Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10079558August 16, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHILE OPENING THE TAILGATE WINDOW, THE RIGHT AND LEFT HINGES BROKE. *AK PE04045.PCO THE BACK WINDOW WAS HANGING BY THE PISTONS. WHEN POPPING UP THE WINDOW USING THE BUTTON IT DID NOT GO UP AUTOMATICALLY. THE TAILGATE WINDOW DOES NOT SHUT PROPERLY.*MR *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086570August 10, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STEERING
THIS FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRACK WAS BOUGHT NEW. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A FORD EXPLORER. THE REASON I TRADED WAS BECAUSE OF THE ROLL OVER RATE. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE GAVE ME A RUN DOWN ON THE NEWLY DESIGNED EXPLORER TELLIN ME THAT THE NEW DESIGN HAD CORRECTED THE ROLL OVER PROBLEM IN WHICK FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS HAD SEVERAL LAW SUITS. I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDEN WE ARE RAISING AND I MOST CURTAINLY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AFTER READING THE ARTICLES ON THIS SITE AND THE ARTICLE IN THE FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP TWICE FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND POWERSTEERING PROBLEMS. BOTH TIMES THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING. PLEASE ADVISE ME IN WHAT I SHOULD DO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086350August 7, 2004
TRAILER HITCHES
U-HAUL WILL NOT RENT ANY TRAILER TO OWNERS OF FORD EXPLORER'S. U-HAUL SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PICK AND CHOOSE IT'S CUSTOMERS. IF I HAVE A SAFE AND PROPERLY EQUIPED TOW VEHICLE LIKE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER, 4 DOOR, 4X4, AUTOMATIC, 4.0 LITER WITH A HEAVY DUTY TOWING PACKAGE THEN U-HAUL SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO TELL ME I DO NOT HAVE AN APPROPRIATE TOW VECHICLE. THE REAL REASON THEY DECLINE TO RENT A TRAILER TO FORD EXPLORER OWNERS IS BECAUSE THE COMPANY LAWYERS TOLD THEM NOT TO BECAUSE "U-HAUL HAS CHOSEN NOT TO RENT BEHIND THIS TOW VEHICLE BASED ON OUR HISTORY OF EXCESSIVE COSTS IN DEFENDING LAWSUITS INVOLVING FORD EXPLORER TOWING COMBINATIONS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086272August 5, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
2003 FORD EXPLORER...WHEN OPENING GLASS PORTION OF HATCHBACK, THE RIGHT HINGE FAILED, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL ON MY WIFE'S HEAD, GIVING HER A CONCUSSION. AR HAS 38000 MILES AND HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. HINGE FAILURE DUE TO BOLT SHEARING OFF AT WINDOW. GOING TO GET IT LOOKED AT TOMORROW. *AK PE04045.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10080191August 5, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THEY FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BUT THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN AFTER IT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AT LEFT FOR TWO WEEKS. DURING THAT TIME THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM SHOULD BE REPLACED SINCE THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082296July 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
VEHICLE WILL STALL AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT AND THE ENGINE HAS NOT REACH NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, FUEL TANK FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PROCEEDING UP AN INCLINE. WHEN VEHICLE STALLS YOU CAN START THE VEHICLE AND PROCEED. AFTER REACHING NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR THE VEHICLE HAVE TRAVEL FORTY TO EIGHTY MILES ON THE TANK OF GAS IT WILL NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM UNTIL YOU REFILL THE TANK AGAIN. IF THE TANK IS KEPT FULL OR NO MORE THAN ONE OR TWO GALLONS ARE USED UP. IT WILL NOT STALL. I HAVE HAD IT BACK FOR REPAIR FIVE OR SIX TIMES BUT NO LUCK. THE LAST VISIT TO THE DEALER THEY PUT A RECORDER ON THE VEHICLE WHICH I KEPT FOR THREE WEEKS AND IT RECORDED THE STALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS BEING OVERFILLED BUT I NEVER OVERFILL THE VEHICLE AND I EXPLAINED THAT TO THEM. I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE NEW ON 7/31/03 AND DROVE IT HOME ON THE TANK OF GAS THE DEALER PUT IN IT. THE VEHICLE SAT FOR TEN DAYS WHILE I WAS ON VACATION AND WHEN I RETURNED I DROVE IT THE NEXT DAY AND IT STALLED AND IT HAD NOT BEEN REFUELED. THE TANK WAS STILL FULL FROM THE DEARLER'S ORIGINAL FILL-UP. I TOOK IT BACK THE FIRST TIME 8/19/03 AND THE DEALER REPLACE A PART(VALVE) THAT THEY INDICATED MAY HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082155July 16, 2004
SUSPENSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH A BENT FRAME AND A BENT REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. 6 SETS OF TIRES WERE USED AND REPLACED DURING THIS DEFECT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BENT FRAME. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE DEALERS DIDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE WORN ON THE INSIDE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR END WAS TILTED AND THERE WAS NO ADJUSTMENT FOR THIS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS BENT. THREE SETS OF TIRES IN 20K MILES AND ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, THEY HAD TO REPLACE 1 OF THE BACK TIRES AGAIN. THE NOISE AND VIBRATION REMAINED THE SAME. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THE BENT FRAME. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER LEAKED. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082052July 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE), SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:REAR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
VARIOUS COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT.*MR CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT NOISE ON VEHICLE WAS COMING FROM REAR. REPAIRS AND/OR REPLACEMENTS WERE MADE ON: FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSIONS, TRANSFER CASE, AND SEALS IN THE REAR AXLE DUE TO LEAK. NOW, CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR A NEW AXLE ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO, A COOLING SYSTEM NOISE ON VEHICLE BUT DEALER COUDN'T FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081111July 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
THE REARVIEW MIRROR IN MY VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 20% OF ITS CAPACITY BLOCKED BY THE OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080883July 12, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
BACK (REAR) WINDOW DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. REQUIRES NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080689July 9, 2004
TIRES
TIRE ALIGNMENT FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081814July 6, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
PROBLEMS WITH ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER.*MR WHEN MAKING EMERGENCY STOPS AND ABS INITIATED, BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY DECREASES, AND TRAVELS DOWNWARD PAST THE GAS PEDAL STOPPING CLOSE TO THE FLOOR. IN SOME CASES, CONSUMER HAS THE TENDENCY TO PRESS BOTH THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE TWO PEDALS, WHICH RESULTED CONSUMER TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080197June 30, 2004
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHILE DRIVING/IDLING HEAT WOULD BE COMING OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) VENTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO THE CONSUMER'S RIGHT LEG. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10081930June 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE FAILURE PROBLEMS WITH 2003 FORD EXPLORER.*MR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THE CONSUMER'S NEGLECT WAS THE CAUSED OF THE FAILURE AND IF HE REFUSED TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE FROM THEM THEY WOULD VOID MANUFACTURERS AND EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE TOOK CARE OF HIS VEHICLE PERFORMING ALL THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO A DEFECT IN THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078724June 24, 2004
DRIVING EAST BOUND ON ROUTE 3 FROM KING GEORGE, VA TO OAK GROVE, VA AT 3AM. I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH A DEER AT 45MPH. AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH THE DEER. AIRBAG LIGHT LIT AND FLASHED. SMOKE CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN. SEATBELTS FAILED TO LOCK. DOOR AJAR LIGHT WAS LIT AND FLASHING AS WELL EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR WAS CLOSED ALL THE WAY AND LOCKED. REPAIR FACILITY WASNT CAPABLE OF TROUBLESHOOTING THAT FAULT. I WAS REFERED TO PURVIS FORD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. PURVIS FORD FOUND A BAD DOOR SWITCH. MOST LIKELY RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WITH THE DEER. TOOK 2 WEEKS TO GET THAT PART IN. ONLY INJURIES I INCURED WAS MY BACK. VERTABRE WAS OUT OF LINE FROM L1-L5 AND SOME VERTABRE IN THE CENTER OF MY BACK. CURRENTLY ON PAIN MEDICATION FOR BACK PAIN. GAUTIER'S AUTO BODY AND GLASS INC. REPLACED THE ENTIRE BUMPER COVER AND REPAINTED IT. THEY ALSO REPLACED DRIVER SIDE FOG LAMP, LICENSE BRACKET, BUMPER GRILL, BRACKET RETAINER, VALANCE, FOG LIGHT COVER, GRILL, AND TENSIONERS FOR RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THEY ALSO REPAIRED LIGHT RAIL AND FRONT SHEET METAL. IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THAT THEY ALSO DID AN ALIGNMENT FOR THE 2 FRONT WHEELS. MY MAIN COMPLAINT HERE IS WITH ALL THE DAMAGE DONE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING LIT AND FLASHING, AND THE SEAT BELTS NOT LOCKING...WHY DIDNT THE AIRBAG NOT GO OFF WHEN I WAS PROPERLY WEARING THE SEATBELT AND DRIVING AT 45MPH. IT APPEARS TO ME AND TO GAUTIER'S AUTO BODY AND GLASS INC. THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND SEATBELT SYSTEM DIDNT FUNCTION PROPERLY. I PERSONALLY THINK FORD NEED TO LOOK AT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FOR THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT AND REDESIGN IT DO IT WORKS FOR ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT AT THAT SPEED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10078728June 24, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TOOK MY SUV INTO MR. TIRE TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES. LEFT MR. TIRE & MY O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH @ 35 MPH. TOOK SUV BACK TO MR. TIRE TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. I WASNT SURE IF THEY MIGHT HAVE CAUSE IT OR NOT. THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC ON IT & FOUND A CODE P0741 TCC. THEY TOLD ME IT COULD BE JUST A SELENOID OR THE CONVERTER. EITHER WAY, ITS NOT LOCKING UP TO DO A 1:1 CONVERSION FOR OVERDRIVE TO SAVE ON GAS & PREVENT OVERHEATING OF THE TRANSMISION. THEY TOLD ME TO GO IMMEDIATELY TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. I WENT TO PURVIS FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT & THEY DID THEIR OWN DIAGNOSIS. PURVIS FORD FOUND THAT THE CONVERTER IS BAD & COMING APART. THEY ALSO SAID IT WAS OVERHEATING & THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION FOR MY VEHICAL FOR THAT YEAR WAS A BAD TRANSMISSION. ALSO THEY'VE HAD CUSTOMERS W/ THIS EXACT PROBLEM W/ AS LITTLE AS 100 MILES & SOME W/ AS MUCH AS 100,000 MILES. FOR A 120K MILE "MAINTENANCE FREE" TRANSMISSION (W/ EXCEPTION OF CHANGING OUT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID) THIS SURE SEEMS TO BE AN EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION. WHAT IS MORE INTERESTING IS THAT FORD WONT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION W/ THE ORIGINAL TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. INSTEAD THEY WANTED TO PUT A DIFFERENT ONE IN THAT HAS AN EXTERNAL COOLER & FILTER. TOTALLING $3300 NOT INCLUDING TAX. IT WAS ALSO TOLD TO ME BY PURVIS FORD'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT FORD HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE VEHICALS. 2 OTHER PEOPLE ALONE WAS IN THEIR SHOP FOR REBUILDS ON THEIR 2003 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS. WHY DOESNT FORD VOLUNTARILY RECALL ON THIS & REPLACE THEM W/ THIS "NEW" TYPE OF TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. RIGHT NOW I AM NOT HAPPY W/ FORD & I WILL NOT KEEP MY SUV NOR WILL I BUY ANOTHER ONE. THIS IS THE THIRD PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THIS SUV THAT HAS COSTED ME BIG $$$$. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE BUYING A FORD SUV. AT THIS TIME I HAVE NOT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED DUE TO HIGH COST. THE SUV IS CURRENTLY IN MY DRIVEWAY NOT BEING DRIVEN TO AVOID FURHTER DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078729June 24, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RIGHT SIDE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD JITTER AND BOTTOM OUT WHEN YOU OPEN AND CLOSE WINDOW. THIS PROBLEM WAS CONTINUOUS SINCE DAY ONE. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST OFF ITS TRACK. SO I DIDNT WORRY ABOUT IT TO MUCH AND I WAITED (WHICH IS MY FAULT AS TO WHY I HAD TO PAY FOR IT) UNTIL SOMETHING MORE WORTH WHILE GOING IN FOR CAME UP. WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK IN TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT FROM MY DEER ACCIDENT, THEY SAID THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS DOING WHAT IT WAS DUE TO A BAD ELECTRIC MOTOR. I THINK FORD NEEDS TO BE MORE THOROUGH WHEN TESTING THE VEHICAL FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE. THE WINDOW WAS ONLY USED THREE TIME TO DATE. I DIDNT MIND PAYING FOR THE REPAIR AS I AM SURE FORD WOULD OF HONORED THE WARRENTY IF I WOULD OF DELT WITH IT THEN. BUT ITS JUST THE FACT OF THE MATTER THAT THEY PUT A FAULTY ELECTRIC MOTOR IN THE SUV THAT SHOULD OF BEEN CAUGHT WHEN IT CAME OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079855June 23, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
2003 FORD EXPLORER RECALL REGARDING THE TRAVEL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *MR ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WHEN IT WAS NECESSARY TO BRAKE HARD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, THE CONSUMER HAD SIMULTANEOUSLY ENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. THIS RESULTED IN THE CONSUMER HITTING A VEHICLE THAT HAD SUDDENLY STOPPED IN TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF HIM. THE BRAKE PEDAL NEVER PASSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, INCLUDING PANIC STOPS. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED. *SC THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER ADJUST THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP HIGHER THAN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE AS IN OLDER MODELS DUE TO ABS. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079657June 22, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE LIFTGATE GLASS SHATTERED WHEN CONSUMER'S SON WAS CLOSING THE LIFTGATE. THE GLASS LANDED IN CONSUMER'S SON HAIR AND FACE. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #10004078 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK THIS IS A MY2002 VEHICLE AND NOT MY2003 PER CONSUMER_081704.PCO PE04045.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10078565June 21, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED OUT FROM A STOP SIGN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME WHILE I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. MY EXPLORER EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DURING THIS ACCIDENT NEITHER OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I AM JUST BEGINING TO MAKE CONTACTS TO TRY AND GET AN EXPLAINATION AS TO WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGED VEHICLE ARE AVAILBLE.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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