Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10354720September 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH 74,000 MILES ON IT - O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. AROUND THE SAME TIME I NOTICED THAT WHEN GOING FROM A STOP TO A START IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. TOOK IT INTO THE MECHANIC - SUGGESTED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $4100!!! FOR A CAR THAT HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES THIS IS RIDICULOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354105September 7, 2010
SUSPENSION
I HAVE CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY TIRES COMING OFF OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER WHILE DRIVING FOLLOWING ANY WORK REQUIRING REMOVAL OF MY TIRES (THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES NOW). THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN 2006. THE EXPLANATION THAT I HAVE RECEIVED IS THAT THE ALUMINUM RIMS REQUIRE EXTRA TORQUING WHEN PLACING THE TIRE BACK ON THE VEHICLE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE ROOT CAUSE REALLY IS BUT NOW I KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE METAL IN ALL OF THE AREAS ASSOCIATED WITH MY TIRES BEING ATTACHED TO MY VEHICLE. EVERYTHING IS CORRODED BEHIND THE HUB CAPS OF ALL 4 WHEELS. THIS COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ISSUE THAT THE WINDSTARS ARE EXPERIENCING, MAYBE THE ANNEALING PROCESS USED FOR THE METAL WAS DEFECTIVE? I DON'T KNOW BUT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I WANT AN INVESTIGATION OPENED SO THAT IT CAN BE CORRECTED. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD REGARDING THIS ISSUE SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE WITH THEIR EXPLORERS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353520September 2, 2010
WHEELS
WHEEL BEARING NEEDS REPLACEMENT. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. AT ONLY 52,000 MILES THE TRUCK STARTED MAKING A HUMMING SOUND. HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. $500! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352173August 26, 2010
STEERING, SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING ON HWY 38 IN SC, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING REAL BAD AND THEN THE ENTIRE SUV STARTED SHAKING AND WE VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A FIELD. THE FRONT LEFT TIRE CAME OFF AND WE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I SAW THAT 2 OF THE 5 LUG POSTS WERE SHEARED OFF AND THE OTHER 3 WERE BENT. IN ADDITION THE MOLDING AROUND THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE CAME OFF AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS JAMMED SHUT. AFTER EVERYONE WAS OUT SAFELY THE SUV HAS BEEN TOWED AND IS WITH AN AUTO CENTER FOR REPAIRS AND BODY WORK. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE YET FORD HAS NOT HAD ANY RECALLS DESPITE THE FREQUENCY OF THIS ISSUE. IF YOU SEARCH "2003 FORD EXPLORER PROBLEMS" IT WILL COME UP. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I CAN SEE THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE PAID FOR THEIR VEHICLES TO BE REPAIRED ONLY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN ON ANOTHER WHEEL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351642August 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSIONS IS FAILING IN 2ND AND 5TH GEAR. IT OCCURS EVERYDAY AND YOU CAN NOT ACCELERATE WITHOUT IT STICKING IN A HIGHER GEAR, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP SAFELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351769August 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITH NO WARNING, WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 EXPLORER YESTERDAY, THE O/D OFF LIGHT COMES ON THEN THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT ALSO COMES ON. AFTER THAT I NOTICE THE SHIFTING OF GEARS FEELS REALLY WEIRD. IT SHIFTS SLOWER AND HARDER WHEN IT SHIFTS. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH WILL COST ME $2000 THAT I DON'T HAVE, TO PUT INTO A VEHICLE I AM STILL PAYING ON. IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT WITH THE TRANSMISSION THE WAY IT IS NOW, IT COULD LOCK UP AND MAKE ME STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND POSSIBLE GET MYSELF AND OTHERS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE THAT I HAVE, BUT I DIDN'T NOT KNOW THAT UNTIL I BEGAN DOING RESEARCH WHEN IT MESSED UP YESTERDAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351053August 21, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER-4.6 LITER V8 4 WHEEL DRIVE, THE VEHICLE HAS 158,000 MILES AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SPARKPLUG BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I WAS TRAVELING ON A BUSY STATE ROAD WHEN THE ENGINE MISS FIRED AND THEN HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE ENGINE WENT TO MISSING BAD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE AND CHECKED TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I LIMPED THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT AND PROCEEDED TO REINSTALL THE PLUG AND COIL PACK. THE FORCING PUSH OF THE PLUG BROKE THE COIL PACK AND TORE THE PLUG BOOT. I JUST REPLACED THE COIL PACK AND PLUG BOOT ASSEMBLY AND REINSTALLED THE PLUG BCK IN. I FEEL THAT THIS ISSUE IS COMMON ON THE 4.6 LITERS, A FRIEND AND SHADETREE MECHANIC DID A MOTOR SWAP IN AN EXPEDITION WITH THIS SAME MOTOR FOR THE SAME REASON CAUSE THE PLUG IN CYLINDER #4(PASSENGER REAR) TORE THE THREADS COMING OUT AND LET LOOSE METAL INTO THE PISTON JOURNAL AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350292August 18, 2010
WHEELS
WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349943August 17, 2010
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS BUCKLING AND CHIPPING IN LARGE AREAS. THE FAILURE BEGAN AT SPREAD TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 82,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349808August 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN, PARKING BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
I KEEP READING ABOUT 2 COMPLAINTS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AND FORD SHOULD TAKE ACTION ON; THE FIRST BEING THE BACK TAIL GATE... FORD DO THE RIGHT THING. THE SECOND HAS TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION, OVERDRIVE LIGHT, THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL. I USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCES AND WHILE ON A FEW TRIPS THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR NO REASON, AT LEAST I THOUGHT, I THEN FOUND OUT THAT I HAD AN ABS PROBLEM AND WHEEL BEARINGS PROBLEMS. ALL HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME? AS IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH MY TRANSMISSION WAS DRIPPING FLUID ON MY NEW DRIVEWAY! THIS WAS WHILE I ONLY HAD ONLY 70,000 MILES, IT WASN'T RIGHT, I CHECKED OUT THE BRAKES, THEY HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE HOWEVER WHEN I PULL OFF THE REAR DRUM / DISK TO CHECK THE PARKING BRAKE THAT'S WHEN I FOUND THE PROBLEM. I NEVER USE MY PARKING BRAKE, IT ROTTED AND DELAMINATED AND WAS DRAGGING HENCE THE OD LIGHT, THE OVERHEATING OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH BLEW OUT THE SEAL, THE EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST WHICH WAS PARTIALLY THE CAUSE OF ABS SENSOR MALFUNCTIONING. THE LAST PART IMPACTS THE BEARINGS, WHEN THE ABS SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS IT CAN APPLY THE BRAKES AS IN SKIDDING OR IN TIRE SLIPPAGE ADDING TO EARLY UNNECESSARY WEAR ON BEARINGS AND AGAIN OVERHEATING OF THE TRANSMISSION. FORD NEEDS TO INSTALL A FEW "SMART" SENSORS, ONE WHICH COULD TRACK PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTIONS, ALSO ONE FOR FAIL SAFE TEMPERATURE READINGS FOR THE TRANSMISSION. (THAT IS BEFORE IT IS COMPROMISED.) DO THE RIGHT THING FORD, YOUR SALES DEPEND ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348700August 11, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS ON THE REAR LIFT GATE UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HER THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN FAILURE BUT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348875August 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHEELS
OVERDRIVE LIGHT IS BLINKING AND TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THE CAR HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT. NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN TOED. IT IS A DAILY COMMUTE CAR I HAVE OWNED SINCE BRAND NEW. THERE IS NO WAY I SHOULD ALREADY NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. ALSO THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE GONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO COUNTLESS OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS YEAR (2003) EXPLORER. I HAVE RESEARCHED BOTH AND THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR. AND BOTH ARE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS FOR SAFETY REASONS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE DEFECT FROM FORD AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346290July 30, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH APPROX. 70,000 MILES ON IT. ON JULY 15, 2010, I NOTICED THAT THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING ON AND OFF AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED ON AND OFF FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ON JULY 26, 2010, I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND A NEW SOLENOID PACK. THE COST OF THESE ITEMS WAS $2,500! I PROCEEDED TO DO SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 AND 2003 FORD EXPLORERS. THE TRANSMISSIONS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS AS NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT. I FEEL FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL OF THIS ITEM AS IT HAS CAUSED MANY PEOPLE A LOT OF MONEY TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344734July 22, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS THE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342655July 12, 2010
WHEELS
2003 FORD EXPLORER EXT WITH LESS THAN 85,000 MILES. AFTER HAVING MY ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKES) LIGHTS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES, I HAD THE ABS MODULE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AFTERWARDS, SO I HAD SEARS COMPLETE A FRONT END INSPECTION. FOUND OUT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS BOTH FRONT END WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLIES REPLACED. THIS IS APPARENTLY AFFECTING THE TIRES AND THE BRAKES AS WELL. HAD I NOT FOUND OUT WHEN I DID, THE BEARING COULD HAVE WENT OUT COMPLETELY, AND CAUSED A CRASH AND POSSIBLE INJURIES AND DEATH. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ALOT OF MILAGE ON IT AND SHOULD NOT NEED BEARINGS THIS QUICKLY. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS COMPLAINT... AFTER ALOT OF RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND ALOT OF PPL WITH THIS PROBLEM. VIEW THIS WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO.. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/WHEELS_HUBS/FRONT_WHEEL_BEARING_FAILURE.SHTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341754July 7, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE I AM DRIVING THE TRUCK SLOWS DOWN THEN SPEEDS BACK UP. VEHICLE IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD AND HAS 71,000 MILES, A FEW DAYS AGO THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THEN A DAY LATER THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP THEY HOOKED THE TRUCK UP TO THE MACHINE AND 5 MALFUNCTIONS CAME UP IN THE TRANSMISSION HE SAID THAT THE 1ST AND 5TH GEAR IS SLIPPING. HE WOULD HAVE TO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD COST AT LEAST $2000. HE ALSO STATED THAT MY TRUCK WAS TOO YOUNG AND DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MILES IN IT TO ALREADY HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I SEE BY THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON CARCOMPLAINT.COM THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHO DO WE HAVE TO CONTACT IN ORDER TO HAVE FORD NOTICE THAT THEY TRUCK SHOULD GET RECALLED B/C OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341581July 6, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
ONE OF THE TWO HINGES THAT SECURE THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS TO THE VEHICLE RECENTLY BROKE. UNDER THE NHTSA'S GUIDANCE, FORD PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RECALL DESCRIBING AND ADDRESSING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. HOWEVER, FORD CLAIMS THAT MY TRUCK FALLS OUTSIDE THE BUILD DATES FOR THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE, SO IT APPEARS THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO THE LATER BUILD DATES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340699June 29, 2010
POWER TRAIN, PARKING BRAKE
I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF IT NOT EASILY CHANGING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, AND REVERSE TO PARK. LAST NIGHT, I WAS UNLOADING SOME ITEMS FROM THE EXPLORER. THE CAR WAS IN PARK, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. I WAS STANDING IN THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER DOORWAY. I REACHED OVER TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. UPON TURNING IT OFF, THE EXPLORER IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO ROLL INTO REVERSE. MY MOTHER WAS SITTING IN THE BACKSEAT AT THIS TIME AS WELL AS MY TWO BABIES, WHO WERE STRAPPED IN THEIR CAR SEATS. MY DRIVEWAY IS AN INCLINE, SO THE EXPLORER ROLLED BACKWARDS. I TRIED TO RUN WITH IT AS I WAS TRAPPED IN THE DOORWAY. THE EXPLORER GAINED SPEED GOING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, CAUSING ME TO BE KNOCKED DOWN, UNSURE OF WHETHER OR NOT I WAS ABOUT TO BE RUN OVER, OR WHETHER MY MOM AND CHILDREN WERE GOING TO BE INJURED. I WAS THROWN DOWN, LANDED ON MY BUTTOCKS WHICH HAS CAUSED SEVERE BRUISING, HIT MY HEAD ON THE CONCRETE, AND WAS LEFT WITH PAINFUL, OPEN CUTS ON MY LEFT ARM. MY MOTHER WAS TOSSED ABOUT CAUSING PAIN TO HER BACK. MY KIDS WERE THANKFULLY RESTRAINED IN THEIR CAR SEATS. THEY ROLLED BACKWARD INTO A NEIGHBOR'S YARD, THEN PROCEEDED TO ROLL FORWARD BACK ACROSS THE STREET INTO MY YARD. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS STILL ENGAGED, AND THE GEAR SHIFT WAS STUCK BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THIS POSITION. IT TOOK QUITE A LOT OF WORK TO GET THE CAR TO GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE SO THAT THE EXPLORER COULD BE PROPERLY MOVED. I AM VERY UPSET AT THE INCIDENT WHICH COULD HAVE LEFT MYSELF, MY KIDS, OR MY MOM CRITICALLY OR FATALLY INJURED. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE NOW, AND I AM VERY AFRAID TO PARK IT. IF I HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE RIGHT NOW, I CERTAINLY WOULD BE DRIVING IT INSTEAD OF THE FORD EXPLORER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10339439June 22, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW, THE HINGE FOR THE WINDOW BROKE AND THE GLASS BECAME DISENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339445June 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, PARKING BRAKE
MY CAR MOVE BACKWARDS WITH PARKING SHIFT,EMERGENCY AND ENGINE STOPS IN A RAMP DRIVING INTO MY GARAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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