2004 Ford Explorer Electrical System Problems
- 46
- 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 46 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- cruise control · 11 records
- power steering · 5 records
- current mileage · 5 records
- failure current · 4 records
- interior lights · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 11 |
| 1–30k mi | 9 |
| 30–60k mi | 9 |
| 60–100k mi | 6 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System
Brake lights came on by themselves, both while driving and at a standstill. I could pull the on the brake peddle but when i shut the door the brake lights would come on. When driving it must have been confusing to people behind me thinking i kept applying the brakes. I took it to a shop to have the brake light switch replace and found that there wasn't a replacement switch available and a different one hd to be…
ODI 11046647
Electrical System · Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
While driving down the street i activated the cruise control feature, but when i deexcellerated using the the steering wheel cruise control buttons down to a speed below 40, the engine shut off and power steering off, while i was still in motion on the street. I had to put the vehicle into park and crank up again (which almost didn't crank back up), to get back running. This is the first time using my cruise control…
ODI 10896480
Electrical System · Power Train · Steering
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…
ODI 11048123
Electrical System · Engine
The throttle would not respond after starting. Electronic throttle control and engine service warning lights lit on dash. Engine would not rev over 1000 rpm. Had to get electronic throttle body replaced at a cost of $875 plus $65 towing. Electronic throttle control failure has been common fords going back to 2002. Ford has replaced over 1.6 million units under their consumer satisfaction program. However, there was…
ODI 10873256
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
Complete engine failure while driving. Service engine soon light appeared 2 days previous but did not yet make it to the mechanic. Computer reading suggested a sensor problem. Engine shut down, lost power steering and all systems. Engine restarted but now idles rough.
ODI 10716949
Electrical System · Engine · Steering
Driving down the road at 10:52 pm and with no warning the entire truck shut down/off. All lights inside and out shut off, engine shut off, no power to the entire vehicle. Coasted to a stop, put it in park and turned the key off and then back on - the truck started right up with out a problem. *tr
ODI 10681433
Electrical System
Good morning, my car was parked in the driveway, not running, 11:15pm, when horn started to continuously and would not stop. Smelt wires burning. I started the car and was attempting to move it out of my neighborhood and upon driving, i tapped the horn and it stopped. Smell of wires burning. It happened again, yesterday am and today am, on the way to go, and i hit the horn and it stopped. Can this be airbag…
ODI 10679926
Electrical System · Power Train
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…
ODI 10662584
Electrical System · Engine · Service Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the service engine and the battery warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle jerked and made a loud noise. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who replaced the front driver side hub and wheel bearing, the rear springs, the three passenger gear calipers, four rear driver side calipers, the battery, five rear brake pads, and…
ODI 10676692
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
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…
ODI 10643694
Electrical System · Steering
My vehicle burned through another alternator, everything on the vehicle is 100% factory so i don't know what is causing that. Immediately after i replaced the alternator for the second time in 6 months, the power steering has vanished. I checked all the belts made sure everything is running properly and in the correct place. The power steering pump seems to be pumping but not working. *tr
ODI 10632465
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the indicator on the instrument cluster would not properly specify what gear the vehicle was engaged. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 117,000. The vin was not available.
ODI 10587881
Body · Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Plastice parts are deteriorating, desolving in front inside drive sun visor-lighted visor broke off; centerl rear a/c and heat moon roof light console falls off-plastice clips desolved and will not fasten into roof assembly, causing blocked eyesight and at time on right turn hitting head or eyes . This is unsafe and ford motor knows of complainst. Part are not availble. This is a highway safety issue. The model was…
ODI 11233554
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Vehicle Speed Control
My suv shuts off, at full speed!!! I've been in contact with ford's corporate office, dealerships and other mechanics..... It is an issue that tens of thousands of ford explorer owners have had. There are thousands of complaints online! It is so common that mechanics know what you're talking about, before you finish a description of the problem. It's alsoi common for individuals to replace motors and continue to…
ODI 10745411
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact mentioned that the anti-theft alarm engaged automatically while attempting to start the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for a diagnostic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 190,000.
ODI 10537284
Automatic Transmission · Body · Electrical System · Engine
On the body the tailgate panel keeps cracking this makes my truck look bad compared to the money i put into it. My engine or transmission acts as if something is wrong it is not shifting gear right. On the electrical tire pressure light keeps coming on and it also keeps leaking water from somewhere. Ford needs to go out of business for selling these pieces of junk. It makes no sense. *tt
ODI 10537794
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact was driving 2 mph in reverse when the back up sensor failed and the contact crashed into another vehicle. The crash caused no injuries and the police were contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection of the failure or repairs. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and the current mileage was 131,000.
Crash reported
ODI 10460121
Electrical System · Power Train · Steering
After starting vehicle and moving shift lever from park to reverse - rotating shift handle mount broke off- required towing and $1800 repair cost. Have seen similar instances on consumer complaint boards - ford fails to recognize as being a safety manufacturing defect. *tr
ODI 10452057
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer xlt. The contact stated that the front windshield wipers, interior lights and all four windows failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that her vin was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number: 00v072000. (electrical system: fuses and circuit breakers). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure who…
ODI 10428672
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Visibility
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The vehicle was experiencing an intermittent failure in which the headlights, radio and windows stopped functioning while driving at any speed. The failures persisted for a duration of approximately 1-5 minutes. During the failures, the power door locks and instrument panel lighting also did not function. The vehicle was not taken to have the failures diagnosed. The vehicle…
ODI 10382599
Automatic Transmission · Electrical System
2004 ford explorer another bad transmission ! 3000.[redacted] light flashing , interior lights stay on , windows don't go down, door open lights on dash are on .. Seems to be alot of these complaints i been reading on the internet ! Ford had to have some fault in all these complaints ???? *tr
ODI 10335864
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced for routine maintenance at an authorized dealer, he was informed that the blend door motor had failed. The blend door motor was replaced at the owners expense. The failure and current mileages were 88,820.
ODI 10332462
Electrical System · Equipment · Interior Lighting · Suspension
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…
ODI 10370674
Electrical System · Fuel System, Gasoline
2004 ford explorer xls, 41,000 miles on multiple occasions my car has shut off, loosing power for the brakes and steering. It usually happens when decelerating at a stoplight, or even decelerating off the highway onto an exit ramp. It has occurred at least four of five times and i've been very lucky each time to be able to pull over, put my car in neutral, and restart it. The car has no trouble starting back up.…
ODI 10266188
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. In 2007, the contact stated that the instrumental panel lights constantly flashed and lost power. The dealer replaced a hose, which corrected the failure for approximately ten months. On november 2, 2008, the vehicle lost power and shut off. The contact had to wait several minutes to restart the vehicle. The dealer was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle has not been…
ODI 10247882