2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Complaints

ENGINE DIES WHEN DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL OPERATING AND HEADING DOWN SLIGHT HILL AT SPEED OF AROUND 35 MPH. CRUISE IS DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN DRIVING SPEED GOING DOWN THE HILL (UP OR DOWN HILL FOR THAT MATTER). THE TACHOMETER INDICATES A SLOWING OF ENGINE RPM. AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE SLOWING OF RPM DOES NOT FALL TOO LOW. HOWEVER, AT THE SLOWER SPEED AROUND 35MPH, THE RPM DROPS BELOW 500 RPM AND THE ENGINE STALLS. I LOSE POWER STEERING AND BREAKS. I HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME STEERING AND BREAKING. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM ON A CURVE OR IF A RED LIGHT IS AHEAD. I CAN'T STEER THE CAR ON THE CURVE. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AND END UP IN AN INTERSECTION AND BE HIT BY VEHICLES WITH A GREEN LIGHT. I MAY HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME THAT HAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STOP FOR A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT THE INTERSECTION (WITH THE LIGHT). I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AVOID A CHILD ... WHO DARTS INTO THE ROADWAY. THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR MANY OWNE...

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LAST WEEK I NOTICED A SLIGHT 'BUMPING' FEEL LIKE AN UNBALANCED TIRE, SO I TOOK A LOOK WHEN I GOT TO MY DRIVEWAY BUT FOUND NOTHING. THE NEXT DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK THE "BUMPING' WAS MUCH WORSE SO I STOPPED TO CHECK AND FOUND A LARGE BULGE ON THE TREAD OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. AFTER SLOWLY RETURNING HOME I REMOVED IT AND SET IT ASIDE. A FEW HOURS LATER THE THREADS WERE SEPARATING BADLY SO I LET THE AIR OUT BEFORE IT BLEW APART. I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT TIRE (DIFFERENT BRAND) BUT I'VE STILL GOT THREE MORE OF THESE ON THE VEHICLE .THEY HAVE 36K MILES ON THEM AND A 60K WARRANTY WITH ONLY MODEST THREAD WEAR BUT I STILL CHECK THEM EVERY DAY. I DON'T FEEL SAFE.*DT CONSUMER STATED HE STILL HAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE.*JB

THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS DRIVING AN 04 FORD EXPLORER WHEN BOTH SIDE AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A TWO-LANE ROAD AT LESS THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BUT NOT BEFORE SUSTAINING AN INJURY TO MY EAR AND NOT BEFORE THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO HER RIGHT ARM. I REPORTED THIS TO FORD, WHICH ADVISED TO CARRY THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS UNCONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. HE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS ONLY TO REPORT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF WHY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT. I REPEAT, I WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS OF COURSE QUITE CONCERNING TO ME BUT FORD DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE. PLEASE FOLLOW-UP ON THE SAFETY OF FORD'S VEHICLES.

THE BODY OF MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC XLT HAS RIVETS ON THE TOP OF THE ROOF THAT HOLD WATER. INSTEAD OF BEING A FLAT SURFACE WHERE RAIN CAN NATURALLY FALL OFF THE TOP OF THE ROOF IT SITS IN THESE RIVETS AND ACCUMULATES RUST. THIS LEADS TO A LOT MORE PROBLEMS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL STUDS DETACHED ON MULTIPLE TIRES WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES ON MULTIPLE WHEELS ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ONCE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE STUDS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SHE REPLACED MULTIPLE STUDS HERSELF. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.