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.
7.8
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$300
Average Mileage:
103,000 miles
Total Complaints:
58 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replacement hinges (28 reports)
not sure (14 reports)
replaced with hinge kit 2l2z-78420a68-aa (7 reports)
replace bracket (4 reports)
repair but Ford says problem will recur (3 reports)
Went to open my glass window and the left hinge broke off and the glass hit my husband. It took us 20 mins to get the screw back on. The screw is rusted and no longer holding. I called Ford and they knew exactly what I was talking about quoted me a few $100 to fix and said it's an ongoing maintenance I'll have to do. I can't believe Ford won't do anything about this. This has been a nightmare car, transmission bad, alternator bad, wiring bad, gasket leaking coolant into engine, now this!
Thank you Ford to reassuring me to NEVER buy your cars AGAIN! Definitely will be trading this car in, it's a money pit and a shame Ford will not stand behind their faulty work!
Open the back window to put something in the back of the vehicle and the right side broke away from the hinge. Pretty heavy to handle. Had to wrangle it back and then bungee cord it to get it to mechanic. Parts not available. Without the car for 1.5 days. Tough when I'm a realtor!
Went to open tailgate glass to retrieve groceries and window raised very quickly hitting me in the face and knocking off my glasses, and the next thing I knew the right hinge and strut were broke and I was holding the window up with my right shoulder which prevented it from breaking off the left hinge and having the glass hit the pavement and shatter. Called Ford for parts and they suggested that both hinges be changed, along with both struts, allows for equal support. Makes sense, also doubles the price. 2 hinges and 2 struts = $198.00 less in my wallet.
Can't open the hatch because it will fall off and has several times !!! The hinges are all rusted not that I left the hatch open when it rained so water must get in there somehow.
WILL FORD PAY THE COST TO FIX THIS DEFECTIVE BRACKET??? IT SMASHED MY 13 YR OLD DAUGHTER ON THE HEAD!! DO I NEED A LAWYER. THIS IS REAL CRAPPY. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN. THIS IS DEF A PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER SHOULD FIX. ANY MORE INFO WOULD BE GREAT!
Was loading a ladder into my Explorer Friday night and when I opened the window the hinge broke. Thanks god I was able to hold the window so we could disconnect everything. I just priced the new hinges which are expense for something does not last and when asking the ford dealership about the repair. They told me the glass shatters very easy and if they have it in there shop and it shatter it would be my responsibility to replace the entire glass. This is bull!!!. I agree with everyone else that this has been an ongoing issue with the Ford Explorer from 2001 - 2005 according to the part department at the dealership. This vehicle has been the biggest piece of junk. Had to replace the transmission, wheel bearings, something major in the rear end when it was under warranty, plus a lot of other things. Junk, Junk, Junk
Back window just fell off. It could have landed on one of my kids.. SO very unsafe. Ford is aware of the defect but won't do anything about it. I called 2 different dealerships. One wanted $400.00 to fix it and the other wanted $250.00. ( the glass is not broken, this cost is just for the new hinges and to put them on). I bought the hinges for $115.00 and my husband fixed it himself in 20 min. Rip off that the dealership wanted $300.00 in labor for 20 min of work.
Ford really needs to fix this issue for free since it's a huge safety hazard that could be avoided.
Not only are the hinges on my back window hinge cracking, looks like it will fall off soon, I also have the cracked back below the window on the side of the Ford Emblem problem!
just wanting ford to know another problem with my 2004 ford explorer, the window hinges broke on a camping trip. had to rachet strap the window tight so it didn't break loose from the DEFECTIVE BROKEN HINGES.
I've read several complaints about a familiar problem: crack down rear panel below the emblem. People. are you serious?? FORD has no recall?? Let's all join the lawsuit bandwagon and request more than the $500-700 it would cost them to fix it. Definitely manufacturer defect. So many vehicles affected. Now I have pain and suffering...Just saying!
One day I went to open the smaller window hatch and one whole side came off. I had been keeping an eye on it for a few months because the screw had been getting loose and I had to keep tightening it.
Since I had read about the exploding rear windows of the 2002 explorer I carefully reclosed the window and headed to the dealer for replacements.
I worked 12 hours on Thursday, and got off at Friday at 1:20am. I got home from work at 2am, had to be back at work at 9am. Wife wakes me up at 5:30am stating that the rear window is falling off of the truck. WTF!!! Freaking plastic hing on a glass wind snapped off. Now I have to go to the dealership to see how much they are going to rape my wallet over this BS. Did I mention I was up this same time on Thursday morning fixing the heater.
I opened my back glass to give my kids a snack while we were out and my window fell. So I of course said WTH! Come to find out my window shocks froze up and when I went to close the glass it apparently broke my hinges on top. So here I was driving to local auto parts stores trying to find the parts I needed to fix it, with bungy cords holding it in place because I refused to pay dealer prices of I think (Don't hold me to it) it was $70 or $75 a side!
I've noticed that it is becoming increasingly difficult to close the hatch on my Explorer. I'm already cautious when closing it as I seem to be one of the few people who's rear panel doesn't have a crack under the window. After reading what others have experienced, I am scared to use it at all!!! Any suggestions for getting this problem fixed before I have to catch my window in the Target parking lot???
I just got off the phone with Ford Customer Rep, and was told, that my Rear Hinges/Window problem 1st needs to be diagnosed by a Ford Dealership mechanic(which we all know will cost something) and THEN MAYBE the company might fix it for free. I have not had the window fall out,Knock on Wood! But I just want the darn hinges replaced before something bad happens. I bought this vehicle when it was 2 years old, and about a year later_ I walked past it and saw the crack in the liftgate panel! Of course, no recall on that either. The best advice the representative gave is for EVERYONE with this problem to call FORD so that it will be a recall, basically sounds like that will never happen considering it's already an 8 year-old vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Went to open my glass window and the left hinge broke off and the glass hit my husband. It took us 20 mins to get the screw back on. The screw is rusted and no longer holding. I called Ford and they knew exactly what I was talking about quoted me a few $100 to fix and said it's an ongoing maintenance I'll have to do. I can't believe Ford won't do anything about this. This has been a nightmare car, transmission bad, alternator bad, wiring bad, gasket leaking coolant into engine, now this!
Thank you Ford to reassuring me to NEVER buy your cars AGAIN! Definitely will be trading this car in, it's a money pit and a shame Ford will not stand behind their faulty work!
- telles, Irwindale, CA, US