IllustrationTAILGATE HAS A CRACK IN THE FIBERGLASS, BELOW THE WINDSHIELD TRAVELING DOWN. THERE IS NO IDENTIFIED REASON FOR THIS CRACK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THIS IS COMMONLY SEEN IN THE MOUNTAINEER AND EXPLORERS. THE CRACK INDICATES A MANUFACTURER DEFECT HOWEVER FORD/MERCURY HAS NOT MADE THE RECALL. *TR
2004 Ford Mountaineer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mountaineer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Structure complaints
2 reportsTHERE IS A CRACK THAT EXTENDS DOWN THE LIFTGATE ON THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE. IF THIS CRACK IS NOT REPAIRED INEVITABLY THERE WILL BE WATER DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE LIFT DOOR SUCH AS A FAILURE OF THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER AND REAR WINDOW WIPER. I WISH TO HAVE THIS …
Read full complaint
THERE IS A CRACK THAT EXTENDS DOWN THE LIFTGATE ON THE 2004 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE. IF THIS CRACK IS NOT REPAIRED INEVITABLY THERE WILL BE WATER DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE LIFT DOOR SUCH AS A FAILURE OF THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER AND REAR WINDOW WIPER. I WISH TO HAVE THIS FAILURE REPAIRED AT MY FORD AUTHORIZED DEALER AT YOUR COST. ADDITIONALLY, THE TWO REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT LET DOWN. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AND HAVE REPLACED ONE THAT WAS BROKEN. IT SOLVED THE PROBLEM ONCE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AGAIN. THIS TIME NONE OF THEM WERE BROKEN. IF THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT REPAIRED, I BELIEVE ALL THE WINDOWS MAY EVENTUALLY BE FROZEN, POSSIBLY IN THE DOWN POSITION , CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OR IN THE UP POSITION WHICH WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR GOING THROUGH DRIVE ,THROUGH BANKING, FAST FOODS, TOLL BOOTHS, ETC. *AK MY THIRD COMPLAINT IS THAT MY TURN SIGNALS ARE
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.