Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10864740May 13, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGE FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE LIFT GATE TO REMAIN UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10855549April 14, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE OWNED THIS 2003 FORD EXPLORER SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW IN 2003. IT CURRENTLY HAS 70,009 MILES AND HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE AND NOT DRIVEN OFTEN OVER 13 YEARS. WITHIN TWO YEARS OF PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIFT GATE UNDER THE GLASS. I TALKED TO TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS THAT ADVISED IT WAS NOT A DEFECT BUT MY FAULT FOR GLIDING THE GLASS TO HARSHLY. I HAD NOT USED THE GLASS OFTEN AND HAD NEVER SLAMMED IT.M SINCE THAT TIME I'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF FORD EXPLORERS FROM THE EARLY TO MID 2000S WITH THE SAME CRACK IN THE SAME LOCATION. TODAY I WAS BEHIND FOUR DIFFERENT EXPLORERS FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD AND ALL HAD THE SAME CRACK. I CHECKED ONLINE AND REALIZED THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT WITH SOME DRIVERS STATING THE BACK GLASS BURSTS WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT WITH SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT FORD HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THE DEFECT AND REPAIRED IT. ALL ONE NEEDS TO DO IS SEARCH THROUGH ONLINE IMAGES TO SEE IT US A HUGE PROBLEM AND A DEFINITE MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WITH THE BACK GLASS BLOWING OUT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852423March 30, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THIS EVENING THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN STEADILY BLINKING AND THE TRANSMISSION TOOK WAY TOO LONG TO SHIFT (RPM ALMOST RED LINE) AND WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND FIRST NOTICED THE TRUCK NOT SHIFTING AND WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. IF YOU TURN THE TRUCK OFF THEN BACK ON THE O/D OFF LIGHT TURNS OFF BUT THE TRUCK STILL WON'T SHIFT CORRECTLY AND THE LIGHT STARTS TO BLINK AGAIN. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 133,000 MILES. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838716February 26, 2016
TIRES
CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC P235/70R16 DOT A308 46KW 311 NOTICED VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING, TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATING; INSTALLED SPARE. HAD VIBRATION AGAIN A MONTH LATER. BOTH TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. INSTALLED IN 2013; APPROX 20K MILES. REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES; HAVE OLD TIRES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838068February 24, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH CAUSED THE DOME LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838090February 24, 2016
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THIS EVENING THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN STEADILY BLINKING AND THE TRANSMISSION TOOK WAY TOO LONG TO SHIFT (RPM ALMOST RED LINE) AND WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND FIRST NOTICED THE TRUCK NOT SHIFTING AND WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. IF YOU TURN THE TRUCK OFF THEN BACK ON THE O/D OFF LIGHT TURNS OFF BUT THE TRUCK STILL WON'T SHIFT CORRECTLY AND THE LIGHT STARTS TO BLINK AGAIN. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 133,000 MILES. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10826109February 15, 2016
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING IN MINUS 20 DEGREE CELSIUS TO TAKE HIGHWAY 15 NORTH FROM JUST AFTER PANAMA BUS STATION. IN THE ENTRANCE, MY CAR START TO SLOW DOWN TO THE 5 KMPH. IN THE BACK OF MY CARS WERE ALL ON THEIR HAZARD LIGHT AND BEING MAD AT ME. SO I DRIVE BACK TO MY HOME TAKING THE NEXT EXIT. I WISH SOMEBODY COULD TAKE THE VIDEOS AND SENT TO THE FORD COMPANY TO LET THEM KNOW MY SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10825771February 12, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2003 FORD EXPLORER SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I LOSE BRAKING AND STEERING ABILITY. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES . TODAY 12 FEB. 2016 IS THE LATEST DATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10820938January 19, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CRACKED PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10820980January 19, 2016
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOID PACK AND THE OXYGEN SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK TRANSMISSION AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808552December 5, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER XLT BACK IN JUNE OF 2015. SINCE THEN I REPLACED MY OXYGEN SENSOR DO TO A FAULT IN THE SYSTEM AND MELTING BACK IN AUG. 20015. THE SUV WOULDN'T START BECAUSE OF IT AND HAD TO BE TOWED. SINCE I PURCHASED AND HAD REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR BY A FORD DEALER, I NOTICED THE SUV HAVING POWER FAILURE EVEN FROM A COMPLETE STOP AND NOW THE OVER DRIVE OFF LIGHT FLASHES; THIS STARTED IN THE BEGINNING OF NOV. 2015 I NOTICED THAT THERE IS OVER 2755 COMPLAINTS OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND FAILURES EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE, BUT NOT ONE RECALL. THIS IS A ISSUE WITH THE SUV THEMSELVES AND NOT OWNER ERROR. I HAVE CHILDREN AND DON'T WANT TO END UP STRANDED IN THE STREET OR SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO BREAK DOWN OR FAIL AND I REFUSE TO BE THE THE BLAME NOR PAY THOUSANDS TO FORD DEALERSHIP TO FIX A FLAW IN THERE OWN SUV. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE FLAW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807148November 27, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE WAS PARKED(ENGINE COLD) ON RESIDENTIAL STREET,ALARM SOUNDED,UPON OPENING HOOD DISCOVERED FLAMES, PUT OUT IMMEDIATELY WITH EXTINGUISHER, CAR WILL NOT RUN AND THERE APPEARS TO BE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ESPECIALLY ON RIGHT SIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10794609November 18, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN
1. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT LET YOU ACCELARATE. PRESSURE BUILDS UP WHILE YOU ARE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT DOESN'T INCREASE YOUR SPEED UNTIL 10 SECONDS OR SO OF PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, AND THAN IT EXPLODES AND YOU ARE THRUST BACK WITH THE ACCELERATION. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES OR ARE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. LACK OF ACCELERATION HAS ALMOST GOT US INTO A FEW ACCIDENTS. 2. SENSORS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING, CONSTANTLY TELLING ME THAT THE DOORS ARE OPEN. I DON'T KNOW WHEN A DOOR IS ACTUALLY OPEN OR NOT. 3. THE REAR HATCH IS CRACKED AND I'M AFRAID IT DOESN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH STABLE PRORECTECTION FOR THE REAR GLASS TO BE HELD IN PLACE PROPERPLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10794692November 18, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK, ARM, AND KNEES. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED AN INFLAMMATION OF THE LOWER BACK. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10790100November 13, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
THE REAR AIR CONDITIONER LINE RUBBED AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE CAUSING BRAKE LINE FAILURE. THE RUPTURE OCCURRED DURING AN ATTEMPT TO SUDDENLY STOP. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF RUST EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE BRAKE LINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 156,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ODDLY ENOUGH, THE MECHANIC SPECIFICALLY NOTED THAT RUST WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THIS CASE AS IS COMMON ON MANY NEWER VEHICLES. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 3/7/2006. NO COLLISION WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789590November 10, 2015
SEAT BELTS
THE PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELTS DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH TENSION TO RETRACT THE HARNESS CAUSING TO STAY BY THE DOOR AND NOT CLOSING GOOD, IT MEANS THE BELTS IT IS BY THE DOOR MECHANISM JAMMING THE LOCK AND NOT LOCKING PROPERLY ON DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE, I HAD THE DOOR OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, ALSO DESTROYED MY DOOR SEAL TEARING UP, THE MANUFACTURE FORD DOES NOT WANT TO REPLACE IT FOR FREE SINCE IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT, THEY WANT TO CHARGE FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND EVEN THE NEW ONES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I CHECK ALL THIS STUFF SINCE I WAS A FLEET MAINTENANCE MECHANIC, CAR INSPECTOR. GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP IN AND FIX THE SAFETY HARNESS FOR GOOD TENSION. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING, ALSO PARKED THE DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY DUE THE HARNESS DID NOT RETRACTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10788981November 7, 2015
POWER TRAIN
MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLS IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION STALLS, SLIPS AND DELAYS WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. AS I SEARCHED FOR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION I FOUND 100'S OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MATTER. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND, THE TRANSMISSION IS A DESIGN FLAW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10786962October 29, 2015
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
WE HAVE RECURRING WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY ISSUE. THE TIMING I PUT ON THE FORM MAY BE OFF A BIT BUT NOT MUCH. ITS ALL LIKE A RECURRING FORD EXPLORER NIGHTMARE AT THIS POINT! WE HAVE REPLACED BEARINGS, HIB ASSEMBLY, TIE ROD, THEN REAR END WENT UP ( AND SHOULDN'T HAVE)/NOW AGAIN, ANOTHER BEARING AND WHEEL SENSOR. THE TRUCK CUTS OUT WHEN AT A SLOWER SPEED. I LOST STEERING A FEW MONTHS AGO WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN I TRY TO PUT IT IN GEAR, SOMETIMES IT WON'T MOVE.I HAVE CALLED FORD, NHTSB AND NO ONE IS WILLING TO MAKE FORD RECALL THESE ISSUES AND FORD WON'T DO THE RIGHT THING KNOWING IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF FORDS! PLEASE SOMEONE HELP! I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND A HEART ISSUE. I NEED A SAFE RELIABLE CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER ONE. SOMEONE, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING HERE! I KNOW ITS AN OLDER MODEL AND I QUESTION IF THIS IS WHY THE RECALL ISN'T HAPPENING.IDK BUT THIS ISN'T RIGHT. THE TRUCK IS SITTING OUT FRONT NEEDING AN ADDITIONAL $700 OF WORK . AFTER REAR END, TIE ROD, BEARINGS, BRAKES IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE HAVE NO WAY TO FIX THIS LEMON. ALWAYS BEEN FORD BUT IF THEY OR A GOVERNING AGENCY DOESN'T HELP.. NEVER A FORD AGAIN. LOOK AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME THING!!!! SHAMEFUL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785517October 23, 2015
AIR BAGS
MY FIANC AND I PUT OUR 10 MONTH OLD AND OUR 8 YEAR OLD IN THE SEATBELTS AND I GOT IN THE CAR (I AM PREGNANT) AND SHUT MY DOOR AND MY FIANC GOT IN AND SHUT HIS DOOR AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND THE BACK AIRBAGS. WE WERE IN PARK AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NOT REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO THEY WON'T PAY ANYTHING. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER (WHO I JUST BOUGHT A $50,000 2015 FORD EXPLORER FROM HIM JANUARY 2015) AND HE SAID I COULD CALL THE SERVICE DESK WHO WAS NO HELP. STATED THERE IS NO RECALL. ANYONE I CAN CALL? THIS IS CRAZY AND DANGEROUS!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785530October 23, 2015
AIR BAGS
MY DAUGHTER AND HER FIANC AND PUT THEIR 10 MONTH OLD AND THEIR 8 YEAR OLD IN THE SEATBELTS AND MY DAUGHTER GOT IN THE CAR (SHE IS PREGNANT) AND SHUT HER DOOR AND HER FIANC GOT IN AND SHUT HIS DOOR AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WENT OFF AND THE BACK AIRBAGS. THEY WERE IN PARK AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NOT REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. THEY ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE SO THEY WON'T PAY ANYTHING. I CALLED THE FORD DEALER (WHO I JUST BOUGHT A $50,000 2015 FORD EXPLORER FROM HIM JANUARY 2015) AND HE SAID I COULD CALL THE SERVICE DESK WHO WAS NO HELP. STATED THERE IS NO RECALL. ANYONE I CAN CALL? THIS IS CRAZY AND DANGEROUS!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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