2004 Ford Explorer body problems

Filed Apr 22, 2023 · Body, Engine · NM

Back windows fell off track and windows fell down, cannot roll them up. AC and Heater broke and won't work at all. Fuel system is too lean. Transmission is going out Timing Chain and tensioners making loud knocking noise. Burning oil.

Filed Jul 20, 2019 · Body, Electrical · 50,000 miles · NY

Plastice parts are deteriorating, desolving in front inside drive sun visor-lighted visor broke off; centerl rear A/C and heat moon roof light console falls off-plastice clips desolved and will not fasten into roof assembly, causing blocked eyesight and at time on right turn hitting head or eyes . This is unsafe and ford motor knows of complainst. Part are not availble. This is a highway safety issue. The model was the eddie bauer top of the line $40,,835 car fmv $5000 only 54000 miles pri level code 450240u74 ship wgt 4357

Filed Feb 5, 2019 · Body, Visibility · 61,000 miles · SC

I have cracks in the plastic on the outside of my lift gate . Each time I use the handle to lift the cracks become worse. There are several posts online asking about the same problem. Every one I see in a parking lot or on the road has the same problem. Ford reports that it affects 1997-2007 explorers. I don't understand why this hasn't been addressed. I called ford and they referred me to your organization. Some of these cracks I have seen reach to the back window which I believe would be a safety hazard.

Filed May 23, 2018 · Body · 143,000 miles · GA

I get a strong smell of rotten eggs when driving. It only happens when I drive for a long time. My back hatch is cracking in 3 or more spots I am afraid that it will probably fall off and cause damage to someone driving behind me.

Filed Jan 13, 2018 · Body · 156,867 miles · NY

Rear glass liftgate hinge broke causing glass to fall out of position. Vehicle was stationary and liftgate glass was being opened when the hinge failed. This is the second ford explorer this happened to. The first one was a 2006 ford explorer.

Filed Aug 9, 2017 · Body · 123,400 miles · MO

When the explorer was bought used in 2015 the cracks that are common in the glass lift gate cover panel did not exist. We purposely did not open the glass part of the lift gate to avoid cracking it. Eventually it cracked on its own just from opening the full tailgate. Then recently the lift gate latch keeper bolts/studs rusted to the point of failure behind the cracked panel and the glass lift gate released on its own. Luckily the explorer was parked. However, the interior lights came on as a result. This drained my battery in this summer's heat. I had to purchase a new battery. To avoid this battery issue from happening again, I rigged the lift gate latch with zip ties through the holes to temporarily hold the lift gate shut. It won't hold long like this so I need to fix the attachment parts that rusted behind the glass and then the colored cover panel that is now badly cracked, the cracking of this very poorly designed and poor choice of material body part let water get behind it and hold there after it cracked like virtually all those on other explorers. This trapped water caused rust of the latch attachment studs behind it. Ford's issuance of vsb's about this issue are proof they were fully aware of there bad material choice for this panel and I feel they should still be on the hook to repair and replace parts despite failure occurring after the vehicles warranty expiration, based on such a poorly designed and widespread tailgate issue that is later in the vehicle's life a safety issue, since the glass lift gate can open upon latch attachment bolt failure, due to rust.

Filed Jul 10, 2017 · Body · 105,000 miles · PA · 1 injury

Bought a 2004 ford explorer in march 22, 2017 from lbsi automotive. Seen a crack in rear panel, didn't think much of it. On july 9 2017 went to open lift gate at walmart and hinge busted and window shattered on me and my husband hit my face glass all over me, cut my husband in few places, . Looking online to replace it and seen that the crack in rear panel was causing problems. I had a 3 month old son in back seat and thank god it didn't get on him. My opinion the dealer should have been aware of this and told us.

Filed Jul 7, 2017 · Body, Seat belts · 141,760 miles · GA

The lift gate on my truck is cracking and getting worse. Two of my seatbelts are hard to get out of the retractor and they are so tight that they are uncomfortable to the wearer.

Filed May 18, 2017 · Body · MO

I was in my driveway and I popped my back window, so I could get some items out of my back part of my vehicle. When I went to close the back window, my window fell sideways, almost busting me upside my head. I've read a few things saying that this was a recall on the year, make and model of my vehicle. I'm not sure how to go about finding out if that is correct or not. If it wasn't recalled, it should of been.

Filed Apr 26, 2017 · Body · 70,000 miles · OR

There is a crack running vertically through the entire rear panel just below the window. It runs right along side the ford emblem. This happened in dec. 2014. I do not know/recall if the vehicle was moving or not. I just discovered the crack. I thought that it had happened because we were visiting bend, or and it was extremely cold. This isn't a safety issue I don't believe. But, given I see at least one explorer every 2-3 days with the same crack it seems to me that ford should fix the problem.