2003 Ford Explorer Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT AND FOUR BYSTANDERS PUSHED THE VEHICLE INTO A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,412.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH CAUSED THE DOME LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.

ADJUSTED HVAC TEMPERATURE FROM COLD TO HOT. APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS LATER, A LOUD AND REPETITIVE POPPING SOUND CAME FROM THE DEFROSTER VENTS. I WAS STARTLED AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR (ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY) TO INVESTIGATE. THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS FAILING. THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE A LOSS OF CLIMATE CONTROL IN THE CABIN. IT CAN GET STUCK ON HOT OR COLD OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN. IF IT GETS STUCK IN THE COLD SETTING, THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY. IF IT GETS STUCK ON THE HOT SETTING, HEAT-SENSITIVE PASSENGERS MAY BE INJURED BY HEATSTROKE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS SINCE AIR WILL ALWAYS FLOW THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO UNLOCK OR LOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A CHIME SOUNDED AFTER THE FAILURES OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION WITHOUT PROBLEMS, O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON BUT WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. STOPPED, TURN KEY OFF, STARTED NO LIGHT. AFTER ABOUT 150 MILES AFTER STOPPING ON TRAFFIC LIGHT O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AGAIN. 10 MILES LATER ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON . *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A CURVE AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF , I WAS ABLE TO STOP ,AND TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN, THAT WAS THE THIRD TIME THAT HAPPENED , THE OTHER TWO TIMES THE CAR WAS AT LOW SPEED , AROUND 30 MPH . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE PUSHING WATER INTO THE FUSE BOX WHEN IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHEN I STARTED MY TRUCK, THE INTERIOR DOME LAMP WOULD NOT GO OFF AND DOOR AJAR INDICATOR WAS CHIMING AS IF THERE WAS A DOOR OPEN. I GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND WALKED AROUND THE CAR OPENING AND CLOSING ALL THE DOORS AS WELL AS THE LIFTGATE AND REAR HATCH GLASS. I GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND IT WAS STILL GOING OFF. AFTER I STARTED DRIVING AND GOT ABOVE 10MPH THE LIGHT AND INDICATOR WENT OFF. I DID A SEARCH ON THE WEB AND FOUND OUT THAT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD EXPLORER OWNERS REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR IT WAS MANUFACTURED. ALL OF THE WIRES THAT RUN FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND INTO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE BECOME BRITTLE OVER TIME WHICH EVENTUALLY LEADS TO CRACKS AND BREAKS IN THE WIRES THUS RESULTING IN A ELECTRICAL SHORT. FORD SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE GIVEN THAT ITS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR EXPLORERS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2001 AND 2009. FOR THOSE WHO ARE ELECTRICAL SAVVY, YOU CAN RUN NEW WIRES YOURSELF. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT, WE HAVE TO RELY THAT SOME MECHANIC ISN'T GONNA RAPE OUR POCKETS AND CHARGE SOME RIDICULOUS PRICE TO FIX IT. THANKS FORD MOTOR COMPANY!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM FUNCTIONS DISABLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. ONCE RESTARTED, THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED. IN ADDITION, AN UNKNOWN PART WAS REPLACED AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO PERSIST AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

DOOR ADJAR SENSOR FAILS IN 2003 FORD EXPLORER ITS ALL OVER INTERNET. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OF THE WARNINGS THE NHTSA LISTED FOR FORD DRIVERS REGARDING POSSIBLE IMMINENT FIRES INCLUDING GETTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK MODE. MY PROBLEM IS THE RECALL ONLY INCLUDES 1995-2002 EXPLORERS AND I HAVE A 2003 EXPLORER. THE MANUFACTURE DATE IS 02/03. IS IT POSSIBLE THE PLANT STILL HAD THE TEXAS INSTRUMENT CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IN STOCK FROM 2002 AND INSTALLED IT IN MY VEHICLE? APPROXIMATE INCIDENT DATE IS THE MOST RECENT DATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET OUT OF THE PARK MODE ON THAT PARTICULAR DATE (8/27/2009). THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING HAS BEEN AN ON AND OFF PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 2 YEARS. BRAKE LIGHT WARNING ON DASHBOARD ONLY A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE MALFUNCTIONING CRUISE CONTROL LAST HAPPENED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO AND MAY HAVE HAPPENED AGAIN BUT DON'T REMEMBER WHEN FOR SURE. THE ONLY ITEM I HAD CHECKED OUT WAS THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. NOVEMBER 21, 2008 THEY REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL SPEED SENSOR, I HAVE YET TO FIND OUT IF THAT IS RELATED TO THE RECALLED SWITCH. IT FIXED THE ANTILOCK BRAKE DASHBOARD LIGHT FROM COMING ON MOSTLY. IT HAS COME ON AFTER THAT, BUT ONLY A COUPLE OF TIMES AND ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. *TR

THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATES AS THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS COME ON. I HAD THIS OCCUR ONCE IN THE PAST AND THE DEALER REPLACED A SWITCH / RELAY BUT NOW IT IS OCCURRING AGAIN... MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY ... IN FACT, IT IS ILLUMINATED MORE THEN NOT NOW. *TR

DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON AND TURNS ON INTERIOR LIGHT WHICH MAKES DRIVING DIFFICULTY. INTERIOR LIGHT COME ON WITH NO WARNING. VEHICLE HAS NO DAMAGE AND PERIODS OF EXTENDED WET WEATHER CAUSES SENSOR TO MALFUNCTION. *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.

STRING OF ELECTRICAL FAILURES A THE SAME TIME - RESULTED IN LOSS OF VEHICLE FOR 3-4 DAYS AND WE HAD TO RENT A CAR TO FILL IN WHILE IT WAS GETTING REPAIRED - FULL BATTERY FAILURE, FAILURE OF THE 4WD COMPONENT, BROKEN OR DETACHED WIRE IN DRIVER'S DOOR, RESULTING IN INABILITY TO LOCK/ALARM THAT DOOR WITH REMOTE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER THAT CUTS OFF AFTER TAKE OFF, BUT WHILE YIELDING TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR BRAKING TO MAKE A TURN. THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS AND THE CAR MUST BE BROUGHT TO A FULL STOP TO PLACE IN PARK AND RESTART. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO OUR LOCAL DEALER, DICK MASHETER, WHO HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, BUT HAPPENED TWICE YESTERDAY.

THE MESSAGE CENTER ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER CAN'T BE SEEN IN DAYLIGHT CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO READ THE COMPASS , MILEAGE, MILES /GAL, ANY READOUT OF THE AUTO. ALMOST CAUSED MY WIFE AND I TO RUN OFF THE ROAD WHILE TRYING TO READ THE COMPASS. NIGHT READING IS FINE, BUT DAYLIGHT IS TERRIBLE.. THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE FIXED BY FORD BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED TRYING TO READ THE MESSAGE CENTER IN DAYLIGHT. *TR

WE WERE INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON THE BELOW DATE. A PERSON WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND HIT OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AREA AT APPROX 40 MPH. THERE WAS OVER $ 6,000 IN DAMAGE ON OUR VEHICLE. WHEN OUR VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO US FROM THE BODY SHOP 6 WEEKS LATER, OUR HEATER, WHEN TURNED ON WAS MAKING A LOUD BANGING SOUND. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS KNOCKED LOOSE FROM THE IMPACT. IT IS NOW APRIL 2007, AND WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO FIX THIS. WE TOOK OUR 2003 FORD TO CAPITAL FORD IN CARSON CITY, NEVADA WHERE WE BOUGHT 3 NEW FORD VEHICLES. CAPITAL FORD TOLD THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. ALLSTATE , OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD US THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY "AT OUR OWN EXPENSE" TO TAKE THE DASH APART ON THIS VEHICLE TO SEE IF THIS WAS ACCIDENT RELATED, AT 10 HOURS LABOR AT $ 90 PER HOUR! I HAVE CHECKED ALL RECALLS WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND CALLED FORD DIRECTLY, AND HAVE FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THIS HEATER. PLEASE HELP US! *TR

I HAD 2003 FORD EXPLORER THAT CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY, MY CAR WAS BACKED IN ABOUT 10 FEET FROM HOUSE WITH TAILGATE OPEN. THE INVESTIGATOR FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS TELLING ME IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN BACK INSIDE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND I ALSO HAVE DAMAGES TO MY HOUSE AND PROPERTY. *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AND THE OWNER DROVE ACROSS THE STREET TO THE SHELL GAS STATION, OWNER PARKED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE GAS STATION, AND GOT SOME CASH FROM THE ATM MACHINE. OWNER WALKED BACK TO THE VEHICLE AND IT IGNITED. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE ENTIRE TRUCK WAS BURNED. THE FIRE MARSHALL SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK