2003 Ford Explorer complaints

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

WITHOUT IMPACT, '03 FORD EXPLORER LIFTGATE PANEL CRACKED FROM GLASS, AROUND FORD EMBLEM, TO BOTTOM OF PANEL. VERY COMMON PROBLEM. NO COOPERATION FROM FORD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AVAILABLE ON MAY 10, 2007, BUT IT STILL HAS NOT ARRIVED. THE REPAIR IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC UNDERNEATH THE REAR LIFTGATE'S GLASS DOOR HAS BEGUN TO CRACK. THE DOOR STILL OPERATES PROPERLY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 78,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

CRACKING IN THE LIFTGATE PANEL. THE PANEL BELOW THE GLASS ON MY EXPLORER HAS CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BOTTOM REAR LIFTGATE HAS CRACKED. HE STATED THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE HINGES FOR THE LIFTGATE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE LIFTGATE FALLS REPEATEDLY AND CAUSED THE LIFTGATE WINDOW TO CRACK. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 64,370 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

2003 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE BOTTOM REAR LIFTGATE IS CRACKED. CONSUMER BELIEVES CONCERN IS RELATED TO RECALL ON THE HINGES FOR THE LIFTGATE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE CRACKS ON THE LIFTGATE WERE DUE TO WEAKNESS. UPDATED 07/08/07. *JB

REAR LIFTGATE HAD A CRACK JUST BELOW THE GLASS ON THE 2003 EXPLORER. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE GLASS WILL BECOME LOOSE AND FALL OUT AND HURT SOMEONE. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED ON MY 2002, FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL EXPLORERS WITH THIS SAME CRACK. FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE LIFTGATE WITH A BETTER DESIGNED ONE.*AK

THE REAR TAILGATE ON THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED WHEN I CLOSED IT AFTER TAKING AN ITEM OUT OF THE BACK OF THE CAR. I HAD SEEN MANY OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO ME. I DID NOT ABUSE THE TAILGATE ,AND I DID NOT USE ANY EXTRA EFFORT TO CLOSE IT THAN I NORMALLY WOULD. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER , AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT AND THEY WOULD FIX IT AT NO CHARGE. WHEN I CALLED LATER ON THE DAY I DROPPED IT OFF. THEY INFORMED ME THEY HAD PERFORMED THE RECALL WORK ON THE HINGE AND BALL PIVOT, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE TAILGATE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE TAILGATE SITUATION ON THIS VEHICLE BUT IT HAD NOT BEEN POSTED AS A RECALL ITEM. *AK

REAR AXLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE SEAL WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS REPLACED AND THE NOISE STILL CONTINUES. OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND NOTHING HAS EVER HAPPENED WITH THIS ISSUE. IT COST A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE THE AXLE WORKED ON AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED! *JB

FOR ABOUT A WEEK STRANGE NOISES WERE OBSERVED UPON SHIFTING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. DURING A 5 MILE TRIP INTO TOWN, POWER STEERING PUMP NOISE WAS OBSERVED WHEN TURNING. UPON REACHING DESTINATION I EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY MANEUVERING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND OBSERVED A LOT OF STEERING PUMP NOISE. UPON RETURN HOME I CHECKED THE RESERVOIR TO FIND IT EXTREMELY LOW AND A CHECK UNDER THE VEHICLE REVEALED FLUID HAD BEEN LEAKING AND DISTRIBUTED ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FILLING AND STARTING THE VEHICLE, NO APPARENT LOCATION WAS OBSERVED EXCEPT THE CONNECTION TO THE RACK & PINION LOOKED TO BE LEAKING BUT THE ONLY EVIDENCE WAS APPARENT LACK OF DUST BUILD UP WHICH WAS EVIDENT AROUND THE ATTACHMENT PLATE WHICH INDICATES THERE HAS BEEN ENOUGH FLOW TO REMOVE BUILDUP FROM LEAKING CONDITION. *JB

PLASTIC UNDER (ATTACHED TO) REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW CRACKED. CRACK RUNS TOP TO BOTTOM, AROUND THE FORD EMBLEM. ENTIRE LIFTGATE NEEDS REPLACING. FORD SAYS I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL EXPLORER ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE SAME DEFECT. DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THIS WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I'M SURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE STRUCTURE WOULD BE COMPROMISED IN A ROLLOVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER INSTALLING TWO NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SOUND WAS CAUSED BY THE DIFFERENCE IN TREAD BETWEEN THE NEW TIRES AND OLDER REAR TIRES, CAUSING THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND TRANSFER CASE TO FAIL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,000.*AK

REAR PINION GEAR ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER CAUSES HIGH PITCHED WHINING SOUND, AND IS WELL KNOWN TO FORD DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA. THE STATED COST TO REPAIR (REPLACE PINION RING, PINION GEAR, SEALS) IS IN EXCESS OF $1,100. *TR

FOLLOWING THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO CORRECT THE FAULT WITH THE REAR DOOR/LIFTGATE RECALL, A LARGE CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE LIFTGATE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFTGATE. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SAME CRACK ON SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORERS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT FORD RECOGNIZES AS AN ITEM FOR "RECALL." I AM UNSURE OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE REAR DOOR/LIFTGATE. *JB

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

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED, WITH 59K MILES, DEVELOPED A LOUD ROARING ROAD NOISE THAT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE TIRES. INSPECTION BY THE FORD DEALER IDENTIFIED 3 DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. THE RIGHT FRONT AND BOTH REARS. I KNOW THAT WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD NOT FAIL WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE SO I INSTRUCTED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE 4TH BEARING WHICH THEY SAID WAS NOT MAKING NOISE BECAUSE I WOULDN'T RISK A FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. I KEPT THE OLD BEARINGS AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE WHICH ONE THEY THOUGHT WAS GOOD. THEY ARE ALL EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ROTATE AND THERE IS VERY OBVIOUS ROUGHNESS DURING ROTATION. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE COST OF THE FIRST THREE. MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE SHORT LIFESPAN OF BEARINGS. THE FRONT BEARINGS WERE SO BAD THAT I FEEL SURE AN EXTENDED TRIP WOULD HAVE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. MY SECOND CONCERN IS THAT FORD HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM. ON-LINE RESEARCH HAS CONFIRMED THAT I AM NOT THE FIRST TO HAVE BEARING FAILURE BEFORE 60K ON A 2003 EXPLORER. *TR

I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER INVESTIGATING A "SQUEEKING" COMPLAINT THAT MY LEFT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED REPLACING AT A COST OF OVER $300.00. AT THE TIME, IT HAD AROUND 38,000 MILES AND WAS "OUT OF WARRANTY". MY REGULAR NON-DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS, AND THE COST WAS ABOUT RIGHT. I PURCHASED 2 BEARING ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACED THE LEFT ONE. NOW, ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, THE RIGHT ONE IS MAKING SO MUCH NOISE I CAN'T HEAR THE RADIO, SO I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT. I HATE TO THINK ABOUT SPENDING $500.00+ EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS REPLACING THESE BEARINGS WHEN EVERY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED, ALL GM BY THE WAY, WENT OVER 100,000 MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED, AND ACTUALLY DENIED, ANY TSB'S OR PROBLEMS WITH THE BEARINGS. *TR

CRACK IN BODY OF TAILGATE WITH NO CAUSE; CRACK STARTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BACK WINDOW AND RAN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PANEL. *JB

THERE APPEARED WITHOUT WARNING A BIG CRACK IN THE REAR LIFTGATE OF THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CRACK GOES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIFTGATE. THE CRACK EXPANDS AND SHRINKS ACCORDING TO THE TEMPERATURE. SO FAR IT GOT AS WIDE AS 1/4 INCH. . THE CRACK IS IN THE SHAPE OF A PEACE SIGN.*AK NOTHING HIT THE VEHICLE; IT'S STORED IN A GARAGE EVERYDAY. I WENT TO MALLOUF FORD DEALERSHIP IN NORTH BRUNSWICK NJ AND THEY SAID I'D HAVE TO PAY $800 TO FIX IT. THERE WAS ANOTHER PERSON IN THE DEALERSHIP AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND A SLEW OF OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THE GLASS OF THE REAR LIFT GATE NOT BEING PROPERLY SUPPORTED AND WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME LOOSE, CRACK OR FALL OUT. LET'S NOT WAIT FOR SOMETHING HORRIFIC TO HAPPEN BEFORE THIS GROWING PROBLEM IS FIXED.

2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE BACK DOOR PANEL THAT HAS THE FORD EMBLEM ON IT IS CRACKED IN HALF FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM NEXT TO THE EMBLEM. I SEE MANY OF THEM LIKE THIS. FORD WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THIS DEFECT. IT'S THEIR DEFECT.*AK UPDATED 09/16/08.*LJ

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH 43000 FAILURE MILEAGE) A CRACK ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MADE THE HATCHBACK FLY UP WHILE DRIVING. THERE WAS RECALL 04V442000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER ABOUT THE CRACK, OR THE HATCH FLYING UP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44264.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO PARK. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR IT HESITATED AND JERKED BEFORE ENGAGING. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE PREVIOUSLY AT 18,000 MILES AND 27,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE SAME REPAIR AT 58,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,742.*AK

PURCHASED A 2003 EXPLORER XLT IN NOVEMBER 2003. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS NOTICED A LEAK THAT ORIGINATED FROM DIFFERENTIAL AREA. TOOK TO DEALER WAS TOLD A SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED AND EVERYTHING SHOULD BE OK. TOOK A FAMILY TRIP RECENTLY, THE FIRST ONE IN THE EXPLORER ON MARCH 17, 2007 AND REAR AXLE SEAL FAILED ON A 1,200 MILE ROUND TRIP. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED, I EVEN EXPLAINED THERE WERE SEVERAL TSB CONCERNING MY ISSUE, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL THEREFORE IT WASN'T COVERED. I WAS TOLD BY FORD TO GO AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED BY LOCAL DEALER, SAME ONE THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY. I HAD PROBLEM'S DIAGNOSED, CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT DEALER WOULD PROVIDE "CUSTOMER CARE AFTER WARRANTY". CALLED DEALER WAITING FOR REPLY FOR NEXT STEP. MY EXPLORER ONLY HAS 33,600 MILES WHILE 1,200 MILES WERE PLACED IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, AND WARRANTY EXPIRED 4 MONTHS BACK. *AK

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED NEAR THE LOCATION OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THE NHTSA WEBSITE LISTED SEVERAL RELATED COMPLAINTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 49,000.*AK

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FRONT HUB/WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE PANEL ON THE REAR GATE UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW ON THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN OPEING S THE LIFTGATE IT FELT SHAKY AND UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS CAUSES THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY INFORMED HER THE BACK PANEL ON THE REAR LIFTGATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 120,000 MILES. *AK

THE VEHICLE SHAKES OR VIBRATES WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT AT LOW SPEEDS. *JB

2003 FORD EXPLORER FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *JB

NOISE AT REAR END OF VEHICLE. DIAGNOSIS REAR AXLE AND REAR END. REPLACE REAR AXLE AND REAR END KIT (REBUILD). THE NOISE WAS NOTICEABLE FOR SOMETIME AND BECAME WORSE. I HAVE REVIEWED NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ADDRESS. THERE WERE SERVICE BULLETINS THAT REFERENCED IMPROPER FLUID USE BY MANUFACTURER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE HOOD RELEASED. FORTUNATELY, THE SAFETY LATCH PREVENTED THE HOOD FROM COMPLETELY RELEASING. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. 2003 FORD EXPLORER. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED ABOUT THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON, AND WHEN IT WAS ON, THE AIRBAG DEACTIVATED WHICH WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED ALL THE TIME. THE FUSES HAVE BEEN CHANGED UNDER WARRANTY, AND NOW THAT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, IT WAS NO LONGER REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS TOLD BY ONE SERVICE STATION THAT IT WAS STANDARD FOR THE FUSES TO BLOW BECAUSE OF THE FUSE BOX LOCATION. ANOTHER SERVICE STATION TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THIS WAS NOT TRUE THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS TO HIGH IN THE CAR FOR PEBBLES TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE FUSE BOX. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WON'T TURN OFF BY THEM SELVES, EVEN WHEN THE KEYS WERE OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WERE CONSISTENTLY ON. MOREOVER, THE ELECTRONIC SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. SHE HAD THE SEAT REPAIRED TWICE AND IT FAILED AGAIN. FINALLY, CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE'S UNDERCARRIAGE. THE VEHICLE CLANKED STOPPING, TURNING TO GO FORWARD, OR JUST SITTING STILL. THE FIRST TIME THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR SHE WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SEAT THAT WAS CAUSING THE CLANKING NOISE, AND THE SECOND TIME SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE WAS NOT SOMETHING THEY COULD IDENTIFY BECAUSE DURING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IT DID NOT SHOW A SPECIFIC FAILURE CODE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 114000.*

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD & STARTED SLOWING DOWN AS I CAME INTO TOWN. I WAS COASTING ALONG AND MY CAR STALLED OUT. I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT HAD CUT OUT, I STILL HAD STEERING & BRAKES BUT I HAD TO RESTART MY VEHICLE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER (I HAD JUST BOUGHT IT 6 DAYS PRIOR) AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THEY WORKED WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND CAME BACK WITH "NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT". THEY SAID THERE WASN'T EVEN A RECORD OF THE INCIDENT TAKING PLACE. *JB

CRACK IN BACK HATCH BY FORD EMBLEM. *NM

I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. I QUICKLY NOTICED A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN SPEEDS OF 55-60 MPH WERE ACHIEVED. AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WAS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BUT EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE FORD EXPLORER. SHOULD THIS TYPE OF REPAIR THAT COULD RESULT IN HUMAN INJURY, BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. I AM HOPEFUL THAT YOUR ANSWER WILL BE YES! *JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPLORE AND I STARTED TO HERE AND NOISE FROM THE REAR END WHEN I TOOK OFF FROM A DEAD STOP. I DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT RIGHT ANY,THEN IT KEPT GETTING WORSE, SO I TOOK IT IN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID THE CLUTCH WAS BAD IN THE DIFFERENTIAL AND IT WOULD BE BETWEEN 500 TO 700 TO FIX. THIS EXPLORER ONLY HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR AND I KNOW IT HAS NEVER BEEN BEAT ON. I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY TRUCK BACK YET IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS NOW. I AM ABOUT UP TO 1200 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING ON THE INTERNET. I JUAST CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DON'T HAVE A RECALL. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH 51,000 MILES. ON 2/13/2007 O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND SERVICE TRANSMISSION MESSAGE APPEARED IN MESSAGE CENTER. TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. HAD IT TRANSFERRED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE THEY REMOVED THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND FOUND METAL SHAVINGS. THEY SAID IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND I WILL NEED A PARTIAL OR FULL REBUILD, THEY WILL NOT BE SURE UNTIL THEY REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION. THEY ALSO MENTIONED THEY HAVE SEEN THIS IN MULTIPLE VEHICLES AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A LARGE NUMBER OF EXPLORER TRANSMISSIONS FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISES, WINING, AND GRINDING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED: CLUTCHES, RING, PINION, CARRIER BEARING, PINION BEARING, AND PINION SEAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO UPDATE THE AXLE SEALS. AT THE TIME OF THE ORIGINAL FAILURE THE VEHICLE HAD AN ODOMETER READING OF 37,000 MILES AND THE WARRANTY HAD JUST LAPSED. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE WEATHER WAS A FACTOR, AND THE SOUNDS WERE ALWAYS WHEN SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT STARTED VERY SLOWLY AND BECAME AN EVERY DAY OCCURRENCE. *AK

BRAKE & ACCELERATOR PEDALS TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. MANY TIMES APPLYING BRAKES WILL HIT ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME AND THE ACCELERATOR WINS. PRIMARILY GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO REVERSE, BUT HAS ALSO HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC. (V8 2003 FORD EXPLORER) . *NM

TL*- WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER AT 60 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND THE BACK OF THE SUV BEGAN TO VIBRATE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TIRE WAS AT AN ANGLE. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE DEALER FORGOT TO PUT THE LUGS:NUTS BACK ON THE WHEEL. THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR AXLE SHAFT FAILED ,ALMOST CAUSINGA CRASH AFTER THE DEALER HAD WORKED ON IT. ONLY ONE NUT WAS HOLDING THE SHAFT IN PLACE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THIS WAS ALSO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE WEATHER WAS OVERCAST AND 20 DEGREES. IT SNOWED, BUT THE ROAD WAS DRY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 60000.*AK

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER WAS SERVICED AT DICK EDWARDS FORD IN JUNCTION CITY , KS TO REPLACE A LEFT HAND REAR AXLE SHAFT SEAL ON THE 12TH OF FEBUARY 2007. VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP AT THE DEALERSHIP BY MY WIFE. ON THE 13TH OF FEBUARY SHE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (ABOUT 3-5 MILES) SHE CALLED ME ON HER CELL PHONE AND SAID SHE COULD HEAR NOISES, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS MOVING AROUND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOW. I TOLD HER TO PROCEED HOME WITH CAUTION. WHEN SHE ARRIVED HOME I LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE, AND NOTED THE LH REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS AT A 30 DEG ANGLE. I CALLED DICK EDWARD FORD AND THEY INFORMED ME TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. TODAY THEY IMPLIED IT WAS A BEARING FAILURE. I LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE, SPOKE TO THE MECHANIC AND I NOTED IT WAS A REAR AXLE SHAFT RETENTION NUT MALFUNCTION. THE NUT HAD BACKED OUT ON THE AXLE TO THE POINT THAT THE ASSEMBLY WAS ABOUT DEPART FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC WANTED TO BLAME THE AXLE BEARING, WHICH WAS DESTROYED. THIS NUT IF IMPROPERLY TORQUED, OR THE ASSEMBLY IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY PRIOR TO TORQUING THE NUT, THE NUT CAN BECOME LOOSE AND BACK OFF, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS RH THREAD, THERE IS NOT A COTTER PIN OR ANYTHING HOLDING THIS THING TOGETHER, ONLY A TORQUED NUT. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT AS IT WAS A COINCIDENCE THIS HAPPENED. I REFUSE TO PAY. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE SETTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PICTURES AT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT WAS TAKEN APART. IF MY LOVED ONE

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW THAT CRACKED IN HALF VERTICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY ,AND WHEN HE GOT TO THE VEHICLE HE FOUND IT THAT WAY. HE HAD NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE THAT DAY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, THE REAR WINDOW OF EXPLODED . THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 48000.*AK

CRACKED PANEL BELOW GLASS ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER, BOTH ON MINE AND MY WIFE'S EXPLORER, BOTH BOUGHT BRAND NEW WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. *NM

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE PLASTIC PANEL JUST BELOW THE TAIL GATE WINDOW HAS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE 100'S OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED NEAR THE LOCATION OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THE NHTSA WEBSITE LIST SEVERAL RELATED COMPLAINTS. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,890. *AK

1. WHILE STOPPED ON THE INTERSTATE WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO MOVE, MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER SUV TRAVELING AT PRESUMABLY HIGHWAY SPEED. AS A RESULT, MY SUV WAS PROPELLED FORWARD, HITTING THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. 2. **DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.** PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED (THE DRIVER WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER). **THE BASE, AND POSSIBLY THE BACK, OF THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE.** (I WAS RESTRAINED IN A SEAT BELT.) I HIT THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE, HITTING MY HEAD QUITE HARD ON THE RUBBER GASKET EDGE OF THE MOONROOF, AND WHEN LANDING I THINK I HIT MY NOSE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I LANDED, THE BASE OF THE SEAT BROKE...WHEN LOOKING AT IT FROM THE SIDE (LOOKING AT THE CONTROLS), THE BASE OF THE SEAT HAS A BEND IN IT LIKE AN UPSIDE-DOWN V, AND THE SEAT BACK APPEARS TO BE RECLINED. I STILL HAVE A KNOT AND PAIN ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD, MY NECK IS STIFF AND NOW SOMETIMES POPS/CRACKS/CRUNCHES WHEN I TURN MY HEAD, MY LEFT SHOULDER JOINT IS VERY SORE, AND I HAVE SOME DULL INTERMITTENT LOWER BACK PAIN. BESIDES TEMPORARY BLEEDING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I AM UNAWARE OF ANY DAMAGE TO MY NOSE. 3. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE. INSURANCE DAMAGE ESTIMATE IS PENDING, BUT I EXPECT IT WILL BE CONSIDERED TOTALED. *JB

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT HOW WIDE SPREAD THE ISSUE IS. IN READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, THE COMMON THEME IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION @ ROUGHLY 50,00 MILES OR LOWER. MORE SPECIFICALLY, MY OD LIGHT KEPT FLASHING ,NOT ABLE TO SHIFT TO REVERSE, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT TO HIGHER GEARS. *JB

FORD EXPLORER 2003. TAILGATE CRACKED IN HALF BELOW WINDOW. NO PRECIPITATING CAUSE. CAR UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER STATED THIS WAS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. REPLACED AT NO CHARGE, APPARENTLY WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE TAILGATE. TAILGATE CRACKED AGAIN 9 MOS. LATER. DEALERSHIP REQUIRED PAYMENT OF 20% FROM OWNER SINCE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY (38K MILES) EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ADMITTEDLY FORD'S MANUFACTURING DEFECT. FORD REPLACED THE TAILGATE WITH A THIRD DEFECTIVE TAILGATE THAT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CRACK AGAIN. BOTH FORD FACILITIES STATED THAT THEY'D WISH THAT FORD WOULD DO A RECALL AND "ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT". THEY'D REPLACED ONE A MONTH AT THE SMALL DEALERSHIP AND "MANY" AT THE LARGER DEALERSHIP. PICTURES AVAILABLE PER E-MAIL IF DESIRED. *NM

2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT VERTICAL CRACK IN FIBERGLASS TAILGATE PANEL JUST BELOW REAR WINDOW GLASS NO IMPACT TO TAILGATE OCCURRED-CRACK JUST APPEARED WHILE DRIVING. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AT 50000 MILES. *JB

UPON GOING OUT TO MY TRUCK THIS MORNING TO PUT MY SONS STUFF IN THE BACK, I NOTICED THAT I HAVE A CRACK IN THE PANEL JUST BELOW MY LIFTGATE GLASS. THIS STRUCK ME AS UNUSUAL AS I DON'T EVEN USE THE LIFTGATE WINDOW. I DECIDED THAT I WOULD DO A SEARCH FOR A RECALL THAT I MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PRIVY TO...AND I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS, BUT NO RECALL. THE DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THIS ITEM EVEN WHEN IT IS UNDER WARRANTY, THEY SAY IT ISN'T COVERED. IF THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT AND THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE ... WHY ISN'T SOMETHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT. IF IT KEEPS CRACKING THE GLASS IS GOING TO FALL OUT!! THE DEALERSHIPS ARE SAYING THAT IF YOU STILL HAVE WARRANTY THAT THEY WILL REPLACE IT NO CHARGE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME EVEN IF YOU DO HAVE WARRANTY ... IT ISN'T COVERED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS...AS IT DOES POSE A HAZARD IF THE WINDOW FALLS OUT DUE TO THE CRACK IN THE STRUCTURE. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS OR WHO WE NEED TO CONTACT??? *JB