Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10457676May 7, 2012
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55-60 MPH WHEN THREE STUDS DETACHED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457236May 3, 2012
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THERE WAS A CRACK LOCATED ON THE PANEL OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456888April 30, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
LARGE CRACK APPEARED ON HATCH DOOR BELOW WINDOW. MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET WITH SAME PROBLEM. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456418April 25, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 105,000 MILES ON IT. YESTERDAY (4/24/12) IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO 2 AND 3 GEAR + THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT JUST STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND I AM TOLD IT WILL COST ME $4,000.000 TO REPAIR! I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE (FMCS) AND THEY TELL ME THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE NOR CAN THEY OFFER ME ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE COST. THE GUY I SPOKE TO AT THE FMCS WAS RATHER SHOCKED AT THE $4,000 PRICE TAG AND DID AGREE WITH ME THAT THE TRANS FAILED PREMATURELY. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO TO HELP ME. THIS CONVERSATION WAS RECORDED BY THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OUT OF FLORIDA. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE LOOKING OVER SEVERAL BLOGS AND SEVERAL WEB SITES AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT THE FORD EXPLORER HAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE, MOSTLY FROM THE EARLY 2000S -- ESPECIALLY THE 2002 TO 2004 FORD EXPLORER. MINE IS A 2003! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456452April 25, 2012
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
REAR OF VEHICLE EMITTED A THUMPING AND POPPING SOUND. FIRST THOUGHT THAT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN OR THAT REAR END HAD MALFUNCTIONED. AFTER REGAINING CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PULLING OFF TO SHOULDER ON THREE WHEELS AND A ROTOR, DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE HAD DISAPPEARED. ALL LUGS AND NUTS WERE GONE. WHEEL HAD DEPARTED FROM VEHICLE AND GONE IN AN UNKNOWN DIRECTION. ROTOR AND CALIPER WHERE STILL ATTACHED TO VEHICLE. POLICEMAN WAS LATER ABLE TO RETRIEVE WHEEL AND TIRE FROM SOME DISTANCE DOWN THE HIGHWAY BEHIND THE VEHICLE. RIM WAS SCORED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. I ASSUME THAT THE RIM HAD DROPPED DOWN ONTO EITHER THE LUGS OR ROTOR PRIOR TO FINDING ITS WAY OUT OF THE FENDER WELL. BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THERE ARE RECURRENT PROBLEMS HERE. HAD REAR BEARING REPLACED ON SAME WHEEL APPROXIMATELY 16 MONTHS PRIOR. SUGGESTED REPAIRS AROUND $400.00 TO START FOR THIS INCIDENT. THERE MAY BE GREATER DAMAGE AND COST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE RESTED AND DRAGGED UPON THE REAR SUSPENSION STRUT AND TORSION BAR PRIOR TO GET IT STOPPED AND PULLED OFF OF THE PAVEMENT ONTO THE GRASSY SHOULDER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456100April 23, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING COMING FROM THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD HINGE WAS CROOKED AND THE PANEL WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE HINGES NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000. UPDATED 6/4/12 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455849April 20, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW ON THE REAR HATCH DEVELOPED A CRACK AND THE HINGE WAS BENT DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) WERE PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454699April 10, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453910April 3, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT SPARKS WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453749April 2, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TRANSMISSION LIGHT FLASHING AND I AM TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THIS TRANNY SHOULD BE MORE DURABLE, FORD IS BETTER THAN ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452105March 18, 2012
STEERING
WHILE IN PARKED POSITION, IGNITION STARTED, GEAR SHIFT BROKE WHILE PUTTING IN REVERSE - FAILURE OF METAL ALLOY CONNECTING GEAR SHIFT HANDLE TO STEERING COLUMN. KEY WAS STUCK IN IGNITION AND WAS NOT REMOVABLE. HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. TOWING EXPENSES INCURRED AS WELL AS REPAIR EXPENSES. PROBLEM CAUSED BY WEAKNESS/FAILURE IN METAL ALLOY CONNECTING GEAR SHIFT HANDLE TO TRANSMISSION STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451919March 16, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONNECT THE REAR TAILGATE DOOR TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS), DID NOT INCLUDE THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451992March 16, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451808March 15, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A FRACTURE ON THE LIFT GATE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE PANEL REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,000. UPDATED 04/26/12*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451810March 15, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLASS ON THE REAR HATCH BOTTOM MOLDING WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451623March 14, 2012
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFTER DETACHED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILURE TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,900. ..UPDATED 04/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE ENTIRE GEAR SHIFT CAME OUT IN HIS HAND. LEAVING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF. A CAST IRON BRACKET WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF IN THE STEERING COLUMN. UPDATED 05/31/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451399March 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 15 MPH AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE THIRD GEAR, WHICH WOULD NOT SHIFT, AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 152,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451287March 12, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR GLASS HATCH HOUSING WAS CRACKED IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR HATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450852March 9, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFT GATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) AND WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FRACTURE IN THE PANEL UNDER THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ UPDATD 04/20/12. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450725March 8, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK AT THE REAR HATCH BACK UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS BECOMING WIDER WHEN THE HATCH BACK WAS OPENED AND CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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