2004 Ford Explorer Wheels Problems
- Complaints
- 41about this part
- Share
- 3%of 1,304 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 85,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 41 complaints about the wheels of the 2004 Ford Explorer, 3% of the 1,304 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 85,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Car starts but will go forward when shifted in reverse. Turned the car off then back on, but when I would put the car back in reverse or drive, it stalled out. Had it towed and then it was fine after that. Now its about 6 months later, now my orange wrench light pops up and cruise control shuts off at 65mph. Then it jerks a couple times. Have had it checked and came back with 14 codes mainly for transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #10721201, filed 2015-05, 140,000 miles“When driving to work I began to hear a noise in the front end part of the vehicle. After leaving work and driving less than 1 mile the noise got loud, so I pulled over and waited for a tow truck. Had the vehicle towed to a shop and fixed. 1 year and 1 week later it had to be replaced again.”
NHTSA complaint #10599013, filed 2014-06, 152,866 miles“First the ABS light came on. Then a loud noise came from the front. After the auto shop called and informed me that it was all wheel bearing and backing plates went bad and$1500.00 dollars later I looked into problems on line with Ford explorers I seen over 42 complaints with the same thing. That is a lot of money seeing as how im still paying of the loan!”
NHTSA complaint #10294877, filed 2009-12, 100,000 miles“I was driving to work when my 2004 Ford Explorer lost the rear passenger rim and tire. The car rattled and then there was a loud thud and sparks coming from that area. This has only occurred once but it stripped and broke some of the studs were the wheel attaches. I had the car towed where I had the tires replaced, brakes checked and fixed, alignment, and broken studs fixed and replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10247596, filed 2008-11, 82,826 miles“Rear right tire came off SUV as I was traveling with 3 children and wife in SUV at 60 MPH in a 55 MPH zone, as per the tow and mechanic person they stated we could have been killed due to SUV going from one side of the road to the other on coming traffic side, my son is having nightmares about this.”
NHTSA complaint #10239889, filed 2008-08, 42,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10018938Jan 1, 2005Vibration diagnosis - tire/wheel runout.
Wheels: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 2 | 1% |
| 2021 | 5 | 1% |
| 2020 | 16 | 1% |
| 2019 | 4 | 1% |
| 2018 | 8 | 1% |
| 2017 | 60 | 4% |
| 2016 | 50 | 2% |
| 2015 | 15 | 1% |
| 2014 | 26 | 2% |
| 2013 | 20 | 1% |
| 2012 | 5 | 1% |
| 2011 | 9 | 1% |
| 2010 | 5 | 4% |
| 2009 | 3 | 9% |
| 2008 | 9 | 6% |
| 2007 | 10 | 5% |
| 2006 | 6 | 1% |
| 2005 | 15 | 3% |
| 2004 | 41 | 3% |
| 2003 | 56 | 5% |
| 2002 | 78 | 2% |
| 2001 | 10 | 3% |
| 2000 | 12 | 1% |
| 1999 | 6 | 0% |
| 1998 | 18 | 1% |
| 1997 | 12 | 1% |
| 1996 | 15 | 1% |
| 1995 | 4 | 0% |
| 1994 | 12 | 1% |
| 1993 | 6 | 1% |
| 1992 | 10 | 2% |
| 1991 | 13 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2004 Ford Explorer
460 complaintsBody and structure
426 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
112 complaintsVehicle speed control
76 complaintsEngine cooling
71 complaintsElectrical system
55 complaintsBrakes
53 complaintsEngine
44 complaintsSteering
41 complaintsAir bags
39 complaintsOther or unknown
37 complaintsSuspension
37 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology