2004 FORD EXPLORER Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Ford Explorer. This model year has 1,408 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
Before you buy — check the actual VIN
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2004 Ford Explorer Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Structural Problems
Engine Problems
Considering a 2004 Ford Explorer?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Ford Explorer. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 477 | 19 | 2 | — | |
| Structural Problems | 446 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 123 | 2 | 5 | — | |
| Visibility | 101 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 84 | 11 | 5 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 62 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 54 | 30 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 54 | 8 | 2 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 51 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 44 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 42 | 3 | 2 | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 41 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 35 | 6 | 2 | — | |
| Tire Issues | 28 | 2 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 28 | — | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 24 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 21 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 21 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 13 | 3 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 10 | 2 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Parking-Brake Issues | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electric | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Ford Explorer. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 1,408 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
All four side curtain airbags deployed while I was driving my car in a parking lot. There was no collision and no reason whatsoever for the airbags to deploy. The airbags in the dash did not deploy. The airbag hit me in the side of the head and shrapnel from the airbag, hit me in…
on [XXX] brought to local shop on power steering leak. Week before, Paid $50 for inspection. on [XXX] appointment was line and replaced. But tech said get pass brake line was rotted and was bad leak of brake fluid. On [XXX] my wife's Explorer was reinspected and rear driver side …
I need a new gas tank for my vehicle and Ford stopped making the gas tank for my vehicle. That is a very big safety issue. I called Ford and they were helping to find one from junkyard's I don't want one from a junkyard that I have to repair. I asked for Ford to make a gas tank o…
Smoke for a good 5 mins under the hood oil leeking
Back windows fell off track and windows fell down, cannot roll them up. AC and Heater broke and won't work at all. Fuel system is too lean. Transmission is going out Timing Chain and tensioners making loud knocking noise. Burning oil.
The contact's son owned a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her son was driving in the rain at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle hydroplaned as he rounded a corner. The vehicle slid into a ditch and hit a tree on the passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did…
On two incidents this week when steering wheel is cut to maximum left or right in tight parking lot and narrow road while making tight turns at legal speeds the engine (V8 4.6L) stalls. Brought to non-Ford mechanic for inspection(NYS ANNUAL) and passes but mechanic looked for a p…
on 5/6/21 at Ramp Ford 4869 Nesconset Hwy.,Pt. Jeff.Sts.,NY at 10:00am dealer sevice Mgr. met with NYSDMV Auto Facilities Inspector on a claim against Mavis Discount Tire,556 Route 25A, Mt Sinai,NY case 1Pi-01937 on a right rear wheel. Ramp removed R/R wheel to inspect with state…
MICHELIN CROSSTERRAIN TIRES SUFFERING TREAD SEPARATION. THREE OUT OF FOUR SO FAR. HAD I NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY..
TIRES! TIRES! TIRES! AGAIN! A SECOND TIRE HAS SUFFERED TREAD SEPARATION AND FAILED COMPLETELY. WHY CAN'T I GET ANYONE TO TAKE THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY?
ENGINE DIES WHEN DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL OPERATING AND HEADING DOWN SLIGHT HILL AT SPEED OF AROUND 35 MPH. CRUISE IS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN DRIVING SPEED GOING DOWN THE HILL (UP OR DOWN HILL FOR THAT MATTER). THE TACHOMETER INDICATES A SLOWING OF ENGINE RPM. AT HIGHER SPEEDS…
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LAST WEEK I NOTICED A SLIGHT 'BUMPING' FEEL LIKE AN UNBALANCED TIRE, SO I TOOK A LOOK WHEN I GOT TO MY DRIVEWAY BUT FOUND NOTHING. THE NEXT DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK THE "BUMPING' WAS MUCH WORSE SO I STOPPED TO CHECK AND FOUND A LARGE BULGE ON THE TREAD O…
THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS DRIVING AN 04 FORD EXPLORER WHEN BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A TWO-LANE ROAD AT LESS THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BUT NOT BEFORE SUSTAINING AN INJURY…
THE BODY OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC XLT HAS RIVETS ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF THAT HOLD WATER. INSTEAD OF BEING A FLAT SURFACE WHERE RAIN CAN NATURALLY FALL OFF THE TOP OF THE ROOF IT SITS IN THESE RIVETS AND ACCUMULATES RUST. THIS LEADS TO A LOT MORE PROBLEMS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL STUDS DETACHED ON MULTIPLE TIRES WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES ON MULTIPLE WHEELS ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ONCE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC W…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AND LOCK IN POSITION. THE CONTACT CALLED SANDERS FORD (LOCATED AT 1006 W CORBRELT AVE, SWANSBORO, NC 28584, 910-326-1801) AND WAS INFORMED THA…
SEATBELT MECHANISM FOR DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE IS INOPERABLE. IT DOESN'T LOCK AFTER YOU PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON. THE MECHANISM YOU PUT THE SEATBELT BUCKLE IN IS GOOD BUT AFTER THAT THE LOCK MECHANISM FOR THE BELT TO RETRACT ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU AR…
DURING NORMAL USE, USUALLY WHEN IN MOTION BUT FREQUENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION, THE DRIVERS SEAT SUDDENLY FLOPS BACKWARDS TO THE RECLINE POSITION. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE TRUCK WAS ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ONE TIME BUT THEY SAID THEY WOU…
THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED (APPROX 5-10 MPH) ON A BUMPY ROAD. THE DRIVER WAS LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPACE. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AND THEREFORE THEY WILL NO…
MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS RECENTLY AND QUICKLY BEGAN SHIFTING VERY BADLY. I ALWAYS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL BEFORE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE BECAUSE WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE FROM P OR D, IT ALWAYS TAKES A WHILE, THEN CLUNKS AGGRESSIVELY INTO PLACE. WH…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2004 Ford Explorer.
Recalls for 2004 Ford Explorer
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2004 Ford Explorer. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2004 Ford Explorer — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2004 Ford Explorer reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2004 Ford Explorer has 1,408 NHTSA owner complaints, 75 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (477 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford Explorer?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (477 complaints). #2: Structural Problems (446 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (123 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Ford Explorer?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2004 Ford Explorer?▾
The 2004 Ford Explorer has 75 crash-related complaints and 16 fire reports out of 1,408 total NHTSA complaints. 105 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2004 Ford Explorer have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2004 Ford Explorer. The largest issue: EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2004 Ford Explorer?▾
The 2004 Ford Explorer has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Explorer reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2004 Ford Explorer
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.