Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10154666April 5, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
REAR AXLE NOISE, REPLACED AT A PRICE OF 1200 DOLLARS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154471April 3, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
NHTSA 10003163. NOISE FROM CONVERTER HOUSING. SUV HAS 42,272 MILES AND DEALER ESTIMATED $1200.00 REPAIR. FORD KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TSB #17050. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153890March 28, 2006
STRUCTURE
MOLDED RUNNING BOARD BROKEN UNDER NORMAL USE, ONE DEALER ACCUSED ME OF HAVING A CHILD JUMP ON THE RUNNING BOARD - REASON UNKNOWN. ANOTHER DEALER TOOK PHOTOS AND SENT TO DETROIT, WARRANTY REPAIR REFUSED? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153253March 20, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AROIUND 37,000 MILES I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HALF OF THEM GO OFF WHEN THEY SHOULD AND HALF OF THEM STAY ON WHICH RUNS MY BATTERY DOWN AND I HAVE TO BE JUMPED. THEN AROUND 40,000 MILE I STARTED HEARING A LOUND WHINING NOISE FROM MY REAR END. THE DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. IT IS SO LOUD YOU HAVE TO ALMOST YELL TO TALK TO SOMEONE. THEN AT 47,000 MILES MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SOON STARTED COMING ON. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COOLANT AREA. I AM AFRAID TO TAKE MY VEHICLE OUT OF TOWN AND I OWE TOO MUCH ON IT TO TRADE IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152371March 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1 HISTORY OF ENGINE SURGE, VERY FAST IDLE UPON STARTING SINCE VEHICLE ACQUIRED.-ALL REPORTED TO DEALER.---------------------------------------------------------------- 2.CAR STOPPED, MOTOR OFF. STARTED, PLACED IN REVERSE-TOUCHED ACCELERATOR AND CAR JUMPED BACK FULL SPEED. VERY NARROW PARKING AREA (HAVE PICTURES). HAD TO TURN CAR RAPIDLY TO AVOID LARGE HILL AND TREES -TOO SHORT A DISTANCE TO TURN COMPLETELY AND HIT FRONT LEFT FENDER AND BUMPER GLANCING BLOW OFF TWO TREES. WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND GOT STOPPED AFTER GOING IN A SEMICIRCULAR AND BACKING OVER CONCRETE PARKING BARRIER.-MOTOR STILL RACING--UNABLE TO TURN OFF WITH KEY UNTIL FOURTH OR FIFTH TRY AND THAN MOTOR BUCKED SEVERAL TIME TRYING TO STOP. 3.NO CORRECTIONS TO DATE. REPORTED TO FORD! !*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152170March 8, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
PLASTIC UNDER (ATTACHED TO) REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW CRACKED. CRACK IS 10 TO 12 INCHES LONG. ENTIRE LIFTGATE NEEDS REPLACING. FORD SAYS I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL EXPLORER ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE SAME DEFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151829March 5, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
AFTER HAVING ABOUT OF FREEZING WEATHER MY WIFE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE PLASTIC PANEL ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR HATCH BACK WINDOW. I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER UPON WHICH I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND THAT THEY REPLACE QUITE A FEW OF THESE EVERY YEAR. BUT BEING THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN AUGUST OF 2005 THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151515March 1, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION
HAVE HAD MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MILES ON IT. HAVE HAD REAR BRAKE SENSOR REPLACED 2 TIMES UNDER WARRANTY, FRONT AXLE SEAL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND REAR AXLE BEARING REPLACED WITH 44000 MILES AND NOW THE REAR AXLE SEAL IS LEAKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE MECHANIC WHO DOES MY REPAIRS STATED THE AXLE SEALS ARE ON BACKORDER DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF EXPLORERS THE SEALS ARE DEFECTIVE ON. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFORMATION ON THE SEALS AS I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. COULD YOU PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS DEFECT. I BELIEVE THERE WERE SEVERAL DEFECTIVE PARTS USED ON THE 2003 FORD EXPLORERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED OR REPORTED. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151315February 27, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THIS MORNING I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE TAILGATE OF MY 2003 EXPLORER XLT. IT WAS NOT THERE TWO DAYS AGO. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND HE SAID THAT THE PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL SO I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHARGES. HE HAS PERSONALLY SEEN MANY OF THESE. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL FORUM SITES AND KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IS ANYTHING BEING DONE FROM FORD'S SIDE? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150950February 22, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING CORNERING AND EMERGENCY MANEUVERS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKS UP. THERE IS ALSO A SHUDDER IN THE STEERING AT THIS TIME. THIS HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST 4,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCH PACK REQUIRED REDESIGN. THERE IS A NEW CLUTCH PACK AVAILABLE AT THE CONSUMER'S COST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150750February 21, 2006
WHEELS
THREE WHEELS ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER WERE REPLACED DUE TO CRACKING OF THE "CHROME" FINISH IN THE HUB AREA, THE 4TH WAS NOT DONE SINCE THERE WAS NO CRACKING AT THAT TIME; IT NOW REQUIRES REPLACEMENT . I AM DEALING WITH THAT AT THIS POINT BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CRACKING MAY BE MORE THAN THE FINISH MATERIAL; IT MAY BE THE CASTING ITSELF. IF THIS IS THE CASE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I AM CURIOUS IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS AND SHOULD THIS WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION BY YOUR DEPARTMENT. THE NUMBERS FOR THIS WHEEL, FROM THE DEALER WORK ORDER, ARE: 3L2Z-1007-KA AND A801881. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150438February 16, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE LOWER BALL JOINTS IN MY 2003 SPORT TRAC MULTIPLE TIMES. AT 37000 AND AT 60000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150465February 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FORD EXPLORER DOES NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO MOVE INTO INTERSECTION THEN STALL UNTIL TRANSMISSION EVENTUALLY SLIPS INTO GEAR. FORD TECH LINE WANTS US TO DRIVE UNTIL THE PROBLEM OCCURS CONTINUOUSLY SO THE PROBLEM WILL BE EASY TO FIND. DEALER HAS RESET CPU, REPLACED VALVE BODY, AND NOW PLACED AN "ADDITIVE" IN TRANSMISSION. OBVIOUSLY HAVING NO IDEA AS TO THE REAL PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150322February 15, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
I HAD 2003 FORD EXPLORER THAT CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY, MY CAR WAS BACKED IN ABOUT 10 FEET FROM HOUSE WITH TAILGATE OPEN. THE INVESTIGATOR FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS TELLING ME IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN BACK INSIDE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND I ALSO HAVE DAMAGES TO MY HOUSE AND PROPERTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150255February 14, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
ROARING SOUND COMING FROM THE BACK END OF THE TRUCK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150044February 12, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SPEED SENSOR FAILURE AT 63,000 MILES. THIS ALSO HAPPENED ON MY SON'S 2003 EXPLORER AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149623February 7, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH HESITATION WHEN THE SPEED WAS KEPT CONSTANT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THE HESITATION PROBLEM CONTINUED, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHILE BACKING INTO THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE HIT THE CONTACT'S HOME RESULTING IN A NECK SPRAIN INJURY. THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED UNTIL THE SHIFTER WAS MOVED INTO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION. ALSO, CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT ABS LIGHT WAS ON AND PEDAL FELT STIFF. VEHICLE RAN ROUGH. IN ADDITION, REMOVED AND INSTALLED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAIN CONTROL VALVE BODY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10149523February 6, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
PANEL UNDER TAILGATE WINDOW CRACKED AND SPLIT WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY ON COLD DAY. VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD TAILGATE HINGES REPLACED UNDER RECALL. DEALERSHIP ADVISES THAT MANUFACTURER DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR/REPLACE. DEALER ESTIMATE OF $401 TO REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149426February 4, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
PURCHASED NEW 2003 FORD EXPLORER. AT AROUND 9000 MILES HAD REAR END REPLACED DUE TO INFAMOUS LOUD WHINING NOISE. PROBLEM IMPROVED...BUT WAS NOT COMPLETELY FIXED. AFTER COMPLAINING THAT THERE WAS STILL SOME NOISE, SALE FORD IN KINGSTON, NC SAID IT WAS "UNEVEN TIRE WEAR." REPLACED 2 TIRES. WHEN TAKEN BACK AND TOLD THERE WAS STILL A PROBLEM, WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAD "DONE ALL THEY COULD DO EXCEPT OFFER US A GOOD DEAL ON A TRADE." (LIKE WE WILL EVER BUY FROM THEM AGAIN). AT 59,000 MILES, WE ARE NOW HAVING REAR END "CHATTER" WHEN STARTING OR STOPPING. FORD IS CRAP AND SO IS THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149455February 4, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REAR AXLE IS LEAKING AND THERE IS A HUMMING NOISE ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND THEW TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I HAVE 75000 MILE WARRANTY AND VEHICLE HAS ONLY 45,500 MILES ON IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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