2004 Ford Explorer Powertrain (other) Problems

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS RECENTLY AND QUICKLY BEGAN SHIFTING VERY BADLY. I ALWAYS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL BEFORE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE BECAUSE WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE FROM P OR D, IT ALWAYS TAKES A WHILE, THEN CLUNKS AGGRESSIVELY INTO PLACE. WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES DOWNSHIFTING WILL ALSO CLUNK INTO PLACE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY COUNTLESS OTHER DRIVERS AND HAS CAUSED MANY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. FROM ACCELERATING SLOWLY THEN BANGING GEARS AND TAKING OFF, TO STUTTERING WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE, OR EVEN SWITCHING INTO REVERSE WHILE PARKING, AND HAVING THE CAR TRY TO JUMP BACK A FEW INCHES IS ONLY A FEW ISSUES THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED MYSELF AND COUNTLESS OTHERS. PEOPLE ARE REPLACING TRANSMISSIONS LEFT AND RIGHT TO NO AVAIL, ONLY A FEW 10 THOUSAND MILES AFTER INSTALLING NEW TRANSMISSIONS, THEIR CAR STARTS TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUES AS BEFORE. AT LOW SPEEDS AND IN PARKING LOTS THIS BECOMES A GAME OF LUCK AS YOU ACCELERATE MORE THAN NECESSARY TO TRY TO GET GOING, THEN STOPPING AND WAITING A FEW SECONDS WHILE YOU SHIFT TO NEUTRAL BEFORE SHIFTING TO REVERSE AS FEAR OF IT BANGING INTO GEAR AS YOU TRY TO MANEUVER YOUR CAR AROUND PEOPLE AND OTHER PARKED CARS BECOMES A MORE DANGEROUS TASK THAN IT SHOULD BE. IN SUM, WHILE STATIONARY, SLOW SPEED, OR JUST CRUISING, THE TRANSMISSION WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, OR SHIFTING INTO REVERSE/DRIVE, SOMETIMES WANTS TO BANG INTO GEAR OR LOSE POWER, OR DELAY SHIFTING ONLY TO BANG INTO GEAR MOMENTS LATER. SOME ISSUES WHEN TAKING CARS INTO REPAIR IS FINDING METAL TRANSMISSION SHAVINGS WHERE THEY SHOULDNT BE! FINALLY, THE EXCESSIVE BANGING CAN ALSO DAMAGE THE ENGINE OVER TIME IN ADDITION TO THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF THE ISSUES: HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2004/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_SLIPPING_SHIFTS_HARD.SHTML THANKYOU

NHTSA ID

11258464

Incident

Sep 24, 2019

MY STEERING COLUMN BROKE RIGHT OFF! TRYING TO PUT IT IN DRIVE @99,735 MI. HAD TO TOW IT TO SHOP, AND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. I SEE OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS!!! I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION @ 103,000 MILES IT WOULD SKIP 3RD GEAR. SEEMS EVERYONE ELSE HAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO BACK BEARINGS!! WHAT A DISGRACE. RECALL THIS DISGRACEFUL WORKMANSHIP! NO HONOR!

NHTSA ID

11221524

Incident

Aug 24, 2017

Mileage

99,735 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE CONTACT'S SON PULLED TOO HARD AND FRACTURED THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS CURRENTLY TOO LOOSE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11163755

Incident

Dec 12, 2018

WELL WE JUST BOUGHT THIS EXPLORER AND JUST AS I HAVE READ FROM OTHERS ON THIS WEBSITE OUR EXPLORER IS DOING SIMILAR THINGS. SUCH AS SHIFTING IN REVERSE TAKES 3-7 SECONDS TO TAKE HOLD, GOING UP THE MOUNTAINS THE SUV HAD MAJOR KICKBACKS AND JERKS. I HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AS OF NOW. WILL MAKE AN APT. AND PUT RESULTS LATER.

NHTSA ID

11057243

Incident

Dec 20, 2017

Mileage

197,000 mi

ALL FOUR SEALS WHERE LEAKING INCLUDING PINION SEALS. CLUNKING NOISE 40 TO 50MPH WHEN YOU LET GO OF THE GAS ,HOLDS BACK,HEATER GAUGE+MPH GAUGE DON'T WORK MOST.OF THE TIME.PAINT CHIPPING AWAY ALL OVER.REPLACED ALL SEALS 5 TIMES +YOKE CVHALF SHAFT. REPLACED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL STILL MAKING THE NOISE.POOR LIGHTING AT NIGHT.IT HAS A MISS FIRE GAVE IT A TUNEUP AND STILL IS DOING IT. RADIO VOLUME WON'T TURN DOWN IT GOES LOUDER WHEN TURNING DOWN.

NHTSA ID

11048123

Incident

Jun 17, 2016

IT SLIPPES AND WON'T JUST TAKE OFF SOME TAKE OFFBUT THE SUV SITS AND WHEN IT DOES TAKEBODF YOU HAVE TO LET YOUR FOOT UP OFF THE GAS TO GET IT TO SHIFT

NHTSA ID

11020494

Incident

Aug 20, 2017

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARDER AND SHAKES THE ENTIRE SUV. WHEN I PRESS THE GAS AND GET TO ABOUT 35-40 IT WILL START KNOCKING REALLY BAD AND FEELS LIKE IT'S LOSING POWER. WHEN I STOP THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENS WITH THE KNOCKING. I WAS GOING 35 AROUND A SLIGHT CURVE ON I-45 FREEWAY BY LITTLE YORK SHEPARD GULF BANK AREA TO BE EXACT AND THE SUV WAS DRIVING FINE. I WAS JUST GETTING ONTO THE FREEWAY AT THIS TIME. HINTS THE REASON I'M NOT GOING SO FACE. WHEN I STARTED PICKING UP SPEED THE TRANSMISSION JERKED SO HARD I FLEW INTO THE NEXT LANE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS AROUND ME BUT IMAGE IF I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND THIS HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID

11001584

Incident

Jun 26, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AN OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,695.

NHTSA ID

10958973

Incident

Mar 4, 2017

Mileage

127,695 mi

I HAVE ALREADY PUT A COMPLAINT IN ABOUT MY THROTTLE BODY ISSUE. THIS EVENING I WENT ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF, AND MY WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND MY TRUCK STARTED TO NOT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE. I PULLED OVER, TURNED IT OFF. WAITED A BIT AND RESTARTED IT. THIS TIME IT TOOK A BIT TO GET IT TO START UP. I THEN PROCEEDED TO GO BACK HOME BECAUSE OF HOW IT WAS ACTING A MILE AND A HALF AFTER DRIVING, NOT OFTEN TWO MINUTES LATER IT HAPPENS AGAIN, AND THE ENGINE STARTED CHUGGING, I COULDN'T MOVE, AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED AGAIN! I THEN AGAIN TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED AND THEN STARTED THE TRUCK UP. IT TOOK SOMETIME ONCE AGAIN TO START. I FINALLY MADE IT BACK HOME IN TEARS. I WAS ABLE TO GET CODES OFF, SINCE I PICKED A UP A CODE RAFFIA FEW DAYS PRIOR. I GOT CODE P2104, P2111, AND P2112. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I WILL BE CALLING FORD TOMORROW!

NHTSA ID

10958733

Incident

Mar 5, 2017

Mileage

164,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKING .NO FIRST GEAR,SHIFTS HARD , SOMETIME IT WONT SHIFT WITHOUT LETTING OFF GAS .WITH CODESPO731,PO733,PO734,PO745 NEEDS TOTAL REBUILD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40 MILES A HOUR , ABS LIGHT IS ON . CODES SHOW WRONG LINE PRESSURE.ENGINE KNOCKING , TIMMING CHAIN ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

10925613

Incident

Nov 2, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SHIFT SOLENOID "B" CIRCUIT FAILURE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR UNTIL VEHICLE REACHES 3000 RPM. O/D LIGHT FLASHES, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ACTIVATES AND TRANSMISSION STAYS IN 3RD GEAR. DON'T USE VEHICLE AND IS OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10903506

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

98,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER STARTED MAKING A GRINDING AND HUMMING NOISE ON THE LEFT FRONT OF DRIVER SIDE TIRE AREA. ABS AND 4X4 HIGH LIGHTS CAME ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. TRUCK FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING INTO 4X4 MODE ON ITS OWN AND BRAKING FELT LIKE ABS SYSTEM FAILED. TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1053. SINCE THIS TRUCK USES SENSORS AND TRACTION CONTROL THE SENSOR ON THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE HAD GONE OUT CAUSING THIS FEATURE NO LONGER TO WORK. IT IS A GOOD THING THIS DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING INTO 4X4 MODE ON IT'S OWN AND THE BRAKES ABS NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. JUST A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE WILL RESULT IN MANY FOUND ISSUES REGARDING THIS THAT FORD HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON YET. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET FORD TO STAND BEHIND THE SAFETY OF TRUCKS THEY SELL?

NHTSA ID

10886241

Incident

Jul 14, 2016

Mileage

172,472 mi

PAINT PEELING ROOF HOOD DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED TWICE BEARINGS WEAR OUT REPAIRED TWICE BACK OF TAILGATE PANEL CRACKED REPLACED 3 TIMES

NHTSA ID

10865592

Incident

May 3, 2016

Mileage

145,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AND YOU THEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE IT GOES INTO REVERSE HARD. SOMETIMES IT EASES INTO GEAR AND OTHER TIMES IT IS VERY HARD. I THOUGHT WELL MAYBE IT WAS ME DID MY FOOT SLIP OFF BRAKE OR SOMETHING?? IT WASN'T THAT I MADE A VERY CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO MAKE SURE I DID IT CORRECTLY AND STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE DOESN'T SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK CORRECTLY KIND OF STOPS YOU BEFORE ENTERING PARK THEN WILL GO IN AFTER YOU WERE DENIED THE GEAR THE FIRST TIME. CURRENTLY STILL DEALING WITH THIS WAS HOPING THERE WAS A RECALL FOR EITHER ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10787696

Incident

Nov 2, 2015

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

NHTSA ID

10744717

Incident

Mar 12, 2015

Mileage

178,500 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, COMMON FOR FORD EXPLORER 2004. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714680

Incident

Jan 5, 2015

Mileage

115,000 mi

HAD MY USED 2004 FORD EXPLORER FOR A WEEK AND I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION JERKING WHEN IT SHIFT INTO THE LAST GEAR. SOMETIMES WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE, I HAVE TO WAIT FOR A FULL MINUTE FOR IT TO FINALLY REVERSE. SOMETIMES IT JERKS HARD WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. I'M SURE THE DEALERSHIP KNEW ABOUT ALL THIS BUT NEVER REVEALED IT. OF COURSE WHEN YOU BUY AS IS, YOUR SCREWED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694706

Incident

Feb 25, 2015

Mileage

139,939 mi

I WAS DRIVING INTERSTATE 64 GETTING OFF THE EXIST GOING AROUND THE RAMP AND A KNOCKING NOISE STARTED AS I ROUNDED THE CURB, THEN OIL PRESSURE DROPPED, MY POWER WAS GONE AND, I BARELY MADE IT OFF THE RAMP, BUT LUCKILY THE VEHICLE HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO COAST THE CURB TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. UPON HAVING IT CHECKED OUT BY A LOCAL MECHANIC HE SUGGESTED THAT THE ENGINE AND OIL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED? AS A SINGLE MOTHER I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS, AND FROM OTHERS COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE SEEN IT MAKES ME WONDER IF ITS WORTH THE TROUBLE TO FIND ANOTHER ENGINE AND WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN. I THOUGHT HAD FOUND A GOOD VEHICLE THAT ONLY LASTED A FEW MONTHS...FEELING IRRITATED...GET IT TOGETHER FORD BECAUSE THIS 2004 EXPLORER IS TROUBLE!! WAS THIS JUST A TEST DUMMY MODEL TO SEE WHAT PROBLEMS WOULD COME OF IT??? WE WANT AND NEED ANSWERS TO THESE PROBLEMS. WE'RE SPENDING SO MUCH HARD EARNED MONEY ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS MORE PROBLEMS THAT KEEPS HAPPENING OFTEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693722

Incident

Mar 21, 2014

Mileage

117,000 mi

I'VE HAVE MY VEHICLE FOR 10 YEARS. PAID THE DEALERSHIP $450 TO HAVE A WARRANTY FOR THE POWER TRAIN AND WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO FIX IT THEY WOULDN'T. I FIND OUT THAT MY MAJOR ISSUES ARE THE MECHANICAL DIFFERENTIAL. STILL HAVING THE THIS ISSUE TO THIS DAY AND CAN NEVER HAVE MY TRANSMISSION CLEANED OR FLUSHED BECAUSE OF THAT. ALSO, MY FUEL SYSTEM GETS CLOGGED A LOT AND GAS MILEAGE IS HORRIBLE. ALSO, MY ANTIFREEZE LEAKS AFTER I PAID MONEY TO HAVE THE CRACKED SEAL FIXED. THIS IS JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE. I HAVE MANY THINGS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE I FEEL SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT DEFECTS ARE OUT THERE FOR MY VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10690744

Incident

Feb 25, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10679122

Incident

Jan 24, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

REAR PANEL CRACKED IN THE SHED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION A YEAR AGO REPLACE FRONT HUBS SEVERAL TIMES. AND JUST LAST WEEK I HAD TO REPLACE THE BACK WHEEL BEARING AGAIN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON THESE THINGS.I SEE A LOT OF FORDS WITH THE SAME CRACK ON THE BACK HATCH.THIS IS JUST CRAZY. IF I NEW WE COULDN'T CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID I WOULD HAVE NEVER GOT THIS TRUCK.I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. WE ALSO HAVE A 1994 DIESEL THAT WE HAD TO PUT A TRANSMISSION IN AT 80,000 MILES IT SITS IN THE SHED AND NOW MY HUSBAND DRIVES A CHEVY.OUR FORD DIESEL ONLY HAS 134,000 ON IT WHAT ASHAMED. IT WILL NOT EVEN CRANK WHEN ITS COLD. BAD WORK FORD!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10678749

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

186,000 mi

THE CAR IS IN PARKING CONDITION AT WORK AND AFTER A LONG AWHILE IT WOULD NOT START EVEN THE FULL BATTERY. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE LOTS OF CHECKS FOR ALL COMPONENT LIKE RELAYS, FUSES AND WIRING CONNECTION THEY ARE ALL FINE, IN GOOD CONDITION. BUT FINDING OUT THE STARTER RELAY HAD NO POWER, NO CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH IT. I BELIEF THAT THE FAULTY IS ( PCM UNIT ) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE THAT BLOCKED A CURRENT FROM THE STARTER RELAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662584

Incident

Dec 2, 2014

Mileage

39,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED EARLY ON AT ABOUT 88000 MILES, WE PURCHASED AND REPLACED THIS. MY HUSBAND HAD BEEN IN AUTO REPAIR AND PARTS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, SO HIM AND MY SON DONE THE REPAIR, WITHOUT COUNTING ANYTHING FOR LABOR THE TOTAL COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS AROUND $2000.00. FROM THAT POINT ON WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT HAD TO BE REPAIRED OR PARTS REPLACED. THE INTAKE AND PARTS COST US AROUND 700.00, NO CHARGE FOR LABOR. THE TIMING C+HAIN FAILED AND WE CHOOSE THIS TIME TO TAKE IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHICH COST US $1100.00!!! NOW AT 156000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, THIS ONE HAS AROUND 68000 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE NEVER HAD ONE DIME IN HELP FROM FORD ON ANYTHING. THIS IS THE THIRD EXPLORER WE HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST 15 YEARS. WE ALSO OWN 3 F-150'S AND A MUSTANG. WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS WITH ANY OF THE OTHER VEHICLES. I CAN HONESTLY SAY WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS 2004 EXPLORER AND I FEEL WE WILL MOST LIKELY NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE!!!!! *JS

NHTSA ID

10661482

Incident

Apr 17, 2010

Mileage

88,000 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THIS EVENT. FIRST ONE FAILED AT 90,000 3 YEARS AGO. THIS WAS A REBUILD FORD TRANSMISSION INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. IT FAILED AGAIN, THIS TIME THE CAR WAS ABLE TO GET SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SAFETY WAS AN ISSUE AS IT WAS NOT A MOVABLE CAR AND STRANDED ON SIDE OF BUSY ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659782

Incident

Nov 18, 2014

Mileage

214,000 mi

I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND IT WOULD JUST REV. THE CARS BEHIND ME STARTED HONKING. I PUT IT IN THE LOWER GEARS AND FINALLY STARTED MOVING FORWARD AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. AS I WAS DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE LOWER GEARS THE CAR SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR WHILE IN TRAFFIC, I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND BACK INTO 3 AND IT STARTED MOVING FORWARD AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THE CAR WILL JUST SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND STOP MOVING FORWARD. AT THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4,200, THIS IS AFTER I JUST HAD THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED TWO MONTHS AGO AT A COST OF $1,800. FORD NEED TO DO A RECALL IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS IT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643694

Incident

Oct 9, 2014

Mileage

124,000 mi