Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10243309September 24, 2008
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT PRESSED THE BUTTON ON HER KEY FOB TO OPEN THE GLASS ON THE REAR HATCH. AS A RESULT, ONE OF THE TWO HINGES FRACTURED AS THE WINDOW WAS OPENING. SHE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE GLASS, BUT APPARENTLY IT WAS MISALIGNED. DUE TO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE, THE GLASS SHATTERED AND DEBRIS FELL ONTO THE CONTACT AND THE GROUND. SHE CALLED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE COVERAGE DATE FOR THE RECALL EXPIRED. THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO PERSONALLY PETITION TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER ON HER BEHALF. AS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,600 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243098September 22, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AS MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING STALL, MY VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN CAUGHT OFF. WE WERE UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED. AFTER MECHANICS CHECKED IT OUT, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MOTOR. DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE WE HAVE ONLY 38,208 MILES ON OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER; AND A WEEK BEFORE THAT WE HAD A COMPLETE OIL CHANGE. I CONTACTED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AS WELL AS FORD IN DETROIT AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. I TOLD THEM WE HAD NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM, THE INDICATOR NEVER CAME ON AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION AT ALL THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM, NO NOISE OR ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE. WITH ONLY A FEW MILES ON THE CAR, I TOLD THEM I FELT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY CALLS SINCE MY COMPLAINTS, THEY FELT IT WAS NOT A FORD'S PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS A SITUATION I HAD TO TAKE CARE OF. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND I THINK FORD SHOULD HANDLE THIS PROBLEM. NO WAY SHOULD I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY MOTOR WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. IT'S NOT FAIR THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR A JOB THAT I BELIEVE FORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. TELL ME, WHAT DO I DO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242979September 19, 2008
WHEELS
ONE OF THE RIMS ON OUR FORD EXPLORER FELL OFF THE CAR AT HIGH SPEED AND, ACCORDING TO FORD, IT CAME WITHIN SECONDS OF FALLING OFF ON A PREVIOUS OCCASION (ALSO AT HIGH SPEED). THESE ARE THE FACTORY RIMS THAT CAME WITH THE CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2003. THE DEALER HAS NOW DETERMINED THAT THE RIMS ARE SO RUSTED THAT WHEN THEY ARE REMOVED FOR SERVICE AND THEN REPLACED WITHOUT HAVING THE RUST REMOVED, THE SURFACE OF THE RIM IS ROUGH AND DOES NOT "MATE" PROPERLY AGAINST THE HUB. EVENTUALLY, THE RUSTED MATERIAL STARTS TO FLAKE OFF, WHICH CAUSES THE RIM TO LOOSEN AGAINST THE HUB AND THE LUGS TO SNAP OFF. THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT IDENTIFIED BY FORD UNTIL AFTER THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT (JULY 4, 2008). THE RIMS HAVE BEEN CAUSING PROBLEMS SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2005, WHEN THE CAR WAS TWO YEARS OLD AND UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY (WE ALSO HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT EXPIRED A FEW MONTHS AGO). DESPITE HAVING THE CAR SERVICED AT FORD DEALERS AT LEAST 11 TIMES BETWEEN SEPTEMBER OF 2005 AND JULY OF THIS YEAR, NOBODY EVER TOLD US THAT THE RIMS WERE SO DEFECTIVE THAT THEY COULD FALL OFF AT ANY TIME. OUR DEALER HAS OFFERED TO PAY HALF THE COST OF NEW RIMS, BUT WE REFUSE TO PAY A SINGLE CENT. WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PROBLEM, WHICH COULD HAVE KILLED OUR FAMILY TWICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242371September 16, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I PURCHASED A 2003 EXPLORER IN AUGUST 2006; MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. BY OCTOBER THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. A FEW WEEKS LATER, I WAS BACK BECAUSE MY CAR WAS JERKING. NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THE STARTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS WOULD THE RECENTLY INSTALLED ALTERNATOR. I RETURNED LESS THAN A MONTH LATER WITH THE SAME JERKING ISSUE, ONLY THIS TIME I NOTIFIED THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE O/D LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON. FURTHERMORE, MY CAR HAD ACTUALLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. AGAIN, NOTHING WAS FOUND. BY EARLY DECEMBER, I WAS BACK. MY CAR HAD STALLED ON A FEW MORE OCCASIONS AND WOULD NOT "PICK UP". THAT IS, EVEN THOUGH THE RPM'S WOULD REACH ANYWHERE FROM 2500 - 4000, MY CAR COULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 25 - 30 MPH. SEVERAL DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED WORK. I GOT MY CAR BACK A FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND DECIDED LAST MINUTE TO HEAD TO THE MOUNTAINS. AS SOON AS I REACH A SLIGHT ELEVATION, THE CAR CEASED TO ACCELERATE AND WHAT'S MORE, A THICK HEAVY CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE REAR AND PERSISTED FOR AT LEAST TWO MILES. I HEADED BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN FOR HOME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THEY KEPT IT FOR AT LEAST A WEEK AND A HALF TO REPAIR THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND OTHER TRANSMISSION RELATED ISSUE. IN EARLY FALL 2007, I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR SOME STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IT ENDED UP COSTING $2500.00 TO REPAIR. I RETURNED IN NOVEMBER FOR MORE WORK, THIS TIME FOR THE SAME TORQUE CONVERTER AND SOLENOID ISSUE AS A YEAR AGO. DURING THIS TWO YEAR PERIOD, MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP IS ANYWHERE FROM $5000 - $9000, OF WHICH I PAID AT LEAST $2500 OUT OF POCKET. MY WARRANTY HAS SINCE EXPIRED AND I AM WORRIED THAT THESE SAME ISSUES WILL RECUR, AS I HAVE READ THEY HAVE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL ISSUED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241221September 7, 2008
POWER TRAIN
THIS VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED WITH A SEVERE ROAR COMING FROM THE REAR END. THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT AT REPAIR SHOPS BUT NO RECALL. IT COULD RESULT IN THE GEARS LOCKING DOWN AND LOSING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. IT IS A DEFECT OF THE FORD MOTOR CO AND SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL. THE COST OF REPAIR IS AROUND $1400.00. THE NOISE IS SO LOUD THAT IT COULD BLOCK THE ABILITY TO HEAR ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT USING A CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR THE OTHER PERSON. I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL FORD,LINCOLN, AND MERCURY SUV'S ARE A PART OF THIS TECH-BULLETIN. THE YEARS THAT ARE AFFECTED ARE 2002-2006. PLEASE CONSIDER ISSUING A RECALL SOON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240948September 4, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 9/4/08, DRIVING IN TOWN, I WAS AT A RED LIGHT, PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE, THEN PREPARED TO BRAKE, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED KEPT ACCELERATING. I HAD TO RIDE MY BRAKES TO KEEP MY CAR FROM GOING ANY FASTER. WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE, THE ACCELERATOR TOOK OFF AGAIN ON ITS OWN AT A FAST RATE! I PULLED OVER TO TURN OFF MY CAR, WAITED FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AND PROCEEDED AGAIN. AFTER DRIVING 5 MILES IT STARTED UP AGAIN, I RODE ON MY BRAKES THE REST OF THE WAY HOME AND THEN HAD MY HUSBAND FOLLOW ME TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240618September 2, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
THERE IS A CRACK ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION LIFT GATE. I HAVE SEEN OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME CRACK IN THE SAME SPOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240632September 2, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE BUYING IT FROM VOGLER FORD IN CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH ALL THE TIME AND IT SHIFTS HARD GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF I COULD REPLACE A PART ON IT. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSIONS. HAVE THEY RECALLED ANY FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS FROM FORD VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240253August 29, 2008
VISIBILITY
MY BACK REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE I WAS AT WORK. IT HAPPEN AT 400AM SO IT WAS NOT HOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239781August 26, 2008
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR WINDOW, IT COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,843.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239834August 26, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIFTGATE GLASS APPLIQUE WAS DAMAGED AND CRACKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILED COMPONENT, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/17/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239534August 24, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
SEVERE REAR END NOISE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. REAR DIFFERENTIAL NOW NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT WORK WITH ME ON THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS. I HAVE ALSO HAD A SENSOR REPLACED TWICE AND IT IS NOW BROKEN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238439August 15, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
PAINT PEELING OFF MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237622August 10, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
VERTICAL CRACK IN THE BACK HATCH OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2003 JUST BELOW THE GLASS AND GOING DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237240August 6, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS BF GOODRICH TIRES, SIZE P245/65R17, RUGGED TRAIL T/A. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE KEEPS LOSING AIR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE STEM, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE TIRE IS FINE FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEN NEEDS TO BE INFLATED AGAIN. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237060August 5, 2008
STRUCTURE, POWER TRAIN, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
FACTORY REAREND WAS REPLACED IN MY 03 FORD EXPLORER. SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM OF GRADUAL REAREND DETERIORATION HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. IF THE REAREND FAILS CATASTROPHICALLY THEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. FORD MOTORS DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN, BUT IT DEFINITELY IS. FORD SHOULD RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THE DEFECTIVE REARENDS AND FIX THEIR PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236776August 3, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THERE IS A VERTICAL CRACK THAT JUST APPEARED IN THE REAR HATCH OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WE TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF OUR VEHICLES AND THIS TRUCK IS RARELY DRIVEN. IT IS ALSO PARKED IN OUR GARAGE EXCEPT WHEN BEING DRIVEN. I HAVE READ THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON IN THIS TRUCK. OUR "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT AND WARNING REGULARLY INDICATES THAT THE DOOR IS NOT CLOSED PROPERLY. IT HAS EVEN FLUNG OPEN WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. WE HAVE THE THIRD ROW SEAT IN THIS MODEL AND KEEP MY TWO 5 YEAR-OLDS IN THAT SEAT. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER SUDDENLY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THIS DESIGN WHICH CAN CAUSE INJURY TO THOSE IN THE VEHICLE OR AROUND YOU SINCE THE HATCH OPENING OUT OF NO WHERE IS STARTLING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236579July 31, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
ON 7/15/08 WE BROUGHT OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A TUNE-UP. WE THEN FOUND OUT OUR FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED REPLACING. OTHER PROBLEMS OCCURRED TOO. THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND UPPER CONTROL ARM ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE ALSO HAD A FRONT PINION SEAL LEAKING. THE COST OF THE TUNE-UP WAS $555.54 WHILE ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS COSTS US $1402.30. WE WERE PREPARED TO PAY FOR THE TUNE-UP BUT NOT FOR ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS. WE ASKED IF FORD COULD HELP OUT BEFORE THIS WORK WAS DONE BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY SO WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY AND HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THESE WERE SAFETY ISSUES. SOON AFTER WE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WE NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES. WE BROUGHT OUR EXPLORER BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 7/31/08 ONLY TO FIND OUT THE OTHER FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAD GONE. THEY TOLD US IT WOULD COST ANOTHER $365 AND AGAIN WE ASKED IF FORD COULD HELP OUT AND THEY SAID WE WOULD NEED TO CALL FORD OURSELVES. WHICH WE DID IN THE WAITING ROOM OF THE DEALERSHIP. FORD DID NOT WANT TO HELP AT ALL. I EXPLAINED TO FORD ALL THE COMPLAINTS I FOUND ON THE NHTSA SITE AS WELL AS THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WE WERE HAVING WITH OUR EXPLORER. FORD FINALLY SAID THEY WOULD COVER $265 BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $100 AS A DEDUCTIBLE. WE SAID NO AND TRIED TO EXPLAINED TO FORD THAT THESE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND THAT FORD SHOULD COVER ALL THE EXPENSES. FORD SAID IT WAS UP TO THE NHTSA SITE TO ISSUE A RECALL AND UNTIL THAT TIME FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN SAID HE WOULD COVER THE $100 BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO AFTER FORD ON OUR OWN FOR THE PAST EXPENSES. WE HAD THE PART FIXED BUT WE WANT FORD TO STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING AND ADMIT THESE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND COVER THE COSTS. OUR EXPLORER HAS ONLY 73000 MILES AND WE FEEL THESE PARTS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE. FORD SHOULD CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236239July 29, 2008
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE HAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS AND, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE IT, THE LIFTGATE WOULD NOT SHUT CORRECTLY. THE HINGE SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IF HE ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE REAR LIFTGATE, THE GLASS WILL SHATTER. HE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234774July 18, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FREQUENTLY MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN HE WOULD SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT TEN MINUTES FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE OR EVEN SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND TRY AGAIN. EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 5-6 TIMES FOR THE FAILURE, BUT WAS NOT GIVEN ANY EXPLANATION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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