Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10234338July 15, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, PARKING BRAKE, EQUIPMENT
BRAKE PADS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED WHEN INSPECTING PADS, FRONT EDGE OF ROTORS HAVE COMPLETELY RUSTED. PADS WERE IN GOOD SHAPE THICKNESS WISE IN SOME AREAS AND ROTTED IN OTHER AREAS. PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED NOW 5 MONTHS LATER IT'S STARTING AGAIN. PARKING BRAKE PADS DELAMINATED AGAIN. ABS LIGHT CAME ON DURING TRIP FOR NO REASON? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233536July 8, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING IN HIS COMPUTER THAT WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY TEN NHTSA SERVICE BULLETINS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE REAR AXLE MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/11/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233181July 4, 2008
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
I HAVE A FORD EXPLORER AND THE BACK GLASS FELL AND IT HANGING OFF. WHY BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST YEAR THE PROBLEM WASN'T FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233205July 4, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE HEATER NO LONGER WORKS AND NO MATTER WHERE THE HEAT DIAL IS TURNED, IT MAKES A CONSTANT TICKING SOUND. I LOOKED INTO GETTING IT FIXED AT A LOCAL SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO BE AT LEAST A $1,500 CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232941July 1, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
TIRE VALVE PROBLEM - 3 BLOWN TIRES IN 60 DAYS ORIGINAL TIRES PURCHASED 1/31/2007 - CAR MILEAGE 75,857 AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE 1ST INCIDENT - APRIL 12, 2008 - CAR MILEAGE 91,400 (RIGHT FRONT TIRE) BLOWN TIRE ON INTERSTATE 81 IN VIRGINIA (TIRE REPLACED W/NEW VALVE) NO PROBLEM DETERMINATION DONE RELATIVE TO THE VALVE 2ND INCIDENT - APRIL 26, 2008 - CAR MILEAGE 92,300 (LEFT FRONT TIRE) BLOWN TIRE ON INTERSTATE 85 IN NORTH CAROLINA (TIRE REPLACED W/NEW VALVE) NO PROBLEM DETERMINATION DONE RELATIVE TO THE VALVE 3RD INCIDENT - JUNE 18, 2008 - CAR MILEAGE 93,100 (LEFT REAR TIRE) BLOWN TIRE ONE INTERSTATE 285 IN GEORGIA (TIRE REPLACED W/NEW VALVE) PROBLEM DETERMINATION DONE REVEALED VALVE SEEMED TO BE ROTTED 4TH TIRE (RIGHT REAR) WAS CHECK DURING THE 3RD TIRE REPLACEMENT - VALVE WAS "WIGGLED" AND THE TIRE STARTED TO LEAK - 4TH TIRE PRO-RATED AND NEW TIRE AND VALVE WAS PUT ON THE CAR AS A RESULT OF THE ANALYSIS DONE DURING THE 3RD TIRE REPLACEMENT - IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VALVES WERE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURES TIRES WERE MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN SUV ORWL P235/7R-16 VALVE NUMBERS WERE NOT DETERMINED THE ONLY REASON WE INVESTIGATED THE POSSIBILITY OF A RECALL ON THE VALVES WAS BASED ON THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE TIRE SERVICE ATTENDANT THAT THEY HAD SEEN A FEW OF THESE AND THEY WERE GETTING REIMBURSED DUE TO A FAULTY VALVE. THE PURCHASE PLACE OF THE TIRES WITH THE VALVES IN QUESTION WAS DISCOUNT TIRE IN KENNESAW GEORGIA - JANUARY 2007 CONSEQUENTLY, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 TIRES (WHICH WERE COVERED UNDER MY ROAD HAZARD INSURANCE WITH DISCOUNT TIRE) AND A NEW ALIGNMENT... TOTAL COST, INCLUDING EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT $150 (THANKS TO THE ROAD HAZARD INSURANCE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232939July 1, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BACK LIFT GATE PANEL IS CRACKED ON MY 2003 EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD THE CRACK FOR APPROX. 2 YEARS. THE CRACK HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID " THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL CASES SUCH AS THIS, BUT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL" I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL EXPLORERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO COVER THIS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUSLY A FORD DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232629June 29, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
APRIL 2008, O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING & VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING HARD; TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP THE NEXT WEEK; AFTER COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION ON 2003 EXPLORER WITH 80,000 MILES; WITHIN 2 MONTHS THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WANTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232166June 24, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY BACK WINDSHIELD EXPLODED LAST THURSDAY WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. NOT ONLY DID THE GLASS EXPLODE, BUT THE FIBERGLASS UNDERNEATH THE GLASS WAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE BACKEND OF THE TRUCK IN A BOWING POSITION. I HAD THE BACK HINGE REPLACED AFTER THE RECALL, IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 12 MONTHS AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN NASHUA WILL DO NOTHING FOR ME, STATING THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE AND THERE ARE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS. WHEN I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE AREA FACTORY REP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ONE. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER, WHO PRETTY MUCH SAID, HERE'S YOUR HAT, WHAT'S YOUR HURRY, OUT YOU GO...HE THEN FLAGGED ME AS BEING AN "IRATE" CUSTOMER. I AM A MOTHER OF 4 YOUNG CHILDREN, GOD FORBID THEY HAD BEEN IN THE CAR WHEN THAT HAD HAPPENED. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES..FORD-BUILT STRONG MY LEG! ANYONE INTERESTED IN FILING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN THE STATE OF NH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, I AM GOING TO CONTACT MY LAWYER TODAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232160June 24, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
JULY OF 2007 THE REAR WINDOW ON OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAD BROKEN AT ONE OF THE HINGES AND THE WINDOW SAGGED. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL, (04V44200). WE THEN CONTACTED FORD AND THEY AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. NOW 10 MONTHS LATER WHILE THE AUTO WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY THE WINDOW SHATTERED WITH NO ONE AROUND. THERE WAS A NEIGHBOR WORKING IN THE YARD WHO WITNESSED THIS HAPPEN. GLASS WAS BOTH INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER A WEEK OF PHONE CALLS WITH NO LUCK, I WAS FINALLY IN TOUCH WITH A ONE OF THE PARTS GUYS AT FORD WHO SAID THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HE WAS AWARE OF. HE EVEN STATED THAT THEY ONLY REPLACED THE HINGES AND NOT THE GLASS WHICH IS KNOWN TO SHATTER. AFTER SEVERAL PHONE CALLS, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE RECALL WAS ONLY ON THE HINGES (EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THE GLASS IS DEFECTIVE AS WELL) AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP US OUT. WELL IM NOT PAYING $1,600 OUT OF MY POCKET FOR ANOTHER PRODUCT THAT FORD KNOWS HAS A PROBLEM AND DOESN'T BACK UP THERE WARRANTIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10230363June 9, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE LIFTGATE, THE RIGHT HINGE SWUNG OUT AND BECAME DETACHED. THE HINGE NEARLY STRUCK HIS CHILD. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL ON HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE FOR THIS IDENTICAL FAILURE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT IF THE FAILURES ARE THE SAME, HIS VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229709June 3, 2008
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRING FAILED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, BUT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,550 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,330. UPDATED 06/25/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE DEALER FIXED THE RECALLED REAR HATCH PROBELM, THE CARGO HATCH FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. A
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229363May 30, 2008
STRUCTURE
CRACK IN PANEL ON REAR HATCH I SEE SAME CRACK IN SAME SPORT ON ALL SAME VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229059May 28, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I HAVE A SET OF WILD COUNTRY XTX TIRES THAT HAS SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURE DEFAULT. THEY ARE CHOPPING SOMETHING TERRIBLE. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK FOR 6 MONTHS AND I WENT INTO HAVE THEM ROTATED AND THEY WOULDN'T ROTATE THEM BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE TIRES LOOK. THE TIRE SIZE THAT I HAVE IS LT 235/70 R16 ..I DON'T KNOW IF U NEED ANYMORE INFO ON THEM. BUT THEY LOOK LIKE THEY COULD BE GETTING VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON. AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ELSE I COULD DO BOUT THIS PROBLEM . THEY DIDN'T LOOK THIS WAY WHEN I BOUGHT THE SUV. OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE HAD THE CAR COMPANY PUT NEW TIRES ON THE SUV WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I TRIED LOOKING UP THE COMPANY WHO MADE THE WILD COUNTRY TIRES BUT DIDN'T HAVE ANY LUCK. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD LET U KNOW BOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228889May 26, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH CRACK IN REAR DOOR PANEL (CARGO DOOR) WE NOTICED THIS CRACK AFTER A COLD NIGHT. IT WAS NO FAULT OF OUR OWN, AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER FORD EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME VERTICAL CRACK IN THE BACK DOOR. I REALLY THINK THIS IS A DEFECT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY,AND EXPECT THEM TO RECALL THIS PRODUCT. ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE US WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I HAVE ALSO READ MANY OF THESE SAME STORIES ABOUT THE CRACKED REAR DOOR ONLINE. WITH SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING, IT'S A SHAME THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY FORD TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228714May 22, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES WITHOUT INCIDENT, I PULLED INTO TRAFFIC AND ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 45 MPH THEN LET UP ON PEDDLE BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. TO BRING IT UNDER CONTROL I HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND AT THAT POINT, LOST POWER STEERING AND SOME BRAKES. I HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER AND HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228215May 19, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
AS MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED AND AM SURE COUNTLESS OTHERS DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CRACK IN THE REAR OF THE 2003 EXPLORERS. IS ANYTHING GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT? I HAVE TALKED TO FORD AND TO DEALERS AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. MY CONCERN BECAME LARGER THEN COSMETIC TODAY WHEN I LEFT THE CAR WASH. NOW NOT ONLY IS THERE THAT HUGE CRACK BUT ALSO THE SEAL AROUND THE WINDOW IS FALLING OUT AND WATER IS GETTING IN. IF THIS IS STARTING TO HAPPEN I WONDER NOW IS IT JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THESE WINDOWS START TO FALL OUT??? DOES FORD REALLY NEED ANOTHER HUGE LAWSUIT WHEN WHAT I SEE STARTING TO HAPPEN TO ME STARTS WITH OTHERS IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY. WILL FORD JUST WAIT FOR REAR WINDOWS TO FALL OUT GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE CAUSING WRECKS, OR WILL THEY FINALLY OWN UP TO THE THOUSANDS OF 2002-2004 EXPLORER OWNERS THAT THEY MADE AN ERROR IN PRODUCTION. NO ONE IS PERFECT BUT WE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ACTIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226682May 5, 2008
SUSPENSION
WHEEL BEARING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER 50K MILES WHICH SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ON 2000+ MODEL YEAR FORD EXPLORERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226483May 2, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE RPM'S TO INCREASE FROM 1,000 TO 4,000, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WOULD ALSO REMAIN ILLUMINATED AFTER THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT STILL CONTINUES TO FAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225905April 28, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BACK PANEL OF MY 2003 EXPLORER IS CRACKED. THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED AT LIBERTY FORD IN RANDALLSTOWN. THEY ADMIT AS WELL AS THE FORD CORP. OFFICE THAT THE PANELS ARE CRACKING BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. THEY ARE SAYING THE PROBLEM IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHEN THE INVESTIGATION STARTED OR WHEN THEY THINK IT WILL END. THEY ARE ONLY SAYING THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO PARTICULAR REASON THAT THESE PANELS ARE CRACKING THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO REPLACE THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225633April 24, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
O/D LIGHT FLASHES TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING OUT OF 1ST GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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