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.
6.4
fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$460
Average Mileage:
75,350 miles
Total Complaints:
769 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
waiting for Ford to recall (296 reports)
not sure (205 reports)
replace panel (117 reports)
possible class action lawsuit (63 reports)
call Ford motor company 1-800-241-3673 (27 reports)
2004 Ford Explorer Lift Gate Applique - You can purchase the rear panel applique to fix this problem from fordpartswebsite.com, although it will still need to be painted and installed.
Cracked Ford Explores - Visit and join this Facebook group for an additional site where you can tell Ford about this annoying problem.
Ford Explorer Lift Gate Cracks - Become a part of this active Facebook page of Ford / Mercury owners who share information on dealing with the cracked trim panel that Ford would not.
In addition to the 2004 automatic transmission problem, the 02-05 Explorers seem to have the same problem of a cracked rear cover panel beneath the rear door glass. The panel on my Explorer cracked in 2007 after the warranty had expired and Ford refused to fix it. I am a long time Ford owner but the transmission fiasco and the rear panel have caused me to stay away from Ford for my next vehicles.
I have a 2004 Ford Explorer XLT, I bought my car from on elderly woman when I turned eighteen. I take amazing care of my car, wash it whenever salt is occupying my reign. I have motorcycles and they are all foreign bikes. Never have any problems. My 1990 Ford Bronco is a great car and runs great and pushes snow like a champ.
I am complaining about the crack in the back window panel. It makes my car look like complete horrible mess and it is the most annoying thing to take care of something and have this ugly crack show everyone that you don't. Also my timing chains and guides went at 13,000 it was not a cheap fix, cost me 4,600 dollars. I love my car but think Ford had the poorest design of all time, this car was put together so poorly I will not buy Ford again.
November 12 /2007 in the morning I got out to go to work truck was parked in driveway when I looked around I seen big crack in the back frame of the window was summer really hot the crack did not looked to bed when the weather got really cold that looked very bed crack
When the crack first occurred, I took the car to Ford where they told me that I could pay to have it fixed. I also took it to a body shop where they would actually charge a lower price than Ford, but said that chances were it would happen again. I have always owned fords and am really angry about this. I take very good care of my car and have nothing else wrong with it. It looks like crap and I want them to recall and fix this.
Can't believe Ford has allowed this problem to continue. Beautiful car, and how horrific the crack is. Sure pennies for Ford to fix with different material. Shame on you Ford!!!!
Have to keep black electrical tape over the crack to hold it together or I am afraid the lift gate glass will fall out. A friend of mine also has this problem as do others I've noticed on the road.
The PLASTIC panel on the trunk hatch cracked all around the "Ford" logo. It is cracked on both sides, and i am surprised that the middle piece hasn't just fallen off yet. Ford won't pay for it. I see Explorers every day that have the same issue. obvisously it was a design flaw, and since it doesn't hinder the performace of the truck, Ford doesn't care.
I've avoided American built cars for years due to my perception of poor quality but took a chance on this '04. Bought off the dealers lot with only 2000 miles. Have had the rear end replaced 6 times( all covered by warranty). The tail gate panel crack is the last straw as far as I'm concerned. Was pleased that Ford didn't take a Govt bailout, but really disappointed in how the vehicle has held up compared to our 2000 Toyota, 200k and going with nearly no problems.
All things being equal I'd buy American, but all cars are not created (or supported by the manufacturer) equally.
When crack first appeared on the center left of the ford emblem, I spoke to a dealership about recall warranty issues. The Service man said that at one time Ford acknowledged the problem and fixed some of the vehicles in question, but that they weren't any longer. He gave me an approximate repair cost then of around $500 and the phone number to Ford's Customer Service. I called Ford and filed a complaint with them only to no avail. Just recently a second crack appeared, now on the center right of the Ford emblem of this panel. I have seen MANY FORD EXPLORERS ON THE ROAD EVERYWHERE I HAVE TRAVELED WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA. I have also seen the panel missing altogether. I have not replaced the panel for fear that the same this would happen again. My vehicle is 10 yrs. old and doesn't even have 60K miles on it yet. I keep my vehicles well maintained and find this problem extremely annoying and concerning every time I shut the back window hatch.
I bought this news in 2005. Noticed this first in 2008. I complained to Ford, and they fixed it - just patched it up. I think I paid 100 bucks split the cost. Two years later, it came back, even worse. The crack is wider, and it is loose and I feel the window shifting. When it closes, it looks like it is not closed. The interior car light would not go off when it closed so I disabled it. There is a definite gap in the upper window hatch. I will never buy another Ford again. I don't think they can successfully fix the problem.
Took car to dealer was told that i must of slam the door to hard which is a bunch of bull. i have spoken to a lot of drivers with the same problem at the store, gas station, and a few other places. when i see the car when i am driving i always look to see if it is cracked and most of the time it is either the left or right side of the ford emblem. has to be a defect for that many cars to have the same problem. there is a problem that ford doesn't want to address because of the time and money it would cost to repair. NOT MY PROBLEM. WILL NOT BUY ANY MORE FORD AUTOS.
I have a 2004 Ford Explorer -- Two weeks ago I suddenly noticed a crack in the rear panel--there was no impact and numerous comments on the internet have indicated that Ford knew about this problem since 2002. I feel that Ford should repair the problem at their expense
Actually noticed this is a pretty common problem on Fords seeing every time I see a Ford Explorer driving down the road I notice they have almost the same crack.
Add me to the list of Ford owners who have this same problem. Was just going to live with it until an ex-Ford Service Writer told me of possible wiper blade motor / assembly problems with water collecting inside, especially if it freezes which happens a lot here in Denver.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
In addition to the 2004 automatic transmission problem, the 02-05 Explorers seem to have the same problem of a cracked rear cover panel beneath the rear door glass. The panel on my Explorer cracked in 2007 after the warranty had expired and Ford refused to fix it. I am a long time Ford owner but the transmission fiasco and the rear panel have caused me to stay away from Ford for my next vehicles.
- goffprof, Newington, CT, US