2003 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

AS MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING STALL, MY VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN CAUGHT OFF. WE WERE UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED. AFTER MECHANICS CHECKED IT OUT, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MOTOR. DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE WE HAVE ONLY 38,208 MILES ON OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER; AND A WEEK BEFORE THAT WE HAD A COMPLETE OIL CHANGE. I CONTACTED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AS WELL AS FORD IN DETROIT AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. I TOLD THEM WE HAD NO WARNING OF A PROBLEM, THE INDICATOR NEVER CAME ON AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION AT ALL THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM, NO NOISE OR ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE. WITH ONLY A FEW MILES ON THE CAR, I TOLD THEM I FELT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY CALLS SINCE MY COMPLAINTS, THEY FELT IT WAS NOT A FORD'S PROBLEM AND THAT IT WAS A SITUATION I HAD TO TAKE CARE OF. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AND I THINK FORD SHOULD HANDLE THIS PROBLEM. NO WAY SHOULD I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY MOTOR WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. IT'S NOT FAIR THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR A JOB THAT I BELIEVE FORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. TELL ME, WHAT DO I DO? *TR

LIFT GATE FRAME CRACKS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. I WAS TOLD BY CORTESE FORD IN ROCHESTER THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS WITH THIS DEFECT AND THEY BELIEVE IT HA SOMETHING TO DO WITH HOW THE FRAME IS PUT TOGETHER. *TR

I HAVE A FORD EXPLORER AND THE BACK GLASS FELL AND IT HANGING OFF. WHY BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST YEAR THE PROBLEM WASN'T FIXED. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2003 EXPLORER IN 2002 AT 110 MILES. WITHIN THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY THE AIR CONDITIONING HAD A URINE SMELL AND KNOCKING NOISE IN THE REAR BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT. AS A RESULT I HAVE A SLOW LEAK WHICH MEANS IT HAS TO BE CHARGED EVERY YEAR. IN FEB 2007 A CRACK FORMED IN THE REAR PANEL THEY DIDN'T WANT TO FIX. OCTOBER 2007 AT 45000 MILES I NEEDED WHEEL BEARINGS FOR INSPECTION. AT 48000 MILES WHEN I PAID MY TRUCK OFF MAY 2008, WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE 0/D LIGHT & SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON RESULTING IN MY GEARS SLIPPING. I FOUND OUT THROUGH SEVERAL SHOPS THAT MY 2ND AND FIFTH GEARS WERE BURNED OUT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE SOLENOID BODY, THEN HAS TO GO IN TO CHECK FOR MORE. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BECAUSE I HAD NO EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WAS A WASTE OF TIME BECAUSE FORD WASN'T COOPERATING. SO NOW IT'S JUNE 2009 AND I'M STILL DRIVING IT A WHOLE YEAR LATER BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. I LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE THE TRUCK BUT I'M REMINDED EVERYDAY ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. PARK TO REVERSE IS A STRUGGLE, IT DOESN'T START EASILY SOMETIMES, IT HAS NO POWER WHILE DRIVING, ABS AND DOOR AJAR LIGHTS STAY ON, AND REVERSE ALARM WHEN TO CLOSE DOESN'T WORK, AND INSTEAD OF BEING HAPPY I PAID IT OFF IT'S NOTHING BUT A FEELING OF FRUSTRATION, ANGER, AND REGRET FOR BUYING FROM FORD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE DOORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO DEFECTS. THE FAILURE PERSISTED OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN PARKED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AGAIN; HOWEVER, IT BEGAN TO STALL SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRING FAILED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, BUT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,550 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,330. UPDATED 06/25/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE DEALER FIXED THE RECALLED REAR HATCH PROBELM, THE CARGO HATCH FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. A

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES ON HIS VEHICLE WERE SLICK. THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES, BUT CURRENTLY THE REAR TIRES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE LINE AND SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE LIFTGATE, THE RIGHT HINGE SWUNG OUT AND BECAME DETACHED. THE HINGE NEARLY STRUCK HIS CHILD. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL ON HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE FOR THIS IDENTICAL FAILURE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT IF THE FAILURES ARE THE SAME, HIS VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

WHEEL BEARING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER 50K MILES WHICH SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON ON 2000+ MODEL YEAR FORD EXPLORERS. *TR

THERE IS A VERTICAL CRACK THAT JUST APPEARED IN THE REAR HATCH OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WE TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF OUR VEHICLES AND THIS TRUCK IS RARELY DRIVEN. IT IS ALSO PARKED IN OUR GARAGE EXCEPT WHEN BEING DRIVEN. I HAVE READ THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON IN THIS TRUCK. OUR "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT AND WARNING REGULARLY INDICATES THAT THE DOOR IS NOT CLOSED PROPERLY. IT HAS EVEN FLUNG OPEN WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. WE HAVE THE THIRD ROW SEAT IN THIS MODEL AND KEEP MY TWO 5 YEAR-OLDS IN THAT SEAT. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER SUDDENLY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THIS DESIGN WHICH CAN CAUSE INJURY TO THOSE IN THE VEHICLE OR AROUND YOU SINCE THE HATCH OPENING OUT OF NO WHERE IS STARTLING. *TR

THE BACK REAR PANEL OF THE HATCHBACK CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WHICH THE COMPANY IS UNWILLING TO PAY FOR. *TR

JUST HAPPEN DON'T NO WHY THE BOTTOM FRAME OF THE LIFT GATE HAS TWO CRACKS AND IM AFRAID THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS THE GLASS MAY FALL OFF THE FRAME AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, THANKS HOPE WE GET HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

CRACKED REAR PANEL BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE SPEED RAPIDLY INCREASED ABOVE 55 MPH. THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE FUEL SYSTEM AND DATE OF PURCHASE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,335 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,392.

CRUISE CONTROL FAILURES: FAILS TO ENGAGE, UN-COMMANDED ACCELERATION, UN-COMMANDED DECELERATION, SPEED SURGING, INDICATES ENGAGED AND IS NOT ENGAGED. *TR

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

APRIL 2008, O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING & VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING HARD; TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP THE NEXT WEEK; AFTER COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SAID I NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION ON 2003 EXPLORER WITH 80,000 MILES; WITHIN 2 MONTHS THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WANTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. AT 50,000 75,000 AND 80,000 MILES, THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. THE TWO FRONT AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. AT 30,000 MILES, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE STATE INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THE FREQUENT FAILURES OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS MAY BE DUE TO DRIVING ON A DIRT ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE; THEREFORE, HE SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE THE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED, BUT HE FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. THE DEALER INFORMATION AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

O/D LIGHT FLASHES TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING OUT OF 1ST GEAR. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER ON THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON AND BEGAN FLASHING. I BROUGHT IT IN TO GET CHECKED AND WAS TOLD IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. SUPPOSEDLY NEED TO CHANGE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I AM NOT THE FIRST AND AFRAID THAT I WON;T BE THE LAST WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! *TR

DRIVING TO WORK FROM HOME, O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR LAGGED. RETURNING HOME THAT NIGHT, O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH LAGGING IN SHIFTING. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE AND REPLACED SOLENOID. THIS CORRECTED SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, BUT O/D LIGHT STILL FLASHED. FOUND FILINGS IN TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH LED TO REPLACING TRANSMISSION. FOUND FORUMS THAT RELATED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. AT LEAST I GOT 90,000 MILES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *TR

THE HEATER NO LONGER WORKS AND NO MATTER WHERE THE HEAT DIAL IS TURNED, IT MAKES A CONSTANT TICKING SOUND. I LOOKED INTO GETTING IT FIXED AT A LOCAL SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS GOING TO BE AT LEAST A $1,500 CHARGE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY CHANGING GEARS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,655 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,260.

2003 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HUMMING/WHINING NOISE IN THE REAR END OF VEHICLE AND A FREQUENT LEAK IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE RING AN PINION, BEARINGS, SEALS AND GEAR AND PINION WERE ALL REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE REMAINED UNRESOLVED. ALSO, THE REAR HATCH WAS CRACKED. WHEN THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT A REPLACEMENT AND ITS COST, THE DEALER ADVISED AGAINST THE REPLACEMENT/REPAIR AS THE NEW HATCHES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A DAMAGED THERMOSTAT HOUSING.

LOSS CONTROL OF MY SUV, AND FOUND OUT MY SPINDLE, BEARINGS AND EVERYTHING WAS SHOT! *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE BUYING IT FROM VOGLER FORD IN CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH ALL THE TIME AND IT SHIFTS HARD GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF I COULD REPLACE A PART ON IT. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSIONS. HAVE THEY RECALLED ANY FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS FROM FORD VEHICLES. *TR

THE PANEL JUST BELOW MY BACK WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT WHICH HAS OCCURRED FOR NO REASON AT ALL. AFTER SPEAKING WITH SOME AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT ABOUT 99% OF THESE HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME ALMOST $400 TO DO SO. I CALLED FORD AND THEY ONCE AGAIN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. AT THAT TIME I ASK TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR AND WHEN SPEAKING WITH HER I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. (WHICH I FIND HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE 3 DEALERS HAVE NOW TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM.) MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS IF I DO NOT FIX THIS RIGHT AWAY THAT I WILL LOSE THIS PIECE AND IT WILL END UP HURTING SOMEONE. *TR

RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE THE REAR BEARING AND HUB REPLACED B/C IT WAS GOING BAD. REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS B/C THE WHEEL COULD COME OFF WHILE DRIVING AND IT WAS WALKING WEARING THE BRAKE PADS OUT UNEVENLY RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL SAFETY CONCERNS. THE REPAIR SHOP IS REPLACING BEARING ASSEMBLY AND ALL BRAKES. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND NOTICE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. IT ONLY WAS DETECTED B/C WE THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP WHICH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SO WE TOOK IT IN. IF WE HADN'T, MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THE WHEEL CAME OFF AND/OR BRAKES FAILED DUE TO BEARING BEING BAD CAUSING BRAKES TO WEAR UNEVENLY. THE REPAIR COST ABOUT $1500. *TR

REAR DOOR CRACK IN THE MIDDLE ON FORD EXPLORER, BELOW THE WINDOW, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE MATERIAL THE FRAME IS MADE OF IS JUST PLASTIC. I KEEP SEEING PEOPLE IN MY TOWN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WONDER IF THERE IS A FORMAL COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS DEFECT. I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT NO ONE HAS COMPLAINED. THIS IS NOT JUST A COSMETIC PROBLEM, BUT A SAFETY PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING THE DOOR WINDOW GETS OPEN. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME AND OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO OWN A FORD EXPLORER AND WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER, I HAVE OWNED IT FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS AND TOOK CARE OF IT. I ALSO PAID ALOT OF MONEY FOR IT AND AFTER ABOUT THREE YEARS OUT OF NOWHERE MY O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND MY CAR STARTED SHIFTING WRONG. I HAD THE SOLENOID ON TRANNY REPLACED SOON AS I PUT IT IN 4WHEEL DRIVE MY O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AGAIN AND SHIFTING WRONG. THIS IS MAKING THE CAR ACCELERATE TO MUCH AT TIMES AND ALMOST NOT WANTING TO SHIFT OTHERS.SO WHILE WAITING THINKING I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOLLOWED BY A LIGHT TICKING NOISE, THAT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER OVER ABOUT A MONTH.SO THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AN PUT ON A COMPUTER THEY SAID I SHOULD JUNK IT, YES ITS 5 YEARS OLD BUT I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM THEIR AND I PAID ALOT FOR IT.SO NO ONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT I MYSELF BELIEVE BUT FORD.I BEEN TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND MY TIMING CHAIN IS BAD ON THE ENGINE.THE CAR STILL RUNS ALTHOUGH I WONT DRIVE IT COMPLETELY UNSAFE. ITS A NICE LOOKING CAR BUT I SEEN ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL HOW IS THAT AND ITS DANGEROUS? ME AND MY DAUGHTER WRECKED AFTER SUDDEN ACCELERATION THANKFULLY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND BURNT HER BUT WE WERE BOTH FINE OTHERWISE. I JUST NOW THIS IS DANGEROUS,FORD KNOWS ABOUT IT AND WHY IT HAPPENED AND HOW TO FIX IT. *TR

THE REAR HATCH ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORE XLT CRACKED IN 3 SEPARATE PLACES. THE VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY HOUSED IN A GARAGE. I CALLED FORD TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT FULLY COVER THE DEFECT. THEY WOULD "HELP" SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL THE CRACKS ARE A FLAW IN MANUFACTURING OR PRODUCT DESIGN. THEY SHOULD BE COVERED ENTIRELY BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH CRACK IN REAR DOOR PANEL (CARGO DOOR) WE NOTICED THIS CRACK AFTER A COLD NIGHT. IT WAS NO FAULT OF OUR OWN, AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE NOTICED MANY OTHER FORD EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME VERTICAL CRACK IN THE BACK DOOR. I REALLY THINK THIS IS A DEFECT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY,AND EXPECT THEM TO RECALL THIS PRODUCT. ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE US WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I HAVE ALSO READ MANY OF THESE SAME STORIES ABOUT THE CRACKED REAR DOOR ONLINE. WITH SO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING, IT'S A SHAME THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY FORD TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. *TR

BOUGHT MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN JUNE 2005. AFTER LENGTHY TRIP HOME I NOTICED A LOUD BUZZING SOUND UP FRONT. WHEN WE FINALLY HAD IT DIAGNOSED ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE WHEEL BEARING. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT BEARING IS BUZZING EVEN WORSE SO WE WILL NEED TO REPLACE THAT ONE AS WELL. WE HAVE 66,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE RPM'S TO INCREASE FROM 1,000 TO 4,000, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WOULD ALSO REMAIN ILLUMINATED AFTER THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT STILL CONTINUES TO FAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. FIRST, I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE TAILGATE BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. WITHIN TWO DAYS, THE CRACK SPREAD THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE APPLIQUE AND THROUGH THE FORD EMBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. WE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED 75,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT THIS CRACK HAPPENED AT 78,000 MILES. FORD SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND NO RECALL ON THEIR END. *TR

THE REAR HATCH HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE PANEL JUST BELOW THE VISIBLE GLASS OF THE HATCH. THIS CRACK ENCOMPASSES THE REAR FORD LOGO. THIS CRACK OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE REAR HATCH HAS CRACKED FROM THE BACK GLASS DOWN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE EMBLEM. I CALLED FORD AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT. *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED EDITION CRACK IN LIFTGATE BELOW THE GLASS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT AND TO REPAIR IT MYSELF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW SUDDENLY BLEW OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE, BUT THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,000. UPDATED 03-31-08 *BF AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE GAS IN THE STRUTS THAT HOLD THE TOP PORTION OF THE REAR HATCH CAN EXPLODE WHEN COLD WEATHER IS A FACTOR. UPDATED

WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SLAM INTO THE GEAR AFTER SOME TIME HAS LAPSED, OR OTHER TIMES IT WON'T MOVE INTO ANY GEAR AND FREEZES IN A NEUTRAL STATE, EVEN WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED INTO DRIVE OR ANY OTHER GEAR, FOR THAT MATTER. THESE EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED AT LEAST SEVERAL TIMES IN THE 1 MONTH PERIOD WE HAVE OWNED IT. PURCHASED IT FROM A DEALER ON 2/24/08 WITH 53,000K MILES ON IT. IT IS CURRENTLY IN A FORD DEALER (1 WEEK SO FAR) FOR SERVICE, BUT THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IF I PICK UP THE VEHICLE NOW THE USED VEHICLE WARRANTY THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE WILL EXPIRE AND WILL NOT COVER THE PROBLEM WHEN IT DOES COMPLETELY FAIL. AFTER READING ALL THE PROBLEMS THESE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE, IT IS INEVITABLE IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. HOPEFULLY, IT WON'T BE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR WORSE YET, WHEN DRIVING WITH MY GRANDKIDS SOMEWHERE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE TOTAL FAILURE OFTEN HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE OTHERWISE DRIVES GREAT. *TR

REAR TAILGATE MOLDING BELOW WINDOW CRACKED. APPEARS TO BE A PREVALENT FLAW BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH. CALLED FORD AND THEY ADVISED IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM HOWEVER WERE NOT PLANNING TO RECALL. I BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO THE PRIOR RECALL OF REAR LIFTGATE GLASS AS THIS PART WAS NEW POST RECALL. *TR

TRANSMISSION WAS FINE AND THEN IT STARTED HAVING TROUBLE SWITCHING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. NEXT THING THE OD LIGHT STARTED FLASHING SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. BY THE TIME I GOT THERE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. THEY DID A COMPUTER CHECK ($90 COST) ON IT AND RECOMMENDED TO INSTALL A REMANUFACTURED UNIT FOR $3829. AFTER SOME MORE RESEARCH, I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO AAMCO. THEY WENT BEYOND THE COMPUTER CHECK AND DISCOVERED THAT THE 2ND SERVO PISTON WAS BROKEN AND THE OD SERVO PISTON ALSO RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM. IN THE END, THE COST WILL BE $2043. *TR

THE SHOCKS AND THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE BACK LEFT PASSENGER SIDE TIRES ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER ARE SHOT. MY EXPLORER HAS 87,000 MILES ON IT!!! *TR

THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE IN THE DASH WHEN I TURNED THE HEAT ON. ONE DAY THERE WAS ONE MORE HARD CLICK AND AFTER THAT NO MORE HEAT. SO NOW WHEN I TURN THE HEAT ON THERE'S A CLICKING NOISE AND NO HEAT, WHEN I TURN IT ON COOL THE CLICKING NOISE STOPS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, ON FEBRUARY 17, 2008, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERAL VEHICLES WERE RAPIDLY APPROACHING THE CONTACT, WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A FATAL CRASH. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, AFTER THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND MAY BE AVAILABLE BY NEXT WEEK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR TWO WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER'S PRESIDENT WAS NOTIFIED ON TWO OCCASIONS AND THE SECRETARY FORWARDED THE MESSAGES TO A LIAISON. THE CONTACT WANTED THE VEHICLE REPLACED, BUT THE LIAISON STATED THAT SHE COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT SAW ON THE NEWS THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL AND FILED CASE NUMBER 0490000518. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO EXISTING RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FOLLOWING FAILURES OCCURRED WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER: ON MARCH 1, 2004, THE RING AND PINIONS FAILED, ON MARCH 31, 2004, THE PINION VALVE LEAKED, WAS DAMAGED, TESTED AND REPAIRED. ON APRIL 14, 2004, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE FRONT PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING AND REPLACED. THE UPPER BEARING WAS ALSO REPAIRED. THE VIN APPEARS TO BE INVALID. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

CRACKED REAR PANEL BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON LINE AT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE FOR MY EXPLORER AND WILL NOT BE REPLACED BY ME. *TR

TRIM PANEL ON THE BOTTOM OF REAR HATCH WINDOW DEVELOPED A LARGE CRACK UNEXPECTEDLY. CRACK IS VERTICAL FROM WINDOW TO BOTTOM OF LIFTGATE GLASS. *TR

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD. APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS AGO, THE REAR TRIM PANEL BENEATH THE REAR WINDOW CRACK DOWN THE MIDDLE. I CONTACTED MY NEAREST DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT WHILE FORD HAD RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM, THEY DID NOT PLAN TO ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR RECALL. THE DEALER SERVICE REPS EVEN AGREED THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS MANY COMPLAINTS ON-LINE. TODAY THE REAR HATCH LEFT LATCH BROKE OFF CAUSING THE ENTIRE REAR LIFT GATE WINDOW TO NEARLY FALL OFF. THE PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY BE RELATED DUE TO THE EARLIER CRACK CAUSING THE WEIGHT OF THE REAR GLASS TO SHIFT, PLACE TOO MUCH STRAIN ON THE LEFT LATCH. THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE BROKEN LATCH, WINDOW MOLDING AND REAR HATCH STRUTS, UNDER AN EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN BUT STILL WILL NOT REPAIR THE PREVIOUS CRACKED TRIM PANEL. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF FORD'S FAILURE TO BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT AND THEY HAVE LOST A LONG TERM CUSTOMER. *TR

WHILE PULLING OUT OF LOCAL WAL-MART PARKING LOT IN REVERSE AN EXPLOSION THAT ROCKED MY EXPLORER CROSS UTILITY VEHICLE CREATED SOME PANIC FOR MY WIFE AND MYSELF. UPON CHECKING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD EXPLODED FROM ONE SIDE OF THE RIM TO THE OTHER RENDERING THE TIRE TO BE COMPLETELY RUIN. THE RIM WAS INTACT. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND HAS A FLEX FUEL SYSTEM 4.0L 114,000 MILES AT TIMES NOT ALL THE TIME ONCE IN AWHILE I WILL GO TO TURN AND SLOW DOWN THE IDLE JUMPS UP AND DOWN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE RPS GO NUTS AND THE ENGINE SHUTS ITSELF OFF I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR NOT BEING PREPARED FOR THE SHUT DOWN THE BRAKES THE STEERING ALL GOT HARD TO HANDLE... HAS ANYONE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM AT ALL? I HAVE CHANGED SPARK PLUGS THE FUEL FILTER AIR FILTER AND STILL DOES THIS IN WARM WEATHER AS IT DOES IN COLD WEATHER.. ANY CLUE AS TO WHAT I CAN DO? VARY UNSAFE. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR OR TRUCK DO THIS MORE THAN ONCE. *TR