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.
8.0
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$650
Average Mileage:
96,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replace catalytic converter through local garage (1 reports)
I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE IN 5:00 P. M. ON A FRIDAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND MY CAR DECIDES IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO. TRAFFIC WAS BUMPER TO BUMPER DUE TO A WRECK AHEAD. I HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE LEFT LANE AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ON A BRIDGE AND I HAD NO WHERE TO GO. RUDE PEOPLE BLOWING THEIR HORNS! NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, NOTHING LIT UP ON MY DASH. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS, IT WOULD NOT GO. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I CALLED AAA AND HAD TO WAIT AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK. I HAD IT CARRIED TO A SHOP THAT I KNOW, NOT A FORD DEALER. COME TO FIND OUT MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS STOPPED UP AND IT WOULD COST 1300.00 FOR A NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM, THAT HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM FORD. FORD SAID IT WOULD TAKE 3-4 DAYS, THAT 3-4 DAYS TURNED INTO TWO WEEKS, WHICH WAS GOING TO BE ANOTHER WEEK BECAUSE THE PART WAS STILL NOT IN. MY AUTO GUY CALLED AROUND AND FOUND SOMEONE THAT DOES EXHAUST WORK. HE CARRIED IT TO HIM FOR REPAIR. THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS-NOT WITH FORD PRODUCTS AND THE REPAIR COST ME 650.00. MY AUTO SHOP GUY TRIED TO GET FORD TO WARRANTY IT, THE GOVERNMENT HAS A WARRANTY FOR 80,000 MILES, MY SUV HAD 96,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NEVER PUT ANY ADDITIVES IN MY GAS. I BUY SHELL GAS 98% OF THE TIME. HE COULD NOT GIVE ME A REASON WHY THIS HAPPENED. HE SAID INSIDE THE EXHAUST IT WAS FULL OF WHAT LOOKED LIKE CEMENT AND WIRE.
WHILE MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE OWNER HAD JUST HAD FORD REPAIR IT 4 MONTHS AGO AND NOW IT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN.
THIS IS JUST THE LATEST PROBLEM I HAVE HAD. I HAVE HAD MANY MORE.
I AM GOING TO GET RID OF IT AND NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE AGAIN.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE IN 5:00 P. M. ON A FRIDAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND MY CAR DECIDES IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO. TRAFFIC WAS BUMPER TO BUMPER DUE TO A WRECK AHEAD. I HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE LEFT LANE AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ON A BRIDGE AND I HAD NO WHERE TO GO. RUDE PEOPLE BLOWING THEIR HORNS! NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, NOTHING LIT UP ON MY DASH. WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS, IT WOULD NOT GO. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I CALLED AAA AND HAD TO WAIT AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK. I HAD IT CARRIED TO A SHOP THAT I KNOW, NOT A FORD DEALER. COME TO FIND OUT MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS STOPPED UP AND IT WOULD COST 1300.00 FOR A NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM, THAT HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM FORD. FORD SAID IT WOULD TAKE 3-4 DAYS, THAT 3-4 DAYS TURNED INTO TWO WEEKS, WHICH WAS GOING TO BE ANOTHER WEEK BECAUSE THE PART WAS STILL NOT IN. MY AUTO GUY CALLED AROUND AND FOUND SOMEONE THAT DOES EXHAUST WORK. HE CARRIED IT TO HIM FOR REPAIR. THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS-NOT WITH FORD PRODUCTS AND THE REPAIR COST ME 650.00. MY AUTO SHOP GUY TRIED TO GET FORD TO WARRANTY IT, THE GOVERNMENT HAS A WARRANTY FOR 80,000 MILES, MY SUV HAD 96,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NEVER PUT ANY ADDITIVES IN MY GAS. I BUY SHELL GAS 98% OF THE TIME. HE COULD NOT GIVE ME A REASON WHY THIS HAPPENED. HE SAID INSIDE THE EXHAUST IT WAS FULL OF WHAT LOOKED LIKE CEMENT AND WIRE.
WHILE MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE OWNER HAD JUST HAD FORD REPAIR IT 4 MONTHS AGO AND NOW IT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN.
THIS IS JUST THE LATEST PROBLEM I HAVE HAD. I HAVE HAD MANY MORE.
I AM GOING TO GET RID OF IT AND NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE AGAIN.
- Tina E., Birmingham, AL, US