Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10574294March 23, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TOP PORTION OF THE LIFTGATE ON THE VEHICLE OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND THEN THE DRIVER SIDE HINGE FRACTURED CAUSING THE LIFTGATE TO FALL AND HANG BY ONLY ONE SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE COMPRESSION ROD WAS BENT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE COMPRESSION ROD HAD TO BE REMOVED AND THE LIFTGATE HAD TO BE TEMPORARILY FASTENED WITH HARNESSES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573838March 20, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A TROUBLE CODE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573398March 19, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 185,697.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573175March 18, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT DOOR WAS MISALIGNED AND BECAME CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE REAR LIFT DOOR HINGE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR CAUSED THE MISALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW REAR LIFT DOOR AND THE DOOR WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,273.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573221March 18, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED AT 68 MPH WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND SOME SMOKE WAS PRESENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF SMOKE IN THE ENGINE AREA. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE HOUSING UNIT BEING CRACKED OTHER THAN FOR BEING DEFECTIVE, COLD TEMPERATURE OR HIGH HEAT THAT COMES IN CONTACT WITH IT. THE HOUSING UNIT SHOULD NEVER SPLIT APART. THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT WAS LEAKING. THE OVER DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE AND IT ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION IN FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD IN SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING FIVE MILES IN SECOND GEAR TO HIS RESIDENCE AT 35 MPH. AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT ALSO ADDED ANTI FREEZE TO THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED SHORTLY AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IN REVERSE GEAR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BANDS IN THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT WHICH HAS THREE HOSES ATTACHED TO IT. FORD WAS CURRENTLY CHECKING THE TRANSMISSION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,620.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10572567March 15, 2014
POWER TRAIN
LOCKED UP AND FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10569056March 13, 2014
ENGINE
MY ENGINE WENT OUT AFTER ONLY 140000 MILES ON IT WITH NO WARNING. I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND THERE ENGINE WENT OUT AFTER ONLY WITH 100000 MILES ON IT. IT COST ME OVER 3200.00 FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565635February 24, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 77,000 MILES, JUNE 2010. REPLACED WITH FORD PART AT FORD DEALER. REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION LASTED 3 YRS/8 MOS, AND LASTED 45,000 MILES (8 MONTHS BEYOND WARRANTY). FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, OR PROVIDE ANY RELIEF WHATSOEVER IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ANY POINT, AT ANY TIME, COULD BE VERY VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564841February 18, 2014
POWER TRAIN
FLASHING O/D OFF, CHECK TRANSMISSION, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WENT ON. TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SERVICE CO FOR INSPECTION. THERE RESPONSE WAS THIS MODEL FORD TRANSMISSION WAS NO GOOD. THEY FLUSHED SYSTEM, ADDED NEW FLUID AND ASKED THAT I PRAY FOR EXTRA MILES. THAT WAS NOV.'13. NOW FEB '14, TRANSMISSION LIGHTING SAME CHECK LIGHTS. TOTAL RE-BUILD LIKELY AT $2500 +/_. COMPLAINTS ON 2003 EXPLORERS AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM ARE EXTREMELY OUT OF CONTROL SIGNALING SOMETHING WRONG. PLEASE INQUIRE ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND THE 2003 EXPLORER IN GENERAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563910February 11, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RUSTING WIRES UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE STEP PLATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563915February 11, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RUSTING WIRES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE STEP PLATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563672February 10, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE LIFT GATE OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HINGE TO BECOME FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE COMPRESSION ROD WAS ABNORMALLY BENT. THE CONTACT MADE A TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENT TO THE LIFT GATE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563007February 5, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH BACK WINDOW PIN BECAME FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE SPRING AND THE WINDOW TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE HATCH BACK PIN HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562975February 4, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER, STRUCTURE:BODY
ON THE MORNING OF 1/29/14 I WAS AT THE MARKET ,CAME OUT TO LOAD MY ITEMS INTO THE VEHICLE , OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE AT ABOUT THE 1/3 OPEN POINT THE GLASS EXPLODED INTO A MILLION PIECES . WHICH IN TURN SENT SHARDS OF GLASS INTO MY FACE ,HANDS , HEAD AND EYES . THEY WERE MINOR INJURIES BUT I'M STILL EXTRACTING GLASS FROM MY HEAD AND HANDS AND THERE IS STILL GLASS EMBEDDED IN MY HANDS . I HAVE AN APT WITH MY DR ONLY BECAUSE THERE IS GLASS IN MY EYES. MY MOTHER WAS WITH ME BUT SHE WAS AT THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SO SHE DIDN'T GET NAILED .I HAVE NEVER SEEN A WINDOW EXPLODE LIKE THIS, THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE , THE POWER OF THE FLYING GLASS WAS UNREAL SOME OF IT WENT THROUGH 3 -12 PACKS OF SODA WITH EASE. ALSO I HAVE NO RESOURCES TO GET A NEW WINDOW AS THEY ARE AROUND 700 DOLLARS . SO THIS IS WHAT I GET FROM FORD FOR BEING A LOYAL CUSTOMER ? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10562365January 31, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
PLASTIC REAR PANEL BELOW THE REAR GATE GLASS CRACKED DIRECTLY BESIDE THE FORD OVAL. THE PANEL IS NOW SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES. CONTACTED FORD DEALER AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE (VIA EMAIL) AND FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE FAILURE OF THIS PANEL. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH EXPLORERS AND FORD HAS NOT EVEN AS MUCH AS TRIED TO HELP THE CUSTOMER WITH REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562414January 31, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW BECAME CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561523January 26, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS EVENT HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS EXCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING ! AND WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME ENDING IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE JUST UNDER 2 MONTHS ! THE FLOOR MATS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM HERE. ONCE I WAS IN REVERSE AND A POWER SURGE CAME OVER THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK DIDN'T RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT BUT WAS SOMEWHAT AFRAID OF IT. I WAS COMING HOME LAST NITE TURNED INTO MY DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE EXCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL ENDED UP SMASHING INTO MY FORD ESCAPE THAT COULD HAVE BIN MY LITTLE GIRL OR SOMEONE'S CHILD! WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. HAVE HAD FORDS MOST ALL OF MY LIFE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE! THERE'S A LOT OF EXCELERATION PROBLEMS LISTED ON THIS SITE I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560860January 21, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HITCH WAS CRACKED. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MECHANIC DID NOT DIAGNOSE OR REPAIRED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559451January 11, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER, STRUCTURE
I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A DEFECT IN THE TAILGATE PANEL ON THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER. IT IS CRACKED AND AS A RESULT WATER GETS INTO THE INSIDE OF THE PANEL AND LEAKS INTO THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF THE BITTER COLD DAYS HERE IN THE NORTHEAST OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO, ICE FORMS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES WITH VISIBILITY WHICH IS DANGEROUS. IT ALSO SHORTED OUT THE REAR WIPER MOTOR AS WELL. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT EFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559036January 8, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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