Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10047613November 26, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR BAD IDLE AND SHUT-OFF CONDITION AFTER PLACING VEHICLE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, DEALER RESPONDED THAT THE VEHICLE COMES FROM THE FACTORY WITH A LESS THAN DESIRABLE IDLE AND THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DIVULGED. AS I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WITH SUCH A PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047624November 26, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
NEW 2003 FORD EXPLORER 2WD 4.0 6CYL PROB BEGAN AT 500-700 MILES. EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND WHINING NOISE AT SPEEDS FROM 40-70 MPH. VEHICLE APPEARS TO STRUGGLE WHEN ACCELERATING, AND CRUISING SPEEDS. DEALER UNRESPONSIVE AFTER LEARNING THAT FORD ENGINEERS ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM AND HAVE NO CURRENT FIX. DEALER UNWILLING TO EXPLORE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, OR REFUND. FORD FEILD SERVICES ENGINEER ADMITTED TO ME THAT APPROXIMATELY 50% OF NEW EXPLORERS HAVE THIS FAULTY "RING & PINION GEAR" AND THAT VENDORS ARE WORKING TO CERTIFY REPLACEMENT PARTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048132November 18, 2003
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AND THE FRAME CRACKED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045689November 7, 2003
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK-PINION STEERING GEAR LEAKS FLUID. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041817November 5, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT HAD BECOME HARD TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO CHANGE THE FUEL FROM UNLEADED TO PREMIUM AND PLACE A GAS TREATMENT IN IT AND THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT PERSIST BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSCEIVER CIRCUIT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT AGAIN THE PROBLEM RETURNED. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046048October 30, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. SOMETIMES THIS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN WET WEATHER. DRIVER WOULD LET VEHICLE SIT FOR TEN MINUTES THEN IT WOULD RESTART. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043243October 20, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DAMAGE TO GAS TANK. AFTER LEAVING MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER OVERNIGHT WITH A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO DUPLICATE A STALLING PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND FOR HAVE A DAMAGED GAS TANK. IT WASN'T FULLY IDENTIFIED UNTIL A CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP FROM DALLAS, TEXAS TO MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACED IN MILWAUKEE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043149October 18, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
EXCESSIVE WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL/DRIVE AXLES/DRIVESHAFT AREA OF THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50 AND 60 M.P.H. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043111October 17, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD EXPLORER 4WD, V8 - SEPT. 22, 2003. ABOUT 3.5 WEEKS LATER IT BEGAN TO SHAKE AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN 1100 MILE ON IT BEFORE IT BEGAN ITS DOWNWARD SPIRAL. I TOOK IT INTO BE REPAIRED ON 10/13/03 REGARDING THE WHINING BUT I FORGOT TO MENTION THE VIBRATION-- IT ONLY HAPPEN ON 2 OCCASION THUS FAR. BUT THE WHINING IS CONSTANT - AROUND 50 MILE AND ABOVE. I WAS BY THE SERVICE PERSON THE ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON IT AND I AM TO WAIT UNTIL THEY FIND A CURE FOR IT. I AM NOT TRUSTING THEM WITH MY SAFETY, I WAS TOLD IT WAS IN THE DRIVELINE/AXLE /DRIVESHAFT- THE NAME CHANGES BUT STILL THE SAME EXPLANATION - NO FIX AS OF YET. COULD BE LONG-TERM OR NOT AT ALL. I WANT THIS VEHICLE REPLACE - ASAP. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043034October 16, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WE BOUGHT A FORD EXPLORER XLT LATE SATURDAY NIGHT OCTOBER 11TH. THAT LATE NIGHT AFTER BRINGING THE XLT EXPLORER HOME WE PRESSED THE BLUE LIFTGATE BUTTON FOR LIFTGATE. THE GLASS WENT UP BY ITSELF AND THE SHOCK ROD DISCONNECTED FROM THE BALL BEARING SLAMMING BACK DOWN. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE SOME COULD SERIOUSLY GET HURT INCLUDING CHILDREN WHEN THE WEIGHT OF THAT GLASS COMES DOWN. I CONTACTED FORD AND HAVE ONLY RECEIVED A MERRY GO ROUND AND NO SUITABLE ANSWERS. I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE GOTTEN IT CHECKED OUT... WITH NO SUITABLE ANSWERS EXCEPT IT WAS FACTORY RELATED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. WE DO NOT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE OR SOMEONE FROM GETTING SERIOUSLY HURT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND FORWARD TO ALL OTHER REGULATORY AND SAFETY AGENCIES FEDERAL/ STATE/LOCAL SO A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION IS DONE. *LA FACTORY MIS-INSTALLATION OF STRUTS CAUSING LIFT CYLINDER DETACHMENT AT FIRST USE.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042949October 15, 2003
STEERING:COLUMN
THE VEHICLE PROJECTS A SIGNIFICANT WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR END AND A VIBRATION FORWARD THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT OFFER US AN ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE TO USE. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NEED AT LEAST 3 MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042606October 8, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND SEAT RECLINER HANDLE.*MR DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041474October 8, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
HAD TO REPLACE REAR AXLE SEALS ON 2003 EXPLORER WITH 500 ON NEW VEHICLE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042412October 7, 2003
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING, THE DRIVER TO PULL OF THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042435October 7, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 MPH AND UP CONSUMER HEARD LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THE NEED TO REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041425October 7, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY INCIDENT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO SSM 16771 THAT FORD HAS DEALERS ABIDING BY IN SOME ATTEMPT TO POST-PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT "RE-ENGINEER" THEIR PRODUCT. MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER WHICH SUFFERS FROM SYMPTOMS LISTED IN THE SSM WAS RELEASED BY THE DEALER WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS IT HAD UPON DELIVERY TO THE DEALER (ROUGH IDLE / STALLING ON COLD START). NOW THAT FORD HAS HAD THE DEALER ALTER THE ECM PROGRAMMING (I'M GUESSING TO RICHEN THE IDLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE) I WONDER IF MY VEHICLE STILL PASSES EMISSIONS AND HAS EPA CERTIFIED FUEL ECONOMY??? NOT LIKELY... *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040564September 25, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AS IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING PRESSED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART IT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK THE TRANSMISSION. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040576September 24, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER.*MR *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039059September 17, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD EXPLORER 4WD V8 JUNE 4, 2003. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER,AND LESS THEN 2,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I STARTED TO NOTICE A VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH. THE VIBRATION BECAME MORE NOTICEABLE AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AT STAR FORD IN GLENDALE IN EARLY AUGUST. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THE VIBRATION IS COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN, PROBABLY THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 2002 - 2003 4WD MOUNTAINEERS AND EXPLORERS AND THAT THE ENGINEERS AT FORD WERE WORKING ON FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. AFTER DISCUSSING THE VEHICLE'S PROBLEM WITH THE QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER AT STAR FORD, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. BUT, THE ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE VIBRATION DID NOT WORK. NOW, I AM LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS A VIBRATION, THAT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN, WHICH THE ENGINEERS AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OR CAUSE, AND THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALER CANNOT FIX. I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED AND WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE REPLACED OR MY MONEY REFUNDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039867September 12, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford Explorer