2004 Ford Explorer: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Nov 9, 2018 · Acceleration · 181,000 miles · SC · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While reversing, the contact's vehicle accelerated on its own and crashed into a chevrolet cobalt. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the failure could not be diagnosed. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred multiple times, resulting in the contact crashing into a tree and other unknown vehicles. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The failure mileage was 175,000. The VIN was unknown. *tt VIN is not valid

Filed May 21, 2015 · 105,000 miles · DC

Truck suddenly accelerated when I was in traffic not moving.

Filed May 2, 2012 · Transmission · 83,000 miles · CT

Vehicle's transmission started to slip, as we were driving we would hit the gas harder to compensate and then the transmission would catch causing the vehicle to surge forward unexpectedly.

Filed Aug 9, 2010 · Body, Transmission · 160,000 miles · TX

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While the vehicle was parked, she opened the rear glass window located on the lift gate. The window was open for a few moments until one of the two hinges broke resulting in the window hanging by one hinge. Upon examining the broken hinge she noticed that the screw holding the hinge in place also broke in half. The failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. She also stated that the vehicle hesitated to shift into reverse and would lunge forward before moving in reverse. When shifting from reverse to drive, the failure recurred and she heard a popping noise when the vehicle finally shifts into gear. The failures have occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued to recur intermittently. The failure and current mileages were 160,000.

Filed Jun 14, 2010 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · HI

Purchased a 2004 ford explorer in 2004, noticed after a couple of months that when I put the car in reverse it would delay a few seconds and then it would make a clunk sound and then speed into reverse or shift hard, that was at about 50,000 miles.car at times would not go into reverse, had the transmission in the shop numerous times and shift solenoid replaced to no avail. Shifted okay for awhile and goes back to shifting hard again and while at a stop light several times or upon starting my car when I had my foot on the brake it would make a clunk sound and jump forward out of gear. Good thing no other cars were in front of me or my wife or children near the vehicles. This vehicles scares me and being in the military with a limited budget we cannot just buy another car so easily and so we drive this vehicle deathly afraid. Ford needs to make right, the government needs to address this issue before more people are injured or killed with the sudden acceleration or coming out of gear involuntarily. Also car is starting to delay when at a stopped position to start driving the car hesitates to go into gear. Does it take someone to get seriously injured or die before this problem is going to be resolved by an obvious manufacturer error???? I have two children that get driven around on a regular basis and I am now worried that something is going to happen or my wife. This is still going on and getting worse. Here it is june 2010 and ford is getting away with ripping off customers and not being made to fix our investments nor the money we've had to spend on their mistake. I am taking my ford back in to have the transmission guy that repaired it look at the vehicle. How can thousands of complaints be ignored? You are reading this, you can pressure and bring it to light. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Feb 15, 2010 · Transmission · 90,000 miles · CO

Purchased a 2004 ford explorer in 2006, noticed after a couple of months that when put the car in reverse would delay a few seconds and then it would make a clunk sound and then speed into reverse, that was at about 50,000 miles when purchased. In april of 2009 car would not go into reverse, had a transmission rebuild. It is now less then a year since rebuild and it is starting to shift hard again and while at a stop light today when I had my on the brake it made a clunk sound and jumped forward? Good thing no other car was in front of me, I checked my rear view mirror and there was no car behind me, so I was not hit. Also car is starting to delay when at a stopped position to start driving the car hesitates to go into gear. Does it take someone to get seriously injured or die before this problem is going to be resolved by an obvious manufacturer error???? I have two children that get driven around on a regular basis and I am now worried that something is going to happen. I am taking my ford back in to have the transmission guy that repaired it look at the vehicle. Uhaul will not let any ford explorers tow their products.

Filed Jan 9, 2009 · Acceleration · 40,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. When the contact started the ignition and depressed the accelerator pedal, the vehicle unexpectedly lunged forward. The failure occurs whenever the gear shifter is in the drive or reverse positions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection and they were unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle has not been repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 50,000.

Filed Dec 17, 2008 · Acceleration · 80,255 miles · NY

On december 17, 2008 at around 6:50 a.m., I was driving my wife to work. We live in a quiet village type residential area. After two minutes or so after I pulled out of our driveway, my 2004 ford explorer suddenly accelerated at a very high speed, without my stepping on the gas pedal. I estimate the vehicle reached 45 MPH or more in a very short span of time, and apparently increasing. The vehicle speed was out of my control for 3 seconds or more, despite my foot being away from the accelerator. At first I thought I was skidding on black ice, but I realized this couldn't be because the engine was increasingly roaring and getting louder as I gained speed. It reminded me of the sensation when cruise control picks up speed on the freeway. Besides, I wasn't losing control of the steering wheel. It felt like my gas pedal was not only stuck, but was being pressed even further more. When I realized I wasn't skidding, I quickly applied the brakes and vehicle slowed down. Good thing, the street was deserted. The most significant memory was the sudden roaring of the engine and the rapid acceleration despite my foot being off the gas pedal. The temperature outside was 38f, with a slight drizzle.

Filed Nov 10, 2005 · Acceleration · 4,000 miles · VA · crash · 2 injuries

Dt: the consumer stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated while coming to a stop. The consumer was pulling into the garage with her foot on the brake. The tires started squealing and spinning. The vehicle then had gone out of control and lunged forward. The vehicle proceeded to go through a set of cabinets and pinned the consumers husband between a wall and the vehicle. The vehicle suffered major damage and was not drivable. The consumers husband sustained major injuries and spent a week in the trauma unit. The accident had been investigated by the police department. Pictures and other documentation are available. There was other property damage. *ak (12/08/05)

Filed Nov 23, 2004 · Acceleration · 36,800 miles · MN

While stopped at an intersection our 2003 ford explorer accelerated without touching the accelerator pedal. If the brake hadn't been firmly pressed the vehicle would have shot into the oncoming traffic. In order to temporarily correct the problem, the transmission was shifted into park and then back to drive where we were able to accelerate normally. Dealer cannot reproduce problem and suggested a computer software upgrade.

Filed Nov 12, 2004 · Transmission · 20,199 miles · MD

My transmission started slipping gears. It would also clunk and hang up in reverse. Sometimes when engaged in drive it would surge forward. Several times I have been very lucky and kept my foot on the brake. If not, I am afraid to think of the consequences. After taking to a certified ford dealership, it no longer slips in gear, but it still clunks. Now it hesitates when changing gear. The dealer says this is normal. I have tried 4 times to get them to fix this but they keep saying its normal. This is not my first ford explorer 4x4 and I have never experience any hesitations when the gears change in any vehicles I have ever driven or owned. This will be my last ford ever!