Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10222326March 25, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
CRACK IN BODY OF TAILGATE WITH NO CAUSE; CRACK STARTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK WINDOW AND RUNS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PLASTIC PANEL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS A KNOW DEFECT, BUT WILL NOT FIX IT. IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE, THERE ARE AT LEAST 4 OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS ! IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE TRADE-IN VALUE OF MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221751March 19, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE REAR BEARING AND HUB REPLACED B/C IT WAS GOING BAD. REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS B/C THE WHEEL COULD COME OFF WHILE DRIVING AND IT WAS WALKING WEARING THE BRAKE PADS OUT UNEVENLY RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL SAFETY CONCERNS. THE REPAIR SHOP IS REPLACING BEARING ASSEMBLY AND ALL BRAKES. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND NOTICE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. IT ONLY WAS DETECTED B/C WE THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP WHICH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SO WE TOOK IT IN. IF WE HADN'T, MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THE WHEEL CAME OFF AND/OR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO BEARING BEING BAD CAUSING BRAKES TO WEAR UNEVENLY. THE REPAIR COST ABOUT $1500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221532March 18, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING, THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. MECHANIC SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. I HAVE NOT DONE ANY OF THE WORK YET, AS I CAN NOT AFFORD $3000 IN REPAIRS. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ON A LARGE NUMBER OF FORD EXPLORERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221422March 17, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. FIRST, I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE TAILGATE BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. WITHIN TWO DAYS, THE CRACK SPREAD THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE APPLIQUE AND THROUGH THE FORD EMBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. WE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED 75,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT THIS CRACK HAPPENED AT 78,000 MILES. FORD SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND NO RECALL ON THEIR END. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221266March 15, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 45 MPH. GAS ACCELERATOR PADAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT AND NEVER RETURNED TO THE UP POSITION. THROTTLE CABLE FOR CABLE END BROKE OFF AT THROTTLE BODY FOR GAS ACCELERATOR PADAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221213March 14, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
BODY PANEL BELOW REAR GLASS ON LIFT GATE IS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. I NOTICED THIS ON MANY EXPLORERS OF THE SAME APPROX. AGE WHILE SHOPPING FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220723March 10, 2008
POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
REAR AXLE LOUD NOISE. FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING BECAME EXTREMELY NOISY. AUTOMATIC 4WD CONTROL ENGAGED UNEXPECTEDLY DURING LOW SPEED TURNS AND PARKING. SEVERAL VISITS TO THE FORD REPAIR SHOP, ALMOST $2.5K IN REPAIRS, "ERRONEOUSLY" DIAGNOSED. RESULTS: FINALLY, FAILURES STILL IN PLACE. WHAT A SHAME!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220473March 8, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
BOUGHT MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN JUNE 2005. AFTER LENGTHY TRIP HOME I NOTICED A LOUD BUZZING SOUND UP FRONT. WHEN WE FINALLY HAD IT DIAGNOSED ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE WHEEL BEARING. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BEARING IS BUZZING EVEN WORSE SO WE WILL NEED TO REPLACE THAT ONE AS WELL. WE HAVE 66,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220325March 6, 2008
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220059March 4, 2008
TIRES:TREAD/BELT, TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
WHILE PULLING OUT OF LOCAL WAL-MART PARKING LOT IN REVERSE AN EXPLOSION THAT ROCKED MY EXPLORER CROSS UTILITY VEHICLE CREATED SOME PANIC FOR MY WIFE AND MYSELF. UPON CHECKING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD EXPLODED FROM ONE SIDE OF THE RIM TO THE OTHER RENDERING THE TIRE TO BE COMPLETELY RUIN. THE RIM WAS INTACT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220078March 4, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW HATCH HAS A PIECE OF PLASTIC UNDER THE GLASS, WHICH HOLDS THE WINDOW IN PLACE. THE PLASTIC HAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WINDOW. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 04/02/08. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219896March 3, 2008
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE SIMILAR TO A TIRE BLOWOUT. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE LUG STUDS FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEELS HAD SHEARED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE STUDS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO PARK, BUT THE GEAR BECAME STUCK. SHE JIGGLED THE GEAR UNTIL IT WENT INTO PARK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219680February 29, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW SUDDENLY BLEW OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE, BUT THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,000. UPDATED 03-31-08 *BF AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE GAS IN THE STRUTS THAT HOLD THE TOP PORTION OF THE REAR HATCH CAN EXPLODE WHEN COLD WEATHER IS A FACTOR. UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219744February 29, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
REAR TAILGATE MOLDING BELOW WINDOW CRACKED. APPEARS TO BE A PREVALENT FLAW BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH. CALLED FORD AND THEY ADVISED IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM HOWEVER WERE NOT PLANNING TO RECALL. I BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO THE PRIOR RECALL OF REAR LIFTGATE GLASS AS THIS PART WAS NEW POST RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219561February 28, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WAS FINE AND THEN IT STARTED HAVING TROUBLE SWITCHING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. NEXT THING THE OD LIGHT STARTED FLASHING SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. BY THE TIME I GOT THERE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THEY DID A COMPUTER CHECK ($90 COST) ON IT AND RECOMMENDED TO INSTALL A REMANUFACTURED UNIT FOR $3829. AFTER SOME MORE RESEARCH, I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO AAMCO. THEY WENT BEYOND THE COMPUTER CHECK AND DISCOVERED THAT THE 2ND SERVO PISTON WAS BROKEN AND THE OD SERVO PISTON ALSO RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM. IN THE END, THE COST WILL BE $2043. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220549February 28, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, ON FEBRUARY 17, 2008, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE RAPIDLY APPROACHING THE CONTACT, WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A FATAL CRASH. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, AFTER THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND MAY BE AVAILABLE BY NEXT WEEK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR TWO WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER'S PRESIDENT WAS NOTIFIED ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THE SECRETARY FORWARDED THE MESSAGES TO A LIAISON. THE CONTACT WANTED THE VEHICLE REPLACED, BUT THE LIAISON STATED THAT SHE COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT SAW ON THE NEWS THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL AND FILED CASE NUMBER 0490000518. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO EXISTING RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FOLLOWING FAILURES OCCURRED WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER: ON MARCH 1, 2004, THE RING AND PINIONS FAILED, ON MARCH 31, 2004, THE PINION VALVE LEAKED, WAS DAMAGED, TESTED AND REPAIRED. ON APRIL 14, 2004, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE FRONT PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING AND REPLACED. THE UPPER BEARING WAS ALSO REPAIRED. THE VIN APPEARS TO BE INVALID. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218677February 20, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
HATCHBACK ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, THE TOTAL COST WAS $290.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218699February 20, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
PANEL BELOW GLASS ON LIFT GATE DEVELOP A CRACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218557February 19, 2008
TIRES, SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS
THE SHOCKS AND THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE BACK LEFT PASSENGER SIDE TIRES ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER ARE SHOT. MY EXPLORER HAS 87,000 MILES ON IT!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218084February 14, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A FORD EXPLORE SPORT 2003 NEW FROM THE DEALER; ON SEVERAL OCCASION WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM.THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD AFTER APPLYING BRAKES. THE FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER AND IT STILL TODAY IT CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THINGS SURGE FORWARD AFTER TWO VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE RESPONSE WAS WE CAN'T FIND IT AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. NOW THE WARRANT IS GONE AND WE ARE STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT MAY OR MAYNOT STOP IN TRAFFIC WHICH PUTS OUR LIVES AND MAYBE SOMEONE ELSES LIFE AT RISE. WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE AT THIS TIME; SINCE FORD CAN'T FIX OR LOCATE THE PROBLEM. I PULL THE FORD UP TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OF MINE TO JUMP THE BATTERY AND IT WOULDN'T STOP AND CRASH INTO MY GRILL ;DESTROYED THE FRONT OF MY S10 CHEVY. HOWEVER THAT I CAN FIX. WE APPRECIATE ANY THING YOU CAN HELP US WITH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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