2003 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

2003 FORD EXPLORER...DURING YIELD TO TURN LEFT AND THEN MAKING LEFT TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS IF SOMEONE HAD PULLED KEY OUT OF IGNITION CAUSING VEHICLE TO STEER LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS MOVING BETWEEN 5-15 MPH AT TIME OF FAILURE. TURNING OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTING WE FOUND THAT STEERING AGAIN RELEASED AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE HOME. I TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER NEXT DAY AND THEY SAID THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONCERN" OF COURSE IT HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT 27,000 MILES,,,VERY UNLIKELY TO GET IT TO HAPPEN THE DAY THEY LOOK AT IT. THEY DID HOWEVER REPLACE THE COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN TO REMEDY AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WHERE THE SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD POP INTO DRIVE(AFTER ACCELLERATING)EVEN THOUGH IT INDICATED THE SELECTOR WAS IN DRIVE ALREADY. I NEED IMMEDIATE REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE SINCE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY HOPING FOR HELP. CONSEQUENTLY NOT RELATED TO THE STEERING LOCKING PROBLEM THE REAR WINDOW ON THE LEFT REAR HAS HAD 3 REPAIR ATTEMPTS TO FIX A INTERMITT INOP PROBLEM,,,AND THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT MAKES NOISE...I HAVE 4 FORDS IN MY FAMILY(F150 AND F250) THAT WE HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH HOWEVER WE HAVE NOW LOST COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE...SEEMS THE DEALER JUST DOESNT KNOW OR WANT TO DO ANYTHING ADDITIONAL!*AK

WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. QUESTION: ARE AIR BAGS SET TO DEPLOY DEPENDING ON IMPACT SPEED AND OR FORCE?*AK

TRANSMISSION CLUNKING FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD OR FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE. WHIRLING SOUND, 55-65 MPH, REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

CRUISE CONTROL ACTS ERRATIC. SOMETIMES WORKS FINE, SOMETIMES WON'T WORK AT ALL, SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF AND ON APPROXIMATELY FOUR OCCASIONS HAS ACCELERATED WILDLY ON ITS OWN WHEN ENGAGED. *NM

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE HATCH BACK OF THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED A CRACK DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE. THIS DEFECT CAN BE SEEN AROUND MANY OTHER 2003 FORDS. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE HATCHBACK PIECE IS RATTLING AND SEEMS LIKE IT WILL COME OFF. *TR

PURCHASED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 JANUARY 2004, AROUND 10K MILES NOTICED A SHUDDER/SLIPPING IN TRANSMISSION UNDER HARD EXCELLERATION. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO PULLIAM FORD IN COLA. SC TO HAVE TRANSMISSION AND WHINING REAR END REPAIRED. WHEN I CALLED THE SERVICE WRITER, HE INFORMED ME THAT THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE TRANSMISSION VIBRATION, AND THAT THE WHINE WAS NO LOUDER THAN OTHER EXPLORERS, EVEN THOUGH THEY DID ACKNOWLEGE THAT THE EXPLORER DID HAVE A REAR END PROBLEM. I AM NOT SATISFIED AND WOULD LIKE TO GET MY 32K WORTH OUT OF THIS VEHICLE, NOT A EXCUSE FOR A POOR PRODUCT AND POOR SERVICE. *AK

WATER RUNS DOWN FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT APPERATUS, INSIDE THE CAR. WATER DAMAGE SEEN ON INTERIOR ROOF FROM WATER LEAKING INSIDE THE ROOF OF THE TRUCK.

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

CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *MR THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON IT'S OWN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO THE BORDER WALL, SPUN AROUND, AND STOPPED ON THE OTHER SIDE. *SC *JB

CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THE REPAIR PARTS TO COME IN FOR RECALL 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS FOR FOUR MONTHS. WAS TOLD THE PARTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE LATE NOVEMBER. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT HERE, AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, ALL OF THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING LOCKED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE/DRIVESHAFT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

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

CONSISTENT REAR AXLE WHINE FROM 45-65 MILES PER HOUR HIGHWAY DRIVING, DEALER, RAMP FORD IN PORT JEFFERSON, NY REPLACED REAR END THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND FINALLY STATED THAT ALL EXPLORERS MAKE THE SAME NOISE. THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INDICATION WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DEFINITELY GET THE FEELING THAT THEY WISH I WOULD JUST GO AWAY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS TSB'S ON THIS ISSUE AND I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. *NM

BACK (REAR) WINDOW DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. REQUIRES NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. *LA

I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT 2WD IN SEPTEMBER 1, 2003. WITH 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A WHINE FROM THE REAR END THAT WAS AUDIBLE FROM 45 MPH TO 65 MPH. THE NOISE WOULD STOP WHEN I LET OFF ON THE GAS AND WOULD RESUME WHEN THE GAS WAS REAPPLIED INDICATING A BEARING FAILURE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LEITH FORD OF WENDELL, NC, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY UNDER WARRANTY ON JULY 9, 2004 WITH 21,899 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT REAR AXLE MADE THE SAME WHINE FROM 45 MPH TO 65 MPH INDICATING REAR BEARING FAILURE. THE COMPLETE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BY LEITH FORD UNDER WARRANTY. THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY WAS ORDERED FROM FORD ON OCTOBER 20, 2004 WITH 32980 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE ASSEMBLY WAS RECEIVED AND INSTALLED WITH 36,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WITH 63,280 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I RETURNED THE VEHICLE ON OCTOBER 17, 2005 TO LEITH FORD TO CHECK OUT THE SAME WHINE IN THE REAR END FROM 45 MPH TO 65 MPH. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR BEARINGS WERE FAILING AND ORDERED A REAR DIFFERENTIAL KIT TO REBUILD THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. *NM

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

EXCESSIVE NOISE FORM REAR DRIVETRAIN. *JB

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

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

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

ROARING SOUND COMING FROM THE BACK END OF THE TRUCK. *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

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

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE ROD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL OVER. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ROD DUE TO WORN PARTS. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

TRANSMISSION FAILURE TOOK TO DEALER ,THEY REBUILT IT.TOOK IT BACK 04/28/05 THEY REBUILT IT AGAIN WITH 27998 MILES ON IT. TOOK IT BACK 08/23/05 WITH 31714 MILES THEY REBUILD IT AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK 02/11/08 BEFORE EXTENDED WARRANTY ENDED ON 02/19/08 THEY SAID COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM .I THINK BECAUSE OF THE LEMON LAW. NOW 12 /17/2013 IT NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. *TR

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR TAILGATE WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE TAILGATE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR R HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY ANY PORTION OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 2/23/11 *CN UPDATED 04/25/11

WHILE STOPPED WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHEN APPLIED. *BF CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TC

VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IT, ITS STALLS AS A RESULT OF THE LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, AND CRUISE CONTROL WIRES. THE VEHICLE IS NOT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME.*AK

WHEN BRAKING BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT RIGHT OFF THE LOT BRAND NEW. WITHIN MONTHS I NOTICED A SMALL WET SPOT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER MY FIRST OIL CHANGE I MENTIONED IT TO WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND THE TOLD ME THAT MY DIFFERENTLY IS LOW BUT NOT LEAKING. THEN I ASKED WHAT ABOUT THE WET SPOT ON THE GROUND. WITH 7 MONTHS FROM THAT A HUGE PUDDLE FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR ON VACATION WITH THE VEHICLE AND DROP IT AT A FORD DEALER IT'S MY REAR DIFFERENTLY SEALS. FIXED THAT PAID FOR IT BECAUSE THEY SAY WHERE AND TEAR. ABOUT 1 YEAR LATER SAME THING GET IT FIXED ABOUT 1 YEAR AND HALF SAME THING AND CONTINUE TO FIX IT. TALK TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY THEY SAY IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT WHEN I STARTED CALLING THEM IN 2004 IT WAS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD AND I PAID FOR THE PIECE TO BE REPAIRED. TODAY MY VEHICLE IS BACK IN THE SHOP FOR A FOURTH TIME SAME EXACT PROBLEM ALTHOUGH NOW THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THE AXLE IS FROZEN IN THERE AND THEY NEED TO BREAK IT BEFORE FIXING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED. SEEKING HELP FOR THIS LEMON!!!! *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER- 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY DISENGAGES. REPRODUCED BY FIRST ACCELERATING FROM 1ST OR 2ND GEAR AND BACK OFF GAS JUST BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AND ENGINE REVS UP. MUST EITHER REV ENGINE UP OVER 4K OR BACKOFF GAS ALTOGETHER TO RECOVER. FORD IS NON-RESPONSIVE TO INQUIRES. PROBLEM WEBSITES ARE FULL OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. *LA

AROIUND 37,000 MILES I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HALF OF THEM GO OFF WHEN THEY SHOULD AND HALF OF THEM STAY ON WHICH RUNS MY BATTERY DOWN AND I HAVE TO BE JUMPED. THEN AROUND 40,000 MILE I STARTED HEARING A LOUND WHINING NOISE FROM MY REAR END. THE DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. IT IS SO LOUD YOU HAVE TO ALMOST YELL TO TALK TO SOMEONE. THEN AT 47,000 MILES MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SOON STARTED COMING ON. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COOLANT AREA. I AM AFRAID TO TAKE MY VEHICLE OUT OF TOWN AND I OWE TOO MUCH ON IT TO TRADE IT. *NM

CONSUMER STATES THAT HE IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH HIS VEHICLE STARTING IN THE MORNING. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY REPLACE A CHIP. *JB

WHILE PARKED REAR LIFTGATE GLASS EXPLODED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND WOULD ONLY STEER TO THE LEFT. THIS RESULTED IN VEHICLE GOING OVER AN EMBANKMENT. *AK

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT ON THE EDGES OF THE VEHICLE FRONT HOOD WAS BUBBLED AND PEELED. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REQUESTED THE VEHICLE OWNER TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON THE PAINT ISSUE FROM THE SERVICE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE REPORT FROM THE SERVICE DEALER

WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

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.

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE REAR SEAT (CUSHION PORTION) WAS DISLODGED AND THREW THE PERSON SITTING IN THE SEAT WITH A SEAT BELT ON UP AGAINST THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH SUDDEN STOPS. THE DEALER HAS LOOKED AT IT SEVERAL TIMES AND CAN FIND NO WAY TO ANCHOR THAT PORTION OF THE SEAT IN. *JB

WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

TRANSMISSION BEGAN LOCKING UP WHEN VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE TO BACK-UP. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE LEFT FRONT REAR. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. *AK

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE LIFTBACK ON THE VEHICLE UNLATCHED ITSELF. IN ALL BUT ONE OCCURANCE, THIS WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKED POSITION. THE MOST RECENT OCCURENCE WAS MARCH 9, 2004.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW HATCH HAS A PIECE OF PLASTIC UNDER THE GLASS, WHICH HOLDS THE WINDOW IN PLACE. THE PLASTIC HAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE WINDOW. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 04/02/08. *LJ

2003, FORD, EXPLORER XLT 4X4 - ENGINE JUST STOPPED, NO WARNING, NO SIGN OF ANY PROBLEM, AND WOULD NOT RESTART, COMPUTER PROCESSOR FAILED. NO BRAKES ,NO POWER STEERING. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, COLLIDING INTO A TREE. *AK