2004 Ford Explorer: check engine light

Filed Jan 22, 2015 · Engine · 82,000 miles · KY

I have a 2004 ford explorer and when I hit the 84000 mile my car started falling apart starting with the heater A/C vent actuator first time in late 2011 then again in jan 2015 this repair has cost me over $1200 then the engine light has come on and I've been told by ford repair shop which was $97 just to look at it that it was from different coils that were over $300 a piece which has been replaces a couple of time to the cadillac converter which was over $3500 to replacing the bearings a couple hundred many times. I'm at the point where I'm not sure to keep this car or junk it these repairs are breaking me! I see that I'm not the only one that is complaining about these problems.... There should be some type of recall....!!!!!!!!!!!

Filed Sep 5, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 173,000 miles · KY

When starting the vehicle, its not wanting to run. Then when I start to pull out it stalls. I mean, u push the gas pedal and it takes maybe four seconds before anything happens, then the tires spin it jerks forward and my kids scream. It jerks u back in the seat. Ok, we're on the road, I don't know if its going to run. One minute its acting like its getting enough fuel. The nexts its like it isn't. Now the service engine light has come on. I call the guy who works on cars, he use to be a head mechanic for has his own shop now, he automatically tells me its the throttle body and says if I cant find a used one, u wont like buyin a new one. An the bad thing is u have to replace them about every 120000 miles. Now isn't that great. The auto parts store says about $725 will take care of the part, what about the labor??? I bought this vehicle because it had a third row seat. I have three kids. I need it to be safe, not a death trap. Ford knows it has a problem, fix it!!!

Filed Feb 22, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 44,000 miles · NC

This is a county govt vehicle purchased used from a dealer about 2 years ago. I had been highway driving for about 3-4 hours at speeds between 55-70 MPH. I made one brief stop during that time, and was mostly using cruise control. Just prior to the incident, the speed limit drops from 70 to 55, and then to 35 in a relatively short distance. I used the cruise control coast to reduce my speed from 55 to 35. The 35 MPH speed starts on a bridge- there is a small incline and then a little larger decline. At about the base of the bridge, the engine shut off, I lost steering and coasted to a stop. I don't recall if I had braking. I was with a passenger; it was night, and this occurred in an area that was not safe. I tried restarting the car, and it restarted with no problem. I drove to a nearby gas station. The power steering fluid was low, so I filled that, restarted, and drove the remaining 1 1/2 hrs with no problems. Other employees continued to drive over the next 2 1/2 months locally-very little highway driving, with no issues. On february 21, I was returning from a trip in this vehicle from the same area, with the same circumstances as above. When I was still on the bridge where the speed drops to 35, the engine shut off again. This time I was alone. There was a vehicle following very close behind me but fortunately I continued to coast as this was on the decline of the bridge. I was able to steer slightly to get off the highway. The check gauges; check engine, and battery warning lights were all on. The car restarted with no problems. I drove to the same gas station; checked the gauges-all were normal and no warning lights. I drove the 1 1/2 hrs remaining with no problems. On a web search, I found multiple cases of very similar problems on explorers with no resolution. I could find no recalls on the VIN. This is an extremely dangerous and potentially fatal problem.

Filed Apr 1, 2013 · Brakes, Engine · 82,500 miles · CA

While driving, the vehicle just shut off. I had no control of the vehicle once it shut off, except to utilize the emergency brake to get me stopped. Once stopped, I put it in park and it started up first try. No check engine light came on. Same thing happens on a regular bases. Usually happens while braking or turning at speeds lower than 30mph, then engine just stalls and everything turns off. This to me is a major safety concern, because without total control of the vehicle and vehicle lighting at night, it could seriously injure or kill someone. I highly recommend investigating this further so we can all continue to be safe. Thanks!

Filed Nov 22, 2012 · Brakes, Fuel system · 114,000 miles · TN

On april 6th of this year I purchased a 2004 ford explorer. The next day I took the car for city inspection...it passed. The very next day (sunday) the check engine light came on. The ABS light would also illuminate. I took the car to autozone to have it diagnosed (egr valve). Only the check engine light could be diagnosed because the ABS light came on at random while I was driving. The car was still under the 1000 mile warranty so the egr valve was replaced and a speed sensor believed to be the problem with the ABS light. I purchased an independent extended warranty so I would be covered for any surprise expenses. I had my chance to use it in just a few months later when the car ran hot. The repair was not covered. This happened in july, just a few months after buying the car. Earlier this month (november 2012) the service engine light came on again but it didn't stay on so I couldn't get it diagnosed. No need to have it diagnosed because the battery light came on too. I took it to autozone once again and the battery tested bad. It wouldn't start at the store. I bought the battery, it was installed and checked again. The alternator showed it wasn't charging. I had to have the alternator replaced. With the cold weather, I discovered the defrost vents don't work. Air only blows from front vents. On the morning of november 19th, I was taking my son to school and the overdrive light started flashing. It happened again while on my way home from work on november 21st. So now I suppose I have transmission problems. Ford needs to answer for their horrible engineering.

Filed Sep 22, 2012 · Acceleration, Body · 106,000 miles · KY

I purchased a 2004 ford explorer in july 0f 2011, and traded in my 2001 oldsmobile of 5 years. I also purchased the 12 month 12,000 mile warranty. Before driving it off the lot I had the dealer fix the ABS system because the light was on. There is a crack going down the back of the trunk but nothing else was wrong at the time so I left the crack alone. In april of 2012 I took it to the dealership for a belt, check trans, shocks, ball joints, and a ticking in the heater when knob was turned to heat (not cool). I told him to just fix what was on the warranty and also give it a oil change. He informed me that the trans was fine. After getting the car back my heat went out and I was told by a mechanic buddy that my brakes, rotters, emergency brake pads and the back tires were shot. So I had him replaced them because this was also not covered on warranty. Just last week my RPM started jumping with miles over 65.(no lights were on at the time)so I took it to 6 different places getting estimates on what could be wrong. All shops said the same thing. "start with fuel filter, oil filters and oil change". The day after I paid for all this the service engine light came on. (egr valve code) the man at auto zone told me to take it off and clean it with spray and let it dry before replacing. I took it to a shop and had them do this. The same day I picked up the car my service engine light came on again, o/d light and the car was driving like I was hauling a bus and jumping. I took it back the next day and he replaced the egr valve new since the same code was showing up. Later that day after getting it back the car started doing the same thing after driving for 5 miles this was friday 9/21/12.

Filed Apr 9, 2011 · Transmission · 68,312 miles · MD

The transmission has a delayed shift and causes the engine to rev before shifting. This causes a hesitation especially when pulling out into traffic from a stop. This occurs every time and the 0/d light flashes as well. The service engine light is now because of the transmission problem. This is situation dangerous.

Filed Jan 28, 2011 · 95,489 miles · CO

Purchased 2004 explorer in november 2007. 95489 miles. No prior indication in drivability, noise or lights coming on. Going along, most speed available was 20 MPH, rpms on 6; then jerked to change gears. Driving on highway in town during rush hour, overdrive light and check engine lights came on. Limped into nearest repair shop, which happened to be a transmission shop,. Transmission had to be rebuilt. Obviously ford knew about these problems because they had sent shop update notices and what to do with transmission problems

Filed Sep 28, 2010 · Acceleration · 56,000 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the check engine light flashed on the instrument panel and the vehicle suddenly shut off. The contact disconnected the battery to reset the computer so the vehicle would start. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to a local repair shop where the contact was told that the transmission did not need to be replaced but the throttle body did. The vehicle was repaired at that time; the contact had not experienced any further problems since the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

Filed Sep 21, 2010 · Engine · 59,078 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the check engine lights continued to illuminate every two months after the vehicle was repaired. Each time the vehicle was taken to the dealer, she was charged a diagnostic fee to perform the test and repair a different problem. The contact did not know what repairs were performed on the vehicle. The manufacturer was called who stated that they would send her information on how to trade the vehicle in for another vehicle, which included additional discounts; however, she had not heard from them. The failure mileage was 59,078.

Filed Mar 17, 2010 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · PA

Purchased a used 2004 ford explorer on july 3, 2006 with 53823 miles. The car was maintained as required and low and behold, to my recollection, around 2008-2009 it started driving a little strange, it started vibrating hesitating. Then during the beginning of 2009, check engine light came on, od light started flashing, gears started sticking, hard to brake and I was told that it ia a transmission problem and that I was not alone with the problem. A new or rebuilt transmission was necessary at a price of $3-4,000. If you would go on the web site at autobeef. Com, you will see all the complaints consumers are having about the same problem. I am urging you to please investigate this matter. Ford needs to step up to the plate and recall all explorers. I still owe $9000 on this car and can not drive it. I bailed them out and they need to take responsibility for their faulty transmissions. Disappointed and concerned consumer. Thank you.

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Transmission · 58,000 miles · CA

2004 ford explorer. Od light is blinking, service engine light is on, transmission shift stalls and lurks. Mechanic says alot of ford explorers are having this issue and there is no recall.