Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10217682February 11, 2008
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED ON OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AT FORD AND DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE EXPLORER. IT COST $2,000 TO FIX. OUR MECHANIC REFERRED US TO A TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE SPECIALIST WHO HAD SEEN MULTIPLE EXPLORERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. THE CONSEQUENCES OF A FAILURE IN THE TRANSFER CASE CAN BE A COMPLETE SHREDDING OF THE GEARS AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, WHICH COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217738February 11, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD. APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS AGO, THE REAR TRIM PANEL BENEATH THE REAR WINDOW CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE. I CONTACTED MY NEAREST DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT WHILE FORD HAD RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM, THEY DID NOT PLAN TO ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL. THE DEALER SERVICE REPS EVEN AGREED THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS MANY COMPLAINTS ON-LINE. TODAY THE REAR HATCH LEFT LATCH BROKE OFF CAUSING THE ENTIRE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW TO NEARLY FALL OFF. THE PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED DUE TO THE EARLIER CRACK CAUSING THE WEIGHT OF THE REAR GLASS TO SHIFT, PLACE TOO MUCH STRAIN ON THE LEFT LATCH. THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE BROKEN LATCH, WINDOW MOLDING AND REAR HATCH STRUTS, UNDER AN EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN BUT STILL WILL NOT REPAIR THE PREVIOUS CRACKED TRIM PANEL. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF FORD'S FAILURE TO BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT AND THEY HAVE LOST A LONG TERM CUSTOMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217740February 11, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD. APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS AGO, THE REAR TRIM PANEL BENEATH THE REAR WINDOW CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE. I CONTACTED MY NEAREST DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT WHILE FORD HAD RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM, THEY DID NOT PLAN TO ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL. THE DEALER SERVICE REPS EVEN AGREED THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS MANY COMPLAINTS ON-LINE. TODAY THE REAR HATCH LEFT LATCH BROKE OFF CAUSING THE ENTIRE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW TO NEARLY FALL OFF. THE PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED DUE TO THE EARLIER CRACK CAUSING THE WEIGHT OF THE REAR GLASS TO SHIFT, PLACE TOO MUCH STRAIN ON THE LEFT LATCH. THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE BROKEN LATCH, WINDOW MOLDING AND REAR HATCH STRUTS, UNDER AN EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN BUT STILL WILL NOT REPAIR THE PREVIOUS CRACKED TRIM PANEL. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF FORD'S FAILURE TO BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT AND THEY HAVE LOST A LONG TERM CUSTOMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217600February 10, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 40,000 MILES 4000 OUT OF WARRANTY, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. NO WARNING AT ALL. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. MY WIFE NURSED THE CAR HOME. THE CAR HAD NO FIRST GEAR AND WOULD SLAM FROM SECOND TO THIRD. FORD CONFIRMED THIS, AND SAID THE ONLY FIX WAS A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION. 6,000 MILES LATER, THE SAME THING. SINCE THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY, FORD SAID THAT THEY COULD REPLACE SOME SOLENOIDS AND THAT WOULD FIX IT....NOT!! THREE MORE TRIPS AND FINALLY A TRANSMISSION THAT DOESN'T ACT UP ALL THE TIME. IT STILL SHIFTS FUNNY AND SOMETIMES FAILS TO GO INTO GEAR. MY WIFE HAS COME CLOSE TO BEING REAR-ENDED NUMEROUS TIMES, I.E. BACKING INTO THE STREET. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD HAS BEEN IGNORING, READ THE FORUMS. I HAVE MANY OTHER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. READ DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCHES GOING BAD, KEYLESS ENTRY FAILING, DOOR LOCKS FAILING, AND A WINDOW THAT WORKS PART-TIME....KINDA LIKE FORD ENGINEERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217538February 9, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED REAR HATCH WITHOUT IMPACT. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE COLDER THAN NORMAL. THERE ARE TWO VERTICAL 1/4" CRACKS THAT APPEARED SUDDENLY BELOW THE REAR HATCH LIFT GATE WINDOW. WE HAD NOT USED THE BACK LIFT DOOR OR THE LIFT GATE WINDOW IN SEVERAL DAYS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216781February 3, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
CRACKED HATCH ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WORRIED THAT PANEL WILL FALL OFF. FORD DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. HAVE READ THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE AROUND COUNTRY HAVE SAME PROBLEM NO MATTER WHAT CLIMATE IS. FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PANEL FALLING OFF WHILE DRIVING AND CREATING AN ADVERSE INCIDENT WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216704February 1, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
REAR GLASS APPLIQUE UNDER REAR HATCH HAS CRACKED TWICE, FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY, SECOND TIME IT IS NOT COVERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216662February 1, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
THE HINGES ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER BROKE WHILE OPENING THE LIFT GATE. I WANT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE FIXED. THEY CHARGED ME $323.55 TO REPLACE THE HINGES & STRUTS. LATER I FOUND OT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT DURING THE DATES LISTED IN THE RECALL IT WAS NOT BUILT AT A SPECIFIC PLANT. OF THE 955,000 VEHICLES COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL MY CAR (WHICH ACTUALLY HAD THE PROBLEM) WAS NOT COVERED. BELOW IS A COPY OF THE RECALL FROM YOUR OFFICE. I AM CERTAIN THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER FACING THIS ISSUE. FORD MOTORS NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON RECORD WITH THIS COMPLAINT STATING THAT THE RECALL BELOW BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE ALL 2003 FORD EXPLORERS REGARDLESS OF PLANT THAT BUILT IT. THE HINGES ARE BAD. FORD / EXPLORER 2002-2003 FORD / MOUNTAINEER 2002-2003 MANUFACTURER : FORD MOTOR COMPANY MFR'S REPORT DATE : SEP 09, 2004 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V442000 PE04045 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE04045 COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 955732 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED OR THE HINGE MAY FRACTURE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK. CONSEQUENCE: IF THE HINGE SHOULD FRACTURE, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE GLASS TO FALL AND ULTIMATELY BREAK AND PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216259January 28, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I JUST RECENTLY TOOK MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4.0L V6 TO MY LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE OF A COLD DRAFT COMING FROM THE GLOVE BOX AND OR FLOOR PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. UPON NOT EVEN GOING INTO FURTHER EXPLANATION ABOUT MY PROBLEM THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS; STATING IT IS THE "BLEND DOOR." THEY SAID "THE PINS FROM THE DOOR BREAK OFF AND CAUSES THE DOOR TO FALL MAKING IT NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY CREATING A COLD DRAFT AND THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONING NOT TO WORK PROPERLY; IS A "COMMON PROBLEM".' WHEN I CALLED DOWN THERE TWO DAYS LATER, TO GET MY QUOTE ON FIXING IT, THE MANAGER IN PARTS SAID 'THE PART WAS $50.00 AND WAS GOING TO REQUIRE 4 HOURS OF LABOR BECAUSE OF HAVING TO TAKE THE WHOLE DASH OFF TO GET TO IT; I WAS LOOKING AT ROUGHLY $330.00 WITH PARTS, LABOR, AND TAX.' I PERSONALLY FEEL THIS IS A 'MANUFACTURES DEFECT' AND WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY FOR A 'MANUFACTURES DEFECT?' ALSO, IF THIS IS SUCH A 'COMMON PROBLEM' WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL FOR IT BEING FAULTY; OTHER THAN BECAUSE IT'S NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. I APPRECIATE ANY TIME YOU PUT INTO MY QUESTION AND DILEMMA. I WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT ISN'T A RECALL. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216151January 26, 2008
STRUCTURE
I PURCHASE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN THE SAME YEAR. LAST YEAR MY WIFE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE LIFTGATE DIRECTLY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE CRACK WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG AND NARROW IN WIDTH. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERS BODY SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER " THAT I SEE THIS ALL THE TIME IN ALL OF FORDS SUV'S INCLUDING THE LINCOLN AND MERCURY MODELS. IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY AND ONE THAT FORD WILL NOT RECALL". HE GAVE ME A ESTIMATE OF $350 AND ADVISED THAT I GO TO THE DEALER AND TALK TO SOMEONE THERE. I DID SO AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE WERE 2 REASONS WHY THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR FOR ME. THE 1ST IS THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE 2ND WAS THAT I DID NOT BUY THE CAR FROM THEM, I PURCHASED THE CAR AS A DEMO FROM ANOTHER DEALER. I WAS GIVEN A NUMBER TO CONTACT FORD WHICH I DID AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE WOULD HAVE THE REGIONAL REP FROM FORD CONTACT ME WHENEVER HE WAS IN TOWN. HE ALSO STATED THAT IF FORD WOULD NOT HELP ME THEN HE WOULD FIX THE CAR FOR HALF PRICE THE COST. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM IN A YEAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AS THE BODY SHOP MANAGER AT THE DEALER SAID, THIS IS A FLAW THAT FORD MOTOR CO. IS AWARE OF AND WILL NOT RECALL. MY CAR NOW HAS 3 CRACKS ON THE LIFTGATE AND I LIKE SO MANY OTHERS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM. WE ARE DESPERATELY SEEKING HELP FROM SOMEBODY IN HOLDING FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216172January 26, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
CRACK IN LIFTGATE OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER; NOTE: 2ND TIME IT HAS CRACKED, AFTER REPLACEMENT ONCE...NOW ABOUT 25,000 MILES LATER, SAME PROBLEM WITH NEW LIFTGATE. CRACK JUST "APPEARS". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216012January 25, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
WHEN I GOT TO MY CAR THIS MORNING, THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK REAR PANEL OF MY '03 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER SERIES HAD CRACKED FROM BETWEEN THE WINDOW TO THE LATCH - RIGHT UNDER THE FORD EMBLEM. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT - NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS DAMAGE. LUCKILY THERE ARE ONLY 51K MILES ON THE TRUCK, AND THE DEALER IS WILLING TO FIX WITH A $75 DEDUCTIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215861January 24, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK IN THE TAILGATE BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215867January 24, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
NOTICED THE OTHER DAY THE BRAKE LIGHT WERE STUCK "ON" AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND ONLY AFTER TAPPING THEM A FEW TIMES DID THEY TURN OFF. THE ONLY PLACE TO GET A REPLACEMENT BRAKE ON / OFF SWITCH IS VIA THE DEALER FOR APPROX $95.00, INSTALLATION EXTRA. HE TOLD ME HE SELLS ALOT OF THESE FOR EXPLORERS, MAYBE IT NEEDS TO GO ON THE "RECALL LIST". IT POTENTIALLY WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THEY WERE TO STAY ON AND THEN HAVE A NEED TO STOP QUICKLY THE PERSON BEHIND YOU WOULD NOT SEE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND REAREND YOUR VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215910January 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SAT. JAN. 19, 2008; APPROX. 99,780 MILES - ENGINE STALLED WHILE WE WERE TURNING OFF THE HIGHWAY TO A SIDE STREET. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN APPROX. 20 MILES, SO THE ENGINE WAS WARM. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, WHICH CAUSED US TO GO INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS COMING TOWARDS US SO WE COULD STOP, PUT IT IN PARK, AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS IS ABOUT THE FIFTH OR SIXTH TIME IT HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215911January 24, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML THE LINK ABOVE IS BASICALLY WHAT I EXPERIENCE - A CRACK IN MY BACK BODY PANEL - NO WRECK - NOTHING TO CAUSE IT - JUST SITTING THERE! FORD WILL NOT REPLACE - THEY CLAIM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY - AS IF A BODY PANEL SHOULD CRACK BY ITSELF! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215567January 21, 2008
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM ATTEMPTING TO RECTIFY A WELL KNOW PROBLEM ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER REGARDING THE HEATER BLEND DOOR FOR THE FRONT HEATING UNIT. IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE I HAVE NO HEAT HERE IN MICHIGAN OF ALL PLACES. DOES FORD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL FORD PEOPLE AND THEY SAY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. IF THE AIR BLEND DOOR BREAKS AND THE SYSTEM IS LOCKED IN THE A/C MODE, DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD WILL BE A CHALLENGE. EVER TRIED TO MELT ICE WITH AN AIR CONDITIONER? WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT SAFETY ISSUES. WHEN THE DEALER CALLED BACK , THE FIRST QUESTION WAS THE VEHICLE?S MILEAGE. WHEN I REPORTED 79K MILES THEY SAID SORRY, THE CUT-OFF FOR ASSISTANCE WAS 75K MILES. I ARGUED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS LOGGED AT 40K MILES WITH NUMEROUS FOLLOW-UP CALLS. THEY REFUSED. I CALLED THE 1-800 ASSISTANCE NUMBER AGAIN AND GOT A REAL BONEHEAD. SHE CONFIRMED THAT 75K MILES WAS THE CUT-OFF. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE GENTLEMAN TO WHOM I HAD PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED MY COMPLAINT, GIVING HER HIS IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. SHE REFUSED. I HUNG UP AND DIALED THE 1-800 NUMBER AGAIN. THIS TIME I GOT A KIND LADY WHO TOLD ME THAT THE FIELD ENGINEER HAD THE AUTHORITY TO OFFER COMPENSATION. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEN LEARNED THAT THE FIELD ENGINEER HAD BACKED OUT OF THE DEAL AND I WAS ABOUT TO FORK OVER $700 FOR REPLACEMENT. HOW IN THE WORLD DOES THE CUSTOMER GET HOSED FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK, KEPT IT INSURED, DID MY MAINTENANCE AND DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT, I STILL HAVE TO PAY? UNLESS THE VEHICLE IS IN A CRASH OR FIRE, AN AIR PLENUM SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE ON-GOING SAGA CONTINUES, AS THIS BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE, NOW I CAN'T SEE OUT OF MY WINDOW DUE TO SNOW AND ICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215417January 19, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKE ROTORS CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE FRONT SURFACE WAS FLAKING OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215425January 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BRAND NEW 2003 FORD EXPLORER. REPLACED ENGINE AT 115 K MILES AND NOW THE TRANS IS GOING; SPECIFICALLY, THE O/D LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND IT SHIFTS BADLY. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING ONLINE, WHILE FORD IGNORES THIS FAULTY TRANS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215352January 18, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
BACK HATCH SPLIT ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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