Transmission was working just fine till one day it wouldn't shift into overdrive and then it was shifting hard from 2nd to 3rd. Rear window hinges broke. Rear tail gate cracked right down the middle by Ford symbol. Also just the other day my passenger window stopped working no signs nothing of anything wrong. I'm going to start buying Chevy this is just unacceptable. No wonder America is not doing good our car company's can't make good products anymore.

- Waukesha, WI, USA

My vehicle failed to engage in park even though I shifted into park and console indicator displayed park. I had shifted into park on a steep hill. As I exited the vehicle, I released the brakes and one of my passengers alerted me that the vehicle was rolling backwards. I jumped back into the vehicle, applied the brakes and the motion stopped. I verified that park was displayed on the center console, which it was. I then shifted into reverse and neutral and back into park, and the second time the transmission engaged into park. Without my passengers alerting me to the vehicle motion, my vehicle would have crashed and potentially injured those in the vehicle. After determining the vehicle was in park, I examined the tire tracks in the snow to see if there was any chance that the vehicle slid rather than rolled on the road. The tire tracks showed clear tire indentations and did not indicate sliding, leading me to determine that the vehicle did not engage into park even though the console indicated it was in park.

- Auburn, WA, USA

Vehicle transmission slips when climbing elevation. Starts clunking noise and won't shift. Rpms go way up and vehicle still will not shift. Hard to get vehicle into park on the gear shifter. Have thought the vehicle was in park only to have it roll when I take my foot off the brake. Took vehicle to mechanic today who says a new transmission is needed. Appx cost $3600

- Plymouth, CA, USA

Transmission shifts hard O/D light flashes.

- Waukesha, WI, USA

I bought a used 2004 Ford Explorer in September 2009. In June 20111 my husband and was driving and I was in the passenger seat. We both could feel the transmission slipping as he drove but figured that it could not be the transmission because the vehicle only had 57,177 miles on it. We arrived at our destination 10 minutes later and by that time we could no longer reverse the vehicle at all. I called the local Ford dealership and they said to drive the vehicle over there and they would take a look at it. The paperwork I have from them states "verified concern, performed electronic transmission diagnosis, pulled code PO731, checked fluid level - full. Dropped the transmission oil pan and found excessive metal debris indicating internal failure. Tech recommended replacing with a Ford reman unit." The Ford dealership's estimate for me was almost $5,000 for the transmission to be replaced. I called around to other shops and had the transmission replaced with a jasper unit which cost me $3467.30. It has a three-year warranty on it. I have been reading online about this problem with 2004 Ford Explorer. For almost a year before the transmission died it would often have delayed shifting when going in reverse and I just assumed it was a touchy pedal, looking back now I realize it was most likely the transmission. This never occurred to me because of the vehicle only having 57,000 miles on it. I no longer feel comfortable driving this vehicle knowing that it has the problems that it does but I have no other choice because we still owe more on the loan than the vehicle is worth.

- Palmyra, PA, USA

I currently own a 2004 Ford Explorer and purchased new in 2005. Have had to replace, the 2 front hubs 3 times, the rack and pinion steering and the transmission slips excessively. This vehicle is driven by my wife to school and home and used for transporting my family. I keep seeing the same problems online but no action by Ford. Can you say piece of junk?

- Batavia , NY, USA

When at a stop the automatic transmission fails to engage until engine rpms are too high for safe initial forward or rearward movement. According to the Ford dealership in my city this problem is due to a defective solinoid body inside the transmission.there was one attempt to repair the problem by the local Ford dealership in 2005 when the car had 11127 miles. At that time the automatic transmission solenoid valve was replaced, but the problem still persisted. That dealership went out of business about a year later. Just lately the new dealership thought that the original transmission might have to be replaced in order to return the car to a safe and normal driving condition. The cost was estimated at $3500. This problem with the 2004 Ford Explorer has been reported by hundreds of other owners to the us dot NHTSA, but nothing has come of these complaints. The Ford Motor Co. Also refuses to do any repairs under warranty and/or due to a factory recall, etc. The problem described refers to a very dangerous condition in which the drivers of 2004 Ford Explorer do not know exactly when or at what rmp level their car will suddenly and rapidly accelerate from a stop.

- Plano, TX, USA

While attempting to shift from "park, " into "reverse, " the column-mounted gear selector, broke away from the column and into my mother's hand. The vehicle sat in a parking lot for a few hours. Later on, we found a temporary workaround utilizing a pair of "vise-grips, " and we were able to drive the vehicle home. The gear selector has not been repaired; and the vehicle just sits there, because the she is too afraid to drive it.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

I have had the shifter lock actuator replaced twice in less than 2 years. This actuator defect prevents my Explorer from coming out of park.

- San Diego, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that when shifting into reverse, the vehicle would not respond. When shifting, the vehicle would sporadically engage backward rapidly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test and advised that there was not a sufficient amount of transmission fluid in the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but would not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was 67,000 and the current mileage was 76,602.

- Lafayette, LA, USA

The truck jerks into gear when put into reverse - it also jerks in drive but is more pronounced when backing up. The gears don't shift until I'm at 20 -30 mph and then they slip incredibly just to get get there. And even when I'm driving the car jerks as it is shifting gears. When I back into my parking space there is a full 10 second delay before the car to finally catapults into reverse. If there is ever anyone behind me they will literally be hit because of the jerking. The slow shifting into gears and jerking have been a consistent problem since taken brand new off the show room floor. Although the Ford dealership service department "tested trans; performed pinpoint test; R&R trans pan; and added a replaced solenoid body" - nothing has stopped this problem. It still persists to this day. And it has only gotten progressively worse.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

As everyone else, I am have a lot of problems with my transmission. It shifts very hard and jerks when put into reverse. Also having issues shifting from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. Problem is steadily getting worse. This morning the O/D off light started blinking. I killed the car and restarted it and it stopped. I dont understand why there has not been a recall on this. Ford obviously knows that there is a problem. How could they not? I have found tons of message boards on the internet with everyone else having the same problem.

- Lewisville, TX, USA

While driving down a 4-lane highway, transmission failed. No warning, just thump and done. My research reveals that dealership are reporting that 1 in 10 2004 Explorer have transmission failure. Also, heater blower motor went out over 1 year ago, leaving no default heat for defrosting the windshield.

- Abbeville, SC, USA

There are numerous complaints on the internet regarding the 2004 Ford Explorer. The car jerks violently when going into first, second and reverse gears. The first repair was on 10/07 at 15,690 miles. The dealership replaced the solenoid and assured the problem was resolved. At 24,190 miles the same problem recurred and the dealership recalibrated and charged $118. Now at 26,900 miles the problem has recurred and again they are going to replace the solenoid. Of course at my expense. There is obviously something wrong and Ford is refusing to address the problem. They should at least guarantee the work that was done under warranty.

- Kenilworth, IL, USA

The back hatch has a crack underneath the window in the middle around the Ford emblem. Just appeared....as I've noticed several Ford 2004 Explorer in this area have the exact same defect. Recall is very much necessary. As well as the car jolting into drive and reverse....I still owe several thousand dollars on this loan and refuse to pay for any repairs....Ford should do a recall on both...they need to hire some Japanese workers since their cars seem not to have these types of issues.....I bought this car in Feb of 2008 and had the transmission problems right after that.....car only had 48K miles on it.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

2004 Ford Explorer with 49,000 miles. Howling noise from rear. Took it to Ford; they rebuilt the rear differential at a cost of $1600. Car has always been serviced at Ford for routine maintenance. Don't understand how this vehicle with such low mileage had to have rear differential replaced. In looking at service bulletins; this sounds like a defect that Ford has not acknowledged.

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

2004 Ford Explorer with 54K miles has slip in transmission when shifted from park to reverse and will slip when the transmission shifts automatically. It catches and will produce a loud bump. It takes several seconds to catch when shifted to reverse.

- Cumming, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. When the vehicle is parked on an incline, it moves in reverse on its own. The vehicle has been to the dealer seven times, but they cannot determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000 and current mileage was 86,000.

- Hayesville, NC, USA

Back rear hatch cracked. Just like the 100's of others I found on my internet search of the problem. Our transmission also failed and had to be replaced, at our own cost.

- Cypress, TX, USA

My concern is in regard to an ongoing problem that my vehicle and thousands of others like it have; the lack of safety one may be faced with if the rear on these vehicles fail due to substandard parts used in the rear differential on the Ford SUV's and F-150's. my understanding is that the costly repair that is required the manufacture will not honor after the basic warranty is over even though this is an ongoing problem. On these vehicles. I was told today that if I continue to drive the vehicle to the point of complete failure I risk the vehicles back wheels locking up. My question to the NHTSA is why has there not been a recall on these vehicles knowing that this is a major problem in the drivetrain of these vehicles. I have 79K on my vehicle and a friend had their rear differential replaced at 22K and the problem is prevalent again on that vehicle again as well. In my estimation this could result in serious injury. What does it take to get a recall on this problem" does hundreds of people have to die or suffer serious injury for something to be done? I have had my vehicle back to Ford for one bang or clang or another since the vehicle had 18K on it. Will the NHTSA ever see fit to make a re-call on these vehicles or again does several people need to suffer injury or loss before something is done"

- Wanaque, NJ, USA