Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10384050February 22, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
FORD EXPLORER REAR LIFTGATE PANEL HAS CRACK AND IT EXPANDS DURING COLD WEATHER AND IT AFFECTS REAR LIFTGATE LATCHING SECURITY AS REAR LIFTGATE FLIES OPEN WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT WHEN DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384052February 22, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2003 FORD EXPLORER FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS MAKE A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL 2003 FORD EXPLORERS. IT GROUND DOWN THE WHEEL LUGS FROM THE INSIDE AND THE TIRE CAME OFF ON THE FREEWAY DOING 60MPH. THE ROTORS GOT EATEN UP ON THE INSIDE TOO. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383891February 21, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 89,000 MILES. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD I'VE HAD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 89,000. I HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL BRAKE ISSUES THAT FORD REFUSED TO ADDRESS AFTER EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383445February 21, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG AND I HEARD A POP NOISE AND THE PANEL UNDER THE BACK WINDOW WAS CRACKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383326February 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6 4.0L ON I40W, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE WHILE THE RPMS WERE CONSTANTLY GOING UP. THIS PUT ME IN THE INTERSTATE WITH NO POWER AS THE GEARS WEREN'T SHIFTING. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT IT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND TOLD ME THEY REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BREAK THE TRANSMISSION DOWN IN ORDER TO KNOW FOR SURE. I SEARCHED ONLINE FOR ANY COMMON TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND CAME ACROSS A SITE WHERE PEOPLE WITH VEHICLES JUST LIKE MINE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. AS OF NOW I'M STILL WAITING ON FORD TO LET ME KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY TRUCK, BUT WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I SEE NO REASON FOR THEM NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AS WELL AS HAVE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383329February 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THE COMPANY DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS...THE CAR WAS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WE HAD TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381658February 12, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SECOND GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381131February 8, 2011
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW PANEL WAS FRACTURED NEAR THE BOTTOM. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WINDOW WOULD FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE AND BREAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO A RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380183February 4, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY, I STARTED THE SUV A FEW MINUTES BEFORE I HAD TO LEAVE TO LET IT WARM UP BECAUSE NY IS COLD, AND THEN LEFT TO RUN SOME ERRANDS. I REALIZED RIGHT AWAY THAT THE TRUCK SOUNDED A LITTLE FUNNY WHEN ACCELERATING, SO THE RADIO WENT OFF SO I COULD LISTEN. I FOUND THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND, IN THIS AUTOMATIC VEHICLE, THE OVERDRIVE WAS KICKING ON PREMATURELY. THEN THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I CAME HOME AND STARTED RESEARCHING IT AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS, SO HERE I AM, IN THE SAME BOAT AS EVERYONE ELSE, ABOUT TO LOOK UP NUMBERS TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS BECAUSE THE DEALER IS DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY MONEY OFF OF MY WITH THIS ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379919February 2, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR HATCH CRACKED NEAR THE FORD LOGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379868February 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I DO NOT DRIVE IT HARD AND MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS THE PROPER UPKEEP. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONE DAY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING AND THE TIME I GOT HOME THAT EVENING THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD IF IT WOULD EVEN SHIFT AT ALL. MY O/D OFF LIGHT ALSO STARTED FLASHING. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE WITH MY TRANSMISSION UNTIL I CHECKED ONLINE TO FIND THAT THERE IS ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT FORD IS DOING NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT IT WILL COST ATLEAST 3200 OR MORE TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE CONTACTED MY FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BUT STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND FORD HASN'T ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS OR WAS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION SEEING THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND IF ANYONE CAN TELL ME IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS MATTER. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379218January 25, 2011
POWER TRAIN
ENGINE REVS TO NEARLY 5000 RPM BEFORE SLAMMING INTO 2ND GEAR. HAD SEVERAL MECHANICS TELL ME THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE JUNK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378390January 24, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, AND THE TRANSMISSION WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE! AN 03?! PLEASE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378139January 21, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CHANGING GEARS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,655 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,260.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376972January 17, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SOME SORT OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE DEALING WITH THE SHIFTING SOLENOID. THIS LEADS TO SPORADIC SHIFTING BETWEEN THE LOWER GEARS. THIS LEAD TO VERY HARD DRIVING IN SLOW AND ICY CONDITIONS. THE CAR WOULD BE AT SUCH HIGH RPMS AT SLOW SPEEDS SUCH AS 20-30 MPH THAT THE CAR WOULD LOOSE TRACTION, SO FAR I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT THE POTENTIAL IS VERY APPARENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376298January 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, THEN THE OD (OVERDRIVE) LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THEN THE EXPLORER HAD DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HIGHER RPMS THAN USUAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM 0 TO 30MPH. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE THE EXPLORER WAS PURCHASED AND EXCLUSIVELY SERVICED SINCE WHEN I BOUGHT IT NEW IN JULY 2003. THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH 2003 EXPLORERS. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAVE NO 2ND OR 5TH GEARS, INT. SERVO FAILED AND CASE BORE DAMAGED. THEY WANT OVER $3,600 TO REPAIR (AND THAT, THEY SAY IS A DISCOUNT!). I THEN TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP, WHO WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THERE WERE 2 OTHER EXPLORERS CURRENTLY THERE BEING REPAIRED FOR THE SAME THING. AN INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A CONSUMER RIP-OFF! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376317January 11, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND AFTER 7YEARS A CRACK HAS FORMED FROM THE REAR WINDOW DOWN TO THE FORD LOGO ON THE REAR PANEL OR TRUNK DOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375337January 9, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT ONLY HAS 70000K AND THE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY IN NEED OF REBUILD. IT DOESN'T DRIVE IN REVERSE AND DOESN'T GO FASTER THAN 25MPH WITHOUT SOUNDING AS IF THE ENGINE IS GOING TO FALL OFF. IT KICKS BACK WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE GEARS AND THE RPM IS WORKING HARD WITH THE TRUCK GOING NOWHERE FAST. I CANT AFFORD TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AS IM STILL MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH AN EIGHT YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THIS LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON HOW THERE IS NO DIPSTICK TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOULD HAVE BEEN REVEALED AT TIME OF PURCHASE I THINK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374776January 5, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK IN THE REAR LIFT GATE PANEL. THE CRACK WAS LOCATED UNDER THE TAIL GATE WINDOW. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10374767January 5, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR TAILGATE WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE TAILGATE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR R HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY ANY PORTION OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 2/23/11 *CN UPDATED 04/25/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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