Owner-reported complaints naming the tire or wheel system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system. 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. 22 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
MICHELIN CROSSTERRAIN TIRES SUFFERING TREAD SEPARATION. THREE OUT OF FOUR SO FAR. HAD I NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY..
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LAST WEEK I NOTICED A SLIGHT 'BUMPING' FEEL LIKE AN UNBALANCED TIRE, SO I TOOK A LOOK WHEN I GOT TO MY DRIVEWAY BUT FOUND NOTHING. THE NEXT DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK THE "BUMPING' WAS MUCH WORSE SO I STOPPED TO CHECK AND FOUND A LARGE BULGE ON THE TREAD OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. AFTER SLOWLY RETURNING HOME I REMOVED IT AND SET IT ASIDE. A FEW HOURS LATER THE THREADS WERE SEPARATING BADLY SO I LET THE AIR OUT BEFORE IT BLEW APART. I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT TIRE (DIFFERENT BRAND) BUT I'VE STILL GOT THREE MORE OF THESE ON THE VEHICLE .THEY HAVE 36K MILES ON THEM AND A 60K WARRANTY WITH ONLY MODEST THREAD WEAR BUT I STILL CHECK THEM EVERY DAY. I DON'T FEEL SAFE.*DT CONSUMER STATED HE STILL HAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH CAPITOL PRECISION TRAC II TIRES, SIZE: 245/65R17. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THERE WAS A BULGE IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE HAD A BULGE ON THE OUTSIDE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14T013000 (TIRES). THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000 AND APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500. THE DOT NUMBER AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
THE FIRST TIRE I HAD PROBLEMS WITH WAS THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE THAT KEPT GOING FLAT, I HAD IT CHECKED TO BE FIXED WHEN THE SERVICE MAN SHOWED ME THE DEFECT IN THE TIRE. THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE HAD A SLIT OR WHERE THE SEAM WAS SPLITTING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE, ONLY ON THE INSIDE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRE AND WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED THE FRONT LEFT TIRE AS WELL. TWO WEEKS LATER DRIVING MY THREE CHILDREN AND MY GRANDMOTHER TO GO SCHOOL SHOPPING MY BACK LEFT TIRE BLEW. LUCKILY I WAS ON A DIRT ROAD AND ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH. UPON CHANGING THE TIRE I NOTICED THE SAME SEAM RIPPAGE OR SLIT ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE SO I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE RIGHT BACK TIRE AND FOUND THE SAME THING ON IT. SO I HAVE 3 OUT OF THE 4 TIRES ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAVE THIS DEFECT. ITS VERY DISTURBING TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF WE HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND THAT BOTH BACK TIRES MIGHT HAVE BLOWN. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THESE TIRES AND SO FAR HAVE NOT FOUND ANY RECALLS ON THIS SPECIFIC TIRE. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER SR-A, P235/70R16 104S. *KB
I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 1/28/11. THE CAR WAS A CERTIFIED / WARRANTED VEHICLE. I WAS ASSURED BY THE TOYOTA SALESMAN THAT ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR WOULD BE FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY. SEVERAL PROBLEMS WHICH THE CAR HAS INCLUDE: MISMATCHED TIRES, INOPERABLE SUNROOF, LEAK IN THE DIFFERENTIAL SEAL & NOISE IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP & WAS TOLD THESE PROBLEMS NEEDED REPAIR. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS NOT RETURNED NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS, EMAILS & WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THEM, I WAS TOLD ALL THESE REPAIRS HAD BEEN FIXED & LATER FOUND OUT THAT NOTHING WAS DONE. *TR
TIRE SIDEWALL CRACKING ON ALL 4 TIRES OF THE SAME TYPE, MFG., AND LOCATIONS. TREADWEAR 520, TRACTION A, TEMP B. NEXEN ROADIAN HT P235/70R16 104S M+S DOT 8EWL 2007 TIRES SPLITTING ON ALL 4 TIRES ON OUTSIDE ONLY. VISUALS OF WHITE UNDERLYING WHERE POOR VULCANIZATION AND SPLITS ARE OCCURRING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES, SIZE 255/55/ R18. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE CRACKING BETWEEN THE TREAD. SEARS STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE AND COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE CRACKS IN THE TREAD. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CRACKS ARE ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,746. UPDATED 5/28/09 *CN THE INSIDE GROOVES OF THE TIRES SHOWED CRACKS. UPDATED 05/29/09.*JB
EASTER SUNDAY, MY FAMILY WAS ON THEIR WAY BACK HOME ON THE FREEWAY. OUT OF NO WHERE THEY HEAR LOUD SNAPPING NOISES AND NEXT THING THEY KNEW THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE CAME OFF. THE CARS SKIDDING ON THE ROAD AND FINALLY COMES TO A STOP. LUCKILY FOR MY FAMILY THEY WALKED AWAY UNHARMED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT MY HOME, WON'T TURN ON ANYMORE, THE WHEEL STUDS ARE ALL BROKEN OFF, THE ROTOR ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE ASSEMBLY IS DAMAGED. THE CAR IS A MESS AND NOW I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW IM SUPPOSED TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN TIRES, SIZE P235/70R/16 (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK ON THE SIDEWALL THAT AFFECTED ALL FOUR TIRES. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE CRACK. AT THIS TIME, THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,207.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH BF GOODRICH RUGGED TRAIL T/A (TIRE SIZE 245/65R17). SHE NOTICED THE TREAD ON THREE OF THE TIRES BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE TIRES TO BF GOODRICH. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT TIRE ROT CAUSED THE TREAD TO SEPARATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,650. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THE TREAD SHOULD NOT HAVE SEPARATED AT 24,650 MILES.
WE WERE TRAVELING IN THE HOV LANE HEADED EAST ON I-635 BETWEEN 60-65 MPH. ONE OF THE TIRES ON OUR EXPLORER FAILED. WHEN I GOT OUT TO CHECK THE TIRE I FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE TREAD OF THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED AND ONLY THE EDGE OF THE TIRE REMAINED ALONG THE RIM. WE CALLED BOTH AAA AND 911. THE POLICE ARRIVED ABOUT 15 MIN LATER AND STOPPED TRAFFIC SO THAT WE COULD MOVE TO A SAFER LOCATION AS CARS WERE SPEEDING AT US GOING 60-70 MILES AN HOUR WITH LITTLE ROOM TO REACT TO OUR SITUATION (B.F.GOODRICH TIRE). *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ALL FOUR MICHELIN TIRES ARE CRACKING. THE DEALERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE INFORMED THE CONTACT THE TIRES WERE ONLY WARRANTED FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. MICHELIN OFFERED TO SWAP OUT THE TIRES AND PRO-RATE THEM. THE TIRE SIZE IS: P23570R16.
I HAVE TWO ISSUES WITH A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. FIRST ISSUE THE SYSTEM THAT NOTIFIES TIRE PRESSURE HAS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE INDICATOR LIGHTS GO ON OR OFF WHEN THE TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED OR NOT PROPERLY INFLATED. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER ORIGINAL WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX OR CHECK THE SENSORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AREA THEY CAN NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM PASSENGERS AND ANOTHER TIRE COMPANY OF THE ISSUE HAPPENING. SECOND ISSUE. 2004 FORD EXPLORER STALLED WHILE TURNING BRAKING AND STEERING LOCKED UP. IDENTICAL REACTION AS TO THE PROBLEM STATED IN THE FAILURE OF THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN OTHER VEHICLES FROM FORD THAT IS BEING INVESTIGATED. *NM
LTR FWD EMAIL FM CONSUMER RE DEFECTIVE MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN P235/70R-16 TIRES FOR A 2004 FORD EXPLORER, REQUEST A DEFECT INVESTIGATION, DOT/I32005-5097. *TS WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. A SOON AS THE CONSUMER PULLED OF THE ROAD THE TIRE BLEWOUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER. THE TIRE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH RESULTED IN INTERIOR LINER SEPARATION AND SIDEWALL SEPARATION. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY A PRO-RATED PRICE FOR A NEW TIRE. THIS TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT O THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE OTHER THREE TIRE WILL FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER. *NM
TIRE FAILURE. WE TOOK THE TIRE IN TO GET IT PLUGGED, BUT IT WAS THE INNER LINING, IT SPLIT APART AND THE TIRE WAS NOT SAFE TO PLUG. (GOODRICH TIRE) WE TOOK THE TIRE TO AN AUTHORIZED GOODRICH DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS A COSMETIC FIX AND THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE TO FIX. AFTER THE FIRESTONE ORDEAL, I DON'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE MY EXPLORER ANY MORE. I WILL LET THE COMPANY KNOW ABOUT THE GOODRICH TIRE FAILURE. *NM
I PURCHASHED MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER ON JANUARY 11, 2005. AFTER THE FIRST WEEK I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP, ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2005. I INFORMED THEM THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS LAGGING WHEN AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTING AND THAT SOMETIMES THERE IS A LOUD CLUNK DURING THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING AND ESPECIALLY WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE. ALSO THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON; SO THEY CHECKED THAT AND SAID THAT THEY REPLACED THE SENSORS. THAT LIGHT IS STILL STAYING ON. AS FOR THE TRANSMISSION, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ORDER THE PARTS TO FIX IT. AS OF JANUARY 31, 2005, THE PARTS STILL HAVE NOT COME IN. IN THE MEANTIME I AM HAVING TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I DO QUITE A BIT OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS THE TIRE PRESSURE. *AK
THE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *JB
STEERING FEELS LIKE THE POWER STEERING UNIT IS NOT UP TO SPEED OR THE 4 WD IS ENGAGED DURING LOW SPEED TURNS LIKE IN SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOTS OR TIGHT TURNS ON OFF RAMPS. *JB
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WOULD SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THEN IT WILL SHUT DOWN BY ITSELF. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO AS OF TODAY, WAS UNABLE TO FIND A DEFECT. *JB THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH ON IT'S OWN WHILE HITTING THE RESUME BUTTON IN CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR OF THE BRAKING AND TIRE PRESSURE GAUGES, THROTTLE CONTROL, TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, CRUISE CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL DEFAULT, GENERAL COMPUTER DEFAULTS AND THE REAR TRIM PIECE AT THE LIFTGATE OPENING WAS DISTORTED. *SC
CAR HAS A HARD TIME ENGAGING INTO GEAR, WHEN BACKING UP IT FEELS LIKE I'VE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE JUST JUMPS IN REVERS.I HAVE ALMOST RAN OVER SOMEONE BECAUSE OF A DELAY IN ENGAGING INTO REVERSE. IN DRIVE IT DOES THE SAME THING. I WORRY THAT I AM GOING TO HIT A CAR THAT MIGHT BE PARKED IN FRONT OF ME OR EVEN A PERSON. NOT ONLY THAT I WORRY THAT IF I DID HIT ANOTHER CAR I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT I DID IT. THE CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING. IT HAS LEFT US ALMOST STRANDED TWICE. THE CARS BATTERY HAS DIED FOR NO REASON, EVEN AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE OF HOURS PRIOR TO TRYING TO RESTART IT. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOW MOTORS HAVE GONE OUT, THE REAR WINDOWS WERE STUCK OPEN IN A RAIN STORM WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. THE VEHICLE HAS LOST POWER DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASH, THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 5,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE KEYLESS ENTRY QUITE WORKING, WICH ALSO KEPT OUR KEY CHAIN LOCKERS FROM WORKING. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER, IT WOULD JUST MAKE A CLICK, WHEN IT WOULD TURN OVER, IT SOUNDED LIKE GEARS WERE GRINDING. THE VEHICLE WENT IN FOR TO BE SERVICED FOR THE FIRST TIME A MONTH AFTER WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, DEC. 5, 2003 AND HAS GONE IN ATLEAST ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS SINCE. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICING A TOTAL OF 3 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR THAT WE HAVE OWNED IT. WE HAVE REQUESTED SINCE IT HAS BEEN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 8 TIMES AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED THAT THE DEALERSHIP LEMON THE VEHICLE. BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEY HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY CANNOT FIX IT.WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM NOW. IT CAN POTENTIALLY HURT SOMEONE. *AK
THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO INTO 4- WHEEL DRIVE ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, THEN STALLED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE OR FORWARD THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK. *SC
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
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.
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