Problems with 2004 Ford Explorer VISIBILITY

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 nhtsa 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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

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. *tr

Blend door actuator pin is defective. i have researched this problem online and it is a widespread issue. heat / defrost will not work. in the wintertime this makes driving extremely hazardous. *tr

When opening the rear hatch of my 2004 explorer the hinges failed. the glass door fell away from the hinges and was being held only by the hydraulic arms. when i tried to move the glass which i was holding in my hands it shattered. i was told there was a recall on the 2002 and 2003 models but not on the 2004s. obviously the problem has not been corrected. *tr

Ford designed a plastic piece of molding that is glued to the back glass of every explorer. this has cracked on every explorer i have seen. it has been fixed once by ford, but it has broke again. i assume that if it has broke every two years so far, it will continue to break. ford has refused to fix this defect. *tr

The panel below my rear window has cracked on my 2004 ford explorer. i did not drive it that day, so i know i was not hit, or the door was not slammed. *tr

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.

Driver side sun visor fell off while driving, almost ran into another car. cheap plastic part only dealer has for $116.43 without installation. *tr

Driving on interstate,while i grabbed sun visor to turn to side it fell off and i went off road but got safely back on. no injuries to me or wife. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the glass for the rear lift gate has developed cracks in it. the rear defroster was also inoperative. he notified the dealer, and a technician stated that it would cost $500.00 to replace the component. the technician also added that they were aware of the failure. no repairs were made. the manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was provided. he has pictures of multiple vehicles with the same model type, including his vehicle, with identical failures. the failure mileage was 55,000. the current mileage was 65,000.

Driver window stopped rolling down. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. since november of 2008, the contact has been experiencing issues with the rear hatch door. there is a crack directly in the center of the hatch where the lock is located. as a result, the rear window opens without warning. while driving over speed bumps or potholes, the window opens. the vehicle was taken in for inspection, but the contact was informed that the warranty was expired. she feels that this is a safety issue, which could cause a serious crash. the current and failure mileages were 42,106.

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact noticed that the frame supporting the side/rear glass was fractured. the dealer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 07e104000 (visibility:glass, side/rear); therefore, the contact would be responsible for the repair costs. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 66,783.

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. *tr

2004 ford explorers have a ton of problems, but one of the worst is that the sun visor hinges break causing the visor to dangle by it's electrical cord that powers the vanity mirror on it. every morning i have a 7 mile drive headed south on a main thoroughfare and i can't see to change lanes because i have lost the use of my sun visor because ford has not been held responsible for the cheap garbage they produced in 2004! the dangerous transmission problem is bad enough, but to have a visor dangling in your face while you are trying to drive is incredibly unsafe! and they are asking us for money for a bailout?! as far as i am concerned, they should be worried about getting bailed out of jail for stealing from people and then endangering their lives! please hold ford accountable for the cheap garbage they sold to people for $30.000 plus in 2004. what happens when i have a wreck because i can't see? are we to consider a sun visor a luxury item now? please help. thank you lisa hayes *tr

Back plastic panel just below the back window? there is crack from the bottom of my 2004 ford explorer. there is a crack in the plastic panel from the window down to the ford emblem. ford and my dealership want me to pay for it and yet i have spoke with others that have had the same problem in 2002, 2003 and was fixed under warranty. i just purchased the explorer from gibbson ford, dickson city, pa last october. it only has 35, 000 miles and i have the extended warranty but they said it is not covered. if you read www.blueoval.com there are others that have had the same problem. gibbons and ford want me to pay for the repair, yet it really is a defect. they are not even using it on the newer vehicles. the ford call center and on line people tell me there is nothing they can do. it is the dealers responsibility, yet gibbons tells me that ford tells them what to do. i am stuck in the middle. any help *tr

Aug 2008 i was closing my rear window on my 2004 ford explorer when the right hinge broke and shattered the window and still has not been fixed. *tr

The transmission is failing on my 2004 ford explorer. i have babied it for quite awhile because we already had plenty of electrical problems with it that had cost us a lot of money and we really have no idea where to get the money to fix this problem. we still owe a lot on it. when it first started, i spoke to my mechanic and looked on the internet for a solution. if you google "2004 ford explorer transmission", you will see a huge list of people with the same problem. ford has the nerve to ask for a bailout with my money, but they won't stand behind their lousy product!!! this is going to cost me at least $2500 to fix and i think since they have been aware of the problem from the start, they should have to correct it before we start handing them money. this is more than unfair! further, the plastic parts on these vehicles are cheap and break easily. one of my visors is suspended from the sunroof by a phone earphone cord because the plastic hinge broke and it dangles in your way when you are trying to see out the windshield. please help!*tr

When deck glass was raised the left hinge broke causing the glass to fall. i caught the glass preventing it from shattering on the pavement. the weight of the deck glass then caused the right hinge to break. had to replace hinges through a auto body shop. this could have caused serious injuries! my quick reaction in catching the glass prevented any injuries. had my children been with me it could have been a different situation. after doing research i found that previous year model ford explorers have been recalled for this same thing happening. *tr

The left side power widow motors failed at the same time. ford motor co. says it is normal. i disagree. this is the second time the driver side window motor has been replaced in three years. *tr

Visor hinge broke - passenger side. *tr

The rear window liftgate hinges on my 2004 ford explorer failed. hinge pins are corroded and just sheared right off. looks like the hinges become loose and go slightly out of alignment and when hatch is opened the pins break. appears there was a recall for this same problem for the years prior to my model year. from the review of this website does not look like ford has solved the hinge problems. the earlier recall was # 04v442000. can the recall be extended to cover the 2004 (and maybe later years)? *tr

The operator of the sport utility vehicle opened the rear window to obtain materials in the back of the suv. once the rear window was lifted open. the bolt that attaches the hinge to the window sheared off, causing the window to fall down and striking the operator in the head and neck. the part will be replaced (hinge and bolt). the failed parts will be kept. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. directly below the rear window, near the rear trunk door, the fiberglass window was cracked. the vehicle has not been inspected, but the contact believes that the failure was something that the manufacturer should recall and repair. the vin was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 52,800.

My 2004 back rear window panel cracked- defective panel from ford, approx every ford explorer has the same problem and ford will not recall as a mfg defect you can find hundreds of complaints for the same problems on all ford explorers 2002 to 2005. *tr

I heard a clicking sound under my dash and did not have heat. i asked ford dealership to diagnosis problem and was quoted $1400 to repair heater plenium and possible blend door repair( diagnosis also cost $90). did not have problem fixed for that amount but was concerned as i live in wisconsin and heat is necessary to defrost windshield. later, i googled the problem ( ford explorer clicking sound and no heat) and was surprised to see many articles about this issue and that ford has known about this engineering problem since 1995. the diagnosis was costly and probably could have been done by a first year technician for less than what i paid as i later found out, the blend door issue is a well known problem. i then contacted ford customer service and was told that there was nothing that ford could or would do for me and this issue. in my opinion and many others i have discussed this issue with, having a blend door failure is a safety issue. i will need to deal with it before fall as i can not defrost windshield with cold air. *tr

The blend door behind the glove compartment won't close. this prevents proper defrosting, heating and cooling regardless of the weather. in the winter freezing air blows through, chilling all passengers. in the summer, all the heat from the roads comes through. our ford dealer says they can fix it for over $1000!! there are too many of these defects on the road and ford knew of the defect at least 2 years before my suv was even made. *tr

I was told by my mechanic that the handle on the door that allows the defrost to operate was broke off. not sure why this would ever occur. i was told it would cost close to 1,000.00 to fix. it is now a safety hazard whereas window will not defrost in bad weather. i was wondering if this was a defect, and others had this problem? *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the vehicle was quality checked with a 115 point inspection; however, she was later notified that the vehicle was in a major crash. the driver side door is misaligned. the sunroof was replaced with tape. she doesn't know if the vehicle is equipped with air bags. the windows have condensation on the inside of the vehicle. the speedometer does not register the proper speed in the vehicle. the approximate speed can range from 20 to 50mph. the fuel pump and sensors were replaced. the vehicle was purchased march 20, 2007. the dealer stated that the vehicle is currently operating normally. the dealer has diagnosed the failure on several occasions. the failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 23,000.

The heaters blending door is broken so the air flow will not be redirected. it is currently in the dashboard setting and i am unable to redirect air flow to the defroster. the dealership wanted $1500 to replace the heater because the broken part is molded onto the heating element and they need to remove the entire dashboard. i searched for similar complaints, and fords vehicles have a long history of blending door problems. not being able to redirect the air flow is extremely dangerous, especially during the winter months. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. while using the remote to open the rear window, the glass hinge failed and caused the window to fall from the window frame. the contact notified the dealer and manufacturer and they stated that his vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 01i010000 (visibility:glass, side/rear). the window has yet to be repaired. the current and failure mileages were 33,500 updated 01/02/08. updated 01/02/08.*lj

Sun visors have been replaced twice. horizontal plastic panel with the ford logo has cracked and been replaced 3 times. current one on vehicle is cracked. sent an e-mail to ford and was told basically "too bad--out of warranty ". formoco has known of this problem on both the ford and mercury but has done nothing to fix it because it is not a safety issue. and of course this " damage " will lower the value of my vehicle when i sell/trade it for something other than a ford. *tr

Crack in panel below rear window next to ford emblem. both rear windows will not go up or down. *tr

The visors on 2004 ford explorers are made of cheap plastic that are a definite safety issue. when the plastic that holds the visors up cracks, the visors will fall into the vision of the driver. there is no easy way to take the visor down and it will continue to obstruct vision until it is take to the dealer for repair. both visors on our vehicle have had the same issue, and a simple web search shows that many other have the same complaint. *tr

The hinges on the lift gate window on my 2004 ford explorer broke causing the rear window to fall out of the window frame. ford motor company told me that there is a recall for the problem on the 2002 and 2003 models but were not "aware" of any similar problems with the 2004 model. *tr

Tl* - the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the rear hatch lift near the rear window cracked. the dealer would not repair the window because the vehicle was out of warranty. the failure mileage was 56,400. the door ajar light flickered on and off until the hatch was pushed and then the light would stop flickering. *ak

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the blower that recirculates air has failed. as a result, fumes and anti-freeze consume the passenger compartment of the vehicle. the contact suffers from numerous headaches and sleepiness. she consulted with a medical physician and was informed that the amount of fumes being congested poses a significant safety risk. the dealer stated that the flapper for the blower needed to be replaced at the cost of $300. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 56,000 and current mileage was 86,000. updated 3/24/09 *cn updated 03/27/09.*jb

Automatic windows - rear windows - motor went out - replaced once - doing it again, have to take it back in. rear air system does not blow out heat. again, needing to take it in again. had i not gotten the extended warranty on my vehicle i would be without rear heat. *jb

2004 explorer had problems with brakes and windows. *ts three months after the vehicle was purchased thee was a recall on the transmission. the abs malfunctioned and the power windows would not go down. the rear hatch door would not open. the transmission began to slam into gear. the rotors vibrated in the rear. consumer heard a howling noise at 40-55 mph. the dealer replaced the ring and pinion. nm

Driver's side auto window fails to operate. had it repaired once and failed again within a week. taking it in for 2nd repair. *jb

Dt: while driving on september 16, 2005 the abs failed. when this occurred it caused the consumer's vehicle to almost hit another vehicle. the abs, maintenance, and four wheel lights came on and blinked when he lost the brakes. a diagnosis test was performed, and it showed that there was a problem with the speed sensor. the dealership replaced the speed sensor in the rear which was called asy-t. the fuel gauge broke. it showed the fuel tank level was higher than what it really was. the driver's rear window motor had to be replaced. the cover over the hatchback handle had to be replaced. also, had to replace the weather stripping. there has been a repair done to the four by four unit. there were multiple problems with the vehicle. *ak

Windshield wipers worked intermittently, making the visibility in the rain difficult. dealer will repair vehicle for $437.00. *ak *tc

Complete failure of the gauge pod, radio, interior lights, power windows at 2,300 miles. no speedometer, odometer, tach, fuel gauge, temp, oil, battery, radio (nothing in the dashboard functions except the airbag light). *ak ford dealer in allentown pa was very rude and went out of their way to not work in a timely manner and keep us in the dark. drove vehicle to texas (with no gauges) to dealership where purchased. at the shop right now. transmission also hesitates excessively between shifts.

I have had many, many problems with my 2004 ford explorer. probably the most dangerous one is the recurring failure of the transmission. this last time that this occurred i was on interstate-85, in morning rush-hour traffic, and all of a sudden my rpm's are flying to the red danger area and i have no acceleration power and am losing speed. there is an 18-wheeler on my rear and i can't pick up speed! luckily, i was approaching an exit and managed to get the vehicle off of the interstate and onto a less traveled road. this is the second time that i have endured this scenario. once again the solenoid is gone, with repairs estimated at $1255.00. i have had this problem repaired less than a year after purchase. i have had this problem repaired at 32,567 miles, and i now have this problem again at 76,725 miles. i have had the clutch pack replaced at 24,940 miles as well as the ring gear, pinion, and all bearings replaced at 24,940 miles. at 35,558 miles the lower ball joint had to be replaced. at 64,335 i had to have the pats transponder(security system) replaced. in short i have had the transmission repaired three times the front end rebuilt , the back end redone. i honestly can say i do not feel very safe in this vehicle, especially since i have to use this to transport my children. these problems seem to be the norm for this particular vehicle, as i have done research on this. i don't understand why ford is not made to resolve these issues. i have also had to have my heating and air replaced. this occurred in the winter of 2007 and was a safety issue, as i could not defrost my windows. *tr

Car was parked in a driveway with rear window towards garage door. the back window of the car along with a piece of the actual door exploded off. the piece of the door flew up into the air and came crashing back down onto the car. their was glass everywhere. had anyone been facing the car it could have caused some serious bodily injury. or had the car been in motion anyone inside the car could have been hurt or anyone driving behind could have been hurt.*ak

While pressing the remote key to open the sun roof it would not close completely on its own. consumer has to play with the remote key in order to close it properly. consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic deetrmined that this vehicle was operating as designed. *ak

Air conditioner and defroster are moldy, causing illness. *ak