2004 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
- 32
- 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 32 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 6 records
- park reverse · 5 records
- steering column · 4 records
- cruise control · 4 records
- gear shift · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 10 |
| 100–150k mi | 7 |
| 30–60k mi | 3 |
| 150–400k mi | 3 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
In 2004 ford explorer with v8, the cruise control turns off engine when traveling 35~45 mph and going down a hill or decline. This affects power steering and brakes making it difficult to control and slow down the vehicle. This has happened repeatedly for the past 10 years, so i am used to this defect. My workaround is to put the vehicle in neutral and restart the vehicle and then continue.
ODI 11099163
Power Train · Steering · Suspension
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…
ODI 11221524
Steering · Unknown Or Other
The car was running fine and no warning light of any kind came on. We went to go start it today and it start up fine. When we tried to put it in all the gears and pressing on the gas it didn't do a thing. I mean it won't move at all.
ODI 11000945
Cruise Control · Service Brakes · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While driving 55 mph with the cruise control activated, the vehicle lost power steering and braking, which resulted in a crash. All the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and then towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. A police report was filed. There was one injury…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10924821
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 · 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 · 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
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that while having the vehicle inspected, it was discovered that the ball joints were worn out. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
ODI 10625927
Engine · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
This is a county govt vehicle purchased used from a dealer about 2 years ago. I had been highway driving for about 3-4 hours at speeds between 55-70 mph. I made one brief stop during that time, and was mostly using cruise control. Just prior to the incident, the speed limit drops from 70 to 55, and then to 35 in a relatively short distance. I used the cruise control coast to reduce my speed from 55 to 35. The 35 mph…
ODI 10565432
Engine · Power Train · Steering
This is the second ford explorer i have owned and both of them had the same transmission problems. Yet ford has no recall or even anything to fix them except $3,000.00 to a dealer out of you pocket for their mistake. I guess since no one has been proven to have gotten injured or died due to this issue, then there won't be a recall made on it. This is totally unsatisfactory for the ford motor co. Because they have…
ODI 10554392
Power Train · Steering
I was on my way to work on a tuesday morning with my son who is a college student at my school on august 20, 2013. I work at a community college and it was the first week of the fall semester 2013 starting. I arrived about 10:15 a.m. And could not find parking. I found a parking stall in the staff parking lot. I put the ford explorer in reverse and was going backwards to park in the stall. When i moved the shift…
ODI 10543927
Engine · Service Brakes · Steering
While driving, the vehicle just shut off. I had no control of the vehicle once it shut off, except to utilize the emergency brake to get me stopped. Once stopped, i put it in park and it started up first try. No check engine light came on. Same thing happens on a regular bases. Usually happens while braking or turning at speeds lower than 30mph, then engine just stalls and everything turns off. This to me is a major…
ODI 10505180
Power Train · Steering
While putting the car in reverse in the parking lot the gear shift completely snapped off and the car was stuck in reverse. The keys were stuck in the ignition and i couldn't turn the car off. I had to put the emergency brake on and call for help on my cell phone. When help arrived after a couple of hours they were able to manuever what was left of the gear shift enough to put the car back in park and turn the car…
ODI 10485024
Steering
Started driving and when i went to make a turn i felt a grab. Thought i might be imaging things but happened again on the next intersection turn this time causing me to have to make a wheel correction. On the third turn it was markedly worse and a grunch sound accompanied it and it was more difficult to make the turn. And then next few turns markedly worse again to the point i am considering pulling over and getting…
ODI 10480115
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
Power Train · Steering
I was trying to park the car when i took it from drive to reverse the whole gear shift came right off. It will no longer switch gears nor can i drive it. I searched online and there are numerous other 2004 explorers that this has happened too. There are 16 different complaints which all were exactly like mine on carcomplaints.com. This is super dangerous, imagine if my children were in the car when i went to switch…
ODI 10442341
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that smoke emitted from the steering column while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they confirmed that the multi function switch malfunctioned. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 145,000.
Fire reported
ODI 10430663
Power Train · Steering
While attempting to shift from "park," into "reverse," the column-mounted gear selector, broke away from the column and into my mother's hand. The vehicle sat in a parking lot for a few hours. Later on, we found a temporary workaround utilizing a pair of "vise-grips," and we were able to drive the vehicle home. The gear selector has not been repaired; and the vehicle just sits there, because the she is too afraid to…
ODI 10404501
Steering
Noise in front end, premature failure of tie rod ends. *tr
ODI 10375378
Steering
Gear shifter fell into my hand while trying to put my 2004 ford eddie bauer explorer from park into reverse. The vehicle is parked but not in park. It is only being held still by parking brake as it is stuck in between park and reverse. The key can not be removed because the car is not in park. There were zero events leading up to this failure. Fortunately, i was parked in my drive way but i can only imagine the…
ODI 10329516
Automatic Transmission · Steering
When shifting into reverse there is a hard shift also hard shifts up and down while going forward. *tr
ODI 10293734
Steering
In the days prior to the failure, when i turned the wheel far right or left for extreme turns, there would be a slight thump to the extent i thought something let loose. I had the car in for a regular oil change etc(scheduled maint) and told the shop about this event but they said they checked it and could find nothing wrong. I was turning into a head in parking spot and noticed when i turned the wheel to the left,…
ODI 10294134
Steering
I own a 2004 ford explorer 4wd, xlt 6 cy engine. I was driving it last week and the front end felt loose. I pulled into a parking spot and when i tried to put it in park the shift lever fell apart in my hand and the steering column fell apart. I was only going 5 mph at the time but i wonder what would happen if i was going 40 or so., i had lost control as i parked!! The ford mechanic said he had never seen this…
ODI 10293432
Steering
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact was driving approximately between 55-65 mph. The transmission vibrated excessively. Also, on a separate occasion the vehicle wobbled and made a roaring noise outside of the vehicle. The noise occurred whenever the contact drove more than 55 mph. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic with the replacement of the wheel bearing; however, the failure…
ODI 10319680