Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10471869August 22, 2012
ENGINE, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE BRACKETS AND VALVE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS SHE COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471352August 18, 2012
WHEELS, STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY
ALL 4 OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACES IN A MATTER OF 5 MONTHS THE REAR WINDOW HAS A CRACK IN THE FIBERGLASS COVERING RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE SAID NOT COVERED NOT A HEALTH RISK BUT THE MOLDING IS STILL CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF WINDOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MOLDING PIECE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL U GET BACK IN AND TAP THE BRAKES THEN THE LIGHT SHUTS OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471227August 17, 2012
WHEELS
WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT ON FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AND BOTH THE REAR WHEELS. I JUST REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR WHEEL BEARINGS WHICH IS NOT CHEAP. I CANNOT BELIEVE FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF EXPLORERS. I WOULD NOT EVERY BUY FORD AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471301August 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN
IT'S THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING PROBLEMS GOING INTO GEAR AND JERKING. THE TRANSMISSION IS SEALED SO I CAN NOT CHANGE THE FLUID MYSELF EITHER. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS I AM HAVING. HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469499August 7, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE HINGES FOR THE REAR LIFT GATE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GLASS FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE HINGES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED SINCE THE RECALL WAS ONLY ISSUED FOR THE 2002 MODEL YEAR EXPLORER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467848July 26, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING ON I-26 AT 65 MPH. TOOK FOOT OFF GAS, CAR CONTINUED AT 65, DID NOT HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. I PRESSED BRAKE, CAR DIDN'T SLOW, PRESSED HARDER, STILL DIDN'T SLOW, MOVED GEARSHIFTER TO 1ST GEAR, COULD HEAR ENGINE REVVING, REALIZED GAS PEDDLE/ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK, TAPPED FOOT ON GAS PEDAL AND CAR FINALLY SLOWED. TOOK CAR TO FOUR SEASONS FORD IN HENDERSONVILLE, WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM BUT MAYBE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE SEEMED "POSSIBLY NOT QUITE SNAPPED IN PLACE". THEY SNAPPED IT BACK. HAVE NOT HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM BUT AM PARANOID ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467612July 25, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE OVER DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND EVERYTHING SEIZED BEFORE STALLING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SOLENOID WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467664July 25, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466888July 21, 2012
SEATS
THE PROBLEM WITH THE FORWARD SEAT HEAD REST WRONG ANGLE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO GET STIFF NECK AND GET YOU REALLY TIRED DRIVING LONG DISTANCES, THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST BUT UP AND LOWER NOT ENOUGH TO CLEAR YOUR HEAD TO BE STRAIGHT AS PROPER POSTURE, I UNDERSTAND IT IS TO PREVENT NECK INJURIES, MY RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE AN ADJUSTABLE HEAD REST FWD AND AFT SIDE AND HIGHER TO ADJUST TO YOUR BODY PROPERLY. IT IS A BIG CONCERN SINCE LOTS OF PEOPLE GET ON THE ROAD AND THEY GET REALLY TIRED AND UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466819July 20, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
REAR WINDOW HINGES BROKE FOR THE SECOND TIME. THEY WERE FIXED ONCE WITH RECALL AND ARE NOW BROKE AGAIN. ALSO THE BACK LIFT GATE PANEL HAS CRACKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465815July 16, 2012
STRUCTURE
RCALL WORK WAS DONE ( FORD # 04S045 ) SINCE THAT TIME THE PLASTIC TRIM PIECE ATTACHED TO THE TAILGATE WINDOW CRACKED WHICH HAS ALLOWED WATER TO RUST OUT THE MOUNTING BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE LATCH AND WIPER ASSEMBLY. THE RESULT IS THAT THE WIDOW NO LONGER CLOSES SECURELY AND THE WINDOW LATCH IN-OPERABLE. HAS THIS BEEN ADDRESSED IN AND OTHER RECALLS? I HAVE OBSERVED THAT 9 OF 10 EXPLORERS/MOUNTAINEERS ALSO HAVE CRACKED TRIM PIECES. AS A RESULT OF THE RUSTING BRACKET I FEEL THAT THE WINDOW COULD SUDDENLY OPEN AND/OR SHATTER. REPAIRS SEEM IMPOSSIBLE ALSO DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SHATTERING THE WINDOW CAUSING INJURY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465869July 16, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,793.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464246July 5, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TWO LARGE CRACKS BELOW THE REAR LIFTGATE, LOCATED NEAR THE MANUFACTURER'S EMBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463091June 25, 2012
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY
MY SON WENT TO LEAVE IN EXPLORER. NOTICED HATCH HAD POPPED OPEN (HAS BEEN DOING THIS) AND WHEN HE CLOSED THE TWO INCH OPENING THE GLASS EXPLODED ON HIM AND ALL OVER DRIVEWAY. GLASS PIECE IN EYE WHICH IS OK AND SCRAPES ON ARMS AND FOOT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE AND WANT ANSWERS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10460655June 5, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRACK WAS FOUND IN THE REAR DOOR PANEL. THE CRACK WAS NOTICED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE CONTACT'S GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460694June 5, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE DETACHED FROM THE HINGES OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459699May 25, 2012
SEAT BELTS
THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS THAT IT DOES NOT RETRACT, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SYSTEM WOULD NOT HOLD ANY TENSION TO BE SAFE ON THE ROAD AND BESIDE THAT IT DOES NOT RETRACT, IT TORN THE SEAL BECAUSE METAL HOOK WAS STILL STICKING OUT AND IT GOT CAUGHT ON THE DOOR CONSEQUENTLY TEARING THE SEAL, THEY ARE THE SAME WAY ON BOTH SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, DRIVER AND PASSENGER. I BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND IT SEEMS LIKE THEY DON'T CARE TO REPLACE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458785May 17, 2012
SUSPENSION
BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ( BRAKES ) WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. WHILE HAVING SPRINGS REPLACED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE REAR SHOCKS. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY LESS THAN 55,000 MILES UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON PAVED CITY AND HIGHWAY ROADS. AFTER INSPECTING THE BROKEN SPRINGS WE REALIZED THAT THE DAMAGE WASN'T A RECENT OCCURRENCE. THEY COULD HAVE BEEN DEFECTED AT 40,000 MILES OR LESS.I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF POSSIBLE DEFECTED REAR SUSPENSION PARTS IT MAY BE USING IN SOME OF IT'S VEHICLE MODELS AND THE POTENTIAL SAFETY RISKS THIS MAY POSE ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458465May 14, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD FUEL TANK ISSUES FOR A YEAR NOW AND THEY ARE GETTING WORSE. MY GAUGE STOPPED WORKING ABOUT 13 MONTHS AGO WHICH WAS NO BIG DEAL. NOW I AM UNABLE TO PUT MORE THEN 4-5 GALLONS OF GAS IN AT A TIME. THE SAFETY SENSOR STOPS THE PUMP FROM FILLING UP MY TANK AND IF I TRY TO DO IT A LITTLE AT A TIME IT JUST SHOOTS GAS OUT OF MY FILL AREA AND GETS EVERYWHERE. I HAVE BEEN DOUSED IN GAS AND I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS IN VERY BAD AREAS. THE SENSOR REPLACEMENT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX, NOW IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT GAS IN MY TANK AND IT'S STARTING TO RUN POORLY. I HAVE TO STOP EVERYDAY FOR GAS. THIS IS A MALFUNCTIONING FORD PART THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS EVERY THING SHUTS DOWN INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING. IT WAS DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER MY TRUCK, I WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE ON RAMP WAS A SEMI-CIRCLE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457784May 8, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL WAS CRACKED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE DEALER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,543 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 08/07/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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