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2004 Ford Explorer Transmission & Power Train Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026

108Power Train complaints
8.3%Of all 1,304 complaints
#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION308 · 23.6%
STRUCTURE:BODY209 · 16%
POWER TRAIN108 · 8.3%
STRUCTURE80 · 6.1%
VISIBILITY59 · 4.5%

Share of the 1,304 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2004 Ford Explorer overview page.

Power Train complaints by year filed

320052220071620093142011261720131382015462017122019

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Ford Explorer have transmission & power train problems?

Power Train is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2004 Ford Explorer: 108 of 1,304 complaints on file (8.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2004 Ford Explorer have in total?

1,304 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 58 involved a crash, 15 involved a fire, 83 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train category include?

NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.