Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | ||||||||||||||||
| 07E104000 | SAFELITE FULFILLMENT, INC. | E (Equipment) | 1657 | 01/15/2008 | MFR | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 12/11/2007 | 12/11/2007 | 571 | 205 | ||||||
| Defect Summary | 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 vehicles may not break into small pieces as expected of tempered glass and fails to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 205, glazing materials. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(s) may be seriously injured by shattered glass. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | 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 reimburse wholesale customers for current inventory and at a specified rate for replacing their customer's glass. wholesale customers can contact safelite's wholesale division, service autoglass toll free at 1-888-246-6298. the recall began on january 15, 2008. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | This recall only pertains to certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass, ltd. (dot-430) and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., and has no relation to any original equipment installed on the vehicles listed above. customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov. | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY | |||||
| 04195 | 10/04/2004 | 10010716 | Front window clunk noise. *tt | 12/07/2004 | |
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - REAR WINDOW | |||||
| 04189 | 12/13/2004 | 04245 | 10014062 | Rear window defroster grid/integral antenna diagnosis and repair - terminal tab repair. *tt | 04/27/2005 |
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - CONTROLS/WIRING | |||||
| 041514 | 08/09/2004 | 04189 | 10011159 | Rear window defroster grid/integral antenna diagnosis and repair - terminal tab repair. *tt | 01/04/2005 |
| 031501 | 07/12/2004 | 04137 | 10009321 | Inoperative electric rear window defroster (heated backlite) grid lines, integral antenna concerns. *tt | 09/23/2004 |
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | |||||
| 05136 | 01/01/2005 | 10016832 | Backglass difficult to close and an intermittent door ajar lamp. *tt | 10/12/2005 | |
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||||
| 04259 | 01/24/2005 | 0515 | 10013303 | Rear power window(s) inoperative. *tt | 04/14/2005 |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | ||||||
| RQ08003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 06/23/2008 | 10/24/2008 | REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HATCH FAILURE | ||
| This investigation was opened on june 23, 2008, based on 34 complaints involving eight injuries in which the rear liftgate glass hatch on model year 2004 ford explorers or mercury mountaineers broke off and fell, usually while individuals were operating the glass hatch or loading or unloading items from the rear of the vehicle.ford conducted recall 04v-442 in 2004 to address similar problems on model year 2002 and certain model year 2003 ford explorers and mercury mountaineers.the information ford provided in response to odi's information request letter indicated that failures with 2004 vehicles were primarily liftgate glass hatch hinge failures related to corrosion at the hinge pin, whereas the failures that prompted the recall with the earlier models were primarily related to problems with the glass hatch's struts or fracture of a prior hinge design at the boss/bolt connection at the glass.odi's review of ford's warranty, complaint, and injury data for the 2004 vehicles indicates that these rates are significantly lower than those for the recalled population.a potential defect trend has not been identified at this time.odi will continue to monitor complaints and take appropriate action as necessary.this investigation is closed. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY | |||
| 11/10/2012 | 77614 | 1 | |
| After a day of shopping i pulled into my driveway and parked my suv. i went to open the rear window hatch when the left side came apart from the vehicle and landed on top of me. fortunately the right side of the window was able to stay intact while my husband was able to run to my aid to lift the door up. i am four months pregnant and my three year old son was standing by my side. i have read that many complaints about this issue have been made to the ford corporation regarding this problem but they continue not to rectify the issue at hand; while leaving vehicle owners helpless when this situation occurs. i read that this was a good avenue to report this issue since ford continues to ignore the problem and wonder if my husband would not have been in shouting distance what would've happen to my son, unborn child and myself!!!!! *tr | |||
| 10/19/2012 | 112000 | 1 | |
| Rear hatch window hinge (left side) broke and released the glass while driving. window fell to one side. i had to make an immediate emergency stop. it was difficult to prop window to a safe position and lock down. it must remain locked down until i can fix it. *tr | |||
| 10/23/2012 | 115000 | 1 | |
| The rear liftgate window hinge broke off and the entire rear window fell on my wife. the hinges are made of a white type of metal that has corroded and sheared off. the pins inside apparently broke and it didn't appear to be falling off, it just came off. the window hit my wife in the arm and leg. we were lucky it wasn't one of our kids closing the gate at the time or that they weren't inside when it happened or this could have been a lot worse. after searching online for information about this issue i found thousands of complaints about this exact issue and hundreds of post of injuries incurred from this. ford recalled other vehicles with the same issue with the same part and yet the 2004 was never included. something needs to be done. a part over time shouldn't break off and cause a safety hazard. *tr | |||
| 09/10/2012 | 208000 | 1 | |
| This issue involves the driver side sun visor. the plastic piece on the left side of the visor that holds it in place on the ceiling has broken off. when you hit a bump or dip in the road the visor falls down and blocks your view to see what is going on in front of you. this is a real safety concern to me. i don't want to hit someone or something because of this. i am asking for a recall to be issued. thanks *tr | |||
| 07/05/2012 | 61800 | 1 | |
| The hinges that hold on the rear window are starting to break. the 02 and 03 model explorers were recalled for this but ford refuses to issue a recall for the 2004 models even though this appears to be a huge issue affecting a large numbers of explorers. i have caught it before total failure but many people have had the glass come loose and injure them. it is a huge safety issue. *tr | |||
| 09/02/2011 | 92000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 08/08/2010 | 65000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear lift gate has an oplique component and he noticed that it was fractured. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they advised him that he would need to replace the oplique on the panel and that they were aware of the failure. the vehicle has not been repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 65,000. tb | |||
| 05/31/2010 | 49000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 05/31/2010 | 49000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. while parked the contact placed the gear shifter from reverse to drive and noticed the transmission would hesitate before it would go into drive. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technicians replaced the solenoid in the transmission. after the repairs were performed the contact continued to experience the failure. also, while driving the contact stated the driver side and passenger side sun visor joints would not detain the visor in place and would obstruct the contacts vision. the sun visors were not repaired. also, the contact stated she would hear a grinding noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the rear end bearing, the three rear axles, pinion bar and seals were replaced. the technicians stated the failure was due to over torquing from the manufacturer. a shaft repair kit was also installed. the suspension was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 49,000. ds | |||
| 05/12/2011 | 115000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 05/12/2011 | 115000 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the vehicle 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 him aware 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 mileage was 115,000. pm | |||
| 04/07/2011 | |||
| 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. | |||
| 04/07/2011 | |||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated the rear window on the hatch shattered. the contact looked at the hatch and found a crack on the metal part of the hatch directly under were the window is located. 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 mileage and current mileages were unknown. rl | |||
| 12/14/2010 | 98000 | ||
| 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 to 5 minutes. during the failures the power door locks and dashboard lighting also do not function. the vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 97,000 and the current mileage was 98,000. sm. | |||
| 11/10/2010 | 131000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer . the contact stated that the rear hinge on the lift gate has broken where the glass is hanging. the dealer was informed about the failure and they stated that there was no recalls for the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 131000.cv | |||
| 07/15/2010 | 115000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer . the contact stated that the rear glass connected to the hinge is leaning off. the dealer was informed and they stated that there was no recall for his vehicle and it will be $300.00 to repair the hinge . the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 115000 and the current mileage was 150100.cv | |||
| 10/17/2010 | 55000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear panel was cracked by the emblem in the rear liftgate. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. the contact called the manufacturer who stated that there was no recall related to the failure. the current and failure mileages were approximately 55,000-bk | |||
| 07/15/2010 | 115000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer . the contact stated that the rear glass connected to the hinge is leaning off. the dealer was informed and they stated that there was no recall for his vehicle and it will be $300.00 to repair the hinge . the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 115000 and the current mileage was 150100.cv | |||
| 10/17/2010 | 55000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear panel was cracked by the emblem in the rear liftgate. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. the contact called the manufacturer who stated that there was no recall related to the failure. the current and failure mileages were approximately 55,000-bk | |||
| 09/17/2010 | 60000 | ||
| Defroster heat control failed, couldn't see through windshield | |||
| 08/16/2010 | 45000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that there was a crack in the middle of the liftgate. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that he would be responsible for replacing the entire liftgate. the vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the current mileage was approximately 48,000. the failure mileage was approximately 45,000-bk | |||
| 08/01/2010 | 28000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. while the vehicle was parked he notice that the rear window panel was cracked. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and he was advised that the warranty had expired and the dealer was no longer responsible for the repair. he stated the vehicle was taken to three repair shops and he was advised that the rear window panel has to be replaced. the contact stated the defect was a material defective. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 28,000 and the current mileage was 28,990. vwb | |||
| 05/15/2010 | 65000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 06/03/2010 | 67670 | ||
| While attempting to close the window on hatchback, the window hinges broke. | |||
| 11/12/2009 | 58616 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 12/14/2009 | 53000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 12/08/2009 | 56000 | 1 | |
| Cracks appeared below the rear window of my ford explorer. there was no accident. *tr | |||
| 10/10/2009 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 09/11/2009 | 86000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 09/18/2009 | 53000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 07/07/2009 | 32000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 07/17/2009 | 32000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 07/28/2009 | 76000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 05/14/2008 | 51000 | 1 | |
| Visor hinge broke - passenger side. *tr | |||
| 02/13/2009 | 42106 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 09/11/2008 | 70000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 08/04/2008 | 65000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 08/01/2007 | 47000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 11/01/2008 | 66783 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 09/01/2008 | 35000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 10/22/2004 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 07/04/2008 | 60000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 03/16/2008 | 91000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM | |||
| 09/01/2012 | 1 | ||
| I had to have the heater blend door replaced on my ford explorer. the cost was over $1000.00. the entire dashboard had to be removed. i know that a tsb was issued by ford on this problem,many owners have had the same problem as i did. this is an engineering/manufacturing defect that is not only costly to repair,but in my opinion can cause the windshield to fog up while driving because you can not control the heater function. this can lead to a poor or non visibility situation and could cause an accident. please look into this problem to avoid any possible accidents. i have read numerous reports from other owners online regarding this problem.please contact ford about this potentially hazardous problem and issue a recall notice. the blend door is not strong enough to withstand the blowers air pressure. thank you for your help in this matter. *tr | |||
| 04/12/2009 | 55000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 02/01/2008 | 31000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 1000 | 10 | 03/31/2004 |
| Air conditioner and defroster are moldy, causing illness. *ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - BLOWER | |||
| 03/05/2007 | 56000 | 1 | 02/01/2007 |
| 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 | |||
| 11/16/2007 | 77500 | 1 | 10/31/2003 |
| 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 | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - CONTROLS/WIRING | |||
| 12/15/2007 | 1 | 08/20/2004 | |
| 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 | |||
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | |||
| 04/01/2010 | 57000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 04/12/2009 | 55000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 04/28/2008 | 52800 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 04/28/2008 | 87432 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 04/11/2008 | 68985 | 1 | 12/19/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| 10/14/2007 | 33500 | 1 | 04/10/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| 07/08/2007 | 51000 | 1 | 05/07/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| 03/16/2007 | 56400 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 10/11/2004 | 1 | 06/09/2004 | |
| 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 | |||
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||
| 02/25/2009 | 1 | ||
| Driver window stopped rolling down. *tr | |||
| 05/17/2008 | 63000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 09/03/2007 | 54500 | 1 | 09/16/2004 |
| Crack in panel below rear window next to ford emblem. both rear windows will not go up or down. *tr | |||
| 12/26/2006 | 58000 | 2 | 02/11/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| 09/25/2006 | 26998 | 4 | 01/05/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| 01/15/2006 | 2 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 09/16/2005 | 17978 | 5 | 05/22/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| 11/23/2004 | 2300 | 4 | 10/30/2004 |
| 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. | |||
| VISIBILITY - REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER | |||
| 08/27/2011 | 180000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear glass lift gate was hanging beside the struts. the dealer was not notified of the failure. the manufacturer denied any assistance with repairing the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 180,000. rvk | |||
| 08/27/2011 | 180000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear glass lift gate was hanging by the struts. the dealer was not contacted. the manufacturer denied any assistance with repair to the failure. the failure was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 180,000. nw | |||
| 09/04/2010 | 110375 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 08/14/2008 | 53000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| 05/08/2008 | 88000 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||
| VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY | |||
| 12/07/2007 | 20000 | 20 | 03/20/2007 |
| 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. | |||
| 06/30/2004 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD | |||
| 12/07/2007 | 20000 | 20 | 03/20/2007 |
| 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. | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | |||
| 11/25/2004 | 1 | ||
| Windshield wipers worked intermittently, making the visibility in the rain difficult. dealer will repair vehicle for $437.00. *ak *tc | |||
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | |||
| 05/16/2012 | |||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear liftgate body panel was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the body panel needed to be replaced. the contact also stated that while driving approximately 25-35 mph, a noise was heard coming from the rear differential. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the technician stated that the rear differential needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 80,000. the vin number was not available. mah | |||
| 05/16/2012 | |||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that while parked, the rear liftgate body panel was cracked. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the body panel needed to be replaced. also months later, while driving approximately 25-35 mph, the contact heard a noise from the rear differential. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for s diagnostic testing. the technician stated the rear differential needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the vehicle was not included in any recalls. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 80,000. the vin number was not available. dr | |||
| 12/16/2012 | 80000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the rear liftgate hatchback hinge was corroded and cracked, causing the glass to separate from the frame. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. the manufacturer advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (recastructure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 80,000. kmj | |||
| 12/16/2012 | 80000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the vehicle rear lift gate hatchback hinge corroded and cracked caused the glass to separate from the frame. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. the manufacturer advised that the 2004 vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (recastructure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 80,000. li | |||
| 09/29/2012 | 80000 | 1 | |
| 4 years ago the plastic next to the ford emblem cracked right of the emblem on my back hatch. i looked into it and there was 10's of thousands of the same complaint that i had at an average cost of only $800. then tonight my wife got some chairs out of the rear hatch then when closing it the rear glass falls out of the explorer because the aluminum rear hatch hinge on the right side broke which has an average cost of $300. mind you the little piece that holds the window hinge on is only the size of an eraser head, both of the rear hatch defects are not under any recall yet many complaints have been filed and or posted via the internet. this is a safety concern to families as it should be to the ford motor company which seems not to care and also to the nhtsa as it could be a huge safety issue if this was to have happened traveling down the high way at 70 mph. *tr | |||
| 09/29/2012 | 80000 | ||
| 4 years ago the plastic next to the ford emblem cracked right of the emblem on my back hatch. i looked into it and there was 10's of thousands of the same complaint that i had at an average cost of only $800. then tonight my wife got some chairs out of the rear hatch then when closing it the rear glass falls out of the explorer because the aluminum rear hatch hinge on the right side broke which has an average cost of $300. mind you the little piece that holds the window hinge on is only the size of an eraser head, both of the rear hatch defects are not under any recall yet many complaints have been filed and or posted via the internet. this is a safety concern to families as it should be to the ford motor company which seems not to care and also to the nhtsa as it could be a huge safety issue if this was to have happened traveling down the high way at 70 mph. | |||
| 09/01/2012 | |||
| I had to have the heater blend door replaced on my ford explorer.the cost was over $1000.00.the entire dashboard had to be removed. i know that a tsb was issued by ford on this problem,many owners have had the same problem as i did.this is an engeneering/manufacturing defect that is not only costly to repair,but in my opinion can cause the windshield to fog up while driving because you can not control the heater function.this can lead to a poor or non visibilty situation and could cause an accident.please look into this problem to avoid any possible accidents.i have read numerous reports from other owners online reguarding this problem.please contact ford about this potentially hazerdous problem and issue a recall notice.the blend door is not strong enough to withstand the blowers air pressure. thank you for your help in this matter. | |||
| 06/13/2012 | 97102 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the hinge of rear passenger glass fractured, causing the window glass to shatter. the contact was able to notice wear on the rear driver's side, but the driver side had not broken. the vehicle was taken to dealer for inspection, but no repair was made. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the current and failure mileage was 97,102. | |||
| 06/13/2012 | 97102 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated that the hinge of rear passenger glass fractured, causing the window glass to shatter. the contact was able to notice wear on the rear driver's side, but the driver side had not broken. the vehicle was taken to dealer for inspection, but no repair was made. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the current and failure mileage was 97,102. kmj | |||
| 06/13/2012 | 97102 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. the contact stated the hinge of rear passenger glass broke, causing window glass to fall. the contact is able to notice wear on the rear driver side, but has not broken. the vehicle was taken to dealer for inspection, but no repair was made. the manufacturer was not made aware. the current and failure mileage was 97,102. yn | |||
| 06/14/2010 | |||
| I was driving down the street and heard a noise. we turned around and the liftgate had fallen off its on hinges and was hanging loose on both sides. we had to hold it on and drive the car back home. the car has not been driven since that date in 2010. ford needs to be responsible for the 2004 model and all of its defective products. this is the second complaint that i have filed against ford concerning this car. the first was a #2 valve falling in the engine and causing the engine to blow up. nhtsa please do something about ford. someone has to make car manufacturers responsible to the consumer. every time that nhtsa is contacted nothing is done until millions are negatively affected. | |||