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.
6.4
fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$460
Average Mileage:
75,350 miles
Total Complaints:
769 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
waiting for Ford to recall (296 reports)
not sure (205 reports)
replace panel (117 reports)
possible class action lawsuit (63 reports)
call Ford motor company 1-800-241-3673 (27 reports)
2004 Ford Explorer Lift Gate Applique - You can purchase the rear panel applique to fix this problem from fordpartswebsite.com, although it will still need to be painted and installed.
Cracked Ford Explores - Visit and join this Facebook group for an additional site where you can tell Ford about this annoying problem.
Ford Explorer Lift Gate Cracks - Become a part of this active Facebook page of Ford / Mercury owners who share information on dealing with the cracked trim panel that Ford would not.
Was backing the boat into the lake and noticed a large ugly crack below the rear glass running just left of the ford emblem that magically appeared over night. My only wish is that it would have broke the emblem off. I am embarrassed that I own a ford. The good news is that it cured me from ever buying a ford again.
When I am driving (which is a lot), I notice that 1 of out 3 Ford Explorers have a cracked rear panel. Not only is this a product defect but I plan to never buy another Ford because obviously the materials are basically to cheap to withstand wear and tear.
This is crap my beautiful explorer now has a ridiculous crack right by the emblem in the back. What is the most annoying part of this is that the crack just magically appeared over night and had me thinking that i backed into something until i found all these complaints about it. Shame on you ford, you suck.
At first I thought it was the rear windshield wiper that might have shattered, because I noticed this at night, but my husband looked during the day and much to our surprise it was a deep crack along side of the emblem from the window to the bottom of the window hatch. After reading all the people who had the same problem I really do think and encourage FORD to get off their asses and do something.
- Grace D.,
Drexel Hill, PA, US
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I live in Wichita falls Texas. When I drive down the road I see other ford explorers with the exact same crack!! Every time I see this it really aggravates me. I know this had to occur in explorers all over America. I don't believe it is exclusive to Wichita falls. I can't believe that Ford is unaware of this issue. Ford needs to fix these cracked rear panels!!!
Just woke up this morning and seen crack beside emblem on rear pop up window all the way through! This is my 3rd Explorer and I'm really pissed! Obviously Ford won't do anything!
Quality is JOB 1 ??????? The panel below the window on the back hatch split in two! Did they not know that it would be open & shut and needed to be designed to take it ? It was purely shoddy product!
Just about every Ford Explorer in model years 02-04 seem to have this issue. I see one or two Explorers every day around town that have this crack. Seems that Ford should at least come up with a solution to have it repaired...not like I'm just going to buy another piece that'll just do the exact same thing.
Went to open the door and there it was, cracked from top to the Ford emblem then within a few days the crack extended from top to bottom. I have multiple problems with my Explorer that is now out of warranty. When it was under warranty, I had issues that they fixed and refused to refix because "it had too many miles on it now to cover". he chrome wheels started cracking and splitting and they were replaced and the new ones started doing it during the extended warranty when I was told they wouldn't replace them again. The low tire sensors are faulty. Paid Ford multiple times $50 on extended warranty to fix the dvd player and it would work for 1-2 months then quit. When I complained, I was told there's a lot of vibration on a car to affect that dvd player. Back up sensors never worked correctly and were so confusing when they worked part of the time and sometimes when they shouldn't have, I was relieved when they quit. Door codes stopped working this past summer. Sun roof leaks into the pane that opens and closes it when it rains water drips out of the switch. Had that fixed under warranty also. Handles that lifts the seat to get into the rear seat broke and I can't find one to replace it. I give up on Ford.
have seen a crack in others. now mine cracked in a parking lot!!!! was thinking of buying a new explorer. screw it i am done. now to sell my FORD STOCK.....
- Mark M.,
river forest, US/IL, Pacific Islands (US)
I also have a cracked panel under the rear lift gate window. Looks like crap. Just happened and I have not gotten an estimate yet. I will be looking into it as well.
This is the second time the rear panel has cracked, the first time I had it replaced while my Explorer was in warranty, now only two years later the newly replaced panel cracked again. This has happened twice on the same vehicle, clearly a manufactures defect which Ford should honor.
I also had an '02 EB and had to fix this same problem with a body shop. They told me that Ford now only sells the replacement panel with the glass lift door. My "like new" '04 came with the same kind of crack. I've seen many of the same model years (2002-05) with this problem. Obviously a design failure! And Ford ducks out of the way! Would be nice to have made in N. America mean something!
love the truck hate the gas guzzling. but this crack that seems to be so common on these explorers really goes up my ass backwards. im all for any solutions that can take care of this problem. thanks to all and keep me informed ill do the same. waffen ss.
It pisses me off that FORD knows this is happening to their Suv's and they aren't repairing them before they put them on the lot so in my book they are selling DAMAGED GOODS....I paid almost 30,000 for my SUV and I take VERY good car of my car and to have a huge crack down the middle of my hatch by no fault of my own is CRAZY and the best part is it will cost 450.00 to repair. We my family own 5 Fords and I truly havent had any issues with Ford but this is putting a very bad taste in my mouth I am truly not sure if I would buy another Ford because they should fix this PROBLEM they need to OWN up to it and REPAIR if for FREE.................Its the RIGHT thing to do!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Was backing the boat into the lake and noticed a large ugly crack below the rear glass running just left of the ford emblem that magically appeared over night. My only wish is that it would have broke the emblem off. I am embarrassed that I own a ford. The good news is that it cured me from ever buying a ford again.
- Kevin
- Kevin B., Bonney Lake, WA, US