2004 FORD EXPLORER Structurebody Problems

THE REAR DOOR PANEL UNDERNEATH THE GLASS ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FILED. FORD MOTOR CO SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER: ENGINE SEIZED FOR NO APPARENT OR OBVIOUS REASON AT 53,000 MILES. NOT REPAIRABLE. ALSO, REAR PLASTIC PANEL BENEATH WINDOW CRACKED. JUST READ THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PLASTIC TAILGATE STRIP WAS CRACKED IN THE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSE OF REPLACING THE PLASTIC STRIP FOR VEHICLES THAT DO NOT EXCEED 36,000 MILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CONTACT EXCEEDED THE REQUIRED MILEAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 FORD EXPLORER, WITH APPRX. 50,000 HIGHWAY MILES. IN 2007 I WALKED OUTSIDE TO FIND THE REAR BACK PANEL UNDER THE WINDOW WITH THE FORD EMBLEM WAS CRACKED. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP , IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE TOTAL COST FOR REPAIR WAS 403.47, I HAD TO PAY 250.00 & THE WARRANTY COVERED THE DIFFERENCE OF 153.47. HERE IT IS 2011, I WALK OUTSIDE TO FIND THE REAR PANEL UNDER THE WINDOW WITH THE FORD EMBLEM CRACKED AGAIN, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THIS TIME IS , I HAVE NO WARRANTY. THIS APPARENTLY IS A DEFECT ON FORDS PART, THE SAME CRACK 2 TIMES ON THE SAME VEHICLE AFTER BEING REPLACED AND FORD HAS NOT RECALLED YET. THEIR IS NOT ONE DAY YOU DRIVE AND NOT FIND FORD EXPLORER OWNERS DRIVING AROUND WITH CRACKS ON THE REAR PANEL. COME ON FORD OWN...

CRACK APPEARED ON PLASTIC PANEL JUST TO THE LEFT OF FORD EMBLEM THE CAR HAD 92K MILES WHEN OCCURRED. BODY SHOP ESTIMATE $500.00 TO REPAIR. *TR

VERTICAL CRACK IN THE PLASTIC TAILGATE ATTACHED TO THE REAR WINDOW LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. FORD DEALER SAID THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OF THESE, SO I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW & FORD SHOULD FIX FOR FREE. FORD GIVING ME RUN A ROUND. SO MUCH FOR FORD TOUGH. WHO SHOULD I CONTACT TO GET THIS FIXED FOR FREE? OR SHOULD I TAKE IT TO THE NEWS STATION ABOUT JUST HOW TOUGH FORD TRUCKS ARE.... THEY CRACK LIKE EASTER EGGS....... I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS OFF ROAD AND KEEP IT IN A GARAGE.

NOTICED A NUMBER OF CRACKED REAR PANELS ON LATE MODEL FORD EXPLORERS (2004-2006)- THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ON THE FORD EXPLORER- FORD HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP EXIST- FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES OR OFFER A GOODWILL REPAIR THESE FORD EXPLORER OWNERS. *TR

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... *TR

REAR PANEL VERTICAL CRACK BELOW WINDOW. *TR

THE HATCH BELOW MY REAR WINDOW HAS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FORD LOGO ON MY EXPLORER. IT SEEMED TO HAVE HAPPENED OVER NIGHT. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MAY NOT BE STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE WINDOW IN WHILE DRIVING. FORD HAS HAD THREE YEARS OF MODELS WITH THIS SOME PROBLEM AND HASN'T MADE IT RIGHT BY IT'S OWNERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED TWO CRACKS BELOW THE REAR WINDOW ON THE TAILGATE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS A CRACKED REAR PANEL SPLITTING THE ENTIRE BACK PANEL. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I THINK IT COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE WHOLE PANEL COULD BREAK OFF BY THE REAR WINDOW. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS ON LINE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY YEAR EXPLORER. FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT.

CRACK SUDDENLY APPEARED IN THE REAR PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW, FROM THE GLASS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HATCH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL WAS FRACTURED BELOW THE GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

FORD 2004 EXPLORER PAINT BUBBLING AT FRONT OF ALUMINUM HOOD. CLEARLY A DEFECT. TOOK TO DEALER WHERE THE BODY SHOP MANAGER SAID HE REPAINTED 70 SO FAR THIS YEAR BUT FORD WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF IT. ASKED TO MEET WITH THE DISTRICT SUPERVISOR. SET UP A MEETING WHEN HE WOULD BE IN TOWN. HE WOULD NOT EVEN COME OUT TO TALK TO ME AND SENT SOMEONE ELSE OUT TO TELL ME FORD WILL NOT FIX IT BECAUSE IN MY WARRANTY IT READS, "RUST MUST PERMANENT FROM THE INSIDE OUT". I ARGUED THAT IT IS AN ALUMINUM HOOD AND WILL NEVER RUST! I THEN WROTE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND HAVE NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I KEEP CHECKING FOR RECALLS AND HAVE SEEN NOTHING TO DATE. MY WIFE AND I SEE MANY OF THE SAME VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. SHAME ON FORD!! I WOULD LIKE TO...

10/20/2010 - SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - REAR PANEL UNDER BACK GLASS AROUND FORD LOGO CRACKED AFTER A COOL MORNING 32-35 DEGREES. THE CRACK EXTENDS FROM THE WINDOW ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PANEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. ON OCTOBER 7, 2010, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HAD A CRACK IN THE PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED SHE MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT, IF THERE FAILURE BECAME A RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 57,000.

2004 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. *TR

A CRACK HAS FORMED IN THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL. IT OCCURRED OVERNIGHT WHILE NOT IN USE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL I BEGAN NOTICING MANY OTHER EXPLORERS AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS OF ABOUT THE SAME YEAR (2002-2004) WITH THE SAME DEFECT. I DECIDED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT ALL I COULD FIND WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING AND NO ACTION FROM FORD. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH YOU, BUT AT ONE WEBSITE THERE ARE AT LEAST 290 OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE POSTED A COMPLAINT. IF YOUR INTERESTED, HERE IS THE LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2004/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML. *TR

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. *TR

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". *TR

CRACKED REAR PANEL ON 2004 FORD EXPLORER. DROVE IT THROUGH A CAR WASH AND IT SHATTERED. IT CAN FLY OFF AND HIT SOMEONE. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

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. *TR

THE PANEL UNDER THE REAR HATCH WINDOW HAS CRACKED AND KEEPS GETTING WIDER. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER CRACK BACK TRUNK LIFT. *TR

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? *TR

REAR HATCH CRACKED ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

THE HATCHBACK HINGE ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER BROKE YESTERDAY, LUCKILY I CAUGHT IT BEFORE IT HIT MY 4 YEAR OLD IN THE HEAD. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON A 2002 FORD EXPLORER I OWNED BEFORE, BUT THAT WAS RECALLED AND FORD FIXED IT. THIS MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE PART IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. IT COULD HAVE EASILY HIT SOMEONE AND HURT THEM, OR FALLEN OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED REAR PANEL.

I AM SO ANGRY., I OWN A 2003 AND A 2004 EXPLORER. THE 2004 HAS A CRACK THAT SUDDENLY APPEARED IN THE REAR PANEL. FORD KNOWS THIS IS AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH A DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT AND TALK CONDESCENDINGLY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS ON THE PHONE IF YOU TRY TO DISCUSS IT WITH THEM. THEY ARE NOT CAPABLE OF DOING ANYTHING BUT READING A RESPONSE FROM A CARD, THEY ARE UNABLE TO HAVE ANY TYPE OF CONVERSATION OTHER THAN READING THEIR CANNED RESPONSE. THIS IS THE LAST TIME THAT I WILL BUY A FORD. *TR

MY COMPLAINT ISN'T SAFETY RELATED BUT I HAVE SAW THIS ON SO VERY MAY FORD EXPLORERS. THE REAR PLASTIC BELOW THE REAR HATCH WINDOW CRACKS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST MINE.. BUT I HAVE SEEN THIS ON SO MANY OF FORD EXPLORERS. TO ME THIS IS A DEFECT AND FROM WHAT I READ FORD SAYS ITS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. BUT TO ME IT IS, ITS A DEFECT THAT ALL THOUGH IT IS NOT SAFETY RELATED IS STILL A DEFECT NONE THE LESS.. *TR

REAR GLASS ON EXPLORER BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM BRACKETS. THIS MATCHES PRIOR COMPLAINT NUMBER RQ08003. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED REAR PANEL. *TR

WENT TO LOAD SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF MY EXPLORER AND NOTICED A BLACK LINE RUNNING DOWN BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND TAILGATE AND COULD NOT BELIEVE IT WAS CRACKED,,DID NOTHING TO CAUSE IT TO CRACK. I GOT ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME THING TO HAPPEN. I SUPPOSE IT WILL BE TREATED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT I AND MANY MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD ALSO, JUST IGNORED BUT NEVER RECALLED ALTHOUGH CASE AFTER CASE AFTER CASE HAVE BEEN REPORTED. *TR

CRACK IN REAR PANEL ON LIFT GATE BELOW WINDOW AT THE FORD EMBLEM. *CN

ON DECEMBER 15, I WENT SHOPPING AND WHEN I WENT TO PLACE ITEMS IN THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED A CRACK ALL THE WAY FROM THE BACK WINDOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PANEL. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN HIT AS THERE WERE NO DAMAGES. *CN

PLASTIC UNDER BACK GLASS AROUND FORD LOGO CRACKED AFTER A COOL MORNING. (MAYBE 35 DEGREES) NOW THE CRACK STRETCHES OPEN AND CLOSED VARIOUS AMOUNTS EACH DAY. *TR

CRACKED TAILGATE FRAME UNDER THE WINDOW, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. *TR

THE REAR PANEL UNDER THE BACK WINDOW OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER IS CRACK, THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THIS FAILURE, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS IT JUST CRACKED. *TR

MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER BACK HATCH HAS A BIG CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WITH THE WEATHER CHANGE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE THOUSANDS OD SIMILAR STORIES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

MY BACK GATE TO MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS CRACKED AND I HAVE READ WHERE THIS IS A SEVERE PROBLEM AS MY WINDOW COULD FALL OUT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND BY READING ONLINE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE THAT HAVE DONE THIS. WHICH MEANS THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR

A CRACK ON MY 2004 EXPLORER UNDER THE BACK WINDOW. THERE ARE 1000'S OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD ALSO HAVE SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. THIS HAS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE THE BACK WINDOW FALLS OUT. *TR

MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL CRACKED DUE POOR DESIGN. *TR

2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6 REAR PANEL UNDER WINDOW ON TAILGATE CRACKING AND FALLING OFF ALSO TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60,000 MILES WAS OUTRAGED BY FORD WHEN THEY STATED THAT AFTER THE CAR LEAVES THE FACTORY ITS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

2004 EXPLORER/EDDIE BAUER - THE PLASTIC TRIM BELOW THE REAR WIDOW CRACKED. AS STATED IN MANY OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, THE FORD DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO, IT'S A FORD PROBLEM. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 76,000. *TR

A CRACK FORMED BELOW THE REAR GLASS PANEL ON OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CRACK FORMED DUE TO A FLAW IN THE REAR DOOR PANEL. I HAVE NOTICED THE SAME CRACK ON THE SAME SPOT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FORD EMBLEM ON NEARLY 80% OF THE FORD EXPLORER'S WE SEE ON THE HIGHWAY 'S IN THE ATLANTA AREA. *TR

CRACKS APPEARED BELOW THE REAR WINDOW OF MY FORD EXPLORER. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. *TR