2004 Ford EXPLORER SPORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
50,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 18 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 22.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.6% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Structure | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Structure:Body: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Structure: 3; Air Bags: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Visibility/Wiper: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Power Train: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
2006: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 3
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10169810 · 2006-10-03 (October 3, 2006)
WE HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER V8 SPORT. WE HAVE HAD TWO MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND NOW WE HAVE A SHAKING IN THE FRONT END AFTER THE LATEST REPAIR TO THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173542 · 2006-11-15 (November 15, 2006)
2004 FORD EXPLORER. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY INTO REVERSE AND THIRD GEAR. CAR WAS PUT INTO REVERSE IN JUNE, 2004 AND DID NOT MOVE UNTIL A FEW SECONDS LATER, AND THEN LUNGED BACKWARDS, HITTING MY WIFE AND BREAKING HER ARM. STILL SHIFTS ROUGHLY TO THIS DAY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219102 · 2008-02-25 (February 25, 2008)
NOTICED THAT THE BACK PANEL OF TAILGATE IS CRACKED ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2008. THE CRACK RUNS FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDSHIELD TO THE FORD EMBLEM AND THE CONTINUES TO THE HANDLE OF THE TAILGATE. THE CRACK IS OPEN, AND I HAVE CUT MY FINGER ON IT WHEN CLOSING THE TAILGATE. I'M TRYING TO CLOSE IT ANOTHER WAY, BUT THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE TO PUT YOUR HAND TO CLOSE THE TAILGATE BECAUSE THE CRACK COMES DOWN TO THE MIDDLE OF THE HANDLE. I AM AFRAID THAT THE PANEL WILL FALL COMPLETELY OFF OR THE REAR GLASS WILL DISLODGE AND FALL OUT. I AM TAKIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250371 · 2008-12-01 (December 1, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. SHE STATED THAT THE TAILGATE ABOVE THE GLASS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HER VIN. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE REPAIRED SINCE THE CONTACT DOESN'T HAVE A WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,133.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,133 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261488 · 2009-03-10 (March 10, 2009)
THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER IS WHEN YOU PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE FROM ANY OTHER GEAR (MOST NOTICEABLY FROM THE POSITION OF PARK)THERE IS A DELAY IN THE IN BALLPARK OF ANYWHERE FROM 3-10SECS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL ACTUALLY ENGAGE IN THE POSITION OF REVERSE. TODAY(9 MAR 09) I TOOK IT IN FOR THIS PROBLEM & WAS TOLD THAT MY SHIFT SOLENOID ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHAT!?!?!-NORMAL PEOPLE DON'T JUST HAVE $1,100 TO SHELL OUT FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM(WELL @ LEAST I DON'T). I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD MY VEHICLE @ THE DEALERS REPAIR SHOP A…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,698 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10267623 · 2009-05-04 (May 4, 2009)
I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE GLASS HATCH HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY HARD TO CLOSE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, BECAUSE OF THIS AT TIMES THE HATCH IS NOT COMPLETELY LATCHED AND WILL POP OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS PAST SATURDAY, 05/02/09, THE GLASS HATCH HINGE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF WHEN I WENT TO CLOSE IT. MY FRUSTRATION IS THAT I AM WILLING TO PAY FOR PROBLEMS THROUGH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND OF COURSE THROUGH MY OWN ERROR, BUT THIS IS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10323633 · 2010-04-03 (April 3, 2010)
THE REAR LIFT GLASS HINGES ON OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER BROKE DURING USE OF THE LIFT GLASS. THE PIN BROKE RIGHT THROUGH THE HINGE. WE WERE NOT DRIVING IT AT THE TIME THANKFULLY, AND ALSO CAUGHT THE GLASS BEFORE IT HAD A CHANCE TO HIT THE GROUND.
Owner-reported narrative. 127,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360088 · 2010-10-12 (October 12, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK NEAR THE EMBLEM IN THE CENTER OF REAR LIFTGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DID NOT RETRACT AT TIMES. SHE HAD TO REPEATEDLY PULL THE SEAT BELTS SO THAT THEY WOULD RETRACT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360088 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.