There are 7 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2003 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
"TAKATA RECALL" AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING WITH THE SEAT BELT NOISE. CHANGED THE LIGHT BULB FROM THE DASH BOARD AND NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON BUT WILL NOT CONNECT WITH MILEAGE.
2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF HIS VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN RECALL # 11V352000 *TGW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF OR WOULD SPORADICALLY FLICKER ON AND OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 161,000.
NOTICED THE OTHER DAY THE BRAKE LIGHT WERE STUCK "ON" AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND ONLY AFTER TAPPING THEM A FEW TIMES DID THEY TURN OFF. THE ONLY PLACE TO GET A REPLACEMENT BRAKE ON / OFF SWITCH IS VIA THE DEALER FOR APPROX $95.00, INSTALLATION EXTRA. HE TOLD ME HE SELLS ALOT OF THESE FOR EXPLORERS, MAYBE IT NEEDS TO GO ON THE "RECALL LIST". IT POTENTIALLY WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THEY WERE TO STAY ON AND THEN HAVE A NEED TO STOP QUICKLY THE PERSON BEHIND YOU WOULD NOT SEE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND REAREND YOUR VEHICLE. *TR
ABOUT 8 - 10 MONTHS AGO WE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SHUTTING OFF. WE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON SOMETIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. FINALLY, DEC 31ST, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY HAD BEEN FULLY DISCHARGED OVERNIGHT BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD COME ON. THE PART RESPONSIBLE WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, WHICH COST $118.00 PARTS AND LABOR. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM RESULTED IN RECALL NHTSA 04V106000 ON THE 2003 FORD TAURUS. OUR VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER.*CN
WHY HAVE SOME CAR MANUFACTURERS REPLACED YELLOW REAR TURN SIGNALS WITH RED ONES. THESE LIGHTS ARE VERY HARD TO DISCERN DIRECTLY ABOVE BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS EVEN OCCURS BETWEEN MODELS OF THE SAME MAKE. I HAVE SPOKE WITH MANY PEOPLE ABOUT THIS AND THEY HAVE NOTICED THE SAME THING. WE CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW THIS WAS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN. ALL VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE SAME LIGHTING, PERIOD. THANK YOU.
I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC THIS YEAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE MADE SO THAT YOU CANNOT ADJUST THEM FOR SIDE VISION. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THE TECHNICIANS SAY THAT IT IS A DESIGN FAULT. DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT IS COMPARABLE TO HAVING TUNNEL VISION. MY TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS AND THEY DO HELP WITH THE SIDE VISION BUT THEY ONLY WORK ON LOW BEAM. EVEN WITH THE FOG LIGHTS THE AREA TO THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK ARE BLACKED OUT. IN THE MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN ABOUT SIX TIMES AT NIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW ANYONE ELSE THAT OWNS A SIMILAR TRUCK SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT IF EVERYONE HAS THIS PROBLEM OR JUST ME.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026