Ford Explorer Complaints (2003)

1,274 consumer complaints on file.

#10450591March 7, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450660March 7, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW HATCH WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 03/21/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR PANEL CONNECTED TO THE BACK REAR WINDOW CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW AND HAS WEAKENED THE REAR VIEW WINDOW. THE SEAL HAS ROTTED OUT DUE TO WATER SEEPING INTO THE DEFECTIVE CRACKED PANEL. UPDATED 04/09/12 WATER SEEPED INTO THE CRACKED PANEL AND CAUSED CORROSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. UPDATED 05/07/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450495March 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TRAVELING THE I-95 CORRIDOR IN NORTH CAROLINA AT APPROX. 3AM THE TRANSMISSION OVER DRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER. VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS. HAD TO EASE INTO 1ST GEAR AND PLAY WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. NOT A GOOD FEELING WHEN 500 MILES FROM HOME AND IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE VEHICLES. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO AAMCO AND WAS INFORMED AGAIN COMMON IN THE EXPLORER. COST ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR $2500.00. VEHICLE HAD 77000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. CALLED FORD FOR "GOODWILL" REPAIR. SHOULD HAVE TALKED TO A DOOR KNOB. STANDARD REPLY "VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY". DRIVING OVER FORTY YEARS, NEVER EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING. THEY MAY NOT PAY NOW BUT IN THE LONG RUN THE COST WILL BE GREAT. DROVE MY LAST FORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450360March 5, 2012
POWER TRAIN
O/D LIGHT FLASHING AND WONT GO INTO OVERDRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION IS A SEALED UNIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450077March 2, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BODY MOUNT FRACTURED AND WAS PROTRUDING THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE CAB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. . UPDATED 04/11/12 *BF UPDATED 04/30/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449996March 1, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL GATE DOOR DEVELOPED A CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449601February 28, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOOR ADJAR SENSOR FAILS IN 2003 FORD EXPLORER ITS ALL OVER INTERNET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448609February 21, 2012
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07E104000 (VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT, AS A RESULT TO THE REAR LIFTGATE HINGE FAILING TO SECURE THE WINDOW GLASS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448623February 21, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS GEARS BETWEEN 1ST->2ND AND 2ND->3RD GEARS. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP ACCORDING TO THE RECOMMENDED SERVICING. AT ONLY 80,000 MILES, IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448566February 20, 2012
POWER TRAIN, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, STRUCTURE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER WHICH INCLUDE THE ELECTRONIC MOTHER BOARD HAVING BEEN REPLACED TWICE (UNDER WARRANTY), CRACKED LIFTGAGE (NOT UNDER WARRANTY COST $300), TRANSMISSION REBUILD APPROX 90,000 ($3000), DOME LIGHTS DO NOT TURN OFF, DOOR AJAR LIGHTS, ELECTRIC REAR WINDOWS DO NOT OPEN, O/D LIGHT FLASHES AND NOW THE FINAL PROBLEM AFTER HAVING REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION IN JULY 2011 IS A DRIVE TRAIN OR DRIVE LINE ISSUE. AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AFTER DROPPING FROM A HIGHER SPEED, A THUMPING HAPPENS. DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN 3 DAYS STILL WITH NO FINAL DETERMINATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448094February 15, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
BACK GLASS HATCH HAS A HAIRLINE CRACK TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FORD EMBELM. JUST SUDDENLY APPERARED, AFTER NO IMPACT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447769February 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN
INITIALLY HAPPENED AT 98K MILES BACK IN 08. PUT IN PARK (VEHICLE ON ELEVATED DRIVEWAY). JERKED BACK AND HEARD A CLUNK- LIKE IT WAS SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO A GEAR WITH VEHICLE PRESSURE- AND IT STARTED TO ROLL BACK. HIT BRAKES- AND PUT IT IN REVERSE. THEN NEUTRAL TO START IT. PARKED IT ON THE CURB FOR AN HOUR, WENT BACK OUT AND IT DIDN'T DO IT AGAIN UNTIL LAST WEEK. THINKING IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE WEATHER THIS TIME- PARKED ON MY FAIRLY STEEP DRIVEWAY AGAIN WITH LOTS OF ICE/SNOW. 189K MILES WITH THE ORIG TRANNY AND REGULAR COMPUTER UPDATES/FLUSHES. BEEN AN AMAZING TRUCK- JUST THINKING IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445821January 30, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PAYED 18,000 FOR MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH THE FLEX FUEL IN 2006. ITS A VERY NICE LOOKING SUV BUT I ONLY DROVE IT FOR 2 YEARS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL. I BELEAVE A TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 2 YEARS. MY CONCEARN IS THAT ITS DEFECTIVE ALL AROUND THE TRANSMISSION AND I COULD STILL DRIVE IT IF I WASNT IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE. I HAVE HAD IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, THEY WANTED ME TO PAY THEM TO TAKET OUT THE TRANNY AND WANTED WAY TO MUCH FOR ANY PARTS,SO I HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A TRANSMISSION PLACE THAT BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME AND HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG.REPLACED THE SELENOID FOR LIKE 900 AND MY IT RAN FINE FOR LIKE 2 WEEKS UNTIL I PUT IN 4 W/D THAN MY O/D LIGHT STARTED BLIKING AGAIN AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, THE O/D LIGHT ELUMINATED THE FIRST TIME MY TRANSMISSION EVER SLIPPED.AND IF I WENT AND DROVE IT RIGHT NOW IT WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT STILL DEPEND ON THERE DEFECTIVE EXPLORER TO GET SOMEWHERE.IT ACCELERATES BY ITS SELF IT SOMETIMES DOSNT WANT TO GO IN GEAR AND IF THIS IS ELECTRICAL SOMEONES VEHICLE COULD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING BUT A BLINKING O/D LIGHT.AND WORST THING IS, IF FORD WOULD RECONIZE THIS PROBLEM WITH OUT SELLING NEW TRANSMISSIONS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH I COULD HAVE IT FIXED BUT NO ONE BUT FORD KNOWS WHAT IS WRONG AND THEY OBVIOUSLY DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT OR KNOW IF THEY ADMIT THEIR MISTAKE IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW I WANT MY MONEY BACK.I BET YOU THEY WOULDNT EVEN TAKE MY EXPLORER ON A TRADE IN. AND IF YOU JUST GOOGLE FORD EXPLORER ANYTHING FROM 1999 TO 2007 I THINK....ITS GOING TO HAVE LIKE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE AND PROBALY LIKE FROM 40,000 MILES UP, WAY TO EARLY FOR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445964January 30, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH TRIM PANEL UNDER THE WINDOW OUT OF NOWHERE. ALSO, THE PAINT ON MY HOOD AND QUARTER PANELS HAS BEEN BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF IN HUGE CHUNKS. IT WOULD SEEM THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THESE ISSUES SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445102January 24, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO UP SHIFT, IT WILL SHIFT HARD. O/D LIGHT FLASHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445145January 24, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FAULTY CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING A THROWN SPARK PLUG, AND A BROKEN COIL PACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443590January 12, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP GEARS IN A JERKING MOTION. THERE WAS ALSO A HESITATION AND THE ENGINE REVVED CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE OVER DRIVE AND TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND THEY INFORMED THE SENSOR SOLENOID WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A THIRD OPINION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442414January 4, 2012
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FRACTURED. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED FIRST AND WAS REPAIRED. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,585 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000. UPDATED 02/27/12*LJ UPDATED 02/28/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441575December 29, 2011
POWER TRAIN
I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO REPORT MY TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING, AND DISCOVERING THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE WEB: FLASHING OVERDRIVE LIGHT, CONSTANT ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT, AND MY TRANSMISSION WAS STICKING AND NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. I TOLD THE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT MY ISSUE AND IMMEDIATELY THEY SAID I DID NOT HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM I DID HAVE THE EXTENDED WHICH WAS UP TO 100000 MILES, BUT I WAS BARELY OVER BY 3000 MILES. I EXPLAINED THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. THE AGENT SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS READING FROM A SCRIPT, INCLUDING HIS SUPERVISOR SAYING I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SORRY, AND GO TO THE DEALER YOU BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. WHEN IT WAS CLEAR HE WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING, I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR, BUT IT WAS CLEAR THAT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING EITHER. ALL I WAS ASKING FOR WAS A GOODWILL REPAIR DISCOUNT, AND THEY REFUSED. I GREW UP WITH FORDS; FAIRLANE, FALCON, GALAXY, MAVERICK, LTD, TAURUS, EXPEDITION, T-BIRD, AND EXPLORER. I AM NOT GOING TO SAY I WILL NEVER DRIVE ANOTHER FORD, BUT I NO LONGER FEEL LOYAL TO THE BRAND. HONDA'S AND TOYOTA'S TRANSMISSIONS LAST LONGER AND THEY STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THIER LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND INDIFFERENCE WITH MY PROBLEM. THIS IS GOING TO COST $2500 FOR A REBUILD OR $3500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441089December 23, 2011
WHEELS
FRONT WHEELS MADE LOUD HUMMING SOUNDS AND AT TIME FELT LIKE THEY WERE RUBBING. MECHANICS FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY'S WERE FAILING SIMULTANEOUSLY. THEY ALSO THINK THE REAR IS STARTING TO GO. THIS APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN AND/OR CRAFTMANSHIP BY MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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