2004 Ford Explorer
Summary
The 2004 Ford Explorer has drawn 1304 NHTSA complaints since January 2004, earning a trouble score of 62/100 — elevated complaint activity. Filings include 58 crashes, 15 fires, and 83 injuries across an average of 70,375 mi.
The most-reported problem areas are Power Train (473 complaints), Structure (439 complaints), and Visibility (102 complaints). Reports spiked in Nov '04 with 26 filings — roughly 4× the typical monthly volume for this model.
Problem Areas
Complaints Over Time
Recent Complaints
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EXCESSIVELY. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN DRIVER HIT THE CURB AND FLIPPED FOUR TIMES LANDING UPSIDE DOWN IN A DITCH. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED BY AN AMBULANCE TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
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 not deploy upon impact. The contact's son and his friend were both transported to the hospital for their injuries. Her son was treated for soreness in various parts of his body and was released the same day. Her son's friend had to remain in the hospital overnight and his injuries were unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the independent collision center where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired or destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.
TAKATA RECALL I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON HWY 701, I WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A CEMENT CULVERT GOING 45MPH AND MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY I SUFFERED 2 SPINAL FRACTURES.
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 CAUSING A LACERATION (APPROXIMATELY 1.5") DOWN TO HIS SKULL. DRIVER WAS TRANSFERRED VIA AMBULANCE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL AND ADMITTED FOR 48 HOURS. THE CANINE BROKE HER BACK AND HAD TO BE PUT DOWN THE FOLLOWING DAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING, WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED FOR SECOND DEGREE BURNS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
SIGNIFICANT FRONT END IMPACT WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT ON A CITY STREET.
THE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH AS INDICATED ON THE SPEEDOMETER. VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE DRIVER.
THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 3/20/2016 - THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT.
THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WHEEL CAME OFF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER WHEN I WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 70 NEAR KINGDOM CITY, MO. ALL FIVE (5) BOLTS AND LUG NUTS SECURING THE WHEEL/TIRE WERE BROKEN OFF. MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE OF INTERSTATE WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT AND THEN LEFT. THE VEHICLE SPUN AND ENTERED INTO THE GRASS MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE AND THE CABLE STOPPING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENTWINED WITH THE CABLE SYSTEM CAUSING IT TO FLIP ON ITS SIDE AND COME TO REST. THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT. MY WIFE AND I HAD DIFFICULTY RELEASING THE SEAT BELTS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS LAYING ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RELEASE BOTH SEAT BELTS AND OPEN THE SUN ROOF FOR BOTH OF US TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE AREA WAS SMOKING, BUT DID NOT CATCH FIRE. LUCKILY, MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER DID NOT COMPLETELY ROLL OVER OR THAT MY VEHICLE NOR MY LOOSE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE DID NOT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WERE NEAR ME ON INTERSTATE 70 AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT. UPON EXAMINATION OF RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND TIRE WERE COMPLETELY MISSING AND THE FIVE (5) LUG BOLTS HAD ALL SHEARED. THERE APPEARED TO QUITE A BIT OF FLUID AROUND THE WHEEL WELL. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BRAKE FLUID. WE WERE ABLE TO FIND ONE OF THE LUG NUTS, WHICH STILL HAD A PART OF THE SHEARED BOLT REMAINING INSIDE. I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT THAT ALL FIVE LUG BOLTS SECURING THE WHEEL AND TIRE COULD FRACTURE AND SHEAR ALLOWING THE WHEEL AND TIRE TO BECOME FREE OF THE VEHICLE AXLE. THE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL WROTE UP AN ACCIDENT REPORT, #150733145. MY WIFE AND I WERE PRETTY SHAKEN UP BY THE ACCIDENT. HER RIGHT SIDE, ARM AND WRIST AND MY HEAD, NECK AND SIDE HURT AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
I'VE HAD TWO (2) ACCIDENTS (REAR-ENDED AND FRONT ACCIDENT), IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I DIDN'T THINK OF IT AT THE TIME, BUT BOTH ACCIDENTS SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, YET THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I HIT THE WHEEL HARD AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR X-RAY, BUT IT WASN'T AN INJURY THAT REQUIRED ANYTHING FURTHER. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIR BAGS DON'T WORK. WHAT SHOULD I DO? I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR FORD EXPLORER, HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WAS WAITING TO EXIT THE FREEWAY, TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF HER HAD ALSO STOPPED. SHE GOT HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR WHO FAILED TO STOP AND WAS GOING AT UNSAFE SPEED, ACCORDING TO POLICE REPORT, AND PUSHED OUR EXPLORER ONTO A TRUCK. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT THERE WAS NO OTHER PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY DAUGHTER HIT HER FACE AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. WE HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH AROUND A CURVE AND OVER A POTHOLE, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN JERKING AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER FIVE TIMES WHILE THE DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE THE TURN. THE CONTACT WAS A REAR PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO SECURE THE PASSENGER'S PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S HEAD WAS THROWN THROUGH THE WINDOW AND STUCK THE GROUND EACH TIME THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON THE ROOF. THE CONTACT AND ONE OTHER PASSENGER WERE INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN A CRASH OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE BRAKES, ROTORS AND WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I BACKED SUV OUT OF GARAGE AND PUT IN PARK, GOT OUT OF VEHICLE WHILE STILL RUNNING (TO CLOSE GARAGE DOOR), CLOSED THE SUV DOOR, TURNED AROUND AND SAW THAT SUV WAS MOVING FORWARD INTO MY GARAGE. I OPENED THE SUV DOOR WHILE IT WAS MOVING AND JUMPED IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, PUSHED ON THE BRAKE AND SUV DID NOT STOP, I WAS LOOKING DOWN AT THE FLOOR TO SEE WHY SUV DID NOT STOP, PULLED UP MY FOOT AND PLACED IT BACK DOWN ON THE BRAKE. SUV STILL DID NOT STOP. IT THEN MADE A LOUD NOISE LIKE THE ENGINE WAS REEVING UP AND THEN THE SUV TOOK OFF FORWARD, RAN THROUGH THE BACK OF MY GARAGE, RAN THROUGH MY BACK YARD, RAN OVER A TREE IN THE YARD, RAN THROUGH MY BACK YARD FENCE AND MY NEIGHBOR'S FENCE AND CRASHED INTO THE BACK SIDE OF NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. ALL WHILE THIS WAS OCCURRING, I WAS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH MY LEFT LEG STICKING OUT OF THE CAR (SINCE I JUMPED IN THE SUV IN A HURRY, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT MY LEG WAS STILL OUT OF THE SUV), I CONTINUALLY ATTEMPTED TO STEP ON THE BRAKES (EACH TIME LIFTING MY FOOT UP SO THAT I COULD PLACE IT DIRECTLY ON THE BRAKE), THE ENGINE REEVED UP AGAIN WHILE GOING THROUGH THE YARD. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE SUV WAS THE TALL CONCRETE FOUNDATION OF MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE THAT IT RAN INTO. I JUMPED OUT OF THE SUV, FELL TO THE GROUND AND LAID THERE FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE I REALIZED THAT MY SUV WAS STILL RUNNING, THEN I JUMPED BACK INTO THE SUV AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF.
ON 1-17-2010 @ APPROX 5:30 AM I WAS ENROUTE TO WORK, IT WAS RAINING HEAVILY, I HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER IN THE ROAD, HYDROPLANED AND HIT HEAD-ON WITH A LARGE TREE. MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER RECEIVED OVER 12000.00 IN DAMAGES AND WAS TOTALED. I RECEIVED CHEST/BREAST INJURIES. NO AIR BAGS EVER DEPLOYED. I CONTACTED FORD MOTORS WHO STATED THEY WOULD RESPOND TO ME WITHIN 15 DAYS REGARDING THIS DEFECT. TO THIS DATE I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. *TR
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE AND DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY-THE IMPACT HOWEVER DID CAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *TR
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN HIS 2004 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED IN WHICH THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN HIM. THE AIR BAGS ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY. *CC THE SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN RECALLED AND FIXED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED AND ONLY SUSTAINED MINOR SCRAPES. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A DRY INTERSTATE, THERE WAS A LOUD POP THAT SOUNDED LIKE A BALLOON POPPED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND RAN INTO A DITCH WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FRACTURED APART.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE COMING TO A STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO THE GARAGE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE TIRES STARTED SQUEALING AND SPINNING. THE VEHICLE THEN HAD GONE OUT OF CONTROL AND LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO GO THROUGH A SET OF CABINETS AND PINNED THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND BETWEEN A WALL AND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND SPENT A WEEK IN THE TRAUMA UNIT. THE ACCIDENT HAD BEEN INVESTIGATED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. PICTURES AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION ARE AVAILABLE. THERE WAS OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE. *AK (12/08/05) *SC
MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A FAIRLY SEVERE SIDE-IMPACT COLLISON THAT KNOCKED OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER, EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL SIDE-IMPACT CURTAIN AIRBAGS, 4 FEET SIDEWAYS, DESTROYED THE DRIVER'S DOOR (DIRECT IMPACT TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR) COLLAPSED IT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND RESULTED IN $6,000 OF INSURANCE-ESTIMATED DAMAGE. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER THAT HAS THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THAT THE ON-BOARD CHECK SYSTEM DOES NOT INDICATE ANY FAULTS. MY WIFE DID KNOCK HER HEAD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DURING THE COLLISION, BUT DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE SUSTAINED ANY LASTING INJURIES. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS SAFETY SYSTEM WE PAID EXTRA FOR DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED, AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFORD THE PROTECTION PROMISED BY FORD. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGED VEHICLE AND THE ACCIDENT IF YOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT THEM...JUST NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO UPLOAD THEM TO.
