2004 Ford Explorer Visibility

WHILE CLOSING THE REAR WINDOW GLASS HATCH THE DRIVER SIDE HINGE BROKE ALLOWING THE WINDOW TO FALL OUT ON THAT SIDE. THE REAR GLASS HATCH WINDOW IS HEAVY AND COULD HAVE EASILY BROKEN THE HINGE SIDE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. A PREVIOUS FORD RECALL ON THE VERY SAME COMPONENT COVERED VEHICLES UP TO 2003. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING TO THIS 2004 VEHICLE. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP OWNERS OUT. HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE HINGE LET GO, THERE WOULD BE A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *TR

SUN VISORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. HORIZONTAL PLASTIC PANEL WITH THE FORD LOGO HAS CRACKED AND BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. CURRENT ONE ON VEHICLE IS CRACKED. SENT AN E-MAIL TO FORD AND WAS TOLD BASICALLY "TOO BAD--OUT OF WARRANTY ". FORMOCO HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM ON BOTH THE FORD AND MERCURY BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. AND OF COURSE THIS " DAMAGE " WILL LOWER THE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE WHEN I SELL/TRADE IT FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN A FORD. *TR

WHILE OPENING THE SMALLER WINDOW IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, THE WINDOW STARTED TO FALL. LUCKILY THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE TO CATCH IT. I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE WAS BROKEN. WE USUALLY TAKE OUR INFANT AROUND TO THE BACK OF THE CAR WHILE WE LOAD THINGS. FORTUNATELY, WE HAD ALREADY BUCKLED HER IN. HAD THE GLASS FALLEN OR WE NOT PAID ATTENTION , IT COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED HER OR US. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS UNEXPECTEDLY SHATTERED WITHOUT ACCESSING THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. ...UPDATED 04-10-14 *BF UPDATED 04/22/14

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE WINDOWS WERE ABLE TO BE OPENED WHEN ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. ...UPDATED 05/29/13 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE SUN VISOR BECAME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000. *TR

MY 13 YR OLD WAS LOADING GROCERIES WHILE THE WINDOW WAS POPPED UP IT FELL W/O WARNING SEVERELY HURTING HER HEAD RT BRACKET ON UPPER WINDOW BROKE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEAT NO LONGER FLOWED THROUGH THE VENTS AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, HER VISION WAS OBSTRUCTED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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

A YEAR AGO MY REAR LEFT WINDOW HINGE BROKE. COST TO REPAIR $50 FOR PART. NOW THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW HINGE BROKE COST NOW HAS INCREASED TO $80 FOR REPAIR. REAR PANEL CRACKED WHEN HEAT WAVE OCCURRED. FORD SAYS NO RECALLS FOR EACH ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE ON THIS MODEL OF FORD. FORD HOLDS NO RECALL FOR BOTH ISSUES. *KB

REAR WINDOW HINGE FRACTURED CAUSING GLASS TO FALL OFF OF REAR DOOR. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2002-2003 FORD RECALL #04S20. REF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 2004 EXPLORER IN THEIR RECALL BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER 2004 EXPLORER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE HINGE SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2004 MODEL YEAR. I FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM EXTENDED INTO THE 2004 MODELS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THE 2002-2003 MODELS. *JS

HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SUPPORTS_FOR_SUN_VISORS_CRACKED.SHTML THE SUN VISOR CLIP HAS BROKEN AND I AM UNABLE TO USE THE VISOR, IT JUST DANGLES. IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ONE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO USE THE VISOR FOR SUN PROTECTION. I FEEL FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL BECAUSE SO THIS IS HAPPENING IN TOO MANY VEHICLES SO THERE HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE HINGE ON THE GLASS HATCH BROKE AS I OPENED THE HATCH. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE HATCH HINGE PRIOR TO THIS. *TR

PIN ON REAR HATCH WINDOW BROKE,WHICH CAN CAUSE WINDOW TO FALL OUT. *TR

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.

THE BRACKETS HOLDING BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUN VISORS BROKE IN 2008, JUST FOUR MONTHS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE (MAY 2008). WE HAD THEM REPLACED ON 09/19/2008. THE NEW SUN VISORS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE ARE AGAIN CRACKING AS OF 09/02/2011, WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AGAIN ALMOST FALLING OFF. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD SET OF VISORS ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE WE PURCHASED IT IN MAY 2008. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE UNDER WARRANTY. MANY OTHER FORD EXPLORER/RANGER OWNER'S ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

THE SUN VISOR ON THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER HAS A WEAK BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE VISOR. IF THE BRACKET FAILS, THAT CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

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. UPDATED 08/19/11

I KNEW THE BACK REAR PANEL HAD A CRACK GOING DOWN IT, BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT BECAUSE MOST EXPLORES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS DRIVING DOWN A VERY DARK ROAD AT 6 AM AND BOOM! THE BACK GLASS JUST POPPED. I THOUGHT IT HAD BEEN SHOT OUT. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP AND HE THOUGHT THE SAME THING. BUT THE ONLY THING WE FOUND WAS BETWEEN THE HYDRAULICS ON THE WINDOW ITSELF, THE CRACK IN THE PANEL AND TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IT IMPLODED. MY INSURANCE IN KY PAID FOR IT, BUT IT TOOK TWO WINDOWS AND IT STILL ISN'T RIGHT. *TR

DEFROSTER HEAT CONTROL FAILED, COULDN'T SEE THROUGH WINDSHIELD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW PANEL WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE REPAIR FACILITIES WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR WINDOW PANEL WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,990. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/07/10

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. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUN VISORS WERE FRACTURED. THE DEALER ADVISED REPLACING THE VISORS AT HER EXPENSE. THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR WAS NEVER REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,607.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE WINDOW ON HATCHBACK, THE WINDOW HINGES BROKE. *TR