Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10249851November 25, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
O/D LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING, LATER ABS LIGHT ON. AAMCO SAID TRANNY WAS GOING OUT...PROBABLY TORQUE CONVERTER BUT COULD BE SEAL. RECOMMENDED JUNK YARD TRANNY. HE SAID THAT FORD HAD ALL KIND OF TROUBLE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249854November 25, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
PLASTIC BODY PART BELOW REAR WINDOW GLASS CRACKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249740November 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HEATING SYSTEM STARTED MAKING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I TURNED IT ON, THEN I FOUND THAT IF I TURNED IT TO COOL SIDE THE CLICKING STOPPED, NOW THERE IS NOT HEAT AT ALL ONLY COLD AIR. I AM TOLD BY A FORD MECHANIC THAT IT IS A BROKEN BLEND DOOR, AN EXTREMELY COMMON & COSTLY REPAIR SINCE THE BLEND DOOR IS IN A RIDICULOUS SPOT BEHIND THE DASHBOARD THAT TAKES 6-8 HOURS OF REPAIR TO REMOVE & REPLACE THE $20 PART. I FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER FORD OWNERS DATING BACK TO THE 1993 FORD RANGER MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM...WHY IS THIS NOT FORCED TO BE A RECALL FOR FORD TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM? THE PIN THAT BREAKS ON THE BLEND DOOR IS PLASTIC, ANY NIMROD KNOWS HEAT AND COLD WILL CAUSE PLASTIC TO BECOME BRITTLE AND BREAK, THUS YOU WOULD THINK THAT MAKING THE PIN METAL WOULD HAVE BEEN A SOLUTION YEARS AGO, IT IS ONLY A 3-4 INCH PIN...NOT THAT EXPENSIVE TO FIX BUT SURE IS COSTLY TO FIX THIS NUTTY ERROR FOR FORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248539November 12, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
2003 FORD EXPLORER PAINT PEELING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248290November 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A FORD EXPLORER 2003 WITH 93000 MILES AND THE O/D LIGHT AS WELL AS THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. FROM MY RESEARCH IT SEEMS THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT FORD REFUSES TO ADDRESS ON THE CAR MENTIONED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247826November 6, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BACK LIFTGATE PANEL IS CRACKED ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I LIVE IN COLORADO AND THE LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS LIKELY DUE TO OUR DRY WEATHER, THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT OCCURRING IN OTHER STATES. I TRAVEL BEYOND COLORADO FREQUENTLY AND HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURER/FORD DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UNDER A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247741November 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE DOORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO DEFECTS. THE FAILURE PERSISTED OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN PARKED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AGAIN; HOWEVER, IT BEGAN TO STALL SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247748November 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I PULL DOWN MY STEERING WHEEL, THE LEFT BLINKER DOES NOT WORK NEITHER DOES THE BRAKE LIGHTS. IF THE WHEEL IS UP EVERY THING WORKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247670November 4, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT RIGHT OFF THE LOT BRAND NEW. WITHIN MONTHS I NOTICED A SMALL WET SPOT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER MY FIRST OIL CHANGE I MENTIONED IT TO WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND THE TOLD ME THAT MY DIFFERENTLY IS LOW BUT NOT LEAKING. THEN I ASKED WHAT ABOUT THE WET SPOT ON THE GROUND. WITH 7 MONTHS FROM THAT A HUGE PUDDLE FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR ON VACATION WITH THE VEHICLE AND DROP IT AT A FORD DEALER IT'S MY REAR DIFFERENTLY SEALS. FIXED THAT PAID FOR IT BECAUSE THEY SAY WHERE AND TEAR. ABOUT 1 YEAR LATER SAME THING GET IT FIXED ABOUT 1 YEAR AND HALF SAME THING AND CONTINUE TO FIX IT. TALK TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY THEY SAY IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT WHEN I STARTED CALLING THEM IN 2004 IT WAS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD AND I PAID FOR THE PIECE TO BE REPAIRED. TODAY MY VEHICLE IS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR A FOURTH TIME SAME EXACT PROBLEM ALTHOUGH NOW THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THE AXLE IS FROZEN IN THERE AND THEY NEED TO BREAK IT BEFORE FIXING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED. SEEKING HELP FOR THIS LEMON!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247349October 31, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN APRIL OF 03. WHEN WE TOOK RECEIPT OF THE VEHICLE THE DOME LIGHT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND WE TOOK OVER THE VEHICLE. FROM ABOUT 6000 MILES WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING OR NOT STARTING IN COLD OR HUMID WEATHER. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE TO THE DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 8-10 TIMES A YEAR FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS. WE HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS WITH THE VEHICLE; THE DOME LIGHTS HAVE BEEN OUT, THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW HAS GONE OUT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON NUMEROUS TIMES, THE LIGHT FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED OR LOCKED AND UNLOCKED WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING OR NOT STARTING IN COLD TEMPERATURES OR WHEN IT IS HUMID OR DAMP OUTSIDE. THEY HAVE REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER TWICE AND REPLACED VARIOUS SENSORS. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO PUT A FLIGHT RECORDER ON THE CAR TO TRY AND DETERMINE WHAT THE SENSORS WERE DOING AT THE TIME. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE THE AUTO WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE CAR WAS IN PARK, THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS. WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STARTING HARD OR STALLING OR NOT STARTING AND ARE FRUSTRATED THAT NOTHING SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO BE DONE FOR IT. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE VEHICLE HOOKED UP TO THE MACHINE AND IT IS SHOWING A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SENSORS NOW. THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP STATED THE IGNITION COILS ARE RUSTY AND SHOULD NOT BE THIS WAY FOR THE CAR HAVING 60,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER THE ORIGINAL 3 YEAR WARRANTY WAS UP ON THE VEHICLE I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP I WANTED AN ADDITIONAL WARRANTY WHICH THE DEALER SUPPLIED WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED. I REALIZE WITH IT BEING AN "INTERMITTENT PROBLEM" IT MAY BE HARD TO DIAGNOSE, BUT FORD HAS RECEIVED THEIR MONEY FOR THE PRODUCT, I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO MUCH TO EXPECT A "RELIABLE" CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246707October 25, 2008
WHEELS
CHROME WHEELS ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED "CENTENNIAL" MODEL ARE CRACKED AND PITTED AT THE CENTER HUB WHERE THEY GET MOUNTED TO THE VEHICLE. I TRIED TO BUY NEW TIRES RECENTLY, BUT THE TIRE DEALER WILL NOT INSTALL NEW TIRES ON THESE WHEELS. THEY SAY THEY ARE A SAFETY HAZARD AND THAT THE WHEELS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID THE WHEELS COULD FAIL AND CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I REPLACED ONE OF THESE WHEELS BACK IN 2006, BUT NOW 2 MORE OF THEM ARE CRACKED. THESE ARE TOP-OF-THE-LINE CHROME WHEELS AND SELL FOR MORE THAN $400 EACH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246528October 23, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IN JULY, 2008 AND MECHANIC AT COUNTRY FORD NOTED NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING ON VACATION IN OCT. 2008, I NOTICED NOISE IN REAR WHICH WAS NOTICEABLE AT 35-40 MPH AND GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO COUNTRY FORD AND THEY FOUND THE REAR CARRIER BEARINGS WORN AND HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. COST WAS $1132. VEHICLE NOT UNDER WARRANTY (52,000 MILES). VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AS PER FORD GUIDELINES AT COUNTRY FORD SERVICE, LEVITTOWN, NY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246155October 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RE: FORD MOTOR COMPANY FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS ILLEGALLY CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR COMPUTER ENGINE UPDATES. IN JULY OF 2008 MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER 2003. . I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT BUERGE FORD THAT MY ENGINE CODES HAD TO BE UPDATED PER FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THEY UPDATED THE ENGINE CODES IN 15 MINUTES AND CHARGED ME $128.00 DOLLARS FOR UPDATING FORDS NEW ENGINE COMPUTER CODES. THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS THAT IF THE ENGINE CODES ON MY FORD EXPLORER XLT 2003 NEEDED TO BE UPDATED TO FORDS NEW ENGINE CODES A RECALL SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED, OR THE CHARGE SHOULDN'T BE PASS ON TO THE CONSUMER. A RECALL WAS NEVER DONE, AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN ILLEGALLY PASSING ON THIS CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER FOR YEARS, WITHOUT A RECALL NOTICE. NOTHING WAS AT FAULT AT MY END. I HAVE A COPY OF MY BILL FOR YOUR RECORDS ON THIS ILLEGAL CHARGE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR NOT IMPLEMENTING A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR SUV'S, CAR'S AND TRUCKS. SINCERELY. JEFFREY ROTH *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246025October 19, 2008
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
WHILE OUT OF TOWN, VACATIONING AND TOURING FOR FALL COLORS, I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM AFTER A SHORT COFFEE STOP. WHEN I STARTED MY EXPLORER I NOTICE I HAD NO HEAT, FANS, DEFROSTER OR POWER TO THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. THINKING I HAD BLOWN A FUSE, I OPENED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND CHECKED THE FUSE DIAGRAM PAGES FOR THE SYSTEM THAT WAS NOT WORKING. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES INDICATED BUT, I FOUND NONE OF THEM HAD BLOWN. AFTER DETOURING AND HEADING FOR THE LOCAL SMALL TOWN, I PURCHASED AN EMERGENCY FUSE REPLACEMENT AND TESTER KIT AS IT WAS NOW GETTING DARK, TRYING TO CONTINUE RE-CHECKING ANY FUSES (WHILE IN THE CONFINED AND MOST AWKWARD PLACE TO INSTALL A FUSE CONTROL PANEL UNDER THE DASH BOARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE) WAS GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT TILL DAYLIGHT. ON MY RETURN TO MY CAMPSITE I CHANGE THE HEAD LIGHTING FROM AUTO TO MANUAL AND PULLED OUT ON THE KNOB TO TURN ON THE FOG LIGHT SYSTEM. AS I DID THIS ALL POWER TO MY CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM RETURNED AND WAS WORKING NORMAL AGAIN. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM AS THE NEXT MORNING I WOKE UP TO FROST AND 0` TEMPERATURE AND OVERCAST FOR THE DAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245514October 15, 2008
STRUCTURE
FACTORY PAINT BLISTERING ON HOOD. VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 44,000 MILES. THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON A LONG LIST OF INTERNET SITES. FORD IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY THIS IS AFFECTING 2000-2005 VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244192October 2, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 FORD EXPLORER PURCHASED NEW. OUT OF THE BLUE CHECK TRANSMISSION AND O/D OFF LIGHT STARTS FLASHING. AT DEALERSHIP NOW FOR REPAIR ESTIMATE. WHILE RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I WAS AMAZED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM ON THE EXACT SAME CAR. I SPOKE WITH FORD TODAY & THEY TOLD ME SORRY AND TO "HAVE A GOOD DAY". I AM MORTIFIED AT THE PROBLEM AND THE LACK OF ASSISTANCE FORD IS WILLING TO PROVIDE WITH THIS OBVIOUSLY LARGE SPREAD PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244199October 2, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2003 4WD 4.0 6 CYL. FORD EXPLORER WITH 84,000 MILES ON IT. MY OVER DRIVE LIGHT STARTS FLASHING AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I HAVE JUST SEEN ONLINE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND FORD IS NOT RECALLING OR DOING ANYTHING TO HELP WITH REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244008September 30, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL TO STOP LEAKING - NEITHER CAN MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC HAS REPLACED THE "CRUSH WASHER" (WHERE THE DRIVELINE CONNECTS TO THE DIFFERENTIAL) A COUPLE OF TIMES. I WAS TOLD THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS MANUFACTURED BY DANA. I DON'T WANT TO REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL BECAUSE MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HALF-SHAFT WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALSO... THE THREADS ON THE END OF THE SPINDLE HAVE RUSTED OFF. I'LL PROBABLY ALSO HAVE TO REPLACE THE (LF) WHEEL BEARING. (I THINK I'LL HAVE TO BECAUSE I HAD TO HAVE THE FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACE BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS BACK WHEN THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 36,000 MILES ON IT) NOT CRITICAL STUFF HERE - JUST A NUISANCE. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244012September 30, 2008
STRUCTURE
BUBBLING AND PEELING PAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243568September 26, 2008
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
2003 FORD EXPLORER - 65K MILES - BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR 7.6HP FAILED CAUSING A/C TO REMAIN IN ON POSITION WITH NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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