2004 Ford Escape vs 2004 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2004 Ford Escape | 2004 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 499 | 1,304 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 47 | 109 |
| Investigations | 6 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 29 | 58 |
| Fire reports | 14 | 15 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–22 | 15–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 109,000 mi | 65,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escape | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 138 | 426 |
| Power Train | 27 | 460 |
| Suspension | 154 | 37 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 98 | 76 |
| Visibility | 16 | 100 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 18 | 71 |
| Electrical System | 31 | 55 |
| Air Bags | 45 | 39 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 190 | 33 |
| Airbag warning light | 36 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 31 | 57 |
| Stalling | 29 | 103 |
| Hesitation / surging | 10 | 107 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 14 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 35 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 5 | 0 |
2004 Ford Escape
2004 Ford Explorer
Compare all Ford Escape vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.