Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10075257June 12, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
2003 EXPOLRER - DEFECTIVE COMPUTER SENSOR MODULE FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FOR THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076126June 11, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075652June 3, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE ROD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL OVER. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ROD DUE TO WORN PARTS. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063479May 20, 2004
STRUCTURE
WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073587May 13, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072332May 10, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 FORD EXPLORER- 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY DISENGAGES. REPRODUCED BY FIRST ACCELERATING FROM 1ST OR 2ND GEAR AND BACK OFF GAS JUST BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AND ENGINE REVS UP. MUST EITHER REV ENGINE UP OVER 4K OR BACKOFF GAS ALTOGETHER TO RECOVER. FORD IS NON-RESPONSIVE TO INQUIRES. PROBLEM WEBSITES ARE FULL OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072180May 5, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE PARKED REAR LIFTGATE GLASS EXPLODED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067860April 26, 2004
PARKING BRAKE
2003 FORD SPORT TRAC SAFETY PARKING BRAKE RELEASE MALFUNCTIONED. FIVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER PULLED GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE. CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO LAKE AND SUBMERGED. I WAS ABLE TO GET HER OUT BEFOR IT SANK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068594April 21, 2004
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND WOULD ONLY STEER TO THE LEFT. THIS RESULTED IN VEHICLE GOING OVER AN EMBANKMENT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067596April 21, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
SOON AFTER PURCHASE THE EXPLORER (2WD) DEVELOPED AN AXLE WHINE FROM 55-70 MPH ON ACCELERATION. IT'S QUIET ON COAST. THE LOCAL DEALER FOUND A TSB (#16898). THEY REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT AS SPECIFIED. THE ONLY CHANGE WAS THE RANGE OF THE WHINE, NOW 58-63MPH. BACK TO DEALER ON 1/8/04. THEY SAID A FIX WAS IN THE WORKS, CALL BACK IN 3 MONTHS. CALLED TODAY (4.21), NO FIX AND NO DATE. PS: SURE SOUNDS LIKE A BAD RING/PINION TO ME...*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067345April 19, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063411April 8, 2004
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE SPRING ON THE SECOND SET OF SEATS REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT. EVEN AFTER THE ADJUSTMENT THE SPRING WAS STILL TOO TIGHT/STRONG. CONSUMER WENT TO A FORD DEALER AND EXPLAINED TO HIM JUST WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT HE SHOULD CALL NHTSA AND COMPLAIN. CONSUMER PULLED THE LEVEL TO ADJUST THE SEAT, AND THE SEAT CAME DOWN WITH SO MUCH FORCE THAT IT SPLIT. CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF A CHILD WOULD PULLED THE LEVEL HE OR SHE WOULD CERTAINLY BE INJURED.*AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064339April 1, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE ON ANY TYPE OF INCLINE OUR FORD EXPLORER XLT ROLLS BACK WHILE IN DRIVE. AFTER TELEPHONING FORD MOTOR COMPANY, I WAS TOLD BY ANN TO TAKE THE ISSUE UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. SHE SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE ISSUE OF THE ROLLBACK WHILE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE ON AN INCLINE. WHEN WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED IT, THEY SAID THEY WOULD WORK WITH US AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY. IN EARLY DECEMBER AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE 8 CYLINDER VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED HAS A DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION THAN THE 6 CYLINDER. WHILE THE 6 CYLINDER EXPLORERE DOES NOT ROLL BACK ON AN INCLINE WHILE IN DRIVE, THE 8 CYLINDER MODEL DOES. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS SIMPLY THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION IS DESIGNED AND THAT CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ELIMINATE THE ROLL BACK ISSUE. WHEN I PICKED UP MY VEHICLE ON DEC. 7, 2003, TONY (SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER) TOLD ME THAT CLAUDIA WOULD BE CALLING ME WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK TO MAKE SOME TYPE OF ARRANGEMENTS WITH ME ALONG THE LINES OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THE FACT THAT PERHAPS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD. MY MAIN CONCERN WITH THE ROLL BACK ISSUE IS THAT MY DAUGHTER IS GOING TO BE DRIVING THIS SUMMER, AND WE CANNOT ALLOW HER TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. FOR AN INEXPERIENCED, NEW DRIVER TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE COULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF TURNING INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE ROLL BACK WHILE ON AN INCLINE IN DRIVE. THIS IS THE FIRST NEW VEHICLE MY WIFE & I HAVE EVER PURCHASED AND WE ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED, NOT ONLY ABOUT THE ROLLBACK ISSUE BUT BY FORD'S LACK OF INTEREST IN THE ROLLBACK ISSUE. REPEATED EMAILS TO FORD MOTOR HAVE GONE UNANSWERED, AND AS OF THE DATE OF THIS COMPLAIN NEITHER CLAUDIA OR ANYONE FROM FORD MOTOR CO. HAS CONTACTED ME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057387April 1, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 4-5 TIMES. EACH TIME THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED BUT EACH TIME THE JERKING PROBLEM RETURNED. THE CONSUMER DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE TECHNICIAN CAN REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *NM THE VEHICLE WOULD OSCILLATE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE PULLING IN AND OUT OF A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING. THE WHEEL JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WHEN THE STEERING OSCILLATED. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065186March 30, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10065309March 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VISIBILITY, SEAT BELTS, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
NUMEROUS PROBLEM: BRAKES, REAR WINDOW OPENING, SEAT BELT RETRACTION, HEATER, REAR DEFROST, BODY WORK, ETC.. *PH WHILE BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE REAR WINDOW HINGE FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE WINDOW TO OPEN WHILE THE CONSUMER WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED SLOWLY WHICH CAUSED THE BELT TO BECOME HOOKED ONTO THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM. AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE LEFT WIPER WAS NOT CLEARING THE WINDSHIELD. THE LEFT REAR DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY UNLESS IT WAS SLAMMED HARD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064124March 29, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
PURCHASE VEHICLE ON JULY 30, 2003. REAR AXLE WHINE DURING SPEEDS BETWEEN 45 - 60 DURING ACCELERATION/ DECELLERATION DIAGNOSED ON 13 OCTOBER 2003. ADVISED THAT ENGINEERS WERE WORKING ON A FIX AND NO SERVICE WAS TO BE PERFORMED. VERY DISPLEASED AT THE ATTITUDE OF FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AND THE LACK OF SERVICE RECEIVED WITH FORD VEHICLE. FILED COMPLAINT WITH SETTLEMENT DISPUTE BOARD AND WITH BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. NEXT STEP IS TO CONTACT ATTORNEY TO FILE LEMON LAW. ALSO, CONSUMERS NEED TO GET OUT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC THAT FORD IS SELLING THESE VEHICLES KNOWING THERE IS A PROBLEM AND IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064017March 27, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN TO THE FLOOR INTERMITTENTLY.THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETTY ISSUE.THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM YET.TOOK IN THE SHOP FOR MORE THAN 3 TIMES.ALSO THE OIL LEAK FROM THE REAR MAIN SEAL,HARSHE SHIFT IN TRANSMISSION ,POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE,OIL PAN GASKET LEAK ,MASTER CYLINDER LEAK ,COIL (SPARK PLUG) FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063778March 24, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BEGAN LOCKING UP WHEN VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE TO BACK-UP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063336March 16, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND LEFT IT THERE FOR 30 DAYS. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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