FORD EXCURSION · model year

2004 FORD EXCURSION

125 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004FORDEXCURSION carries 125 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 EXCURSION is electrical system with 10 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring (8) and vehicle speed control (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2004 EXCURSION. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

125
Complaints
6
Crashes
3
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

125 filings

Crashes Reported

6 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL7
ENGINE7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL4
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
POWER TRAIN3
TIRES3
STEERING3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3

Recalls (2)

11V35200013/07/2011

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RANGER TRUCKS BUILT FROM JANUARY 25, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 25, 2011 AT THE TWIN CITIES ASSEMBLY PLANT, AND SERVICE PARTS DISTRIBUTED TO DEALERS FOR CERTAIN 2004 THROUGH 2011 MODEL YEAR RANGER TRUCKS, 2002 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEAR EXCURSION VEHICLES, AND 2002 TH

05V27000010/06/2005

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART.

Recent Complaints

20210812UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Was driving home from work at a light on a uphill street and all of a sudden lost all power engine shut down was extremely hard to slam vehicle into park was in very high traffic road at a very busy time of day!! Had to get towed vehicle would just crank n no start

20210330ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER MASSIVE AMOUNT BLACK SOOT EXITING EXHAUST WHILE DRIVING RECALL # 05V270000 WAS NOT PERFORMED ON VEHICLE ( I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER) NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE IN MAIL AND DEALER SOMEHOW MISSED THIS "WORK" AND FORD SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THIS SITUATION. OTHER REPAIRS DONE TO THIS VEHICLE TO "FIX" THIS PROBLEM WAS TO DRAIN THE FUEL TANK (ALGAE IN FUEL WAS THE EXCUSE-NO ALGAE) FUEL PUMP AND FILTER RAIL (NOT PROBLEM) TWO TURBOCHARGERS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE SOOTING (ONE WARRANTY ONE AT MY EXPENSE) EGR VALVES AND A CAM SENSOR (FORD KNOWS THE PROBLEMS EXIST BECAUSE FORD DISCOUNTINUED THE 6.0 LITRE MOTOR) THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER MY OWNERSHIP.

Mileage: 59,000

20210330ENGINE

TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER MASSIVE AMOUNT BLACK SOOT EXITING EXHAUST WHILE DRIVING RECALL # 05V270000 WAS NOT PERFORMED ON VEHICLE ( I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER) NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE IN MAIL AND DEALER SOMEHOW MISSED THIS "WORK" AND FORD SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THIS SITUATION. OTHER REPAIRS DONE TO THIS VEHICLE TO "FIX" THIS PROBLEM WAS TO DRAIN THE FUEL TANK (ALGAE IN FUEL WAS THE EXCUSE-NO ALGAE) FUEL PUMP AND FILTER RAIL (NOT PROBLEM) TWO TURBOCHARGERS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE SOOTING (ONE WARRANTY ONE AT MY EXPENSE) EGR VALVES AND A CAM SENSOR (FORD KNOWS THE PROBLEMS EXIST BECAUSE FORD DISCOUNTINUED THE 6.0 LITRE MOTOR) THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER MY OWNERSHIP.

Mileage: 59,000

20210330FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER MASSIVE AMOUNT BLACK SOOT EXITING EXHAUST WHILE DRIVING RECALL # 05V270000 WAS NOT PERFORMED ON VEHICLE ( I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER) NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE IN MAIL AND DEALER SOMEHOW MISSED THIS "WORK" AND FORD SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THIS SITUATION. OTHER REPAIRS DONE TO THIS VEHICLE TO "FIX" THIS PROBLEM WAS TO DRAIN THE FUEL TANK (ALGAE IN FUEL WAS THE EXCUSE-NO ALGAE) FUEL PUMP AND FILTER RAIL (NOT PROBLEM) TWO TURBOCHARGERS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE SOOTING (ONE WARRANTY ONE AT MY EXPENSE) EGR VALVES AND A CAM SENSOR (FORD KNOWS THE PROBLEMS EXIST BECAUSE FORD DISCOUNTINUED THE 6.0 LITRE MOTOR) THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER MY OWNERSHIP.

Mileage: 59,000

20191202CrashPOWER TRAIN

CAR WAS SITTING, ENGINE RUNNING, IN PARK FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN SUDDENLY WITH NO ONE INSIDE, MOVED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE WINDOW OF A BUSINESS. THERE WAS A WITNESS THERE.

Mileage: 200,000

20190909TIRES

BOUGHT MICKEY THOMPSON ATZ 305 70 16 IN APRIL. HAVE TREAD SEPARATION

20190706AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING HAS BROKEN WHICH AS TRIGGERED A AIRBAG LIGHT ALSO MY HORN AND CONTROLS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE CLOCKSPRING HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND ISNT AVAILABLE. NEED A SOLUTION TO THIS ASAP

Mileage: 312,000

20190502ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXCURSION. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, WHILE IN TRAFFIC, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FUTURE FORD LINCOLN (LOCATED AT 650 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661, (888) 656-7577) WHERE A WIGGLE TEST WAS PERFORMED BECAUSE A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE INJECTION CONTROL PRESSURE WAS REPLACED WITH A USED PART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORSE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE USED PART AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO STATED THAT A WIRE HARNESS WAS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V270000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

Mileage: 59,000

20190502STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXCURSION. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, WHILE IN TRAFFIC, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FUTURE FORD LINCOLN (LOCATED AT 650 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661, (888) 656-7577) WHERE A WIGGLE TEST WAS PERFORMED BECAUSE A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE INJECTION CONTROL PRESSURE WAS REPLACED WITH A USED PART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORSE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE USED PART AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO STATED THAT A WIRE HARNESS WAS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V270000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

Mileage: 59,000

20190502ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXCURSION. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, WHILE IN TRAFFIC, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FUTURE FORD LINCOLN (LOCATED AT 650 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661, (888) 656-7577) WHERE A WIGGLE TEST WAS PERFORMED BECAUSE A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE INJECTION CONTROL PRESSURE WAS REPLACED WITH A USED PART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORSE AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE USED PART AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO STATED THAT A WIRE HARNESS WAS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V270000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

Mileage: 59,000

20181005SERVICE BRAKES

2004 FORD EXCURSION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BRAKE FAILURE FROM RUPTURED BRAKE LINE. *AS *TR

20150711VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

IT WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS IN USE. IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS IF USED.

Mileage: 137,000

20150209FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,096.

Mileage: 24,096

20150110CrashAIR BAGS

AFTER BEING CUT OFF AND LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE I HIT THE GUARD RAIL HEAD ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE FLIPPED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Mileage: 116,000

20141023ENGINE

VEHICLE ENGINE EJECTS SPARK PLUG FROM CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20141023ENGINE

REPEATEDLY EJECTS SPARK PLUGS FROM CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

Mileage: 142,000

20141002SEAT BELTS

WHILE DRIVING ALONG A LOCAL ROAD, THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT TO AVOID WILDLIFE. THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT "BROKE". AFTER INVESTIGATING IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE MIDDLE ROW PASSENGER SEAT BELT STITCHING FAILED AT THE POINT WHERE THE BELT LOOPS AROUND THE ANCHOR POINT MOUNTED TO THE FLOOR. THE SEAT BELT HAD PULLED FREE OF THE ANCHOR POINT. *TR

Mileage: 170,000

20140916VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKE. I LITERALLY HAVE TO POUND ON THE BRAKE TO DISABLE THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

20140606FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 197,867. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 197,867

20140409FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES AND RESUMED NORMALLY, HOWEVER ALL OF THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 6/24/14*CN UPDATED 06/26/2014 *JS

Mileage: 94,000

Compare 2004FORDEXCURSION to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 FORD EXCURSION have?
The 2004 FORD EXCURSION has 125 NHTSA complaints, 6 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 FORD EXCURSION?
Yes, the 2004 FORD EXCURSION has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 FORD EXCURSION?
The most-complained component for the 2004 FORD EXCURSION is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2004 FORD EXCURSION safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.