Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10496184February 2, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
AS I WAS DRIVING THE SUN VISOR DROPPED, AND STARTED TO DANGLE AND SWING TOWARDS MY FACE. IT STARTLED ME AND I SWERVED THE CAR A LITTLE, TRIED TO DODGE THE VISOR FROM HITTING ME IN THE FACE/HEAD, AND THEN PULLED INTO A PARKING AREA. I NOTICED THE SUN VISOR HINGE HAD CRACKED AND THE WIRING CAME LOOSE. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER QUICK LANE AND THEY STATED IT WOULD COST ME BETWEEN $120-$250 DEPENDING ON THE COLOR AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REWIRED DURING INSTALLATION. THIS COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY, AND THERE IS NO REASON THIS PART SHOULD OF BROKEN LIKE THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496190February 2, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE FORD EXPLORER SPORT HAS SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *REAR BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND CAUSED MY BATTERY TO DRAIN. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY STATED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORERS, THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THAT THE CAR HAS IS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC ACTUALLY STATED THAT THEY STOPPED MAKING THAT KIND OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, SO THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW KIND OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BECAUSE THE MECHANIC'S STATEMENT, THIS INFORMED ME THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THAT CAME WITH THE CAR IS DEFECTIVE. *DOOR AJAR LIGHT SOMETIMES COMES ON FOR NO REASON WHEN ALL DOORS ARE FULLY CLOSED, AND THEN TURNS OFF ON IT'S OWN AFTER A COUPLE DAYS. I CALLED FORD AND THEY STATED THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS AND I NEEDED TO GREASE THE DOOR LATCHED AND CLEAN THE RUBBER LINING ON THE DOORS. I DID ALL THIS AND IT STILL HAPPENS SOMETIMES. I'VE SEEN COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS ONLINE TOO. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE NOW WHEN THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON PEOPLE MAY IGNORE THINKING IT'S THE REGULAR GLITCH, WHEN IT COULD POSSIBLY BE AN OPEN DOOR ONE DAY. *POWER DOOR AND POWER WINDOW MOTOR CONSTANTLY GOES OUT EACH YEAR. I HAVE HAD THIS REPAIRED THREE TIMES NOW. THIS IS ALSO DANGEROUS BECAUSE IN AN EMERGENCY PASSENGERS CAN'T EXIT A WINDOW IF NEEDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494621January 24, 2013
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE A/C HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. IN ADDITION, THE A/C FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 03/07/13*LJ UPDATED 03/11/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494439January 23, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO RESET THE PROBLEM BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION CENTER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493469January 18, 2013
AIR BAGS
TRAVEL APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR SOUTHBOUND ON SR-99 BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND 3 MONTH OLD SON, BOTH IN APPROPRIATE CHILD SAFETY SEATS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT, I DID NOT SWERVE, NOR STEP ON THE BREAKS. NOTHING OCCURRED IN THE VEHICLE TO WARRANT OR CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THE FORCE OF THE AIRBAGS STRUCK MY HEAD CAUSING HEAD AND NECK PAIN, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH HAD I SWERVED AND IT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CRASH OUT OF CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10490344December 28, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 -10 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE HATCH BACK WINDOW DETACHED AND FELL FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE HINGES TO THE REAR WINDOW WERE SEVERELY RUSTED, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO DETACH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED STATE INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486257November 27, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE WAS FRACTURED NEAR THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD LOOK FURTHER INTO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484642November 14, 2012
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO UPPER GEARS. O/D LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE TO FORD. FORD WILL NOT REPAIR OR COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR THIS KNOWN DANGEROUS AND FAULTY TRANSMISSION ISSUE ON MANY 2000-2003 EXPLORER'S. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483122November 2, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE TRIM THAT HELD THE REAR WINDOW IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. ...UPDATED 12/17/12 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482839November 1, 2012
POWER TRAIN
WHILE I WAS MERGING FROM ONE ROAD TO THE NEXT THE EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR. WHEN I CONTINUED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS WITHOUT ME "FEATHERING" THE GAS. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HAD TO PAY $2000+ TO REPAIR/REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481091October 19, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WINDOW DETACHED FROM THE HINGES AND CRACK THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE HINGES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DOOR WAS STILL CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO KEEP THE RECEIPTS IN CASE OF ANOTHER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481127October 19, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE TAILGATE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THERE HAD NOT BEEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480705October 16, 2012
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I WAS BACKING UP TO THE GARAGE TO UNLOAD THE STUFF IN THE BACK AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD WHINNING NOISE AND TOOK OFF FAST..I COULDN'T STOP THE TRUCK.. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479743October 11, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SITTING AT A STOP SIGN VEHICLE WENT INTO ACCELERATION GAS PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR. FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. CHECKED NO CARPET STUCK UNDER THE GAS PEDDLE. FOOT WAS NOT TOUCHING GAS PEDDLE. IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS PRESSING THE GAS PEDDLE. CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF. SHUT VEHICLE OFF THEN BACK ON ISSUE WENT AWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED OTHER TIMES TO MYSELF AND MY WIFE. SOMETIMES WHILE PUSHING THE GAS THE GAS PEDDLE LEAVES YOUR FOOT AND CONTINUES TO THE FLOOR ON ITS OWN, PRESSING THE BRAKE AND TURNING VEHICLE OFF SEEMS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS SO IN FREQUENTLY THAT IT IS HARD TO REPRODUCE FOR SERVICE SHOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479646October 10, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479376October 9, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HINGE FOR THE LIFTGATE WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,308.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478759October 5, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477320September 27, 2012
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT A LUG NUT WAS DETAHCED FROM THE WHEEL WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE LUG NUT WAS SHEERED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473941September 5, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES ON THE BACK LIFT GATE FRACTURED AND ALLOWED THE GLASS TO BECOME DISENGAGED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) 8 YEARS PRIOR AND PROVIDED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472682August 27, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT GATE HINGES WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.....UPDATED 10/11/12 *BF UPDATED 10/16/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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