2004 Ford Explorer: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 1,304 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (32% of complaints); the 2005 and 2006 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 1,304 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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 or pay for them to have mine fixed right at a Ford dealership, no help. That's a big safety problem. Ford provided the contacts phone number to the junkyards but the contact doesn't want the gas tank from a junkyard who probably put holes in them to drain the gasoline out of the tank.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Feb 2024
“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.”Owner report · Structure · Jan 2023
“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..”Owner report · Tires · Apr 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
“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?”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2021
“The ignition keys loses the program and I constantly have to have noth reprogramed. I was told this was a recall that ford knows about. The cause the car inability to start”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford expedition. The contact stated that the brake lamps, turn signals, and emergency flashers failed to operate properly. This was a distraction to the contact's driving because he could not notify other drivers of the vehicle's movements. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, but they did not have time to diagnose the vehicle. The contact called a ford customer service line, but they did not assist. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 264,000.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jun 2019
“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 not cover the damage.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2019
“I was getting stuff out of my back seat and my rear window just blew out shattering glass all over .the bottom piece that secures the glass to the door warpred about 6 inched on each side exploding the glass”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Feb 2019
“Tl* the contact owned a 2004 ford explorer. While the contact's son was driving 40 mph, he lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree, a light post, and an electrical box. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's son was not injured. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and was deemed a total loss by the tow company. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 291,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While driving and attempting to shift gears, the contact's son pulled too hard and fractured the gear shifter. The contact stated that the gear shifter was currently too loose and would not shift into any gear. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.”Owner report · Power Train · Dec 2018
When filing, owners marked a crash in 58 of these complaints and injuries in 83 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE 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 DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
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 DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
Remedy: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
How other years compare
Check your exact Explorer by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Ford Explorer reliable?
NHTSA has 1,304 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 Ford Explorer. The most complained-about area is power train (32% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Ford Explorer problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 65,000 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Ford Explorer have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:headlights. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.