2003 Ford Explorer complaints

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.

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

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

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

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

EXCESSIVE WHINE/NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

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

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 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE BECOMES LOUDER AS THE VEHICLE TRAVELS FASTER. THE WHINING APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,800. UPDATED 04/14/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BY FORD AT 55,000 MILES DUE TO A DEFECT. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE MAKES EXCESSIVE NOISE WHEN IN GEAR. UPDATED

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

REFERENCE MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER 4X4. RIGHT REAR SPRING IS BROKEN. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 45,506 MILES. *TR

CRACK IN BODY OF TAILGATE WITH NO CAUSE; CRACK STARTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK WINDOW AND RUNS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PLASTIC PANEL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS A KNOW DEFECT, BUT WILL NOT FIX IT. IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE, THERE ARE AT LEAST 4 OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. FORD NEEDS TO FIX THIS ! IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE TRADE-IN VALUE OF MY CAR. *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

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

BODY PANEL BELOW REAR GLASS ON LIFT GATE IS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. I NOTICED THIS ON MANY EXPLORERS OF THE SAME APPROX. AGE WHILE SHOPPING FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

REAR AXLE LOUD NOISE. FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING BECAME EXTREMELY NOISY. AUTOMATIC 4WD CONTROL ENGAGED UNEXPECTEDLY DURING LOW SPEED TURNS AND PARKING. SEVERAL VISITS TO THE FORD REPAIR SHOP, ALMOST $2.5K IN REPAIRS, "ERRONEOUSLY" DIAGNOSED. RESULTS: FINALLY, FAILURES STILL IN PLACE. WHAT A SHAME!!! *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

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE SIMILAR TO A TIRE BLOWOUT. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE LUG STUDS FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEELS HAD SHEARED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE STUDS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO PARK, BUT THE GEAR BECAME STUCK. SHE JIGGLED THE GEAR UNTIL IT WENT INTO PARK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

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

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

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.

HATCHBACK ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT, THE TOTAL COST WAS $290.00. *TR

PANEL BELOW GLASS ON LIFT GATE DEVELOP A CRACK. *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

THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED ON OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AT FORD AND DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE EXPLORER. IT COST $2,000 TO FIX. OUR MECHANIC REFERRED US TO A TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE SPECIALIST WHO HAD SEEN MULTIPLE EXPLORERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. THE CONSEQUENCES OF A FAILURE IN THE TRANSFER CASE CAN BE A COMPLETE SHREDDING OF THE GEARS AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, WHICH COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *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

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

AT 40,000 MILES 4000 OUT OF WARRANTY, THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. NO WARNING AT ALL. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR. MY WIFE NURSED THE CAR HOME. THE CAR HAD NO FIRST GEAR AND WOULD SLAM FROM SECOND TO THIRD. FORD CONFIRMED THIS, AND SAID THE ONLY FIX WAS A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION. 6,000 MILES LATER, THE SAME THING. SINCE THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY, FORD SAID THAT THEY COULD REPLACE SOME SOLENOIDS AND THAT WOULD FIX IT....NOT!! THREE MORE TRIPS AND FINALLY A TRANSMISSION THAT DOESN'T ACT UP ALL THE TIME. IT STILL SHIFTS FUNNY AND SOMETIMES FAILS TO GO INTO GEAR. MY WIFE HAS COME CLOSE TO BEING REAR-ENDED NUMEROUS TIMES, I.E. BACKING INTO THE STREET. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD HAS BEEN IGNORING, READ THE FORUMS. I HAVE MANY OTHER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. READ DIFFERENTIAL CLUTCHES GOING BAD, KEYLESS ENTRY FAILING, DOOR LOCKS FAILING, AND A WINDOW THAT WORKS PART-TIME....KINDA LIKE FORD ENGINEERS. *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED REAR HATCH WITHOUT IMPACT. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE COLDER THAN NORMAL. THERE ARE TWO VERTICAL 1/4" CRACKS THAT APPEARED SUDDENLY BELOW THE REAR HATCH LIFT GATE WINDOW. WE HAD NOT USED THE BACK LIFT DOOR OR THE LIFT GATE WINDOW IN SEVERAL DAYS. *TR

CRACKED HATCH ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WORRIED THAT PANEL WILL FALL OFF. FORD DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. HAVE READ THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE AROUND COUNTRY HAVE SAME PROBLEM NO MATTER WHAT CLIMATE IS. FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PANEL FALLING OFF WHILE DRIVING AND CREATING AN ADVERSE INCIDENT WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY. *TR

THE HINGES ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER BROKE WHILE OPENING THE LIFT GATE. I WANT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE FIXED. THEY CHARGED ME $323.55 TO REPLACE THE HINGES & STRUTS. LATER I FOUND OT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT DURING THE DATES LISTED IN THE RECALL IT WAS NOT BUILT AT A SPECIFIC PLANT. OF THE 955,000 VEHICLES COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL MY CAR (WHICH ACTUALLY HAD THE PROBLEM) WAS NOT COVERED. BELOW IS A COPY OF THE RECALL FROM YOUR OFFICE. I AM CERTAIN THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER FACING THIS ISSUE. FORD MOTORS NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON RECORD WITH THIS COMPLAINT STATING THAT THE RECALL BELOW BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE ALL 2003 FORD EXPLORERS REGARDLESS OF PLANT THAT BUILT IT. THE HINGES ARE BAD. FORD / EXPLORER 2002-2003 FORD / MOUNTAINEER 2002-2003 MANUFACTURER : FORD MOTOR COMPANY MFR'S REPORT DATE : SEP 09, 2004 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V442000 PE04045 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE04045 COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 955732 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED OR THE HINGE MAY FRACTURE ALLOWING THE GLASS TO FALL AND POSSIBLY BREAK. CONSEQUENCE: IF THE HINGE SHOULD FRACTURE, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE GLASS TO FALL AND ULTIMATELY BREAK AND PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR. *TR

REAR GLASS APPLIQUE UNDER REAR HATCH HAS CRACKED TWICE, FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY, SECOND TIME IT IS NOT COVERED. *TR

I JUST RECENTLY TOOK MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4.0L V6 TO MY LOCAL DEALER BECAUSE OF A COLD DRAFT COMING FROM THE GLOVE BOX AND OR FLOOR PANEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. UPON NOT EVEN GOING INTO FURTHER EXPLANATION ABOUT MY PROBLEM THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS; STATING IT IS THE "BLEND DOOR." THEY SAID "THE PINS FROM THE DOOR BREAK OFF AND CAUSES THE DOOR TO FALL MAKING IT NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY CREATING A COLD DRAFT AND THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONING NOT TO WORK PROPERLY; IS A "COMMON PROBLEM".' WHEN I CALLED DOWN THERE TWO DAYS LATER, TO GET MY QUOTE ON FIXING IT, THE MANAGER IN PARTS SAID 'THE PART WAS $50.00 AND WAS GOING TO REQUIRE 4 HOURS OF LABOR BECAUSE OF HAVING TO TAKE THE WHOLE DASH OFF TO GET TO IT; I WAS LOOKING AT ROUGHLY $330.00 WITH PARTS, LABOR, AND TAX.' I PERSONALLY FEEL THIS IS A 'MANUFACTURES DEFECT' AND WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY FOR A 'MANUFACTURES DEFECT?' ALSO, IF THIS IS SUCH A 'COMMON PROBLEM' WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL FOR IT BEING FAULTY; OTHER THAN BECAUSE IT'S NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. I APPRECIATE ANY TIME YOU PUT INTO MY QUESTION AND DILEMMA. I WILL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT ISN'T A RECALL. *CN

I PURCHASE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN THE SAME YEAR. LAST YEAR MY WIFE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE LIFTGATE DIRECTLY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE CRACK WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG AND NARROW IN WIDTH. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERS BODY SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER " THAT I SEE THIS ALL THE TIME IN ALL OF FORDS SUV'S INCLUDING THE LINCOLN AND MERCURY MODELS. IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY AND ONE THAT FORD WILL NOT RECALL". HE GAVE ME A ESTIMATE OF $350 AND ADVISED THAT I GO TO THE DEALER AND TALK TO SOMEONE THERE. I DID SO AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE WERE 2 REASONS WHY THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR FOR ME. THE 1ST IS THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE 2ND WAS THAT I DID NOT BUY THE CAR FROM THEM, I PURCHASED THE CAR AS A DEMO FROM ANOTHER DEALER. I WAS GIVEN A NUMBER TO CONTACT FORD WHICH I DID AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE WOULD HAVE THE REGIONAL REP FROM FORD CONTACT ME WHENEVER HE WAS IN TOWN. HE ALSO STATED THAT IF FORD WOULD NOT HELP ME THEN HE WOULD FIX THE CAR FOR HALF PRICE THE COST. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM IN A YEAR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AS THE BODY SHOP MANAGER AT THE DEALER SAID, THIS IS A FLAW THAT FORD MOTOR CO. IS AWARE OF AND WILL NOT RECALL. MY CAR NOW HAS 3 CRACKS ON THE LIFTGATE AND I LIKE SO MANY OTHERS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE

CRACK IN LIFTGATE OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER; NOTE: 2ND TIME IT HAS CRACKED, AFTER REPLACEMENT ONCE...NOW ABOUT 25,000 MILES LATER, SAME PROBLEM WITH NEW LIFTGATE. CRACK JUST "APPEARS". *TR

WHEN I GOT TO MY CAR THIS MORNING, THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK REAR PANEL OF MY '03 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER SERIES HAD CRACKED FROM BETWEEN THE WINDOW TO THE LATCH - RIGHT UNDER THE FORD EMBLEM. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT - NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS DAMAGE. LUCKILY THERE ARE ONLY 51K MILES ON THE TRUCK, AND THE DEALER IS WILLING TO FIX WITH A $75 DEDUCTIBLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK IN THE TAILGATE BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

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

SAT. JAN. 19, 2008; APPROX. 99,780 MILES - ENGINE STALLED WHILE WE WERE TURNING OFF THE HIGHWAY TO A SIDE STREET. WE HAD JUST DRIVEN APPROX. 20 MILES, SO THE ENGINE WAS WARM. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, WHICH CAUSED US TO GO INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS COMING TOWARDS US SO WE COULD STOP, PUT IT IN PARK, AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS IS ABOUT THE FIFTH OR SIXTH TIME IT HAPPENED. *TR

HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML THE LINK ABOVE IS BASICALLY WHAT I EXPERIENCE - A CRACK IN MY BACK BODY PANEL - NO WRECK - NOTHING TO CAUSE IT - JUST SITTING THERE! FORD WILL NOT REPLACE - THEY CLAIM IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY - AS IF A BODY PANEL SHOULD CRACK BY ITSELF! *TR

I AM ATTEMPTING TO RECTIFY A WELL KNOW PROBLEM ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER REGARDING THE HEATER BLEND DOOR FOR THE FRONT HEATING UNIT. IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE I HAVE NO HEAT HERE IN MICHIGAN OF ALL PLACES. DOES FORD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL FORD PEOPLE AND THEY SAY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. IF THE AIR BLEND DOOR BREAKS AND THE SYSTEM IS LOCKED IN THE A/C MODE, DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD WILL BE A CHALLENGE. EVER TRIED TO MELT ICE WITH AN AIR CONDITIONER? WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT SAFETY ISSUES. WHEN THE DEALER CALLED BACK , THE FIRST QUESTION WAS THE VEHICLE?S MILEAGE. WHEN I REPORTED 79K MILES THEY SAID SORRY, THE CUT-OFF FOR ASSISTANCE WAS 75K MILES. I ARGUED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS LOGGED AT 40K MILES WITH NUMEROUS FOLLOW-UP CALLS. THEY REFUSED. I CALLED THE 1-800 ASSISTANCE NUMBER AGAIN AND GOT A REAL BONEHEAD. SHE CONFIRMED THAT 75K MILES WAS THE CUT-OFF. I ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE GENTLEMAN TO WHOM I HAD PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED MY COMPLAINT, GIVING HER HIS IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. SHE REFUSED. I HUNG UP AND DIALED THE 1-800 NUMBER AGAIN. THIS TIME I GOT A KIND LADY WHO TOLD ME THAT THE FIELD ENGINEER HAD THE AUTHORITY TO OFFER COMPENSATION. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEN LEARNED THAT THE FIELD ENGINEER HAD BACKED OUT OF THE DEAL AND I WAS ABOUT TO FORK OVER $700 FOR REPLACEMENT. HOW IN THE WORLD DOES THE CUSTOMER GET HOSED FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK, KEPT IT INSURED, DID MY M

BRAKE ROTORS CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE FRONT SURFACE WAS FLAKING OFF. *TR

BRAND NEW 2003 FORD EXPLORER. REPLACED ENGINE AT 115 K MILES AND NOW THE TRANS IS GOING; SPECIFICALLY, THE O/D LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND IT SHIFTS BADLY. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING ONLINE, WHILE FORD IGNORES THIS FAULTY TRANS. *TR

BACK HATCH SPLIT ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER. *TR

STALLING WITH NO WARNING. FORD FOUND NOTHING. THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. SAID I SHOULD GET AN AFTER MARKET COMPUTER. OK *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH BAD RECALL REPAIR WORK. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WRONG. HE STATES THAT THE HINGES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER REPLACED THE STRUTS AND HINGES. *KB WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED THE FIRST TIME HE WAS TOLD THE STRUTS LOOKED FINE. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HINGE BEGAN TO SEPARATE AND THE WHOLE LIFTGATE SUBSEQUENTLY SHIFTED; THE GAP BETWEEN THE LIFTGATE AND THE BODY WAS NO LONGER SYMMETRICAL BUT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE DECREASED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE LIFTGATE NO LONGER LATCHED OR WOULD ONLY LATCH WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE APPLIED WHEN CLOSING IT. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE TWO HINGES AT THE TOP OF THE REAL HATCH GLASS SECTION THAT ATTACHED TO THE ROOF OR BODY OF THE VEHICLE THAT WERE BROKEN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIFTGATE LATCH, TRIM PANEL AND THE REAR TAILLIGHT WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE HINGE AND SHOULD BE FIXED WITHOUT CHARGE. RECALL# 04V442000 *JB