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 $1000 depending on how many wheel bearings failed.
Adding insult to injury, the 2002-2005 Explorer also has a massive problem with the rear panel cracking. While it's a minor annoyance compared to transmission failure, ironically the crack usually goes right through the Ford logo.
NHTSA Site - Make A Complaints Here - NHTSA take every complaints and investigate to see if there are any trends in auto manufacturing defect. It is only way car manufacturer can be forced to recall a vehicle
I purchased my explorer new 3 years ago. I noticed when I shifted from park to drive, the car would hesitate and then go into gear. The problem got worse over time. Now at 50,000 miles, my car was shifting really hard especially from 2nd to 3rd gear. I took it to the Ford dealer, and they told me 3rd gear was trashed. They gave me 2 options - rebuild 3rd gear or replace the entire tranny for 4000$. With the car only being 3 years old, we put up a big fight with the dealer and got them to agree to pay for half the cost of replacing the tranny thru some kind of Ford program. I had a 2000 explorer and enjoyed the car so much that I bought the 2004 after I put a bunch of miles on my first one. I won't buy another explorer after this experience and after seeing how many others have this same problem.
there was a recall on the tranny, i took it back and it still did the same thing when you put it into gear it hesitates and if you step on the gas the car jerks i guess FORD= FIX OR REPAIR DAILY
we purchased the vehicle with 34000 miles as is. that should have been our first red flag so we dont buy the extended warranty, thinking low miles, new vehicle, what could go so wrong. it was our backup and vacation vehicle. well when we need it for backup the transmission starts slipping. we take it in to get it looked at and a week later find out the transmission is shot and it needs a whole new one for a cost of $3600. well we complained and got a thousand dollars off so we paid it and got it fixed. why would a transmission need to be replaced with such low mileage? you would think that ford would fix this problem but of course not that is more money they would have to spend and save the consumer a big headache.
I BOUGHT MY 2004 BRAND NEW. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, I NOTICED A HARD "CLUNK" WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. IT WOULDN'T "CLUNK" FOR THEM AND TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY BECAUSE "THEY" COULD'NT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ALTHOUGH IT STILL DID THIS OFTEN, I JUST THOUGHT OF IT AS "NORMAL". NOW I HAVE 64,000 MILES, MY EXTENDED WARRENTY HAS RUN OUT AT 60,000 MILES AND I WAS ON MY WAY FROM DE TO VT ABOUT 2 HOURS FROM HOME AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY CAR. PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY AND FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM CAR. I AM ROYALLY PISSED! CALLED MY MECHANIC RIGHT AWAY AND HE TOLD ME I COULD PROBABLY MAKE IT HOME. HE ALSO TOLD IT SOUNDED LIKE THE FRONT SEAL OF THE TRANSMISSION. HOW DOES THIS OCCUR? MY CAR WILL BE 3 YEARS ON SEPT. 29, 2007. NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD. I DID'NT NOW HOW MANY PROBLEMS PEOPLE HAVE HAD WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THERE 2004 EXPLORER UNTIL I FOUND THIS WEBSITE. THIS IS BULLSHIT. FORD MOTOR CO. HAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND I AM GOING TO FIGHT FOR THIS PROBLEM. ANYONE ELSE?
- Karen S.,
24889 Cannon Road, DE, US
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2004 ford explorer xlt 49000 miles and the tranny is slipping. The dealer took it for a ride and it slipped for him but he said he did not know what it was. Now they called me 4 days later and said they have to put in a new tranny, ridiculous.
I just purchased an XLT 2004 Explorer, 2 days ago and I am having nothing but problems from the time I drove off the lot. Only 40K miles on it and major bangs and shift lags coming from the trans.
The truck is perfect in every way except for the tranny. I have brought it back to the dealer and I am praying they will fix it for free.
Within the first few months of owning the vehicle, we had slight slippage of the gears. At 18000 miles, I took the vehicle in for repair under warranty, and the solenoid was replaced at that time. The transmission has never been right since the day we owned the car. Now the problem has gotten much worse, we are now at 47,000 miles, and they want to change the solenoid again. Of course, now that would be my expense to the tune of about $900. Of course, I don't believe that would fix the problem since it did not the first time. I spoke to someone in the Atlanta headquarters, he suggested I talk to the general manager at the Ford dealership where I have bought my last 6 or 7 Fords. I think that will be the last Ford we ever purchase.
I have the same never ending problem as everyone else. Transmission slipping when going into reverse. Solenoid had been replaced twice. The engine slips gears when i take my foot off the gas. I have been to 3 different ford dealerships and have come to the conclusion that FORD will never be able to fix the problem. Anyone what to buy a car?
2004 shifting hard especially from drive to reverse or reverse to drive. Hard shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear especially from accelerating on the interstate. Took to dealer ~ solenoid package to be replaced, changed transmission filter and fluid. $900.00 later the car is fixed. Bought Millennium platinum coverage with purchase of vehicle and it only cost me $169.00 out of pocket.
My explorer just Crapped out on me this week and is now "undriveable" as I have had the same problems with my Transmission slamming into reverse and also slipping when it shifts into 2nd and again into 3rd gears. I contacted my local Ford dealership and was told there was a crack in the transmission and due to that the pressure to shift is lost thus causing the slamming and slipping. They told me it would be $2200.00 to fix this as they would basically have to replace the entire transmission. I told them that explorers were infamous for this problem and they tried to tell me that the explorers had the best transmissions of any of the Ford models. I laughed in his face and had my car towed home where it will sit in my driveway, as I am not willing to pay $2200.00 for a problem that Ford is aware of and is un-willing to fix. I will NEVER buy another Ford or Ford product. Instead of their motto being "Built Tough" it should be "Built Junk" . Way to go Ford! and you wonder why no one is buying american made anymore.
My Ford 2004 is the worse car I have ever owned. My Toyota with 225,000 miles has had less problems than my Ford with 40,000 miles. Transmission and Differential have both been rebuilt not to mention it goes back in the shop tomorrow for what I think is the exhaust manifold leaking. I will and would never buy a Ford again! It has had other problems as well. The transmission is still not right.
I have noticed varying degrees of transmission slippage the past month - checked internet and found this site. Car had transmission fluid added as part of recall when I first purchased car (3 years ago). At this point it isn't terribly annoying - based on what I have read on this site it may be better to wait until things get really bad instead of trying interim fixes that don't work. Used to like Ford Explorers but it's changing quickly with this car.
Much like everyone else here I brought my little "lemon" to the dealer for the first time after the recall of 2 years ago. They installed the "additive" and poof my vehicle was "repaired". Well now that I am passed my original warranty I have to pay as they say it had nothing to do with the original recall. Seems a little odd to me, as the hunk of junk never did operate the way it should. The only saving grace for me is that it is a lease and it's due to go back in 3 months. So I will return the favor to FORD and make the necessary "temporary" repairs until I can drop it back in the dealers lap. To think I was actually considering buying it out at the end of my lease! I smell a class action suit. Count me in if they even dare to charge me back for any transmission problems on return!
I'm so utterly disgusted with Ford and the way they're handling this rampant transmisson problem. I'm one hundred percent convinced that the factory transmission fluid recall was the reason why I'm experiencing on-going problems. I WILL ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD AND WILL MAKE IT MY MISSION TO SPREAD THE WORD HOW BADLY FORD'S SUCK!
poor dad had to put up with a 02 explorer now an 04 explorer and doing the same thing as the 02 the trans takes 6 seconds to go into reverse and shifts really hard like you hit something
I had no idea the transmission problems in the Explorer were so damn rampant! (i thought it was just my vehicle). I too, have a 2004 Explorer with the "reverse bang" problem, also some gear slippage that seems to be getting worse. I was hesitant at first, to register here and voice my problem.. but after seeing the "tons" of other complaints... I had to come forward. I really hope Ford can do something about this Widespread tranny disaster!
I got the same problem as everyone else. Tansmission slipping when moving from reverse to forward as well as when starting from a dead stop. Had fixed at 34k miles under warranty, now 7k miles later same problem. About to be totally ripped off at the dealer as I am sure they will say it is a "new" problem and not something they fixed the first time.
I had the tranny fluid replaced for the recall and then at 10,000 miles my vehicle would hesitate when placing vehicle in reverse for 5 - 20 seconds and then would slam into reverse. I brought it into dealer and they said they 'tightened' the transmission - and after looking at the service paperwork, noticed they actually replaced the solenoid. At 50,000 miles I started having the same problem, but this time I was also experiencing slippage in gears while in stop and go traffic. The tranny was hesitating to go in gear while in drive in slow speeds - 5 to 10 mph. I again took it in for service and was told in would be $730 to replace the solenoid AGAIN! ONE WEEK LATER and the SAME PROBLEM!!!!! Now, they are saying roughly $2400 and the bands and servo's need to be rebuilt, that there is metal pieces in the transmission. They want to replace the complete transmission.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I purchased my explorer new 3 years ago. I noticed when I shifted from park to drive, the car would hesitate and then go into gear. The problem got worse over time. Now at 50,000 miles, my car was shifting really hard especially from 2nd to 3rd gear. I took it to the Ford dealer, and they told me 3rd gear was trashed. They gave me 2 options - rebuild 3rd gear or replace the entire tranny for 4000$. With the car only being 3 years old, we put up a big fight with the dealer and got them to agree to pay for half the cost of replacing the tranny thru some kind of Ford program. I had a 2000 explorer and enjoyed the car so much that I bought the 2004 after I put a bunch of miles on my first one. I won't buy another explorer after this experience and after seeing how many others have this same problem.
- Andrea P., Thornton, CO, US