Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10210109November 27, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
THE REAR TAILGATE ON MY FORD EXPLORER HAS A VERTICAL CRACK THAT RUNS THROUGH THE FORD MEDALLION ON THE BACK. MY NEIGHBOR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS EXPLORER AND REPLACED IT. WHEN I LOOKED ON A GOOGLE SEARCH, I FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS. NOT REPLACED, THE PIECE WILL FALL OFF AND POSSIBLY CREATE A ROAD HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210137November 27, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE PURCHASED IN 2003 AFTER 1 YEAR ROARING NOISE BEGAN IN REAR AXLE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER AND DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER ASSEMBLY REPLACED. VEHICLE NOW HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. (ROARING NOISE) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209514November 20, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
PAINT BUBBLING UP ON FRONT OF HOOD ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209315November 19, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
MY 2003 EXPLORER SUDDENLY DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE BACK PANEL BENEATH THE REAR WINDOW. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF IT PROGRESSES THE GLASS WILL HAVE NO SUPPORT AND BREAK. I SPOKE WITH FORD AFTER LEARNING THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE SUV'S AND WAS TOLD IF I HAD NO WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208873November 13, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER 4.6L V-8 AWD, TRANSMISSION FAILED DURING MORNING COMMUTE. I HEAR NOISE, THE CAR LOST SPEED, AND "O/D OFF" WAS FLASHING. I COULD BARELY MERGE THE CAR TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND MANAGE TO GET THE CAR TO THE OFFICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207857November 4, 2007
TIRES, SUSPENSION
1) IMPROPER ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS 2) DESTRUCTION OF ALL 4 GOODYEAR TIRES 3) FORD DENIED TO REPLACE TIRES ALTHOUGH THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (05-11-11) PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207875November 4, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WE PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER 4X4 IN JUNE 2006. ONE MORNING IN MID-FEB 2007, WE DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE LIFEGATE GLASS APPLIQUE THAT STARTED FROM THE TOP DOWN, APPROXIMATELY 8" LEFT FROM THE CENTER OF THE GATE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT TO THE PLASTIC, BUT RATHER A STRESS CRACK. SINCE THAT TIME, THE CRACK HAS GROWN WIDER AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PLASTIC APPLIQUE. NOW, ANOTHER CRACK HAS STARTED ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE APPROXIMATE 6" FROM THE CENTER OF THE LIFTGATE. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN MID-FEB 2007 AND THEY STATED WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE CRACKED LIFTGATE AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $800. WE CONTINUE TO OBSERVE OTHER FORD EXPLORER'S IN THE LOCAL AREA WITH SIMILAR CRACKS IN THEIR LIFTGATE PLASTIC APPLIQUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207115October 28, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I'M NEVER BUYING ANOTHER FORD. LAST WEEK THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON IN MY FORD EXPLORER. I DROVE IT RIGHT HOME AND GOT THE MANUAL OUT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. "TRANSMISSION PROBLEM" WAS WHAT THE MANUAL INDICATED, AS WELL AS SEVERAL WEBSITES I REVIEWED. I DIDN'T WORRY AT FIRST, SINCE I FIGURED THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MY EXPLORER IS JUST UNDER 5 YEARS OLD AND JUST UNDER 60K MILES. SURELY THERE WOULD AT LEAST BE A 60K POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. NO ONE WOULD BUY A VEHICLE IF THEY KNEW THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ONLY LAST 59K MILES. WELL, THE DEALER TOLD ME A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED (5TH AND 2ND GEARS WERE WORN DOWN), THAT IT WOULD COST $3500, AND THAT IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY HE CHARGED ME $90 TO TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD (SOMETHING I OBVIOUSLY KNEW) - ISN'T THIS SIMILAR TO STEALING? I THEN ASKED HIM WHAT TRADE IN VALUE I COULD GET (NOT THAT I REALLY WOULD BUY ANOTHER POOR QUALITY FORD, BUT I WANTED TO EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS). $5500 IS THE MOST THEY COULD GIVE. I LAUGHED - SINCE I HAD TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THE VEHICLE. IT TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT THE VEHICLE EITHER - SO MUCH FOR THEM REALLY STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THEY KNOW THE QUALITY IS POOR. OBVIOUSLY I WAS QUITE IRRITATED. I ASKED WHAT CAUSED THIS. NONE OF THE POSSIBILITIES APPLIED SINCE I TOOK GOOD CARE OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT SERVICED ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL. IN FACT, THE DEALER (COVER FORD IN AUSTIN) DID THE 30K CHECKUP. I SPENT $1K ON THAT (AND PROBABLY GOT RIPPED OFF). I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND HAD IT FIXED FOR UNDER $2500. HE INFORMED ME THAT HE SEES A LOT OF ISSUES LIKE THIS WITH EXPLORERS - PROBABLY A POOR DESIGN AND POOR QUALITY. ALSO, JUDGING BY VARIOUS WEBSITES THERE ARE INDEED LOTS OF COMPLAINS LIKE THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207064October 27, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE MESSAGE CENTER LIGHTS ARE NOT VISIBLE IN THE DAYTIME UNLESS DRIVER IS IN A SHADED SPOT CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO GET ANY OF THE READOUTS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206853October 25, 2007
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
MY HUSBAND HAD JUST PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN WHEN HE FELT THE VEHICLE CRASH TO THE GROUND AND SAW THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE ROLL INTO SOMEONE'S FRONT YARD. HE EXITED THE CAR TO FIND THE LUGS BROKEN IN HALF. MY THREE YEAR OLD IS VERY UPSET, KEEPS TALKING ABOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. WE ARE UNCERTAIN AS TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK, WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR YET. THERE IS BODY DAMAGE THAT IS VISIBLE, WHO KNOWS WHAT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK LOOKS LIKE. I DO HAVE IN MY POSSESSION ONE OF THE LUG NUTS, THERE ARE TWO MORE AT THE BODY SHOP. WE COULDN'T FIND THE REMAINING TWO, WHO KNOWS WHEN THEY WERE LOST. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT I HAVE HEARD OF THIS MONTH OF THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENING (WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM). *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206871October 25, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT IS BUBBLING UP AND PEELING ON MY ROOF IN 3 AREAS. I CAN SEE THE METAL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206174October 18, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING WEST ON ROUTE 64 IN THE LEFT HAND LANE NEAR ROCKY MOUNT, NC AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE AND THEN THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT CAUSING MY SON TO RUN A MOTORCYCLIST OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID BEING HIT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SHOP AND THE DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205077October 5, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
THE REAR WINDOW ON THE LIFTGATE OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER IMPLODED AS I WAS WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE WINDOW DID NOT JUST CRACK...IT SHATTERED INTO PIECES. MY CAR WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR OR BY AN OBJECT. AN INITIAL PROBLEM AROSE BEFORE THIS EVENT. A CRACK FORMED ON THE MOLDING JUST BELOW THE WINDOW WHERE THE FORD SYMBOL IS LOCATED. THIS IS AN ISSUE I HAVE READ ABOUT FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH EXPLORERS. I HAVE READ OTHER CASES OF THE LIFTGATE WINDOW SHATTERING BUT MORE OFTEN DURING OPENING OR CLOSING OF THE WINDOW. IN THIS CASE, I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204782October 3, 2007
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLUMPED AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL, BRAKE, ROTOR, LOWER CONTROL ARM, AND AXLE WERE DAMAGED. REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. UPDATED 01/09/08.*LJ THE DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND REAR END VIBRATING. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204563October 1, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
2003 FORD EXPLORER "EDDIE BAUER" ~49,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHOWS NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NEAR STANDARD. PLASTIC PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW SPLIT IN TWO AND HAS ~1/16" GAP. SPLIT IS VERTICAL AND VERY NEAR CENTER OF PANEL. IT PASSES UNDER CENTER OF "FORD" OVAL SYMBOL. NOT SURE IF THERE IS DANGER OF REAR WINDOW OR BROKEN PANEL PIECES FALLING OFF VEHICLE. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN, STILL ATTEMPTING TO GET MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR APPARENT DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204211September 26, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
PANEL BELOW REAR WINDOW CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. I'M CONCERNED OF A SAFETY HAZARD AFTER READING ON INTERNET THAT THE PANEL CAN FALL OFF AFTER THIS CRACK. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET BECAUSE FORD CLAIMS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ITS EXTENDED PREMIUM WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203967September 24, 2007
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN JUNE OF 07 WITH NO PROBLEMS IN SEPT OF 07 I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A LOAD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SOUNDING LIKE A TIRE WAS FLAT OR SOMETHING WAS RUBBING. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE REAR DIFF WAS OUT ON THIS AND IT WAS GOING TO COST SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX. I CONTACTED FORD THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSED TO FIX IT AND SAID THAT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I NOW SIT HEAR WITH SOMETHING THAT I OWE MONEY ON AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX. I HAVE A WIFE AND A SON AND THIS IS OUR ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM VERY UPSET THAT FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS LIKE THEY SHOULD. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WITH NO SOLUTION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203546September 20, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY SPORT TRUCK 2003 CAUGHT ON FIRE ON MARCH 26, 2007 I REPORTED COMPLAIN TO FORD AND THEY SAY THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. TODAY SEPTEMBER 20/07 MY FRIEND CAR HAS A RECALL FOR THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH POSING THE RISK OF AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR AND FORD DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT THAT THE REASON FOR THE FIRE WAS IT. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I WAS DRIVING WITH ALL MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. I DID NOT HAVE FULL COVERAGE ON MY CAR SINCE MY CAR WAS PAID IN FULL WHEN I BOUGHT IT IN SAGRASS FORD IN FT. LAUDERDALE FLORIDA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203418September 19, 2007
SUSPENSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. AS A MECHANIC WAS REPAIRING THE EMISSIONS MODULE ON THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52,000. EQ-10203418-4200, RECEIVED 12/12/07 (2 DOC). UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202465September 11, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE TRYING TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL IT WILL SOMETIMES WORK AND OTHER TIMES WILL NOT WORK. WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK THE GREEN INDICATOR LIGHT JUST FLASHES WHEN PUSHING THE SET BUTTON. ALSO THE AREA AROUND THE BUTTONS GETS VERY WARM. IT SEEMS THAT IT WORKS LESS IN WARM WEATHER THEN IN COOL. *JB UPDATED 11/07/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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