2004 Ford Explorer Engine

PROBLUMS WITH TIMING CHAIN THE GUIDES AND TENTIONER ALWAYS BRAKING OR THE TIMING CHAIN IT SELF BRAKING , IT IS ALL I HEAR ABOUT THE 4.0 MOTORS , I MY SELF THIS IS THE SECOND ONE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND DISCOVERED THAT HIS PARKED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

CAME HOME FROM WORK FRIDAY EVENING AND SAT. MORNING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK BATTERY IN AND TESTED, IT WAS DEAD. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. ONLY CLICKED, RELAY AND STARTER WERE FINE. HAD TO TOW IT TO A MECHANIC WHO HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAS SHUT DOWN MY ENGINE FOR NO REASON. THE KEY NO LONGER CONNECTS TO THE SYSTEM. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE?? I HAVE SEEN ONLINE FORUMS AND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. NOW I HAVE TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO A DEALER 40 MILES AWAY AND PAY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE AND KEYS REPROGRAMMED. OVER $120!!! THIS ISSUE LEFT ME STRANDED WITH NO VEHICLE FOR OVER A WEEK. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR AND TOW COSTS!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND VARIOUS UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE TIMING BELT FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND STARTED BLOWING FUEL FUMES INTO THE DRIVER'S CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. MA 08/06/15 UPDATED 10/11/2017*CN

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER AND WHEN I HIT THE 84000 MILE MY CAR STARTED FALLING APART STARTING WITH THE HEATER A/C VENT ACTUATOR FIRST TIME IN LATE 2011 THEN AGAIN IN JAN 2015 THIS REPAIR HAS COST ME OVER $1200 THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND I'VE BEEN TOLD BY FORD REPAIR SHOP WHICH WAS $97 JUST TO LOOK AT IT THAT IT WAS FROM DIFFERENT COILS THAT WERE OVER $300 A PIECE WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACES A COUPLE OF TIME TO THE CADILLAC CONVERTER WHICH WAS OVER $3500 TO REPLACING THE BEARINGS A COUPLE HUNDRED MANY TIMES. I'M AT THE POINT WHERE I'M NOT SURE TO KEEP THIS CAR OR JUNK IT THESE REPAIRS ARE BREAKING ME! I SEE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS.... THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF RECALL....!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

WHEN I SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP, THE TRUCK CUTS OFF. EVEN WHILE IN MID TURN. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE JUST STALLED . WE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I HAD IT TOWED HOME THAT DAY. LATER I FOUND OUT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD COME OFF. *TR

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE INVESTIGATION OF FORD FOR "LIMP MODE". EVERY TIME THAT I USE MY CARS CRUSE CONTROL UNDER 50 MPH THE CAR GOES IN TO LIMP MODE. AFTER I PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR IT RUN NORMALY, *TR

THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT HARMONIC BALANCER CAME APART. THE INNER PORTION SEPARATED FROM THE REST. THIS ALLOWS. IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SERPENTINE BELT, AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IF I HAD NOT CAUGHT IT IN TIME. THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES! THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 FORD 4.0 LITER V6. THIS COULD RESULT IN SOMEBODY LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. I WAS REPLACING THE WATER PUMP ON MY VEHICLE WHEN I SAW THIS DEFECT. *TR

WHILE WAS DRIVING ON I-95 I GAVE THE CAR A BOOST OF SPEED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. I NOTICED MY BACK WINDOW BECOME "DIRTY" (COVERED IN COOLANT) AND WHILE THE CAR SEEMED OKAY I MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OFF DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. WITHOUT A SHOULDER I HAD TO KEEP GOING ANOTHER COUPLE MILES; AFTER A COUPLE MILES I STARTED LOOSING SPEED GRADUALLY. WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE - I WAS FORTUNATE TO MAKE IT TO AN EXIT WHERE UPON IMMEDIATELY THE CAR DIED AS I SLOWED AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILED CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE COOLANT. SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OVER IT RESULTED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DUE TO DESIGN OF THE ENGINE THIS REPAIR IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE SEEN THIS THERMOSTAT COMPLAINT NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT IS TIME THAT FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PLASTIC PARTS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE. THIS PART SHOULD BE ALUMINUM ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. PLEASE CONSIDER RECALL TO REPLACE PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING WITH METAL: FORD MUST USE METAL PARTS BECAUSE PLASTIC WARPS IN THE HEAT. THE AFFECTED PARTS ARE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND IT'S CONNECTION TO THE ENGINE. I HAVE GOOD MAINTENANCE, OIL CHANGED REGULARLY, FLUIDS CHECKED AND MAINTAINED REGULARLY. I ALSO DRIVE VERY CONSERVATIVELY AND AM EASY ON MY DRIVING. FORD MUST FIX THIS! BETWEEN THIS ISSUE AND A BOLT IN MY STEERING COLUMN FALLING OUT (CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING) MY CONFIDENCE IN FORD IS DIMINISHED. *TR

AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLOWLY ACTING UP; IT VWAS DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO GEAR AND CLUNKS WHILE DRIVING. IT IS GETTING WORSE, AND FORD WILL NOT HELP WITH REPAIRS BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

ON 1/17/12 DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. IT WAS A STRONG SMELL. NOTICED A GLOW UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND PULLED INTO A EMPTY PARKING LOT. THE TRUCK WENT UP IN FLAMES. CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID PROVE WHAT HAPPENED. NOT SURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH NO PROBLEMS THAT I KNEW OF BEFORE THIS FIRE. NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE TRANSITIONED INTO SAFE MODE AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE PCM, THROTTLE, JACK SHAFT CHAIN, AND BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THEY RECOMMENDED ATTEMPTING VARIOUS TRIAL AND ERROR REMEDIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PCM AND THROTTLE AGAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,861.

I HAD JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TO TOW WITH. I WAS DRIVING IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND SET AT ABOUT 45MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I REALIZED I THE VEHICLE HAD TURNED ITSELF OFF. NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES NOTHING. IT DID START RIGHT BACK UP AFTER GETTING OFF THE ROAD. LATER IN THE DAY RETURNING HOME IT DID THE SAME EXACT THING AT 50MPH WITH CRUISE ENGAGED. I TALKED WITH FORD SHOP AND THEY SAY IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NO KNOWN FIX. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ANYWHERE FROM 30-50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL GAUGES WERE ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY, AND WAS TAKEN THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 42,933. UPDATED 9/16/11 *CN UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE FOLLOWED BY BANGING NOISES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED EXHAUST FUMES WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

2004 FORD SPORT TRAC XLT GAS EFI 4.0 HARMONIC BALANCER FAILURE WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. *TR

RATTLING NOISE AND SHAKING HAS BEEN COMING FROM ENGINE AREA FOR SOME TIME NOW. COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE UNTIL RECENTLY, AND WHEN LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ONLINE I FOUND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THE HARMONIC BALANCER / CRANKSHAFT PULLEY GOES BAD. THE INNER RING BREAKS, CAUSING THE SENSOR TO EVENTUALLY WEAR DOWN AND ALSO NEED REPLACEMENT. THIS REPAIR ON AVERAGE COSTS PEOPLE MORE THAN $350. TO REPLACE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH SHE EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT SHAKE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED FOR THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH HE HEARD A NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. HE WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE NUMBER THREE PISTON BROKE AND CEASED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,800.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER UPHILL ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD WHEN SHE FELT LIKE THE ENGINE IS LOOSING POWER. SHE STOPPED, EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR IN THE ENGINE AREA. THEN SOME PEOPLE STOPPED AND PULLED HER AWAY BECAUSE FROM THE POINT MY WIFE WAS STANDING SHE COULD NOT SEE THE ACTUAL FIRE. AS A RESULT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURNED DOWN COMPLETELY CREATING A BIG HOLE IN THE HOOD. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 120K MILES ON ODOMETER AND WE HAVE NOT MISSED ANY SERVICE MAINTENANCE POINTS. SHE SAID BESIDES THAT POWER LOSS THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A FORD 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED WITHOUT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATORS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 01/13/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. UPDATED 03/23/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, DIAGNOSED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE ENGINES TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK REPORT 1644590504, BUT DIDN'T OFFER TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS, BECAUSE THE MOTOR WASN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.