2004 Ford Explorer VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE REVERSING, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A CHEVROLET COBALT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, RESULTING IN THE CONTACT CRASHING INTO A TREE AND OTHER UNKNOWN VEHICLES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. *TT VIN IS NOT VALID *JB
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ABOUT 70MPH. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE. MY EXPLORER SUDDENLY LOST PRESSURE TRIED HITTING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, RPMS, STILL DROPPING, NO FUEL PRESSURE AT ALL. I WAS TRYING DESPERATELY TO GET OVER AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SPEED OF THE OTHER VEHICLES AND IF I WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH TO MAKE IT OVER TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. BY THE TIME I MADE IT OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER I WAS LITERALLY GOING ABOUT 5MPH. IT WAS THE MOST INTENSE MOMENT IN MY LIFE, CAR, TRUCKS, TRACTOR TRAILERS MOVING AT 70+MPH DON'T SEE YOU UNTIL THEY ARE UP ON YOU. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FORD HAS KNOWN ISSUES WITH THEIR THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. INSTEAD OF TAKING CARE THE ISSUE THEY WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS TO TAKE CARE OF IT. THIS UNACCEPTABLE THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART AND THEY WAIT AND WAIT UNTIL SOME MAGICAL NUMBER OR LORD FORBIDS SOMEONE DIES TRYING TO GET OFF THE ROAD. YOU CALL THEM AND THEY TELL YOU "NO RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLE AT THIS TIME KEEP YOUR RECEIPT IF YOU GET IT REPAIRED INCASE A RECALL OCCURS IN THE FUTURE" WHAT THIS MEANS IS, "THEY PROBABLY KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE BUT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVEN'T COMPLAINED"! THEY HAVE LAWSUITS BEING FILED AS WE SPEAK SO I'M ASKING "NHTSA" TO ISSUE AN INVESTIGATION ON OUR BEHALF. EVERYONE PLEASE MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD!!!!
TRANSMISSION SLIPPIND O/D LIGHT FLASHING RPM'S HIGH JUST BOUGHT CAR NOT HAPPY
WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR THERE IS A SOMETIMESS A DELAYED REPONSE WHEN THE VEHICLE MOVES IT IS SUDDEN AND UNXPECTED. AS RESULT OF THIS I RECENTLY BACKED INTO A FENCE CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND THE FENCE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,300.
DRIVING THROUGH TOWN WAS OUT IN INTERSECTION AND IT JUST TOOK OFF SPEEDING SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND I SHUT IT OFF. STARTED IT BACK UP AND LIKE LOST ALL POWER NO CONTROL OF FOOT FEET EXPLORER STARTED SHAKING AND DIED TRIED TO START NO SUCCESS. TOWED IT HOME HAD MECHANIC PUT IT ON COMPUTER AND GOT P2111 FORD -THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL SYSTEM STUCK OPEN. AND I CHANGED THE TPS AND NO LUCK CHANGED THE WHOLE THROTTLE BODY NO LUCK STILL WON'T START. WAS DOING RESEARCH AND SEVERAL FORDS HAVE BEEN HAVING SAME PROBLEM BUT WHEN I CALLED DEALERSHIP HE SAID HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY VIN. # WASN'T ON THE LIST. IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM THAT I AM HAVING WHY CAN'T HE HELP ME TOO. *TR
I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPG AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ON IT'S OWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND ABLE TO GET IT INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY MODULE WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT AT A COST OF REPAIR OF $644.00. *TR
WHEN SETTING CRUISE CONTROL AT AROUND 35 TO 40 MPH THE ENGINE DIES. THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER OUT OF TRAFFIC. TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN IT WILL RESTART AND RUN UNTIL YOU TRY TO SET THE CRUISE AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
TRAVELING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT APPROXIMATELY 58 MPH, TRAFFIC 100 - 120 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. PRESSED THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND STARTED APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO INITIALLY START TO SLOW, HOWEVER, AS WE APPROACHED THE STOPPED TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND WE COULD NOT STOP, CAUSING US TO HIT THE REAR-END OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. THE VEHICLE WE HIT MOVED FORWARD A FEW FEET AND WE HIT THE REAR-END AGAIN AS THE EXPLORER'S ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND DRIVE US FORWARD EVEN WITH CONSTANT PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. AFTER THE SECOND COLLISION, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL THE EXPLORER OFF TO THE SIDE OF A ROAD, NOTIFY THE POLICE, AND FILE A ACCIDENT REPORT. THE EXPLORER HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO EVALUATE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. *TR
THERE IS A LONG HESITATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE EITHER FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ROLLING. *TR
THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR
SPEED CONTROL OPERATES ONLY INTERMITTENTLY, DISCONNECTS WITHOUT WARNING, AND OCCASIONALLY SPEEDS THE CAR UP WITHOUT WARNING. REAR WARNING SYSTEM IS ALSO INTERMITTENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD WHILE THE CONTACT WAS STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GATE AND THEN BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF YET THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 9/20/11 *CN UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN
MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS HAD A PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS NEW WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL (SPEED CONTROL) WOULD DISENGAGE ON ITS OWN AND AT THE SAME TIME KILL THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIPS COULD NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN AGAIN AND HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT DOES IT MUCH MORE OFTEN AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 50 MPH, SO I DON'T USE THE CRUISE AT SLOWER SPEEDS; HOWEVER, IT HAS NOW STARTED DOING IT ABOVE 50 MPH AND THE ABS LIGHT ALSO COMES ON OCCASIONALLY. THIS SITUATION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN THE ENGINE DIES YOUR POWER-STEERING NO LONGER WORKS AND STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A RECALL. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER (V8 EDDIE BAUER) I RECENTLY RAN INTO A STRANGE SITUATION. I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 35 MPH AND AS I WAS GOING DOWN A SMALL HILL, THE CAR STALLED. I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM AT ALL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN THE 2004 EXPLORER STALLS WHENEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET AND IT IS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE PEDAL AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY TAKE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS COMMON BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000. UPDATED 12/30/10 *BF UPDATED -1/10/11
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,500.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TO RESET THE COMPUTER SO THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE THROTTLE BODY DID. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THAT TIME; THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS SINCE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH WHEN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND BEFORE STALLING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER TEN MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE THROTTLE BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,830 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,839.
I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. PREVIOUS MODELS (2002) WERE RECALLED FOR THE ABS LIGHT AND SPEED CONTROL ISSUE (09S09). I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2004 EXPLORER. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, IT IS OK FOR A WHILE THEN THE PROBLEM SHOWS UP AGAIN. COULD THIS BE A FIRE PROBLEM? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE THROTTLE BODY SUDDENLY KICKED BACK. HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT HESITATES DURING ACCELERATION. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND MAY APPEAR ABNORMAL SINCE IT HAS A V8 ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY IS NOT ACCELERATING AT ALL. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE LACK OF ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH OCCURRING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHENEVER THE GEAR SHIFTER IS IN THE DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE FAILED WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING WHENEVER THE SPEED CONTROL SELECTOR WAS ACTIVATED. THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER COULD NOT BE FOUND ONLINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 04/15/09. *LJ UPDATED 04/16/09.*JB
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Quick Summary
The 2004 Ford Explorer has 50 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL complaints on file. 8 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.