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
While parked, i started up my vehicle and put the truck in reverse. However, the truck would not reverse. I was able to drive forward and took my vehicle to mechanic. He stated that the fords were "well known" for having bad transmission due to certain pieces not fitting, especially the 2002-2006 models. I searched online and realized this problem is a lot bigger than just "a few" cases. This is an epidemic of…
ODI 10579279
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the transmission failed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. *tr
ODI 10568247
Power Train
While driving my explorer down the highway, the transmission blew with out much warning with my baby in the car. The vehicle went from drivable to not moving within one day. It started with a hard shift and acceleration being delayed when trying to make a turn. Then the o/d light came on and the vehicle lost all power within ten miles of my home leaving us stranded in the dead of winter on the highway with very…
ODI 10586532
Engine · Power Train
When accelerating the suv shakes, it has a hard time sometimes going from one gear into another. I started the truck today and it made a thumping sound. The transmission is going on it and i take care of it. I have a hard time getting the truck to go into gear to go in reverse. *tr
ODI 10597907
Power Train · Suspension · Visibility/Wiper
Every since we've financed this lousy suv 08/2012 we've had a clicking noise from the rear and still cant figured out what that is,but the transmission has been slipping and shifting hard,we have replace front left wheel bearing and abs sensor just a few months ago and the bearing is bad again and the front right wheel has a bad ball joint and the visibility thru windshield is horrible,always have a hard time…
ODI 10627161
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
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle independently shifted from first to second gear accompanied by an abnormal noise from the transmission. Additionally, the contact experienced resistance when attempting to shift from park to reverse. The contact would have to shut off the engine and restart the vehicle before the vehicle would engage.…
ODI 10554693
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
Just bought a 2004 explorer eddie bauer edition with 105,000 miles on it as soon as i got home the transmission started to slip. It lunges hard when put into reverse. This is a well known problem with ford. They refuse to do a recall. I'm sure someone will have to die before its dealt with. I pray it's not you or yours. *tr
ODI 10543989
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
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that when he attempted to shift gears, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact believed the transmission was defective however, the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 115,000.
ODI 10534946
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that after having some unrelated repairs performed on the vehicle, the vehicle failed to shift out of park and when it did, the vehicle could only be operated in third gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not…
ODI 10534248
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the transmission failed. The vehicle would sporadically surge and would exhibit an abnormal grinding sound. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was determined that the fly wheel was spinning because the torque converter had failed. The vehicle had not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 129,000.
ODI 10531982
Power Train
We was drive the street doing 30 mph until we came until a stop light . When the light turn green the transmission started to act like in didn't wont to go into gear . When only had the car for a year in only put almost less then 9 to 8 thousand mile on it. When the car full service every time... Don't know what to do any more. *tr
ODI 10507399
Power Train
GOING 55 MILES AN HOUR TRUCK SLIP OUT OF GEAR. *TR
ODI 10502359
Power Train
Transmission is slipping and makes a grinding noise while driving and when back up turning the wheel it jerks and makes a banging noise. Garage said it be $3500 to fix it. It seems like tons of people with this suv are having the same problem. *tr
ODI 10532254
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the gear lever would not shift in and out of gear until after several attempts. In addition, the transmission would slip gears while driving. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The contact was advised to rebuild the transmission and replace the torque…
ODI 10550849
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
Power Train · Wheels
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the vehicle shook. Upon inspection, the driver noticed that the rear passenger side lug nuts had loosened and the tire was only being held in place by one lug nut. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred on the rear driver side tire but in this occasion the tire detached while driving 70 mph. In addition, the contact…
ODI 10511851
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 55mph the transmission down shifted to first gear causing the vehicle to slow down and the rear tires to drag. The contact was able to shift gears which brought the vehicle back to speed as he merged into a rest area. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to have a diagnostic performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was…
ODI 10481529
Power Train
Transmission seems to slip and engine revs also when put in reverse transmission seems to jump. *tr
ODI 10505257
Engine · Power Train · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Structure · Suspension · Vehicle Speed Control
I purchased a 2004 ford explorer in july 0f 2011, and traded in my 2001 oldsmobile of 5 years. I also purchased the 12 month 12,000 mile warranty. Before driving it off the lot i had the dealer fix the abs system because the light was on. There is a crack going down the back of the trunk but nothing else was wrong at the time so i left the crack alone. In april of 2012 i took it to the dealership for a belt, check…
ODI 10476778
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While driving approximately 25 mph, the overdrive warning light illuminated intermittently on the instrument panel. The contact stopped the vehicle on the shoulder and shut the vehicle off. After restarting the vehicle, the warning light continued to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the…
ODI 10481146
Power Train
After coasting through intersections, transmission slips and then clunks as i accelerate
ODI 10545025
Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control
I was driving down the highway and all of a sudden my transmission started slipping and the cruise control kicked it because the vehicle started to slow down so it went into high rpms then the transmission grabbed and shot the vehicle forward and i lost control and we spun in circles off the freeway. Had it not of rained all day the suv would have flipped. Now my transmission is leaking fluid and it must be repaired…
Crash reported
ODI 10473661