Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10262392March 18, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BACK LIFT GATE (HATCH) OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS A VERTICAL CRACK UNDER THE WINDOW NEXT TO THE CENTER FORD LOGO. I NOTICED ON THE INTERNET THAT 1,000S OF OTHER PEOPLE TO INCLUDE IN OUR CITY ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS. THIS HAPPENED IN WINTER. I SEE IN CAR STATS THERE ARE COMPLAINTS THERE TOO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261882March 15, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR TAIL GATE HAS A CRACK IN THE FIBERGLASS FROM THE WINDOW ALL THE WAY DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261880March 15, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE HOOD ON MY VEHICLE IS BLISTERING AND BUBBLING OFF IN MANY AREAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261833March 14, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BACK LIFT GATE (HATCH) OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS A VERTICAL CRACK UNDER THE WINDOW NEXT TO THE CENTER FORD LOGO. I NOTICED ON THE INTERNET THAT 1,000S OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261715March 13, 2009
STRUCTURE
A CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH NEAR THE FORD EMBLEM ON 2003-2005 FORD EXPLORERS. FORD HAS A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) ON THIS ISSUE SO THEY KNOW IT EXISTS AND YET THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE IS JUST ONE OF A FEW OUT THERE REGARDING THIS MATTER... HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261656March 12, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE REAR HATCH HAS CRACKED FROM THE BACK GLASS DOWN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE EMBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261433March 10, 2009
STRUCTURE
AFTER ONLY 24,000 MILES, OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS EXPERIENCED TWO PROBLEMS WITH FIBERGLASS & ALUMINUM BODY PARTS. BELOW THE REAR WINDOW A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE FIBERGLASS AFTER CLOSING THE WINDOW DURING COLD WEATHER. AFTER TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL, I BECAME AWARE OF THE FACT THAT BODY SHOP OWNERS ARE INFORMING THEM THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THAT MODEL. SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND THE OWNER SHOULD HAVE THEIR VEHICLES REPAIRED BY FORD. MY DEALER HAS SAID FORD HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. WHY HAS THIS NOT HAPPENED? IN ADDITION, THE ALUMINUM HOOD IS NOW SHOWING BUBBLING UNDER THE PAINT, AND THE PAINT IS BEGINNING TO PEEL OFF THE HOOD. IT IS APPARENT FORD HAS EITHER HAD SOME DEFECTIVE PAINT DELIVERED TO THEIR PLANTS, OR THEIR IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT ALONG WITH A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT HAS CAUSED THESE PROBLEMS. THIS IS FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY, NOT THE OWNER, AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL REGARDLESS OF THE PROBLEM SOURCE. AFTER REVIEW BY FORD'S ZONE MANAGER HE CONCLUDED FORD HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES FOR OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THESE PROBLEMS WITH FORD DENYING ITS ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKES: HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/VBULLETIN/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=489142&PAGE=2 HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEFORUMS.COM/VBULLETIN/T489142.HTML HTTP://WWW.LEMONLAWCLAIMS.COM/FORD_EXPLORER_CRACKED_PAINT.HTM HTTP://CBS5.COM/CONSUMER/FORD.PEELING.PAINT.2.755918.HTML HOW CAN FORD ISSUE 'SERVICE BULLETINS' ON THESE ISSUES, BUT FAIL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS? IT IS THEREFORE QUITE OBVIOUS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS, BUT FAILING TO ADDRESS THEM SATISFACTORILY. THEY THEN LEAVE THE DEALER WITH THE PROBLEM OF INFORMING THE CUSTOMER OF THEIR DECISION AND TAKING ALL THE 'HEAT' FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260272February 28, 2009
STRUCTURE
I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC TRIM BETWEEN THE REAR WINDOW AND THE FORD LOGO WAS CRACKED. I HAVE SINCE NOTICED IT ON A MAJORITY OF 2002 - 2004 EXPLORERS. I HAVE ALSO FOUND NUMEROUS ONLINE POSTS AND OTHER WEBSITES DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS AND A REFUSAL BY FORD TO REMEDIATE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260188February 27, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFTGATE HINGE BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GLASS WAS WEDGED INSIDE THE ROOF. IF THE HATCH HAD NOT BEEN WEDGED, THE GLASS WOULD HAVE SHATTERED ONTO HER FEET OR CAUSED INJURIES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,555 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 74,575. 4/01/09 *NJ UPDATED 04/07/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260030February 26, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2003 FORD EXPLORER STARTED ACCELERATION FROM 40 KM UP TO 90 KM IN JUST SECONDS, BRAKES WOULDN'T STOP OR SLOW IT DOWN, USED EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND IT EVENTUALLY STOPPED. TOOK IT TO FORD, AND THEIR REASON FOR THE ACCELERATION WAS FLOOR MAT IN THE WAY. WHAT A JOKE, THAT'S WAS THE FIRST THING I CHECKED FOR AND THEY WEREN'T IN THE WAY. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259488February 20, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 FORD EXPLORER 4.0 SOHC ENGINE RATTLE NOISE.I GUESS THERE IS ALOT OF ISSUES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. TIMING CHASIS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259317February 19, 2009
STRUCTURE
THE PAINT HAS BLISTERED AND IS ACTIVELY PEELING OFF OF A SUBSTANTIAL AREA OF THE HOOD OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. ACCORDING TO LEMONLAW.COM, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN INDICATING A MAJOR PAINT DEFECT IN MANY 2000-2005 FORD, LINCOLN, AND MERCURY CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUV'S THAT USE ALUMINUM BODY PARTS. THE BULLETIN FURTHER STATES THAT, "SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT BUBBLING OR BLISTERING UNDER THE PAINT ON ALUMINUM BODY PARTS". I AM NOT A LAWYER, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WARRANTY OR NOT, THIS IS A CLEAR BREACH OF ALL EXPRESSED AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BODY PARTS AND/OR PAINT WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE START SINCE THE BULLETIN STATES THAT FORD RESEARCH ADMITTED THAT THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM IRON CONTAMINATION WITHIN THE ALUMINUM BODY PART PRIOR TO BEING PAINTED. I REGISTERED MY COMPLAINTS WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AND WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY, ASKING FOR FULL REMEDY OF THE SITUATION. THE ONLY OFFER THEY MAKE IS A DEAL ON A NEW CAR! I HOPE THAT FILING THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP THE CONSUMER WHO HAS BEEN CLEARLY HURT AND IS EXPERIENCING ECONOMIC LOSS DUE DIRECTLY TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS SITUATION REMEDIED SINCE SEPTEMBER 2008, BUT MY COMPLAINT CONTINUES TO BE PUSHED ASIDE. I BELIEVE THEY HOPE ALL OF THE CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY QUIETLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259120February 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HAD TO REPLACE WIRE HARNESS TO TRANSMISSION AFTER 85,000 MILES NOW THE OVERDRIVE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS FLASHING. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258585February 13, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CODE WAS DISPLAYED DURING THE TESTING, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT A LETTER WITH A CHECK FOR $1,000 TOWARDS THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10258625February 13, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
LIFT GATE FRAME CRACKS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. I WAS TOLD BY CORTESE FORD IN ROCHESTER THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS WITH THIS DEFECT AND THEY BELIEVE IT HA SOMETHING TO DO WITH HOW THE FRAME IS PUT TOGETHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257144February 2, 2009
VISIBILITY
3 LARGE CRACKS IN PLASTIC TRIM BELOW GLASS ON REAR LIFT GATE "APPEARED" AFTER A COLD/ICY DAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256636January 28, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS CRACKED ON HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NOT DEFECTIVE; THEREFORE, SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT DISAGREES AND BELIEVES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT AND WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,300. UPDATED 03-04-09 *BF THE BACK OF THE LIFTGATE PANEL BELOW THE WINDOW CRACKED. UPDATED 03/04/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255921January 21, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
PLASTIC BODY PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW ON THE LIFT GATE HAS CRACKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255745January 20, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR TAILGATE/LIFTGATE DOOR PANEL CRACKED IN TWO PLACES VERTICALLY WHILE IN GARAGE PARKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255789January 20, 2009
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
I BOUGHT MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN SEPT 2007. AFTER DRIVING IT TO AND FROM WORK I NOTICED A LOUD HUMMING SOUND UP FRONT @ 94,000MILES. WHEN I FINALLY HAD IT LOOKED AT 2 MONTHS LATER, I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SIDE WHEEL BEARING. NOW A FEW MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BEARING IS HUMMING EVEN WORSE SO I HAD THAT ONE REPLACED. 10,000 MILES LATER THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. I DO NOT LIVE ON A DIRT ROAD, THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A $400.00 WHEEL BEARING (EACH) IN MY LIFE ON ANY TRUCK OR CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED UNTIL NOW ON A FORD EXPLORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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