2004
Ford Explorer

Starts at:
$31,555
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New 2004 Ford Explorer
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Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
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NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLS
    Starts at
    $26,600
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLS Sport
    Starts at
    $28,015
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLS AWD
    Starts at
    $29,065
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLS 4WD
    Starts at
    $29,065
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLT
    Starts at
    $29,580
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLS Sport AWD
    Starts at
    $30,240
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLS Sport 4WD
    Starts at
    $30,240
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L XLT
    Starts at
    $30,380
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLT Sport
    Starts at
    $30,755
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L XLT Sport
    Starts at
    $31,555
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLT AWD
    Starts at
    $31,805
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLT 4WD
    Starts at
    $31,805
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L XLT 4WD
    Starts at
    $32,605
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L XLT AWD
    Starts at
    $32,605
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L NBX 4WD
    Starts at
    $32,980
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLT Sport AWD
    Starts at
    $32,980
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLT Sport 4WD
    Starts at
    $32,980
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L Eddie Bauer
    Starts at
    $33,655
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L NBX 4WD
    Starts at
    $33,780
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L XLT Sport AWD
    Starts at
    $33,780
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L XLT Sport 4WD
    Starts at
    $33,780
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L Eddie Bauer
    Starts at
    $34,455
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L Limited
    Starts at
    $34,530
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L Limited
    Starts at
    $35,330
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    Rear Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L Eddie Bauer AWD
    Starts at
    $35,880
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L Eddie Bauer 4WD
    Starts at
    $35,880
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L Eddie Bauer 4WD
    Starts at
    $36,680
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L Eddie Bauer AWD
    Starts at
    $36,680
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L Limited 4WD
    Starts at
    $36,755
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.0L Limited AWD
    Starts at
    $36,755
    15 City / 20 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas/Ethanol V6
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L Limited AWD
    Starts at
    $37,555
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 114" WB 4.6L Limited 4WD
    Starts at
    $37,555
    15 City / 19 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas V8
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Photo & video gallery

2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford Explorer

Notable features

Fully independent suspension
V-6 and V-8 engines
Five-speed automatic
Side-curtain airbags/Safety Canopy
ControlTrac 4WD

The good & the bad

The good

Easy to drive and maneuver
Crash-test ratings
Step-in height
Front and rear interior space

The bad

V-6 performance
Fuel economy
Resale value
See all specifications

Available cars near you

See all cars near you

Safety review

Based on the 2004 Ford Explorer base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
4/5
Frontal passenger
5/5
Nhtsa rollover rating
3/5
Side driver
5/5
Side rear passenger
5/5

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years
Powertrain
3 years / 36,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
Fords and many non-Ford vehicles up to 10 years old with less than 150,000 miles
Basic
90-Day / 4,000-Mile (whichever comes first) Comprehensive Limited Warranty
Dealer certification
139-point inspection
See all CPO program details

Compare similar vehicles

Select cars to compare for more detailed info.
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    4.1
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    16 City / 21 Hwy
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  • 2003
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    Starts at
    $21,870
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  • 2001
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Consumer reviews

81% of drivers recommend this car
4.1 / 5
Based on 90 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.3
Interior 4.2
Performance 4.1
Value 4.1
Exterior 4.3
Reliability 4.1

Most recent

By David from Philadelphia Pa
Owns this car
November 21, 2023

LOVE MY 2004 EXPLORER XLT

My Explorer was left to me in my friends will I knew the truck for a few years before inheriting it and except for 1 thing have had NO problems with it other than normal maintenance and I LOVE this truck and have no intention of getting rid of it unless I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO... and then I would still be hesitant about it ! It's always started and drove excellent especially in snow !!! My truck has 90600 miles it was given to me at 75000 miles ... only negative is that before I got it my friend needed to replace the transmission due to losing reverse (literally out of nowhere) WE were both stunned about it .... I wish I could check the transmission fluid by a dipstick too !
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Having fun
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 4.0
Reliability 5.0
3 people out of 4 found this review helpful. Did you?
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By Martin from Brooklyn, New York!
Owns this car
August 25, 2023

Great Truck, original owner!

This is a one owner car, my uncle brought it brand new for about $36k in 2004, it’s now 2023 and it has 52k miles on her! She had work done, this is only beside he never drove it! Beyond what repairs he fixed, from lack of driving it, it’s one heck of a reliable car, it’s in great shape, fully loaded, even in this age, it still like really nice! The 4x4 mode is awesome in the snow and icy conditions, the engine starts like a baby every time, it was passed down to me, and I’ll keep it until I’m old an gray! Even if I get a newer car, I will still keep it! It has 52k original miles, in 2023! Would make no sense, the KBB value is worthless, knowing how well it was maintained! I would suggest if you can get a lower mileage explorer, that has its paperwork, I would recommend this vehicle! Remember, I witnessed this truck from 2004 till now, 2023 worked like a dream boat! There’sa few minor issues with the headliner starting to sag, but again that’s age, living in New York with all that moisture, beyond that it’s three thumb👍👍👍
  • Purchased a New car
  • Used for Transporting family
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 5.0
Interior 5.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 5.0
Reliability 5.0
3 people out of 4 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Ford dealers near you

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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2004 Ford Explorer?

The 2004 Ford Explorer is available in 7 trim levels:

  • Eddie Bauer (6 styles)
  • Limited (6 styles)
  • NBX (2 styles)
  • XLS (3 styles)
  • XLS Sport (3 styles)
  • XLT (6 styles)
  • XLT Sport (6 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2004 Ford Explorer?

The 2004 Ford Explorer offers up to 16 MPG in city driving and 21 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 2004 Ford Explorer?

The 2004 Ford Explorer compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 2004 Ford Explorer reliable?

The 2004 Ford Explorer has an average reliability rating of 4.1 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2004 Ford Explorer owners.

Is the 2004 Ford Explorer a good SUV?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2004 Ford Explorer. 81.1% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.1 / 5
Based on 90 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.3
  • Interior: 4.2
  • Performance: 4.1
  • Value: 4.1
  • Exterior: 4.3
  • Reliability: 4.1

Ford Explorer history

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