2004 Ford Explorer Power Train Problems
- 108
- 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 108 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- Driveline · 2 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 33 |
| 100–150k mi | 28 |
| 150–400k mi | 10 |
| 30–60k mi | 9 |
| 1–30k mi | 9 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Power Train
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…
ODI 11258464
Power Train
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.
ODI 11163755
Power Train
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.
ODI 11057243
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
Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
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
ODI 11020494
Engine · Power Train · Suspension
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…
1 injury
ODI 11001584
Engine · Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
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…
ODI 10958733
Power Train
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…
ODI 10958973
Engine · Power Train · Service Brakes
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.
ODI 10925613
Electronic Stability Control · Power Train · Service Brakes
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…
ODI 10886241
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
Body · Power Train
Paint peeling roof hood differential replaced twice bearings wear out repaired twice back of tailgate panel cracked replaced 3 times
ODI 10865592
Power Train
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.
ODI 10903506
Power Train · Unknown Or Other
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…
ODI 10787696
Power Train · Seats · Unknown Or Other
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
ODI 10744717
Engine · Power Train
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
ODI 10694706
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train
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,…
ODI 10690744
Power Train
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…
ODI 10679122
Power Train
Transmission failure, common for ford explorer 2004. *tr
ODI 10714680
Power Train
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…
ODI 10678749
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
Power Train
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
ODI 10659782
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
Power Train
When i shift into reverse it takes a few seconds to shift gear and when it shifts into gear it feels like the transmission fell on the ground . There's a big jolt right before it shifts into reverse. *tr
ODI 10631565
Power Train
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…
ODI 10693722