2004 Ford Explorer Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2004 Ford Explorer, and owners have filed 1,304 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2004 Ford Explorer. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
1,304 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2004 Ford Explorer have filed 1,304 complaints with NHTSA; 58 describe a crash and 15 describe a fire. Reports cite 83 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 70,375 miles. Complaints peaked in 2009 with 186 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“on [XXX] brought to local shop on power steering leak. Week before, Paid $50 for inspection. on [XXX] appointment was line and replaced. But tech said get pass brake line was rotted and was bad leak o”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 28, 2024 · Service brakes
“I need a new gas tank for my vehicle and Ford stopped making the gas tank for my vehicle. That is a very big safety issue. I called Ford and they were helping to find one from junkyard's I don't want”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 9, 2024 · Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2004 Ford Explorer (Explorer 2WD, Explorer 2WD FFV, Explorer 4WD, Explorer 4WD FFV, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 15–16 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 13–14 / 18–20 |
| Fuel | Gasoline or E85, Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4/4.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
Compare Ford Explorer model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Explorer model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2004 Ford Explorer
How do I know if my 2004 Ford Explorer has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.