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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2004 Ford Explorer one of our worst vehicles on record. "Avoid like the plague" is putting it lightly.
The 2002-2005 Explorer has a very well-established record of expensive transmission failure at under 100k miles. The Explorer has an enclosed transmission which is typically replaced with a rebuilt transmission at a cost of almost $3,000.
Another common problem for the 2002-2005 Explorer is wheel bearing failure at around 90k miles, with a typical repair bill of $500 to $1000 depending on how many wheel bearings failed.
Adding insult to injury, the 2002-2005 Explorer also has a massive problem with the rear panel cracking. While it's a minor annoyance compared to transmission failure, ironically the crack usually goes right through the Ford logo.
5.3
fairly significant- Typical Repair Cost:
- $110
- Average Mileage:
- 66,200 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 17 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
- not sure (16 reports)
- replace panel (1 reports)
body / paint problem
Helpful websites
- No one has added a helpful site for this 2004 Explorer problem yet. Be the first!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
So contacted the Ford Company about the cracked back hatch and this is what they tell me:
That there are not recalls or other Field Service Actions active for my vehicle (duh Ford does not want to issue a recall on this because it would cost them too much as most Ford Explorers and Mountaineers have this problem!!!) So then I would have to go to a Ford dealership (yea that will help) to have them inspect it and they (dealership) is best equipped to advise if this concern is a defect and therefore would be covered under warranty - um its and 04 Explorer of coarse it doesn't have a warranty on it anymore. If there are no warranties then I would have to pay to have it fixed (that sounds awesome because its just not my vehicle that has this issue right). There should be a recall on this and I am just afraid it will cause other issues with having moisture getting in the crack and so on!!
- Shannon D., Oshkosh, WI, US