Model year record
2004 Ford Explorer
No recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,647 owner complaints on file.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
| Component | Complaints | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|
| Power train: automatic transmission | 308 | 39,000 mi |
| Structure: body | 209 | 72,000 mi |
| Power train | 108 | 92,233 mi |
| Structure | 80 | 70,000 mi |
| Visibility | 59 | 80,000 mi |
| Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments | 58 | 80,000 mi |
| Vehicle speed control | 55 | 75,000 mi |
| Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate | 54 | 67,564 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling | 47 | 60,200 mi |
| Electrical system | 46 | 65,000 mi |
| Engine | 44 | 109,000 mi |
| Unknown or other | 35 | 91,031 mi |
| Steering | 33 | 95,547 mi |
| Wheels | 32 | 101,000 mi |
| Air bags | 30 | 141,459 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling: engine | 19 | 36,323 mi |
| Service brakes | 18 | 114,000 mi |
| Visibility: glass, side/rear | 18 | 68,985 mi |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 17 | 86,000 mi |
| Suspension | 17 | 80,000 mi |
| Vehicle speed control: cruise control | 15 | 32,900 mi |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 14 | 40,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 14 | 91,031 mi |
| Structure: frame and members | 14 | 52,000 mi |
| Suspension: rear | 14 | 62,453 mi |
| Tires | 14 | 50,000 mi |
| Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift | 12 | 52,000 mi |
| Power train: driveline: differential unit | 12 | 50,000 mi |
| Visibility/wiper | 12 | 127,000 mi |
| Equipment | 11 | 50,000 mi |
| Power train: driveline | 10 | 50,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 10 | 12,000 mi |
| Visibility: power window devices and controls | 9 | 51,283 mi |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 65,000 mi |
| Structure: body: tailgate | 7 | 76,000 mi |
| Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 7 | 77,000 mi |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 119,000 mi |
| Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock | 6 | 26,998 mi |
| Seat belts | 6 | 189,000 mi |
| Air bags: side/window | 5 | 38,000 mi |
| Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system | 5 | 17,978 mi |
| Structure: body: hood | 5 | 50,000 mi |
| Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 5 | 16,500 mi |
| Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system | 5 | 31,000 mi |
| Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 4 | 17,000 mi |
| Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL) | 4 | 8,804 mi |
| Seats | 4 | 16,000 mi |
| Air bags: frontal | 3 | 50,253 mi |
| Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 3 | 20,000 mi |
| Electrical system: starter assembly | 3 | 5,770 mi |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 3 | 172,472 mi |
| Equipment: appliance: air conditioner | 3 | 56,000 mi |
| Fuel system, gasoline: delivery | 3 | 34,340 mi |
| Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 3 | 16,500 mi |
| Fuel system, other | 3 | 58,000 mi |
| Parking brake | 3 | 59,325 mi |
| Power train: axle assembly | 3 | 40,000 mi |
| Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive) | 3 | 70 mi |
| Steering: hydraulic power assist system | 3 | 16 mi |
| Structure: body: door | 3 | 20,000 mi |
| Structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments | 3 | 88,251 mi |
| Suspension: front | 3 | 55,000 mi |
| Suspension: front: wheel bearing | 3 | 45,500 mi |
| Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 3 | 25,600 mi |
| Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly | 3 | 20,000 mi |
| Wheels: rim | 3 | 39,000 mi |
| Electrical system: ignition | 2 | 200 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling: cooling system | 2 | 40,000 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline | 2 | 46,000 mi |
| Interior lighting | 2 | 2,300 mi |
| Power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2 | 17,144 mi |
| Seats: front assembly: recliner | 2 | 15,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light | 2 | 57,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor | 2 | 300 mi |
| Steering: column | 2 | 27,650 mi |
| Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly | 2 | 23,532 mi |
| Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments | 2 | 55,087 mi |
| Tires: tread/belt | 2 | 24,650 mi |
| Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor | 2 | 56,000 mi |
| Visibility: rear window wiper/washer | 2 | 53,000 mi |
| Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module | 1 | 105,000 mi |
| Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery | 1 | — |
| Electrical system: ignition: switch | 1 | 38,000 mi |
| Electrical system: wiring: front underhood | 1 | 1,238 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly | 1 | 63,000 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys | 1 | 44,489 mi |
| Exterior lighting: brake lights | 1 | 1,000 mi |
| Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift | 1 | — |
| Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter | 1 | 84,000 mi |
| Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft | 1 | 29,000 mi |
| Power train: axle assembly: banjo housing | 1 | — |
| Power train: axle hubs | 1 | 1,095 mi |
| Power train: clutch assembly | 1 | 45,000 mi |
| Power train: manual transmission | 1 | — |
| Seat belts: rear/other | 1 | — |
| Seats: mid/rear assembly | 1 | 15,000 mi |
| Service brakes, electric | 1 | 14,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 1 | 70,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: fluid | 1 | 8,774 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder | 1 | 38,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages | 1 | 31,000 mi |
| Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion) | 1 | 48 mi |
| Steering: rack and pinion | 1 | 52,768 mi |
| Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut | 1 | 79,000 mi |
| Structure: body: roof and pillars | 1 | — |
| Structure: body: trunk lid | 1 | 45,000 mi |
| Structure: frame and members: underbody shields | 1 | 75,126 mi |
| Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint | 1 | — |
| Suspension: front: hub | 1 | 52,000 mi |
| Suspension: front: stabilizer bar | 1 | 1,095 mi |
| Traction control system | 1 | 100,000 mi |
| Trailer hitches | 1 | — |
| Vehicle speed control: linkages | 1 | — |
| Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element | 1 | — |
| Visibility: rear window wiper/washer: linkages | 1 | — |
| Visibility: windshield | 1 | 20,000 mi |
| Visibility: windshield wiper/washer | 1 | — |
The 2003 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2005 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.