Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10780197October 6, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER REAR PASSENGER, AND REAR LIFT GATE AND WINDOW EXPLODED. IT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779233October 2, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THESE VEHICLES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779016October 1, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY HINGES TO MY BACK GLASS HATCH KEEP BREAKING AND GLASS KEEPS ALMOST FALLING OFF. I'M AFRAID THAT KIDS MIGHT HIT BUTTON UNDER THE HANDLE THAT POPS IT OPEN AND IT COMES DOWN ON THEM AND HURT THE BADLY!! THIS IS THE 5TH TIME SINCE 2011 THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AND I CALLED BEFORE TO MAKE SURE WAS NO RECALL AND WASN'T AND STILL ISN'T FOR MY YEARAKE AND MODEL. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT UP MYSELF UNTIL THIS LAST TIME. SO I AM UNABLE TO FIX IT NOW. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD AND THE GAVE ME THIS SITE AND MY REPORT # FOR THAT CLAIM IS CAS7942030. EACH TIME ITS BEEN PARKED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764283September 16, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND BEEN SO FOR 3 HOURS. TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 60 DEGREES. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE CRACKS OR OTHER DEFECTS. WAS WITNESSED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE. DID NOT JUST CRACK OR BREAK. IT SHATTERED INTO THOUSANDS OR PIECES. WAS NOT BEING OPENED OR CLOSED. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STATIC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763918September 15, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE BRACKETS CONNECTED TO THE LIFTGATE RELEASED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED AND BLEW THE BACK LIFTGATE PANEL OUT ALONG WITH SHATTERING THE GLASS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764011September 15, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED MY 03 FORD EXPLORER BACK IN 2/15. IT LOOKED LIKE I PURCHASED A VERY VERY GOOD USED VEHICLE. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FINE WITH IT UP UNTIL 2 WEEKS AGO. MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHEN EVERYTHING IS CLOSED, THE OD LIGHT IS BLINKING NON STOP AND THE TRUNK WINDOW OPENS BY ITSELF WHEN I AM DRIVING. WHEN IM DRIVING IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS TRYING TO "CATCH UP". LIKE IT KNOWS I'M TRYING TO DO A CERTAIN SPEED BUT ITS WAY BELOW AND AFTER A MIN. OR SO, THEN IT WILL GO THE CORRECT SPEED. I HAD IT HOOKED UP TO A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL AND ITS GIVING ME THE CODE OF P7032 (SOMETHING LIKE THAT). SOMETHING ABOUT 2ND GEAR OF TRANS? IVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR.. IVE ALSO READY 100S OF REVIEWS AND COMPLAINTS ON THESE ISSUES. WHAT I DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND IS WHY ISN'T FORD DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS???? IF YOU ARE A MANUFACTURER AND SEE ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND REVIEWS (WHICH I'M SURE THEY DO) THEN WHY AREN'T THESE VEHICLES GETTING RECALLED? I'M NOT RICH IN ANY WAY FASHION OR FORM. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF 4 WHO WORKS FULL TIME AND RECEIVES NO GOV'T ASSISTANCE. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS IS A "KNOWN" ISSUE I WOULD NEVER HAVE SPENT MY HARD EARNED MONEY.... DOES ANYONE KNOW IF ANYTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS??
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762850September 10, 2015
VISIBILITY/WIPER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ADJUSTED HVAC TEMPERATURE FROM COLD TO HOT. APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS LATER, A LOUD AND REPETITIVE POPPING SOUND CAME FROM THE DEFROSTER VENTS. I WAS STARTLED AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR (ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY) TO INVESTIGATE. THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS FAILING. THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE A LOSS OF CLIMATE CONTROL IN THE CABIN. IT CAN GET STUCK ON HOT OR COLD OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN. IF IT GETS STUCK IN THE COLD SETTING, THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY. IF IT GETS STUCK ON THE HOT SETTING, HEAT-SENSITIVE PASSENGERS MAY BE INJURED BY HEATSTROKE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS SINCE AIR WILL ALWAYS FLOW THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762037September 8, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ACCESSING THE POWER LIFTGATE, THE HINGES FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE DOOR TO ABRUPTLY CLOSE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE LIFTGATE WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED AND PLACED IN THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10759916August 28, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER FEW MINUTES AND IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749638August 18, 2015
POWER TRAIN
BEING THAT I AM DISABLED, I'M AFFRAID THAT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY GOES COMPLETELY OUT, I'LL BE STRANED SOMEWHERE OR THE SUV WILL CAUSE A WRECK AND HURT/KILL ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS EXPLORER THAT A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT OUT. I CAN NOT AFFORED THE REPAIR COST OR THE COST OF ANOTHER SUV/CAR, PLEASE HELP!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735475July 21, 2015
POWER TRAIN
THE O/D OFF LIGHT & CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHTS WENT ON, THEN VEHICLE WOULDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY AND BECAME INOPERABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10733701July 13, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BODY MOUNT EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND WAS DETERIORATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731726July 2, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR. WHEN IT SHIFTED, AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10730856June 28, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT MY FORD EXP.SPORT TRAC IN 2005 WITH A FEW MILES ON IT. I SOON FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD A FEW PROBLEMS WITH IT'S INTERIOR LIGHTING. THEN IT WAS THE DOOR LOOKS, THEN IT WAS THE RADIO GOING ON AND OFF BY ITSELF. THEN THE WINDOWS WENT UP AND DOWN ON THERE OWN. NOW THE AC COMES ON AND OFF WHILE IN THE OFF POSITION. AS OF TODAY KNOW ONE KNOWS WHAT AS GOTTEN INTO MY TRUCK AND WHEN I ADJUST MY STEERING WHEEL DONE THE TURNING LIGHTS DONT WORK AND I HAVE EVEN RECEIVED A TICKET FOR IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726489June 22, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY
I USED MY KEY REMOTE AND POPPED OPEN THE BACK HATCH AND WHILE THE HATCH WAS UP THE HINGE SNAPPED DROPPING THE HATCH ON MY HEAD NEARLY KNOCKING ME OUT COLD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725865June 17, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE IS A CRACK IN THE REAR LIFT GATE DOOR. HAVE SEEN THIS ON MANY OTHER FORD, MERCURY, ETC. ALSO THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR STAYS ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722402May 30, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CLOSING THAT THE LIFTGATE BOTH HINGES FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE BOTH HINGES AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. IN 2005, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER,THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722451May 30, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
OPENED BACK HATCH TO PLACE HELIUM BALLOONS IN; UPON CLOSING THE REAR GLASS EXPLODED. WE HAD THE FULL HATCH OPEN, NOT JUST THE GLASS PART & CLOSED IT AS YOU WOULD NORMALLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10717309May 19, 2015
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLASS AND THE WINDOW ON THE REAR LIFTGATE PANEL CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED IT THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE MATERIAL WAS NOT MADE TO EXPAND OR CONTRACT BASED ON THE WEATHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703696April 4, 2015
AIR BAGS
I WAS LEAVING THE STORE PARKING LOT. I STARTED THE CAR, PRESSED THE BREAK, PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IN SEPTEMBER 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT OR BUMPED IN ANY WAY. I WAS NOT BACKING OUT, I WAS IN DRIVE TO PULL OUT OF THE SPACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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