Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Hi! My 2004 for Explorer has been suffering from transmission problems for over 3 years. The car was taken to the dealer for repair while under warranty multiple times with the dealer doing little to satisfy me or address the issue. The problem has gotten progressively worse to a point that it has become a public hazard to drive. It seems to jump in and out of gear as it wishes with a clunking sound, especially when put into reverse. I took the car to the dealership this past week after being advised to do so when I called Ford's 1-800 number and they are suggesting that I replace the transmission. The catch is that my SUV is now out of warranty at only 46K miles. Bear in mind they failed to remedy the issue in the past. I went online and found that this problem is rampant with this model and year. …
Dt: the contact complained about transmission failure son several occasions. When shifting the vehicle into reverse the transmission locked for a few seconds, making a loud popping sound and then shifting into reverse. The vehicle has been seen by the dealer six times. The dealer was able to duplicate the problem, but could not been able to locate the source of the problem. The following items were replaced on order to fix the transmission, including the rear speed sensor, the solenoid body, and several components were lubricated. None of these replacements seemed to repair the transmission. During the most recent failure the contact's husband was involved accident when the transmission failed. He attempted to back into the driveway during icy conditions. The transmission locked. He shifted the vehicle into drive and stepped on the gas. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. She depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle started and began to vibrate. She then placed the vehicle in reverse and heard a loud clunking noise. She smelled a strong gas odor inside the passenger compartment. The contact looked in her rearview mirror and noticed a large amount of smoke coming from the exhaust system. She parked the vehicle and had it towed. She then noticed that all of the radiator fluid leaked out. The mechanic stated that the valve failed and damaged the entire engine. The mechanic also stated that the engine needed to be replaced and appeared to be a manufacturer defect. The current and failure mileages were 63,000. …
I was driving interstate 64 getting off the exist going around the ramp and a knocking noise started as I rounded the curb, then oil pressure dropped, my power was gone and, I barely made it off the ramp, but luckily the vehicle had enough speed to coast the curb to get to a safe place to stop. Upon having it checked out by a local mechanic he suggested that the engine and oil pump needed to be replaced? As a single mother I don't have the money for the repairs, and from others complaints that I've seen it makes me wonder if its worth the trouble to find another engine and will it happen again. I thought had found a good vehicle that only lasted a few months...feeling irritated...get it together Ford because this 2004 Explorer is trouble!! Was this just a test dummy model to see what problems would come of it??? We want and need answers to these problems. …
I was dropping my son off at his friend's house. I pulled into the driveway and put the truck in park. I opened my door, got out, walked around the front of my vehicle and accompanied my son up to the front door. All of a sudden, the truck started to roll forward on the driveway and crash into the homeowners fence. When I got into the truck, it was still in park. There was damage to my front bumper as well as the fence that it crashed into. Thank god it didn't happen while I was walking in front of it! This transmission on this vehicle has been a problem since the beginning. I too experienced the "thump" as it slammed into reverse, only for Ford to deny there was a problem and finally put the additive into the tranny. What a way to fix the problem! ...never again will I buy a Ford. I just hope no one has to lose their life for Ford to do something about this.
When driving my 2004 Ford Explorer started making a grinding and humming noise on the left front of driver side tire area. ABS and 4x4 high lights came on instrument panel. Truck felt like it was going into 4x4 mode on its own and braking felt like ABS system failed. Took it to a Ford dealership and I was told that both front wheel bearings needed to be replaced at a cost of $1053. Since this truck uses sensors and traction control the sensor on the left driver side had gone out causing this feature no longer to work. It is a good thing this did not result in an accident since the vehicle was going into 4x4 mode on it's own and the brakes ABS no longer functioned. Just a quick search online will result in many found issues regarding this that Ford has not done a recall on yet. What is it going to take to get Ford to stand behind the safety of trucks they sell?
I have already put a complaint in about my throttle body issue. This evening I went about a mile and a half, and my wrench light came on and my truck started to not to be able to move. I pulled over, turned it off. Waited a bit and restarted it. This time it took a bit to get it to start up. I then proceeded to go back home because of how it was acting a mile and a half after driving, not often two minutes later it happens again, and the engine started chugging, I couldn't move, and I almost got rear ended again! I then again turned it off and waited and then started the truck up. It took sometime once again to start. I finally made it back home in tears. I was able to get codes off, since I picked a up a code raffia few days prior. I got code p2104, p2111, and p2112. This issue needs to be addressed. I will be calling Ford tomorrow!
Transmission got stuck in neutral when column shifter was put in the park position. As my wife got out to help her sister with her new born and baggage the Explorer started rolling, my niece (in the back seat) got scared and jumped out of the vehicle and got ran over. The vehicle hit a pole and trapped my niece under the rear tire. I have since taken it to dealership 3 times so far, and it is still not fixed. Actually since I have gotten the Explorer back it has started to clung really hard going into reverse, and has got stuck between third and fourth gear. While driving, causing the rpms to shoot up. I am waiting on Ford to finally resolve this issue as I have been given the run around and am getting very frustrated.
Rear panel cracked in the shed. I have had to replace my transmission a year ago replace front hubs several times. And just last week I had to replace the back wheel bearing again. I don't understand why Ford has not done a recall on these things.I see a lot of fords with the same crack on the back hatch.this is just crazy. If I new we couldn't check transmission fluid I would have never got this truck.I will never buy a Ford again. We also have a 1994 diesel that we had to put a transmission in at 80,000 miles it sits in the shed and now my husband drives a Chevy.our Ford diesel only has 134,000 on it what ashamed. It will not even crank when its cold. Bad work Ford!!!!
Tl contacts owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. After driving in reverse and parking the vehicle it began to move after the back door was opened. She was able to engage the brake pedal to stop the vehicle from moving and confirmed that the gear shift was in park. The body shop mechanic was unable to duplicate or diagnose the failure. The contact stated that it was caused due to slippage of the gears and although the gear indicator reads park it is not fully engaged. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 39000 and current mileage was 44000.
NHTSA investigations
Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular…
Transmission complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2004 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 460 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2004 Ford Explorer, 35% of the model year's 1,304 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (308 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Ford Explorer transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2004 Ford Explorer. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford Explorer transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 30% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 17 crashes, 2 fires and 6 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.