2004 Ford Explorer: engine stalls while driving

Filed Nov 12, 2021 · Engine, Steering · NY

On two incidents this week when steering wheel is cut to maximum left or right in tight parking lot and narrow road while making tight turns at legal speeds the engine (V8 4.6L) stalls. Brought to non-Ford mechanic for inspection(NYS ANNUAL) and passes but mechanic looked for a power steering pressure sending sensor or switch that is to give signal to EMC to increase idle to compensate for more power steer demands. Part is $35 at Partgeek but mechanics dont know where the harness the sending switch is located, if one exists or is it in power steering pump. Call Ford NADA! Call two local Ford dealers. One says dont work on cars 15 years old, other says go to liabary to get diagrams, Ford says obsolete parts in 10 years.Bummer! Husband ordered 8/10/20 New 2021 Bronco. Pushed into 2022 due to supply chain. Found out Bronco built at MAP same as Ranger, will not get stronger 10r80 transmission,but Explorer 10r60, 25% weaker ; and gets Explorer 2.3L EgoBoost non- Ranger improved 4×4 engine , although they say same transmission and improved engine as Ranger in ads. Ford Buit Tought? MY2022! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ISDUE. NO BRAKING NOR STEERING WHEN SENSON IN POWER STEERING STALLS 4.6L ENGINE. Cannot apply gas and brake to keep from stalling when making sharp turns. I am 75 years old and with COPD. Serpertine belt replace before incidents.

Filed Feb 9, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · 220,000 miles · CO

Engine dies when driving with cruise control operating and heading down slight hill at speed of around 35 MPH. Cruise is designed to maintain driving speed going down the hill (up or down hill for that matter). The tachometer indicates a slowing of engine RPM. At higher speeds, the slowing of RPM does not fall too low. However, at the slower speed around 35mph, the RPM drops below 500 RPM and the engine stalls. I lose power steering and breaks. I have a difficult time steering and breaking. This is a safety problem on a curve or if a red light is ahead. I can't steer the car on the curve. I may not be able to stop the car at the traffic light and end up in an intersection and be hit by vehicles with a green light. I may hit a car in front of me that has stopped at a light or stop sign. I may not be able to stop for a pedestrian crossing at the intersection (with the light). I may not be able to avoid a child ... Who darts into the roadway. This is a problem for many owners of the 2004 explorer. There are many complaints about it on the web. It is a problem that has been noted for years. I complained about it to dealers several times. Dealers dismissed it as nothing can be found, replicated or just not a problem. It is time to recalll the vehicle to fix this safety problem. This is an ongoing problem. I try to avoid using cruise control control at the 35mph range. It seems ok at highway speeds. The last of many instances was in november 2020. The problem first happened when there about 30,000 miles on the car.

Filed Aug 13, 2015 · Engine · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled and various unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine timing belt failed and the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed May 24, 2015 · Brakes, Engine · 140,000 miles · OH

Car starts but will go forward when shifted in reverse. Turned the car off then back on, but when I would put the car back in reverse or drive, it stalled out. Had it towed and then it was fine after that. Now its about 6 months later, now my orange wrench light pops up and cruise control shuts off at 65mph. Then it jerks a couple times. Have had it checked and came back with 14 codes mainly for transmission.

Filed Apr 24, 2015 · Engine · 130,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While driving at approximately 55 MPH, the service engine soon warning indicator illuminated and the engine stalled. The vehicle restarted and started blowing fuel fumes into the driver's cabin. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the spark plug blew out of the cylinder and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. Ma 08/06/15 updated 10/11/2017

Filed Jan 20, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 140,817 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the service engine and the battery warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle jerked and made a loud noise. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who replaced the front driver side hub and wheel bearing, the rear springs, the three passenger gear calipers, four rear driver side calipers, the battery, five rear brake pads, and six rear rotors plus an oil change. Three weeks after the repairs, the vehicle stalled without warning. In addition, the brake pedal hesitated to respond. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,817.

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 Aug 6, 2014 · Engine · 90,000 miles · MI

My wife was driving and the engine just stalled . We pulled into a gas station with no power steering or brakes. I had it towed home that day. Later I found out the timing chain had come off.

Filed Sep 16, 2013 · Steering, Transmission · 236,000 miles · CA

I was on my way to work on a tuesday morning with my son who is a college student at my school on august 20, 2013. I work at a community college and it was the first week of the fall semester 2013 starting. I arrived about 10:15 a.m. And could not find parking. I found a parking stall in the staff parking lot. I put the ford explorer in reverse and was going backwards to park in the stall. When I moved the shift gear handle to put the truck into drive into the parking stall, the gear shift was just broke off. I couldn't believe it! I had to act quickly and hit the emergency brake and turn the ignition off from the car to make it stop. I was really scared! Luckily, I dropped off my son so he can go to his first class. I had to have the car towed to banning, california and have my mechanic fix it. Still to this day, ford cannot provide a part to fix the steering column shift level. Ford says its on backorder, no one has the part. They don't know when I will have the part to fix my truck. I need help, I hope you can issue a recall on all 2004 ford explorers with gear shift level breaking off. Very upset need your help to get my truck fixed. This matter has made me sick with high blood pressure and would appreciate someone to investigate this matter right away.

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 Jan 20, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 88,000 miles · KY

While driving, the cruise control stopped working and car stalled. At the same time the ABS light comes off and on.

Filed May 2, 2012 · Engine · 100,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the engine transitioned into safe mode and stalled. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, where the PCM, throttle, jack shaft chain, and bearings were replaced. The failure continued. Both the dealer and manufacturer stated that the failure could not be diagnosed. They recommended attempting various trial and error remedies. The contact stated that the PCM and throttle again needed to be replaced. The failures continued. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 118,861.