Http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2004/accessories-interior/supports_for_sun_visors_cracked.shtml the sun visor clip has broken and I am unable to use the visor, it just dangles. It can cause an accident. One needs to be able to use the visor for sun protection. I feel ford should do a recall because so this is happening in too many vehicles so there has to be a manufacturing problem. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
2004 Ford Explorer visibility complaints
Page 3 of 5: complaints 41 to 70 of 112, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The hinge on the glass hatch broke as I opened the hatch. There was no damage to the hatch hinge prior to this.
I have a 2004 ford explorer, about a month ago I noticed the plastic hinge for the back tailgate glass was breaking off. After visiting several ford used car lots, I seen several explorers with the broken hinge and realized this is a very common problem. I have contacted ford and expressed my concerns, but they are standing by their product. I recieved an estimate of $360 to repair the hinges, but being a single parent of four there is no way I could afford to have this repair done. I hope that ford will step up and recall this issue but no luck yet.
The brackets holding both the driver and passenger sun visors broke in 2008, just four months after we bought the vehicle (may 2008). We had them replaced on 09/19/2008. The new sun visors on both the driver and passenger side are again cracking as of 09/02/2011, with the driver's side again almost falling off. This will be the third set of visors on this vehicle since we purchased it in may 2008. This is ridiculous. Ford will not replace them, even though they are under warranty. Many other ford explorer/ranger owner's are experiencing the same problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact placed the gear shifter into reverse to drive and noticed that the transmission would hesitate before engaging. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians replaced the solenoid in the transmission. After the repairs were performed, the contact continued to experience the failure. There was also an abnormal grinding from the rear of the vehicle. The dealer replaced the rear end bearing, three rear axles, the pinion bar and seals and a shaft kit was installed. The dealer also advised that the failure was caused by an over torque by the manufacturer. In addition, the contact stated that the driver and passenger side sun visor joints were failing sporadically and causing the visors to obstruct the contact's vision of the roadway. The sun visors were not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the sun visor came off of the mount causing it to obstruct the drivers visibility. He also stated that as a result of the heat in the vehicle the plastic mount started disintegrating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who made advised him that there were no recalls related to the failure and stated that the visor assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current miles were 115,000. Updated 08/19/11
Pin on rear hatch window broke,which can cause window to fall out.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear window on the hatch shattered. The contact looked at the hatch and found a crack on the metal piece of the hatch directly underneath the window. The contacts insurance company inspected the vehicle and said it was a defect. The manufacturer told the contact that this was an isolated incident and the rear window was not under warranty or recall. The failure and current mileage was unknown.
I purchased a 2004 ford explorer from a toyota dealership on 1/28/11. The car was a certified / warranted vehicle. I was assured by the toyota salesman that any problem with the car would be fixed under the warranty. Several problems which the car has include: mismatched tires, inoperable sunroof, leak in the differential seal & noise in the differential. I had the car inspected at a ford dealership & was told these problems needed repair. The toyota dealership has not returned numerous phone calls, emails & when I brought the car back to them, I was told all these repairs had been fixed & later found out that nothing was done.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The vehicle was experiencing an intermittent failure in which the headlights, radio and windows stopped functioning while driving at any speed. The failures persisted for a duration of approximately 1-5 minutes. During the failures, the power door locks and instrument panel lighting also did not function. The vehicle was not taken to have the failures diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 97,000 and the current mileage was 98,000.
The sun visor on the 2004 ford explorer has a weak bracket that holds the visor. If the bracket fails, that can cause the driver to lose control and have an accident.
The tail gate on the 2004 explorer should be recalled,it will only get worse and lots of people will die when the back windows just start falling out. Every explorer I see it like this! Built ford tough..lol.....I guess it's ok for a few hundred to die until ford maybe recall it, it's there responsibility!!!!!!! I will never buy another ford till this gets fixed. Think of all the lawsuits in the making ford..bad business!!! Fix my found on road...before you get sued...my back window will fall out soon and guess who`s getting sued. Fix your junk ford you lied to me quality is job 1000 making money and lying is job 1..your sickling boycott ford I already have 3000 plus with this problem just wait ford you'll get yours...
I knew the back rear panel had a crack going down it, but thought nothing of it because most explores have the same problem. It wasn't until I was driving down a very dark road at 6 am and boom! The back glass just popped. I thought it had been shot out. The sheriff's department showed up and he thought the same thing. But the only thing we found was between the hydraulics on the window itself, the crack in the panel and temperature outside it imploded. My insurance in ky paid for it, but it took two windows and it still isn't right.
Back glass hatch fell off in my hands could have really hurt someone.
Defroster heat control failed, couldn't see through windshield.
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
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear window panel was fractured. The vehicle was taken to three repair facilities where the contact was advised that the rear window panel would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 28,000 and the current mileage was 28,990. Updated 12/01/10. *lj updated 12/07/10
Sun visor anchor based of 2004 ford explorer cracked and fell out, causing plastic pieces to fall on face, and making visor fall in front of line of sight while driving on highway . Using sun visor is now not possible.
Defective rear window hinges on my 2004 ford explorer. I rarely use the window hatch and today I am sorry I did. While opening the rear window it fell on to my head. The brackets on the window broke. I am waiting for my mech. To help me remove the window so I can bring it into to get repaired. I own a 2002 ford explorer and it had a recall for the same thing. So why not the 2004, it is the same hinge.
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.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated the driver and passenger sun visors were fractured. The dealer advised replacing the visors at her expense. The driver side sun visor was replaced. The contact stated the failure recurred on the driver side sun visor. The passenger side sun visor was never replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were 96,607.
Defective clip/hinge in sunvisor assembly of 2004 ford explorers, breaks and cracks with normal use due to faulty design. Safety hazard due to the fact that once it breaks to a certain point the sunvisor will hang in drivers view and impede vision. A large amount of people are having the same problem I am having. Some of their comments can be viewed at http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2004/accessories-interior/supports_for_sun_visors_cracked.shtml to begin your investigation. Luckily ours came apart when the car was stopped, but someone using the visor to increase visibility may not be so fortunate.
While attempting to close the window on hatchback, the window hinges broke.
Rear window hinges on 2004 ford explorer broke.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The contact stated that the fiber glass fitting under the window next to the tailgate began cracking and was becoming progressively worse. The owner had not contacted the dealer. The current and failure mileages were approximately 57,000.
Plastic pin securing blend door actuator breaks, freezing blend door in position.(cool) unable to get heat from vehicle HVAC system. Can not defrost/defog windows in cold/wet weather. Visibility is limited during cold/wet weather. The reduced visibility caused me to veer off of pavement in a rural area near my home because I could not see the lane markers. Research on the internet shows this is a recurring, common problem. Ford motor co. Is aware of the issue but has not taken steps to resolve this dangerous situation.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. The rear window panel had developed cracks. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership . The current and failure mileages were 53000.
Cracks appeared below the rear window of my ford explorer. There was no accident.
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