2004 Ford Explorer

◆ Worse than typical

2004 Ford Explorer
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

2004: 1304 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1984	1
1985	1
1986	3
1987	3
1988	4
1989	1
1990	12
1991	609
1992	633
1993	939
1994	1207
1995	843
1996	1450
1997	1731
1998	1959
1999	1348
2000	952
2001	375
2002	3293
2003	1131
2004	1304
2005	497
2006	630
2007	208
2008	147
2009	33
2010	115
2011	1192
2012	820
2013	2222
2014	1669
2015	1748
2016	2424
2017	1656
2018	706
2019	281
2020	1155
2021	393
2022	242
2023	99
2024	19
2025	87
2026	16

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

POWER TRAIN 24%

24% of complaints: power train — 308 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

STRUCTURE 16%

16% of complaints: structure — 209 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

THE LEFT REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW HINGE BROKE CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL AND BRUISE MY DAUGHTER'S ARM. TERRIBLE DESIGN AND FRAUGHT WITH PERIL. *TT

NHTSA ODI report, 20120522

POWER TRAIN 8%

8% of complaints: power train — 108 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

STRUCTURE 6%

6% of complaints: structure — 80 distinct reports on file.

FIRE INJURY

VISIBILITY 5%

5% of complaints: visibility — 59 distinct reports on file.

INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2004 — complaint volume: 1304

I 20050922 — DP (closed 20060104)

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060701 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE N

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20080115 — visibility

CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN

Remedy: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIM

Campaign 07E104000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20080623 — RQ (closed 20081024)

REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH FAILURE

I 20090421 — PE (closed 20090819)

VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20090818 — EA (closed 20130212)

Vehicle Rollaway Allegations