2004 Ford Explorer Engine Problems
- 41
- 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 41 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- cruise control · 8 records
- power steering · 6 records
- service engine · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 15 |
| 60–100k mi | 12 |
| 150–400k mi | 6 |
| 30–60k mi | 3 |
| 1–30k mi | 1 |
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
Air Bags · Engine
2004 ford explorer traveling 40-45mph on a rural road. Driver lost control of the vehicle at a "s" curve and hit an utility pole with the front end. The pole was snapped in half. Airbags did not deploy. Driver was the only person in the vehicle. 35 lb dog was on the passenger seat. Driver was wearing a seat belt. Driver hit his chest on the steering wheel bruising his lung. Driver also hit his head on the windshield…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 11006315
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
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
I was driving on a highway going 60mpg, out of no where my ford explorer stops moving and decreases in speed fast. At that same time a wrench symbol popped up on my dash. I almost got rear ended due to the speed dropping so fast, i could not pull over fast enough. Once pulled over, i turnoff my ford for a few minutes. After a few minutes i started it back up. The wrench symbol was gone, i was able to then accelerate…
ODI 10957679
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
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 · 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
Engine
Problums with timing chain the guides and tentioner always braking or the timing chain it self braking , it is all i hear about the 4.0 motors , i my self this is the second one that it has happened to me
ODI 10883774
Engine
Came home from work friday evening and sat. Morning the vehicle would not start. Took battery in and tested, it was dead. Replaced the battery and the car still would not start. Only clicked, relay and starter were fine. Had to tow it to a mechanic who has determined that the anti-theft system has shut down my engine for no reason. The key no longer connects to the system. Why is there not a recall on this issue?? I…
ODI 10822571
Engine
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 ford explorer. The contact heard a loud boom and discovered that his parked vehicle was on fire. The fire department extinguished the flames. The insurance company determined that the vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vin was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.
Fire reported
ODI 10818325
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While driving at approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled and various unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine timing belt failed and the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
ODI 10748563
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
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
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While driving at approximately 55 mph, the service engine soon warning indicator illuminated and the engine stalled. The vehicle restarted and started blowing fuel fumes into the driver's cabin. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plug blew out of the cylinder and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the…
ODI 10712684
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 · 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
Engine · Service Brakes · Wheels
Car starts but will go forward when shifted in reverse. Turned the car off then back on, but when i would put the car back in reverse or drive, it stalled out. Had it towed and then it was fine after that. Now its about 6 months later, now my orange wrench light pops up and cruise control shuts off at 65mph. Then it jerks a couple times. Have had it checked and came back with 14 codes mainly for transmission.
ODI 10721201
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
When starting the vehicle, its not wanting to run. Then when i start to pull out it stalls. I mean, u push the gas pedal and it takes maybe four seconds before anything happens, then the tires spin it jerks forward and my kids scream. It jerks u back in the seat. Ok, we're on the road, i don't know if its going to run. One minute its acting like its getting enough fuel. The nexts its like it isn't. Now the service…
ODI 10630941
Engine
When i slow down or come to a stop, the truck cuts off. Even while in mid turn. *tr
ODI 10632253
Engine
My wife was driving and the engine just stalled . We pulled into a gas station with no power steering or brakes. I had it towed home that day. Later i found out the timing chain had come off. *tr
ODI 10619240
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
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