2004 Ford Explorer Hatchback/Liftgate Problems
- 54
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 54 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 3 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- failure mileage · 16 records
- lift gate · 15 records
- current mileage · 11 records
- rear liftgate · 10 records
- rear lift · 10 records
- rear hatch · 7 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 17 |
| 30–60k mi | 17 |
| 100–150k mi | 6 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
| 1–30k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. After opening the liftgate window, the contact noticed a crack on the driver side hatch. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 172,000.
ODI 10853552
Hatchback/Liftgate
Had my used 2004 ford explorer for one week and the liftgate latches both broke. If it hadn't been for the shocks that were on the liftgate, the window would have crashed to the ground and shattered in a thousand pieces. From what i'm told, i'm going to have to contact the dealership and pay god knows what to have it fixed. Can't even use my trunk now. The dealership is a joke. *tr
ODI 10694705
Body · Hatchback/Liftgate · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear wheel wells and frame were rusted. And the rear hatch was fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 100,000. Updated 09/30/14*lj the consumers stated the transmission jerks into gear. Updated 02/25/2015 *js
ODI 10599079
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that he opened the rear trunk window and the left hinge became fractured. The window fell onto the contact unexpectedly, which saved the window from falling and shattering. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic stated that the hinge would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10547117
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the horizontal panel under the rear lift gate was fractured. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 99,000. *tr
ODI 10511643
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear liftgate back panel developed multiple cracks, which caused the liftgate windshield to become very unstable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin was not available. The failure mileage was 98,000.
ODI 10644569
Hatchback/Liftgate
Right rear liftgate window hinge failed (cracked) causing heavy (apprx 40 lb) glass liftgate glass panel to fall on a person causing minor injury. Appears 02/03 models recalled for same issue (despite ford's response on the first investigation of this it is the same issue as 02/03). The hinge part is inadequate to hold the heavy glass panel in place over time with use. Since the back glass is a heavy slab of…
1 injury
ODI 10463506
Hatchback/Liftgate · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear liftgate body panel was cracked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the body panel needed to be replaced. The contact also stated that while driving approximately 25-35 mph, a noise was heard coming from the rear differential. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the rear…
ODI 10495240
Hatchback/Liftgate · Visibility
While at work my rear lift gate window exploded. At first site i thought it was vandalism but nothing (car chargers/cd's/ road side kit etc) was taken. After further investigating, things just didn't add up nor were consistent with the site of my destructive rear window and uplifting of the panel underneath the shattered glass (which was mostly on the ground as opposed to being inside my vehicle.) *tr
ODI 10442784
Hatchback/Liftgate · Power Train
Transmission was working just fine till one day it wouldn't shift into overdrive and then it was shifting hard from 2nd to 3rd. Rear window hinges broke. Rear tail gate cracked right down the middle by ford symbol. Also just the other day my passenger window stopped working no signs nothing of anything wrong. I'm going to start buying chevy this is just unacceptable. No wonder america is not doing good our car…
ODI 10437426
Hatchback/Liftgate · Hinge And Attachments
The rear lift glass hinges on my 2004 ford explorer broke during use of the lift glass. The pin broke right through the hinge on both sides. This happened while car was parked and lift gate window was open. Left side just fell, and then right about 1 minute later, i just happened to have some 2x4's in the back which prevented the window from falling to the ground. This seems like a pretty dangerous defect. Internet…
ODI 10429365
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear liftgate glass was hanging beside the struts. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer denied any assistance with repairing the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 180,000.
ODI 10422412
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While driving approximately 55 mph, the rear hatch opened without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. Updated 01/09/15*lj the consumer stated the glass has shattered once before. The liftgate developed a crack. Updated 9/28/2015…
ODI 10661188
Hatchback/Liftgate
Crack in rear hatch body panel containing ford emblem. Defective part has not been replaced. Crack occurred by itself, no additional physical damage to hatch itself or rear end of vehicle. Ford had received over 900 complaints about this item and there is an ongoing class action lawsuit for this defect in california. *tr
ODI 10394020
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicles hatchback was cracked. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 77,000. Updated 08/10/11*lj updated 08/12/11.*jb
ODI 10405585
Hatchback/Liftgate · Visibility
Back glass hatch fell off in my hands could have really hurt someone. *tr
ODI 10363817
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear panel was cracked by the emblem in the rear liftgate. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that there was no recall related to the failure. The current and failure mileages were approximately 55,000.
ODI 10360994
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the plastic panel on the rear hatch was cracked and could potentially fall off. The contact called the dealer regarding the cracked panel and the dealer informed her that there was no recall regarding the plastic panel and stated that the part was available for purchase. The contact had not replaced the plastic panel. The failure mileage was 74,000.
ODI 10361243
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the panel in the rear liftgate was split. The contact called the dealer who stated that the failure was common. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that there were no recalls and repairs would be at his expense. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
ODI 10359510
Hatchback/Liftgate
One of the rear lift gate hinges has failed. The pin has pushed through the hinge. The structural strength of the aluminum used as seemed to failed. The other hinge shows similar signs of failing but has not completely failed. *tr
ODI 10421287
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the liftgate was fractured down the center. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that he would be responsible for replacing the entire liftgate. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000 and the current mileage was approximately 48,000.…
ODI 10355453
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that there was a small oblique on the rear liftgate which fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised replacing the oblique but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
ODI 10418190
Hatchback/Liftgate · Visibility
I have a 2004 explorer and i lifted the glass hatch today and it broke and began to fall on my head, luckily i reacted and grabbed it before it knocked me out. I had to get help because it was to heavy for me because i have a bad back, had surgery and was afraid that i was going to re damage. I had to have my husband come up there while we held it because struts would not fold it in. Took it to ford and am being…
1 injury
ODI 10347583
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear liftgate exhibited a fracture down the middle of the hatch. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 72,000 and the current mileage was 78,000.
ODI 10378674
Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated there was a crack on the rear lift gate from the vehicle logo toward the rear door. The contact stated in cold temperatures, the crack was barely visible yet in warmer temperatures, the crack would expand. The dealer advised the failure was common in his year, make and model but was not under recall. The failure mileage was 78,000 and the current mileage…
ODI 10349600