Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While examining the vehicle the contact noticed a crack on the panel below the rear window. The vehicle has not been diagnosed and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 89000. Updated 01/03/11
2004 Ford Explorer body complaints
Page 8 of 15: complaints 191 to 220 of 426, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the liftgate was fractured down the center. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that he would be responsible for replacing the entire liftgate. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000 and the current mileage was approximately 48,000. Updated 12/21/10*bf the consumer stated no repairs were made. He believed the integrity of the rear window liftgate has been compromised. Updated 12/29/10
There is a crack in the rear panel under the windshield of my 2004 ford explorer xlt. Aside from being unsightly, I'm afraid that this crack will weaken the panel which is integral to keeping the rear windshield seated properly.
In july 2010, I noticed a crack in the panel portion of the back window hatch of my 2004 ford explorer. I reported this to my dealer, who more or less said welcome to the club, and told me to contact the body shop. The cost of $500-600 would have to be paid by me and there is no reason to think that it won't happen again. I am so disappointed in ford motor co., I thought I could expect more from a local manufacturer. It seems to me that this is something that should have been discovered in product tests and/or trials. Why didn't ford know that the material they used was not capable of standing up to the use in the area they placed it?
Panel beneath rear glass cracks on ford explorers. Several reports of same occurrence on internet and 3 (including myself) where I work. Almost all same description, "panel breaks near ford emblem".
Cracked rear panel in tailgate below window.
1. Panel below rear window cracked nov 2009; crack is located to the left of ford emblem and is the length of the panel. Ford refused to repair free of charge; we did not repair it. 2. This morning tailgate glass blew out while car was parked in our garage and thankfully no one was near it when it happened as glass flew everywhere. Car had not been driven for over 24 hrs.
Cracked rear panel on 2004 ford explorer. Drove it through a car wash and it shattered. It can fly off and hit someone.
I discovered a crack in the plastic panel below the rear window of my 2004 ford explorer last night while unloading groceries. There had been no impact to this area of the vehicle so I had no idea where it came from. I checked with a local body shop and the estimator told me this is a very common issue with ford explorers and mercury mountaineers. It was apparently a manufacturing defect and that I should check with ford. I stopped by the local ford dealership but the service manager was out to lunch. The salesman I talked to said he saw the problem a number of time when he worked at the lincoln mercury dealer. Waiting for the service manager to call me.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact attempted to close the rear lift gate window and the hinges fractured causing the glass to fall and shatter over her head. She suffered minor injuries as a result. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where she was awaiting a diagnosis of the failure and repairs. The failure and current mileage was 80,000.
Tailgate/door with glass cracked and broke. Fiberglass was made far too weak and cracked. This is a common problem with this vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated there was a crack on the rear lift gate from the vehicle logo toward the rear door. The contact stated in cold temperatures, the crack was barely visible yet in warmer temperatures, the crack would expand. The dealer advised the failure was common in his year, make and model but was not under recall. The failure mileage was 78,000 and the current mileage 78,500.
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.
I have a 2004 explorer and I lifted the glass hatch today and it broke and began to fall on my head, luckily I reacted and grabbed it before it knocked me out. I had to get help because it was to heavy for me because I have a bad back, had surgery and was afraid that I was going to re damage. I had to have my husband come up there while we held it because struts would not fold it in. Took it to ford and am being charged a diagnostic charge to diagnosis it I am not sure that is needed, and parts are going to be $155, and I was told that they are not responsible for the window if it breaks! Parts are not available they said they will order. I have no car, no warranty, and a sore back from another problem ford is aware of but refuses to accept responsibility for. Thank god it did not hit my 11 year old in the head or neck this could be very dangerous even deadly.
I noticed a crack in the panel beneath my rear window in my 2004 ford explorer. The crack has continued to get larger since I noticed it a couple months ago.
Have a 2004 ford explorer I bought new. It now has approximately 95250 miles. After washing car 2-5-10, a mild day here in ct though wintertime, I noticed trim panel under rear window showed vertical crack most all the way through. Several days later crack had migrated all the way through to bottom of panel. Contacted ford customer service online 2-17-10 asking if this was a safety concern as had read others had it happen to them as well on various automobile websites like edmunds. Understood before writing it was not a recall at that time. Got a polite response 2-18-10 that though sorry for the inconvenience, I should bring it to the dealer for assessment. I never thought it was bad enough to warrant such a trip. However, I am noticing that the window how seems to rattle when closing if only the window portion is opened rather than the entire rear door. I really want to believe that the window is not in jeopardy of separating from the frame when I'm driving down the road. Can you confirm that other explorer owners of this vintage have in fact registered complaints with the federal safety agency as I am doing tonight. Will ford be asked to make repairs to owner's vehicles for this defect? Thank you in advance for your feedback.
2004 ford explorer transmission clunking and shifting roughly, taking long time to engage cause vehicle to roll back, does not seem to engage for a period of time. Also whines so loud folks in back seat can't hear front seat people talking. Appears each time driven. Was that way when purchased new and dealer fixed it, now once again same issue.
Rear panel on 2004 ford explorer is cracked. This happened in february of 2009. Nothing has been done to repair this due to the cost. This is a defect common to this model and should be repaired by ford. This could cause shattering of glass window if it becomes loose.
Defect in hatch area of ford explorer causing a crack near the ford emblem. Happened when vehicle had less than 60k miles. Called ford dealer who said not covered under warranty.
The panel under the rear hatch window has cracked and keeps getting wider.
2004 ford explorer lift gate glass fell off after upper left hand hinge snapped. Secondary failure of left hand gas shock shearing near mounting boss on gate. *tr 1) the glass lift gate was getting harder to close. I believe corrosion loosened the hinge joint to the glass. 2) the failure was immediate and without warning. The back gate came crashing down and the right hand side came flying up. 3) short term fix - visqueen and duct tape. Long term fix - will be to disassemble and replace the hinge/shock assembly.
Closing the glass liftgate on a 2004 ford explorer, the hinge pin pulled through the hinge structure causing the glass to drop. While attempting to catch the glass hand was pinned, but no injury was suffered.
2004 ford explorer crack back trunk lift.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear lift gate panel was cracked below the glass and the vehicle had never been involved in any accidents. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that the failure was known but she would be responsible for repair costs. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000. The current mileage was 35,373.
Letter to the deputy administrator from senator burr on behalf of constituent concerning a crack in the plastic surrounding the rear window of her 2004 ford explorer
On friday, may 28, 2010 my husband attempted to open the liftgate on our 2004 ford explorer when the glass separated from the vehicle and landed in his hands. It did not shatter because he was holding onto it. Upon inspection, we discovered that the left hinge that connects the liftgate to the vehicle had snapped. The liftgate is currently hanging on the right hinge as we do not have the resources at this time to have it repaired. I have since learned that investigation of the same part was opened in june 23, 2004 and closed on october 24, 2008. Although on page 12 of the response to the federal safety agency ford motor company admits that this failure is caused by "the use of non-optimal coating on the steel pin that joins the two zinc die-cast sections of the hinge", the company assumes no financial responsibility in covering the repairs because no recall has been issued. I urge you to take a proactive approach to this issue as it could cause serious injury and there are numerous complaints from consumers who are not aware that they can report them to this agency.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated the plastic lining under the tailgate window was cracked. The manufacturer was contacted several times but would not provide any assistance. The dealer advised they were aware of the failure however they were not liable for the failure without a recall. The contact stated that every year and model of his vehicle that he has observed exhibits the same failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were approximately 52,000. Updated 07/23/10
The rear hatch panel on my ford 2004 explorer cracked for no apparent reason. When I went to the local dealer he said it is a common defect. When I asked how much it would cost to repair he quoted me $650.00 I have seen dozens of this model in my daily driving experience in az. Why hasn't ford made a replacement for all of us who have this problem. It irritates me that they say quality is number one but won't own up to a defect that is replete in emails on line?
Rear hatch cracked on my 2004 ford explorer.
Noticed the lift gate hinge of our 2004 ford explorer is cracked. We've now removed the glass from the lift gate and are trying to find parts for it. This is a potential danger, not knowing when the glass can crack/shatter. This is obviously a defect in the manufacturing of the part.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2004 Ford Explorer?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history