR AT LEAST NOT ALL WERE REPLACED WITH THE UPDATED ONES. I WAS TOLD THAT RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC, BUT I FEEL THAT IF YOU HAVE A PARTS PROBLEM ON A GRAND SCALE SOME MAY HAVE BEEN PUT ON OTHER CARS WITHOUT BEING RECOGNIZED ON A SPECIFIC VIN. I THINK THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS THERE MAYBE MORE TRUCKS OUT THERE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OR CAN HAPPEN TO. *TR
WHILE GOING TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE HATCH DOOR FROM JUST BELOW THE WINDOW DOWN TO THE NEXT PANEL. WHEN I OPENED THE WINDOW ON THE HATCH DOOR, I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT HINGE THAT HOLDS THE GLASS IS COMING LOOSE. I AM UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE REAR CARGO AREA OF MY VEHICLE NOW FOR FEAR THAT THE LEFT HINGE WILL BREAK OFF RESULTING IN THE ENTIRE DOOR COMING OFF THE VEHICLE AND FALLING OR DROPPING ONTO ME OR ONE OF MY CHILDREN, CAUSING SEVERE PERSONAL INJURIES. THE MILEAGE ON MY VEHICLE IS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE BECAUSE AFTER READING OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE WITH HAVING FORD REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND THE GOVERNMENT THUS FAR REFUSING TO ISSUE A RECALL, MY HANDS ARE TIED. I DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY BEEN BURNED BY FORD ON OTHER ISSUES RELATING TO THIS VEHICLE, I.E., THE ABS MODULE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. *TR
REAR HATCHBACK WINDOW PANEL CRACKED DOWN THE CENTER. THE WINDOW SEEMED HARD TO CLOSE, DID NOT SEEM TO ALIGN WITH THE LATCH. *TR
REAR HATCH WINDOW DROPPED OFF HINGES. *TR
2004 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED-OWNED SUV FOR 38K BEEN IN SHOP REPEATEDLY-FROM MINOR TO MAJOR THINGS. SUV IS A $ 34,000 TURD. CURRENTLY NEEDING TO GO BACK TO SHOP FOR MULTIPLE REPAIRS. THE DAY OUR WARRANTY EXPIRES CAR IS GONE. *TR
AUTO-TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE THEN LUNGES ONCE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED. WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD SOMETIMES WHILE IN DRIVE. FORD SERVICE SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES. VEHICLE NOW HAS ALMOST 36,000 MILES AND PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. ENGINE DIES WHEN TRAVELING LOW SPEEDS AND USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. EACH TIME I TRY TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN TRAVELING 40 MPH OR LESS THE ENGINE DIES. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN YOUR DRIVING ALONG THEN SUDDENLY YOU LOSE POWER TO THE STEERING AND BRAKES BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS DIED! THE SEATS ARE ALSO PROBLEMATIC. THE 2 BACK SEATS FOLD DOWN. BOTH OF THE RELEASE MECHANISMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ONE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. BOTH HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF TWICE. THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS CRACKED AND WORN PREMATURELY. THE LUMBAR SUPPORT KNOB ON THE DRIVERS SEAT FELL OFF BUT I DIDN'T NOTICE WHEN IT HAPPENED SO IT WAS LOST AND FORD WILL NOT REPLACE IT WITHOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART. ALSO THE HANDLE THAT IS USED TO ADJUST THE BACK OF THE SEAT HAS FALLEN OFF. I AM A 53 YEAR OLD WOMEN AND 98% I AM THE ONLY ONE USING THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT ROUTINELY HAUL KIDS OR OTHER CARGO AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE SO YOU WOULD THINK THE SEATS WOULD BE HOLDING UP MUCH BETTER. *JB
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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