Crack on panel on hatchback below window to the emblem below emblem and then off to the right back to the main crack making a piece of pie look. Motor to the back wiper blade under there where rain can short it out. Also if pie shape flies loose could hurt someone out side the SUV.

- Salem, IN, USA

Engaged release button to lift rear glass hatch. Glass was lifted and as I reached in to get something out of vehicle, glass fell on top of my head. I was dazed for a few seconds unsure of what had happened. When I pulled myself from under glass, I saw glass was hanging off of one side of vehicle. My husband inspected vehicle and found that left hinge on glass had broken causing glass to fall. He contacted Ford corporate office and was instructed to take vehicle to local Ford dealership where they would inspect vehicle. This was done and local dealership inspected and stated that this was a defected part and contacted Ford corporate office. Corporate office refused to cover this repair. We decided to have other hinge replaced also instead of risking chance of injury again. Cost $80 + several nights of headaches (literally) from injury.

- Orangeburg, SC, USA

While driving 2004 Ford Explorer we heard loud noise, then noticed the rear hatch door had a 6 inch crack to the left of the Ford emblem. I believe this could become a road hazard to other vehicles while driving. I have also written down other local license plates with same problem with Ford Explorer.

- Mcallen, TX, USA

Plastic body part just under rear lift gate has cracked in the middle. Local Ford dealer said they were aware of a problem, but Ford has declined action. This vehicle had approx. 30,000 miles when noticed. Ford should have to fix it.

- Jonesboro, AR, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact noticed that the frame supporting the side/rear glass was fractured. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 07E104000 (visibility:glass, side/rear); therefore, the contact would be responsible for the repair costs. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 66,783.

- Temple, TX, USA

Of the numerous issues with this vehicle, the worst is the transmission (40,000 miles ). same old story. Started with clunking and hesitation and surging when shifting into reverse and now is 'clunking' into gears 2 and 3 during normal driving. The rear drivers side window motor has been replaced twice. The rear window panel has a vertical crack to the left of the Ford symbol that just mysteriously occurred even though we don't even use the window. The truck stalls when the cruise control is applied below 45 miles an hour. My wife and I really loved this truck but like many others we have become embarrassed by our purchase. If this kind of fraud were to occur with any other product we would have some sort of recourse but not surprisingly the motor company's seem to enjoy a certain level of protection. The 'better business bureau' won't even listen to car complaints. Given the severe and ubiquitous nature of the complaints about this vehicle it comes as no surprise that no remediations is forth coming from this organization, the manufacturer or any other. The cost of these vehicles is a burden to say the least and is financially devastating to those of us who purchased them in good faith only to have a 30,000 dollar vehicle become useless and dangerous before reaching 50000 miles. Like all the other 'victims' of fraud, I am wasting yet more of my time by complaining about it.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. While the contact was attempting to close the rear glass door, the door completely detached from the hinge, which connected it to the vehicle. The failure occurred without prior warning. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 60,000. Updated 10/14/08 updated 10/23/08.

- Exter, NH, USA

Paint has started to bubble and peel off of the hood of my 2004 Explorer. I was told by a Ford mechanic they have been seeing alot of this because of the metal used in the hoods- should not be happening for a car barely 4 years old. My old Explorer was much older and never had this problem.

- Florence, WI, USA

2004 Ford Explorer rear back panel has a significant crack which came on suddenly. I did not realize that this problem has happened to others until I started checking on how to fix it via the net.

- San Lorenzo, CA, USA

Exterior paint on the hood of my Ford Explorer 2004 is blistering and chipping. I don't think this should be happening.

- Pascoag, RI, USA

Closed the back glass of the tailgate with normal amount of force and crack appears from glass to fiberglass ( right next to Ford symbol).

- Alexandria, LA, USA

I have a 2004 Ford Explorer with peeling paint on the roof of the vehicle. I contacted Ford's home office and was told that their mechanism to repair the defect expired after 12 months or 12,000 miles. The vehicle is not old enough or exposed enough to the elements for this to happen.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

A crack has appeared in the plastic panel below the window on the rear lift gate. It extends from top to bottom just left of through Ford emblem. It has not been hit or damaged in any way. It split on its own.

- Greenville, SC, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. She depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle started and began to vibrate. She then placed the vehicle in reverse and heard a loud clunking noise. She smelled a strong gas odor inside the passenger compartment. The contact looked in her rearview mirror and noticed a large amount of smoke coming from the exhaust system. She parked the vehicle and had it towed. She then noticed that all of the radiator fluid leaked out. The mechanic stated that the valve failed and damaged the entire engine. The mechanic also stated that the engine needed to be replaced and appeared to be a manufacturer defect. The current and failure mileages were 63,000. The consumer also stated had problems prior to incident with sun visor falling off, gear shaft would not shift into park, engine sluggish, and while using cruise control vehicle would just shut off. Updated 10/22/07

- The Woodlands, TX, USA

Crack in panel below rear window next to Ford emblem. Both rear windows will not go up or down.

- Overland, MO, USA

Rear panel to the left below the back window, next to the Ford emblem is cracked. The vehicle has not been involved in any accident, it just happened on it's own. After searching the internet, I have found that many 2004 Ford Explorer have had the same problem. I was told it would cost approx. $400 to repair. I think there should be a recall on this issue, as it seems to be a defect.

- Mt. Pleasant, SC, USA

On three separate occasions my Ford Explorer 4door Sport Trac has stalled, because my teenage children have accidentally bumped/kicked the inertia control device for fuel shut off while the vehicle was moving/driving. This device has its own push start button to restart fuel operations once the vehicle stopped. I was on the beltway 495 doing 65 mph the last time it happened. I had to make an emergency pull off and almost got hit by a tractor trailer on two occasions. On 11-18-2005 the dealer failed to cover this device saying there was nothing wrong with it. However the technician stated he has seen several cars returned for the same thing.

- College Park, MD, USA

While driving smoke began coming from the engine compartment, the engine bogged down and the engine stalled. The engine ran roughly and smoke emitted from the vehicle. Since the repair the consumer noticed a hissing noise coming from the air conditioner. Air coming through the windshield was the reason for the noise coming from the air conditioner. The winshield was removed and resealed.

- Imperial, CA, USA

Paint is coming off drivers running board. I have owned this vehicle for only 3 weeks.

- Yankton, SD, USA

Othe vehicle was received on 2/16/2004, on 2/18/2004 the drivers side running board broke when I stepped onto it when entering the vehicle on the drivers side I stepped up onto the running board and it cracked at the seam causing me to fall back into the driving lane. The dealer replaced the drivers side running board on 2/24/2004. On 2/26/2004, the passenger side running board crack in the same place, this was only the second time someone entered on the passenger side of the vehicle. I am waiting for the dealer to replace this one. Should this happen while there is traffic moving near the vehicle a person could fall back and be struck by another vehicle.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA