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.
I have had Walnut Creek Ford replace the rear bearings, hubs, brakes, ect. 3 times in 2-1/2 years. I am at my wits end. I am taking it back to them tomorrow 8-17-20. I have driven less than 1000 miles since the last repair. I feel they should make this repair at no cost to me. The same left rear bearing keeps going out. And they have gouged me over $4000.00 over the course of 2-1/2 years. I am disabled and living on Soc.Sec.
How should I approach them this time, without leading off with a legal threat? Any suggestions are welcomed.
My wife and I started this bearing failure before the vehicle warranty was up, but, not before the extended, fine print part of the warranty had expired. Since 80,000 miles the drivers side 6 times and the passenger side 5 times. It did not matter if a reputable mechanic or a Ford mechanic did the work it still went out. Actually the Ford replacement lasted the least amount of time, about 1700 miles and "we had to pay for the tow". The next one Ford replaced lasted 1 hour and we had to continue to the next city. ((yes, they will probably always remember me at that particular dealership, not my proudest moment)) I did find out at the "two" dealerships they did NOT grease the bearings before setting them in. They insisted that these "come" with grease.
Secondly, our mechanic we now go to told us the wheel housing is not round it is more oblong and believed this will be a constant issue. Which we have had several replaced at about 10,000-12,000 intervals since. $210 a fix.
It is going again, soooo, I am going to give it a try, it cost me $46.00 for the bearing. I can replace it 4-5 times for what it cost me at the shop and even more times if I take it to Ford.
My wife has taken wonderful care of her car and it is sad that Ford has not done something about this issue.
If anyone has a fix for this please let me know, I can fix quite a few items, it is a time commitment for me.
Must be a problem with the bearings, the left side went bad first, but the right side failed 6months later. I replaced them myself so I only had to buy the parts.
I go in to have some loud humming/whirring noise diagnosed to find out I was dangerously close to my bearings breaking in the fronts! I drive my two young boys around in this car and I can't even imagine an issue like this not being made publicly known to Ford owners to get examined. Then I had an unexpected cost to cover! Well of course Ford Motor Credit allowed me some credit enough to cover the repair. They are making millions off of people who own these troubled cars. My laundry list is getting longer and longer.
Have changed wheel bearings and still having problem with the roaring sound of the hub in the wheel while driving my Explorer! Figure we had a defected part so we took it back and still having the same problem! Don't know what else to do cause we have replaced ball and joints on top and bottom on both sides of front so I don't know what else to do! And no one else can figure out why the humming sound is still there!
I have all kinds of problems with this Ford Explorer since I purchased it! And Its always something new each month! Having problems not only with bearings had problems with axles and a loud racket when backing out, it feels like my whole back end is falling apart! When Ford made this car they did not do their best at the job at making this one! They need a recall on this car cause my transmission fills like its is going out to! And I only have one car to depend on so if this car goes out, well, I am stuck with walking. But does the Ford company care about people who may be single parents or not? Nope, they are there just to make money and then not to stand by their product.
And what is the deal with about the back window under where it cracks! When you shut your hatch back, yeah, defected there too. They should have a recall on that! Ford company, I used to love Ford but I think now I want to change my way of thinking cause ya do not stand by your work and fix your problems in your defected products that ya made! And ya know the problems. Ya choose to not fix the problems! Wow! STAND BY YOUR PRODUCT! and then ya will have people stand by ya more!
2009 the rear wheel bearing went out. The warranty the dealership insisted we pay for when we bought the vehicle covered that. That cost was about 800.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have had Walnut Creek Ford replace the rear bearings, hubs, brakes, ect. 3 times in 2-1/2 years. I am at my wits end. I am taking it back to them tomorrow 8-17-20. I have driven less than 1000 miles since the last repair. I feel they should make this repair at no cost to me. The same left rear bearing keeps going out. And they have gouged me over $4000.00 over the course of 2-1/2 years. I am disabled and living on Soc.Sec.
How should I approach them this time, without leading off with a legal threat? Any suggestions are welcomed.
- Rick G., Concord, CA, US