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 |
| 1–30k mi | 9 |
| 30–60k mi | 9 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Power Train
I left work on friday when shifted from reverse to drive noticed i had a hesitation/slippage of gears in the middle of the road. I picked up my children went to the store noticed a mild burnt smell which i was told was transmission fluid burning so i was told to park the car. I finished my shopping came out got the kids in their seats started to back up and had no transmission. My kids and i were stranded 8 miles…
ODI 10472575
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
First issue was with the solenoids now the issue is with 1-2 shift ratio. Shifting into neutral. *tr
ODI 10486006
Power Train
2000-2005 explorers have a rate of 1 out of 10 having transmission failure. I want to know why there is not a recall or a class action law suit for this vehicles transmission problems and failures. I would like any information possible to further this. There was mention on ford complaints and failures website for out of warranty explorers a "goodwill repair"? I contacted the ford company and said my vehicle did not…
ODI 10534987
Power Train
TRANSMISSION WENT AT 74,000 MILES. *TR
ODI 10473616
Engine · Power Train · Service Brakes
Transmission shifts very hard so bad that it jerks me and my children's heads forward when it happens. This occurs the worst when going into reverse and into 2nd and 3rd gears. Brakes lock up/stick after being pressed for 3 seconds. *tr
ODI 10472096
Power Train
Driving, and and light came on, 4x4 light blinking 5times every 2/3 miles. Went to reverse and got a hard jerk. Car started making a rubbing noise. Took ithe shop was told it was either the transmission or the transfer case. *tr
ODI 10468030
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
Power Train
Vehicle's transmission started to slip, as we were driving we would hit the gas harder to compensate and then the transmission would catch causing the vehicle to surge forward unexpectedly. *js
ODI 10457119
Fuel/Propulsion System · Power Train · Service Brakes
On april 6th of this year i purchased a 2004 ford explorer. The next day i took the car for city inspection...it passed. The very next day (sunday) the check engine light came on. The abs light would also illuminate. I took the car to autozone to have it diagnosed (egr valve). Only the check engine light could be diagnosed because the abs light came on at random while i was driving. The car was still under the 1000…
ODI 10485460
Power Train
The o/d off light began blinking and there was uncontrolled deceleration and when accelerating from a stop there is higher than the usual rpm's needed to shift from first to second gear. My investigation revealed this is a known problem with this particular year of ford explorer and there was an article in april, 21, 2009, atlanta constitution-journal reports regarding an announcement by the nhtsa regarding the…
ODI 10453017
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
O/d light came on and the transmission started slipping and slamming in and out of gears and the engine started over revving. I have to pull off the road and turn car off and wait about 10 seconds to start car again in order for problem to clear. This has happened may times since. I bought the car new and have returned it to the ford dealer 3 times while under warranty and there fixes would not last long. Now they…
ODI 10463328
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
Transmission failure, slips between gears, replacement required. *tr
ODI 10454576
Power Train
TRANSMISSION AND THROTTLE BODY FAILED. *TT
ODI 10445805
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
Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate from stops. The failure occurred while in drive or reverse. The contact also stated that the vehicle jerked violently while shifting gears. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 75,000.
ODI 10464772
Power Train
There was a noticeably jerk and the o/t off light came on with the computer saying to "check transmission". The transmission mechanic said replace the transmission. *tr
ODI 10440939
Power Train
My vehicle failed to engage in park even though i shifted into park and console indicator displayed park. I had shifted into park on a steep hill. As i exited the vehicle, i released the brakes and one of my passengers alerted me that the vehicle was rolling backwards. I jumped back into the vehicle, applied the brakes and the motion stopped. I verified that park was displayed on the center console, which it was. I…
ODI 10437297
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
Power Train · Unknown Or Other
Vehicle transmission slips when climbing elevation. Starts clunking noise and won't shift. Rpms go way up and vehicle still will not shift. Hard to get vehicle into park on the gear shifter. Have thought the vehicle was in park only to have it roll when i take my foot off the brake. Took vehicle to mechanic today who says a new transmission is needed. Appx cost 3600.00 *tt
ODI 10432694
Power Train
I purchased a 2004 ford explorer brand new from the dealership. At 70,000 miles i started to notice a change in the transmission slipping and suddenly kicking when going into gear. I took the vehicle to the dealership and they advised that the transmission would need to be replaced at my cost and there is no recall at the present moment. This is a safety concern because no transmission should start having problems…
ODI 10438917
Power Train
The transmissions for ford explorers have about a 10% failure rate. The safety issue is that the car may not accelerate when needed. The transmission acts as though it is in neutral when shifting from second to third gears. The symptom also appears during normal acceleration (merging onto highways, trying to pass other vehicles). The danger is that you may not be able move out of the way of other vehicles. We have…
ODI 10464537
Engine · Power Train
Transmission is slipping, not fully gone yet, only a matter of time before it completely goes. I do not have the $2500.00 to replace the transmission. Every person i have talked to say this is a common problem with the ford explorers. I have taken into the garage over 10 times. Ford should be forced to recall these transmissions and ford should have to pay for it. *tr
ODI 10466556
Power Train
I bought a used 2004 ford explorer in september 2009. In june 20111 my husband and was driving and i was in the passenger seat. We both could feel the transmission slipping as he drove but figured that it could not be the transmission because the vehicle only had 57,177 miles on it. We arrived at our destination 10 minutes later and by that time we could no longer reverse the vehicle at all. I called the local ford…
ODI 10426390
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