Vehicle Data Hub

2004 Ford Explorer drivetrain & axles problems

142 complaints about drivetrain & axles have been filed for the 2004 Ford Explorer, which is 9% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
142 9% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
78,000 miles 115 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
3 and 0
Injuries and deaths
2 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When drivetrain & axles problems show up

Drivetrain & axles complaints by mileage, 2004 Ford Explorer Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 78,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 15 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 8 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 14 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 22 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 17 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 11 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 15 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 3 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 5 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 3 complaints 200k+ miles: 2 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 78,000 miles
Based on 115 complaints that include mileage. 32% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles15
20k to 40k miles8
40k to 60k miles14
60k to 80k miles22
80k to 100k miles17
100k to 120k miles11
120k to 140k miles15
140k to 160k miles3
160k to 180k miles5
180k to 200k miles3
200k+ miles2

What the data shows

Of the 115 drivetrain & axles complaints that report mileage, the median is about 78,000 miles, and 32% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 injuries.

What owners wrote

Transmission shifts harder and shakes the entire SUV. When I press the gas and get to about 35-40 it will start knocking really bad and feels like it's losing power. When I stop the exact same thing happens with the knocking. I was going 35 around a slight curve on I-45 freeway by little york shepard gulf bank area to be exact and the SUV was driving fine. I was just getting onto the freeway at this time. Hints the reason I'm not going so face.

June 2017 Injury

Tl * the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle would decelerate automatically to 20 MPH and not regain speed. The vehicle would also not shift into reverse. The failure occurred twice over a six year period. The vehicle's transmission has been replaced twice. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000.

Reported at 22,000 miles, September 2008

Other problems reported for the 2004 Ford Explorer

Drivetrain & axles problems in other years

Drivetrain & axles problems across all Ford models