2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D

THE REAR LIFT GATE ON MY EXPLORER CRACKED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THE GATE CRACKED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE A HABIT OF LOOKING OVER MY VEHICLE. THE CRACK WAS DISCOVERED WHEN I INSPECTED MY VEHICLE BEFORE GOING INTO MY HOME. ON MY NEXT SERVICE VISIT I ASKED MY FORD DEALER IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD NOT GENERATED A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. THERE MAY BE THOUSANDS OF EXPLORERS WITH THIS DEFECT, I SEE THEM EVERY DAY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE FORD COMPANY FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS DEFECT. I HAVE PURCHASED MY LAST FORD. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

LIFTGATE GLASS HINGES BOTH BROKE CAUSING GLASS TO FALL OFF OF REAR DOOR AND NOW GLASS CANNOT BE OPENED. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2002-2003 FORD RECALL #04S20. REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 2004 EXPLORER IN THEIR RECALL BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME. *TR

Mileage: 58,795

LIFTGATE GLASS HINGES BOTH BROKE CAUSING GLASS TO FALL OFF OF REAR DOOR AND NOW GLASS CANNOT BE OPENED. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2002-2003 FORD RECALL #04S20. REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 2004 EXPLORER IN THEIR RECALL BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME. *TR

Mileage: 58,795

DEFECTIVE BODY MOUNTS AND BUSHINGS. I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 FORD SPORT TRAC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE BODY MOUNTS AND BUSHINGS ARE DETERIORATED AND CRUMBLING. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SPORT TRAC YEARS 2001-2005. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AS WELL AS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. I CALLED A BODY SHOP AND THE PARTS ARE $1,695 WITH $720 FOR LABOR. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WANTS $1,882 FOR PARTS AND $400 LABOR TO REPLACE 6 MOUNTS EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS EIGHT (8). FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE PARTS (THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE). EVIDENTLY NOT ENOUGH SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH HAS OCCURRED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, SO THEY JUST QUIT PRODUCTION AS A CHEAPER WAY OUT. SHAME ON FORD TO NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.

Mileage: 107,000

DRIVING 65 MPH, LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHILE SWITCHING LANES TO AVOID A HIGH SPEED VEHICLE APPROACHING BEHIND ME. RAN IN TO A MEDIAN 2 TIMES BEFORE STOPPING FACED TRAFFIC HEAD ON. FORTUNATELY, I WASN'T CRITICALLY INJURED, BUT SERIOUS ENOUGH. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED!!!! I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY NOT???? *TR

DRIVING 65 MPH, LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHILE SWITCHING LANES TO AVOID A HIGH SPEED VEHICLE APPROACHING BEHIND ME. RAN IN TO A MEDIAN 2 TIMES BEFORE STOPPING FACED TRAFFIC HEAD ON. FORTUNATELY, I WASN'T CRITICALLY INJURED, BUT SERIOUS ENOUGH. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED!!!! I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY NOT???? *TR

DRIVING 65 MPH, LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE WHILE SWITCHING LANES TO AVOID A HIGH SPEED VEHICLE APPROACHING BEHIND ME. RAN IN TO A MEDIAN 2 TIMES BEFORE STOPPING FACED TRAFFIC HEAD ON. FORTUNATELY, I WASN'T CRITICALLY INJURED, BUT SERIOUS ENOUGH. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED!!!! I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY NOT???? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A CHURCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS THE ONLY PERSON INJURED DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,000. ...UPDATED 09/12/12 *BF UPDATED 09/19/2012 *JS

Mileage: 2,000

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND THE HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE FELL OFF THE HINGES. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN OVER TWO YEARS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I HAVE FILED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE OVER THE YEARS. IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE GARAGE. I KNOW THAT YOU INVESTIGATED IN 2008 RQ08003. I HOPE WE GET SOME ASSISTANCE. MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT FILE NUMBERS ARE 05687908: LISTS THE ENGINE BLOWING UP, MIRROR FALLING OFF, CRUISE CONTROL SHUTTING OFF, ETC. BUT I HAVE RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE FROM NHTSA. I HAVE SPENT OVER $3,000.00 ON THIS CAR FOR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. (DOCUMENTED). *TR

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND THE HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE FELL OFF THE HINGES. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN OVER TWO YEARS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I HAVE FILED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE OVER THE YEARS. IT HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE GARAGE. I KNOW THAT YOU INVESTIGATED IN 2008 RQ08003. I HOPE WE GET SOME ASSISTANCE. MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT FILE NUMBERS ARE 05687908: LISTS THE ENGINE BLOWING UP, MIRROR FALLING OFF, CRUISE CONTROL SHUTTING OFF, ETC. BUT I HAVE RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE FROM NHTSA. I HAVE SPENT OVER $3,000.00 ON THIS CAR FOR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. (DOCUMENTED). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE HINGE ON THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS NOT PROPERLY HOLDING ONTO THE GLASS. AS A RESULT, THE GLASS WAS SLIDING DOWN INTO THE LIFT GATE PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

STARTED IN 7/2007 HAD VIBRATIONS IN DRIVE TRAIN, FORD STATED IT WAS THE DRIVE SHAFT. FORD REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT WITH A HIGH-PERFORMANCE BALANCED ONE. VIBRATION STOPPED. IN 10/2007 THE EXPLORER WAS SLIPPING DURING ACCELERATION, AND SLAMMING INTO GEAR. OVERDRIVE LIGHT WOULD BE BLINKING ON AND OFF. THIS TIME THEY HAD SAID THAT THEY HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO A BAD ORIFACE. LATER I FOUND OUT THEY ONLY REPLACED THE VALVE BODY AT 24072 MILES. I ASKED ABOUT THE LAG TIME BETWEEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND ACTUALLY MOVING AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE DRIVES DUE TO NO CABLES FOR THE THROTTLE IT WAS ELECTRONIC AND THERE MIGHT BE A COMPUTER UPDATE AT A LATER DATE. IT HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION JUST HAD TO LEARN AND ACCEPT IT. VEHICLE HAD BEEN FINE UNTIL ABOUT FEB 2011 WHEN IT STARTED TO SLAM INTO GEAR AGAIN, AFTER SCHEDULING FOR 90000 MILE CHECK TOLD FORD TO PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS TIME IT WAS THE SERVOS FOR THE OVERDRIVE AND THAT THE TRANSMI

Mileage: 20,577

WAS DRIVING 2004 FORD EXPLORER ON HIGHWAY, AND HAD SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. BROUGHT TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MECHANIC ON HEARING THE ENGINE START UP, KNEW THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TIMING CHAINS AS HE HAS SEEN THAT PROBLEM BEFORE. SERVICE DEALER GAVE THREE OPTIONS, ONE WAS FOR AROUND $3000 THEY WOULD REPLACE TIMING CHAINS, GUIDES, AND TENSIONER, BUT WITH NO GUARANTEE AS THE TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM COULD HAVE CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE. THE OTHER TWO OPTIONS WERE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS 2004 FORD EXPLORER WE HAD BOUGHT BRAND NEW, AND ONLY HAD SOMEWHERE AROUND 65K MILES. IF YOU WERE TO GOGGLE SOME KEY WORDS LIKE ( FORD 2004 V6 TIMING CHAIN GUIDE TENSIONER) YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY A BAD DESIGN WITH THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WHICH LOOSES PRESSURE AND ALLOW THE TIMING CHAIN S TO JUMP TEETH. MY WIFE CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS TODAY, AND THEY TREATED IT LIKE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE EVER HEARD OF THAT, ALTHOUGH THEY AS

Mileage: 69,000

CRACK IN REAR UPPER TAILGATE. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE EMBLEM IN THE CENTER OF REAR LIFTGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT AT TIMES. SHE HAD TO REPEATEDLY PULL THE SEAT BELTS SO THAT THEY WOULD RETRACT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

Mileage: 50,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE EMBLEM IN THE CENTER OF REAR LIFTGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT AT TIMES. SHE HAD TO REPEATEDLY PULL THE SEAT BELTS SO THAT THEY WOULD RETRACT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

Mileage: 50,000

THE REAR LIFT GLASS HINGES ON OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER BROKE DURING USE OF THE LIFT GLASS. THE PIN BROKE RIGHT THROUGH THE HINGE. WE WERE NOT DRIVING IT AT THE TIME THANKFULLY, AND ALSO CAUGHT THE GLASS BEFORE IT HAD A CHANCE TO HIT THE GROUND.

Mileage: 127,000

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE GLASS HATCH HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY HARD TO CLOSE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, BECAUSE OF THIS AT TIMES THE HATCH IS NOT COMPLETELY LATCHED AND WILL POP OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS PAST SATURDAY, 05/02/09, THE GLASS HATCH HINGE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF WHEN I WENT TO CLOSE IT. MY FRUSTRATION IS THAT I AM WILLING TO PAY FOR PROBLEMS THROUGH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND OF COURSE THROUGH MY OWN ERROR, BUT THIS IS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER IS WHEN YOU PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE FROM ANY OTHER GEAR (MOST NOTICEABLY FROM THE POSITION OF PARK)THERE IS A DELAY IN THE IN BALLPARK OF ANYWHERE FROM 3-10SECS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL ACTUALLY ENGAGE IN THE POSITION OF REVERSE. TODAY(9 MAR 09) I TOOK IT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM & WAS TOLD THAT MY SHIFT SOLENOID ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHAT!?!?!-NORMAL PEOPLE DON'T JUST HAVE $1,100 TO SHELL OUT FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM(WELL @ LEAST I DON'T). I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD MY VEHICLE @ THE DEALERS REPAIR SHOP AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. TODAY (9 MAR 09) I WAS TOLD THAT THIS SHIFT SOLENOID ASSEMBLY COULD ALSO BE THE CULPRIT OF THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT MY VEHICLE HAS-WHICH IS:WHEN BRAKING MY VEHICLE ENGINE WILL SHUTTER, BUCK & DIE. LOSING ALL ENGINE& ELECTRICAL POWER. IF I PLACE THE VEHICLE BACK IN PARK & RESTART PROBLEM WILL NORMALLY BE GONE. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. MY VEHICLE NOW HAS 77,810 MI

Mileage: 76,698

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. SHE STATED THAT THE TAILGATE ABOVE THE GLASS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HER VIN. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE REPAIRED SINCE THE CONTACT DOESN'T HAVE A WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,133.

Mileage: 35,133