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.
my brother borrowed my ford explorer 2004 ( 180 000 km) and he put the gear shift on D ,he put it on 3 , and drove fast for around 5 minutes with speed 120 km/h till the engine stop responding but still runing.stopped the car and found the cooling water went out every where as the plastic at the front (where the water hose that comes from the radiator to the engine) was broken.Also there was a noise coming from the crank shaft journal bearing.also the cylinder head gasket was blown which ( I think ) it caused all of these problems.Mechanic told you need to take the engine out and replace the cylinder head gasket , and of course after checking the cylinder heads .Also all the the timing chains kit need to be replaced and other parts .It will cost me a lot of money to repair this.I wounder how FORD company design like this engine !!! Ford must stop this design .
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
my brother borrowed my ford explorer 2004 ( 180 000 km) and he put the gear shift on D ,he put it on 3 , and drove fast for around 5 minutes with speed 120 km/h till the engine stop responding but still runing.stopped the car and found the cooling water went out every where as the plastic at the front (where the water hose that comes from the radiator to the engine) was broken.Also there was a noise coming from the crank shaft journal bearing.also the cylinder head gasket was blown which ( I think ) it caused all of these problems.Mechanic told you need to take the engine out and replace the cylinder head gasket , and of course after checking the cylinder heads .Also all the the timing chains kit need to be replaced and other parts .It will cost me a lot of money to repair this.I wounder how FORD company design like this engine !!! Ford must stop this design .
- Ahmed M., Tripoli, Libya