2003 Ford Explorer complaints

2003 FORD EXPLORER REAR END NOISE STARTED AT ABOUT 30000 MILES. *NM

DT: WHILE DRIVING ON 8-24-05 THE BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE. THE VEHICLE JUST PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT A DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS COMPANY OWNED. THE COMPANY IS AWARE THAT THE CONSUMER HAS FILED THIS COMPLAINT.*AK

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.

2003 FORD EXPLORER BOYFRIEND'S DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: 1)I CAN CONSISTENTLY GET THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT WHEN COASTING DOWN TO A STOP. IT IS ALL IN THE WAY OF THE COAST DOWN. IT IS MORE REPEATABLE IF YOU START BRAKING WAY BEFORE A STOP EVENT (SLOWLY COASTING IN). THE BAD THING IS THE EVENT IS SO QUIET THAT HALF THE TIME YOU DID NOT KNOW IT STALLED (UNLESS YOU WERE LOOKING AT THE IPC). YOU HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL TO RESTART ENGINE EACH TIME EVENT OCCURS. I WOULD SAY IT HAS HAPPENED 30+ TIMES. 2) THE FAILURE IS A STALLED ENGINE. THE CONSEQUENCE COULD BE ROLLING OUT TO INCOMING TRAFFIC, THINKING THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, YET THE ENGINE IS STALLED. ) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET. TOOK IT INTO SHOP AND IT WAS SAID THAT NOTHING WAS SEEN (NOT A FORD DEALERSHIP).*JB

ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, MY EXPLORER BEGAN OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCED DRAMATIC, RANDOM ENGINE ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING, THE RPMS WOULD SHOOT UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. 2 MONTHS AGO, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN MILLINGTON, TN. THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS AND HINTED IT WAS "DRIVER ERROR". A WEEK LATER, I MADE AN 800 MILE DRIVE TO VISIT MY NEWLY HOSPITILIZED FATHER. THE SUDDEN, DRASTIC INCREASE IN RPM' STARTED OUT HAPPENING 1 - 2 TIMES IN THE FIRST 30 MINUTES. THE FREQUENCY RAPIDLY INCREASED, AND 4 HOURS INTO THE TRIP, THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS OCCURRING AT LEAST 1 TIME EVERY 5 MINUTES OR SO. AFTER ARRIVING IN PITTSBURGH, THE EXPLORER WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CO2 DETECTOR HAD GONE BAD. THIS WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SINCE I WAS DRIVING WITH A BAD DETECTOR, THE EGR SENSOR WAS CAUSED TO MALFUNCTION. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY SINCE IT WAS A RESULT OF MY CONTINUING TO DRIVE IT WITH A BAD CO2 DETECTOR. THE EGR SENSOR COST ME $300 TO GET REPLACED. A WEEK AFTER THIS "REPAIR" WAS MADE, I BEGAN THE TRIP BACK TO TN. 2 HOURS INTO THE TRIP, THE SUDDEN, DRASTIC ACCLERATION STARTED AGAIN, AND SOON WAS OCCURING SEVERAL TIMES EVERY 30 MINUTES. ON REACHING TN., I ONCE AGAIN TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN MILLINGTON. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEM. SO, NOT ONLY DID I PAY FOR A REPAIR THAT 1) WAS CAUSED BY THE DEALERSHIP'S INABILITY TO FIND A PROBLEM, IT 2) SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE WARRA

2ND REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDING REPLACEMENT (REPLACED REAR END AND BOTH AXLE BEARINGS). THIS REPLACEMENT AT 73,971 MILES. PREVIOUS REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACEMENT ABOUT 12K MILES EARLIER. NEITHER REPLACEMENT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER 2 FAILURES AND THE SECOND AT ONLY 12,000 MILES. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH WHEN A DOG JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO HIT THE DOG. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THEY TOLD HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO BE TESTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE FOR THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BELONGED TO THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER. *AK

EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN NOVEMBER, 2003. DEALER "OILED" THE PEDAL. ON JULY 28, 2005, LOUD SQUEALING SOUND COMING FROM REAR, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE REAR DRUMS, REAR SHOES, AND PADS AT A COST OF $390. EMERGENCY BRAKE IS CONSIDERED A "MAINTENANCE ITEM" AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IF BRAKES WERE TO FAIL, EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED EITHER. *NM

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS MECHANICAL FAILURES WITH MY 2003 FORD EXPLORERE. THE FRONT WHEEL BREARINGS AND FRONT AXLE BEARING HAVE FAILED. THE REAR AXLE HAS BEEN REBUILD TWICE AND REPLACED ONCE. ANOTHER REBUILD IS NEEDED. TOTAL MILEAGE IS 49,000 MILES.

BECAUSE THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON DURING LONG DRIVES AND REMAINS ON UNTIL WE STOP THE VEHICLE, OUR EXPLORER HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ON 3 TIMES IN 3 STATES. WE''VE BEEN TOLD THAT WE SHOULDN''T WORRY IF THE LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER STOPPING. A ''GRINDING'' NOISE CHECKED IN COLORADO FOR 3 DAYS LAST YEAR WASN''T A PROBLEM UNTIL OUR REAR DIFFERENTIAL SUDDENLY WENT "OUT," IN OHIO. IN ILLINOIS, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE WENT TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP, AND SINCE IT DIDN''T REMAIN LIT, WE WERE TOLD TO GET IT REPAIRED IN IOWA, SINCE IT WASN'T "MAJOR." THE ABS REAR SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT EXPLORERS WITH DIFFERENTIAL REPLACEMENT WERE HAVING SENSOR PROBLEMS. WHEN THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED IN OHIO, THE SERVICE REP MENTIONED A "KIT" TO REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL. BOTH GARAGES SEEMED CONVERSANT WITH THE ABS SENSOR AND DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEMS. THE SUV HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT FORD DEALERSHIPS TO ENSURE SYSTEMS SERVICED BY MECHANICS AND TECHNICIANS WELL VERSED IN FORD PRODUCTS. THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT PROBLEM RECURRED IN MAY AFTER A 200 MILE ROAD TRIP, GOING OFF AFTER WE STOPPED. MY BRAKES FAILED WHEN I TRIED TO STOP WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH,ABOUT 550+ MILES INTO AN EXTENDED ROAD TRIP. NO CITATION WAS ISSUED AS THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SAID THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT TO INDICATE THAT I HAD "JAMMED" ON THE BRAKES. I HAD PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND HAD NO BRAKES WHEN I HIT THE BACK OF A PENSKE MOVING TRUCK. THE ABS BRAKES

WE OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. WE WERE DRIVING ON I-79 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOST POWER SO THAT WE COULD NOT GO ABOVE 25 MPH ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. WE WERE TOWED OVER 100 MILES BACK HOME TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT "FOR SOME REASON THE AIR MASS SYSTEM WENT BAD AND CAUSED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS TO GO BAD." THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE WOULD TRY TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO PAY FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS SINCE THEY ARE SO EXPENSIVE, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THIS OFFER WAS MADE IN ORDER TO COVER UP AN ISSUE WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP 5 DAYS LATER AND WE DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING MORE AS TO HOW THIS COULD HAVE OCCURED. WE HAVE BEEN DILIGENT AT KEEPINGUP REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 43,000 MILES ON IT, SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE OCCURED WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. WE HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND ARE VERY GREATFUL THAT NO LARGE TRUCKS WERE RIGHT AROUND US AS THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT OR WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT AS THEY CAN NOT SLOW DOWN FROM 75MPH TO 25MPH IN A QUICK MANNER.

DT: CONSUMER STATES HE TOOK HIS CAR TO CANDY FORD BECAUSE HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER DEALER HAD MENTIONED TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE A WHEEL BEARING. HE ASKED CANDY FORD TO CHECK OUT THE CAR BEFORE PUTTING A WHEEL BEARING ON THE CAR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON THE CAR WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING THE CAR TO BE SURE THAT WAS WHAT IT NEEDED. A MAN THAT WORKS AT CANDY FORD TOLD HIM THAT ON THE WORK ORDER IT WAS LISTED THAT THEY HAD CHANGED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WITHOUT CHECKING THE CAR OUT. HE WAS CHARGED $280.00 FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT FIXED. HE IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM; AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. THE DEALER ASKED HIM TO LEAVE THEIR PREMISES. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THEY WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THEM. *JB

STRUCTURE,BODY, HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE,HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. I WAS CLOSING MY HATCH ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER VIN#[XXX] WHEN THE LEFT HINGE BROKE FREE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AFTER A SHUDDER WAS FELT IN THE STEERING AT 14,580 MI., IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE REAR-END. FORD RECOMMENDED A REAR-END ADDITIVE. (WHICH WAS PERFORMED). AT 37,000 MI. THE SHUDDER RETURNED AND A NEW CLUTCH PACK WAS INSTALLED IN THE REAR-END. AFTER RECEIVING CAR FROM DEALER, A WHINE STARTED TO OCCUR BETWEEN 50 TO 70 MPH. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. I CALLED FORD MOTOR AND THEY RECOMMEND THAT A "RING AND PINION REPAIR KIT" BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT FAILURE. DEALER DOES NOT THINK THIS SHOULD BE INSTALLED AND THAT VEHICLE IS O.K. TO DRIVE EVEN THOUGH THE TECH CAN HEAR THE NOISE.

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SEATBELTS AND THE REMOTE ENTRY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. FORD REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS.THE SEATBELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND THEY CUT INTO THE PLASTIC. I AM AFRAID THAT THESE SEATBELTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND I WORRY THAT THEY WILL NOT WORK IN A CRASH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THESE SEATBELTS BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THE REMOTE ENTRY DOES NOT WORK ALL OF THE TIME. IT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US TO REPLACE THE BATTERIES WHICH WE DID BUT THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE REMOTES.

DEAR NHTSA: IN OCTOBER 2003 I PURCHASED THE NBX - V8 VERSION OF THE FORD EXPLORER WITH AN UPGRADED TOW PACKAGE FOR MY WIFE. SHE NEVER USES THE TOW PACKAGE AND I, VERY OCCASIONALLY PULL A 300LB UTILITY TRAILER. I GET THE OIL CHANGED RELIGIOUSLY AND RECENTLY HAD THE 30,000 MILE 4WD LUBRICATION PACKAGE FROM GOODYEAR FOR APPROX. $500. AT 34,000MI MY WIFE BEGAN TO NOTICE A NON-DESCRIPT NOISE IN THE REAR END, A RUMBLE AT SLOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING. SHE CARRIES THINGS IN THE BACK AND THOUGHT THEY WERE ROLLING AROUND. I DROVE THE CAR AT 36,600 MI AND ALSO NOTICED THE NOISE BUT WE HAD A LOW REAR TIRE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRE PRESSURE. THE TIRE ACTUALLY PICKED UP A NAIL AND WENT FLAT AND I BROUGHT THE TIRE TO GOODYEAR FOR REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR THE REAR END NOISE PERSISTED ONLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND WE FINALLY GOT THE CAR IN TO GOODYEAR FOR EVALUATION AT 38,000 MILES. THEY REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FLUID AGAIN AND THE NOISE PERSISTED. THEY THEN WENT ON LINE AND PULLED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB 04-17-5 WHICH WAS FOR LIMITED SLIP AXLE CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING SENSATION OR VIBRATION DURING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS IN 2002-2004 FORD EXPLORERS, 2003-2004 EXPEDITIONS AND 2004 F-150S. THIS WAS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS EXPERIENCING. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS NOT USED OFF ROAD, IS NOT USED TO TOW ANYTHING HEAVY, IS PAMPERED BUT DOES GET A FAIR AMOUNT OF HIGHWAY MILES 38,000MI IN 19 MONTHS, I FELT THAT HAVING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT THIS STAGE WAS UNUSUAL. WELL, AFTER TALKING TO MY MAN

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE ENTIRE SIDE OF THE TIRE CAME APART WHERE IT WAS GLUED. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ROLLED OVER. THERE WERE TWO PASSENGERS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THE SECOND HAD LESS SERIOUS INJURIES DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING ON EITHER SIDE. THE AIR BAG SWITCH WAS ON. *JB *SB *NM

I WAS DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHEN A COLLISION OCCURED IN THE LANES NEXT TO ME AND THE VEHICLES SWERVED INTO MY LANE. I SLAMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE ABS SYSTEM STARTED WORKING, THEN FAILED. THE BACK WHEELS LOCKED UP AND I FISH-TAILED, ENDING UP IN THE DIRT CENTER MEDIAN. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DASH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE REAR ABS SENSOR FAILED (OPEN CIRCUT).

2003 FORD EXPLORER REAR HATCH GLASS SHATTERED WHILE PARKED.*MR *JB

AT TIMES, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF, IF ANY BUTTON IS PRESSED, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATES.

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

1 LOUD NOISE COMING FROM REAR-END(WHINING)2.FLUID FORCED FROM FRONT OF DIFFERENTIAL.3. REAR-END REPLACED 4 TIMES TO NO AVAIL.*AK

OWNER WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR GLASS SHATTERED. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NM MANUFACTURE STATED RECALL ONLY APPLIED TO 4 DOOR MODEL, NOT 2 DOOR MODEL WHICH THE CONSUMER OWNS. *BF *NM

CLUTCH IN TRANSFER CASE DEFECTIVE. CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNEXPECTEDLY.*AK

THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. I CAN TURN IT ON BY HITTING THE OFF BUTTON AND VISE VERSA. THE CAR WILL SPEED UP WHEN I TOUCH THE COAST BUTTON AND SLOW DOWN WHEN I HIT THE SET BUTTON. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE EXPLORERS, BUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FORD F150 FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM.*AK

DRIVING ON SEMI-CLEAR ROAD ABOUT 40 MPH, AIR TEMPERATURE WAS -7 DEGREES. HIT BLACK ICE AND WENT OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A DITCH. THE EXPLORER HIT A TREE STUMP ON THE FRONT LEFT CORNER OF BUMPER AND WHEEL. THE TRUCK DID NOT ROLL OVER DURING THE ACCIDENT. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE WEARING THE SEAT BELT/SHOULDER BELT. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURE/COMPRESSION OF THE L1 VERTBRAE (SPINE) DUE TO THE SEAT BELT (SEAT-BELT SYNDROME). THE TRUCK SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT, FRONT WHEEL AND ENGINE AREA. THE REPAIR MECHANIC DID PERFORM A CHECK OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM DURING THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SYSTEM CHECKED OUT AS NORMAL. NO AIR BAG SYSTEM PART HAD BEEN REPLACED DURING THE REPAIR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. WHEN I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE, I NOTICED THAT 3 OF THE 5 THREADED LUGS WERE BROKEN ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. I HAD TO BE TOWED ON A FLATBED TOWING VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY, HUB ASSEMBLY BRAKE SHIELD AND LUG NUTS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE WHEELS WERE ROTATED ON MARCH 11, 2005 BY A LOCAL FORD DEALER PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.*AK

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

COMPLAINT REGARDING RECALL 04S20 RELATING TO THE REAR LIFT GATE.*** NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED A CALL OR LETTER AS TO WHEN TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. *JB

WHEN ADJUSTING STEERING WHEEL FOR DIFFERENT LEVELS IT WON'T LOCK IN POSITION. WITH THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL IT WILL FALL INTO DRIVER'S HANDS. HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER.*AK

THERE'S A LOUD ROARING NOISE IN THE REAR END WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS DUE TO A GLITCH IN THE REDESIGNED REAR END, BUT THERE IS NO SOLUTION AT THIS TIME FOR IT. *AK

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V442000, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE HINGES ON THE LIFTGATE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED SINCE THE DEALER HAS MADE NOT CONTACT WITH HER FOR THE SERVICE DATE. *AK *TC

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT A DEER AT 35 MPH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE. . PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB AFTER HITTING THE DEER THE AIR BAG GASES DEPLOYED AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER IMPACT, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD REMAINED ILLUMINATED. *TT

NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR RECALL 04S20 CONCERNING REAR WINDSHIELD. STERLING FORD 703-430-7700. *AK *TC

BOUGHT VEHICLE NOV 2002. NO PROBLEMS TILL JAN 2005 AT APPROX 35000 MI. WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR END AT 45 - 65 MPH. HOPED PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY BUT HAS NOT. VEHICLE PAST WARRANTY IN FEB 2005 WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR TAILGATE RECALL AT 37,000. DEALER WOULD NOT LOOK AT PROBLEM. CURRENTLY DRIVING VEHICLE WITH WHINING NOISE.

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE PLASTIC MOLDING AROUND THE REAR GLASS ON THE LIFTGATE CRACKED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE GLASS MAY FALL OUT WHILE OPENING THE LIFTGATE OR WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK.....THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THIS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. IF NOT UNDER WARRANTY THE CONSUMER MUST PAY. THE CONSUMER'S GAS GAUGE FAILED WITH ONLY 2500 MILLES OVER WARRANTY. *AK

WHEN COLD, BELOW 35 DEGREES F, THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT FULLY OPEN. THE HATCH STOPS AT HEAD HEIGHT. I'VE HIT MY HEAD TWICE. FORD HAS SAID BECAUSE THE HATCH OPENS WHEN IT'S WARM, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. IT'S A MINOR HEAD BUMP, BUT HAS POTENTIAL TO DAMAGE AN EYE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HATCH SHEET METAL PROTRUDES. THE SUV IS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER.*AK

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER FOR THE LIFTGATE, THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO OBTAIN REPAIR, SINCE THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. LIFTGATE RECALL NHTSA 04V442000

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE LIFTGATE, AND NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIR. NHTSA LIFTGATE RECALL 04V442000 *JB *SC

I PURCHASED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER 2WD , I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEED TO BE REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS POSSIBLY A DEFECT WITH THESE PARTS.*AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR HINGES ON REAR WINDOW OF HATCH AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO OPEN UNTIL HINGES WERE REPLACED, WHICH I DID NOT. NOTICED THE FIBERGLASS UNDER THE WINDOW CRACKED APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE LATCH. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER AND THE WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR SAID THE FIBERGLASS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. THE WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR SAID HE WOULD SEND A REQUEST FOR FORD TO REPAIR THE FIBERGLASS UNDER THE GLASS BUT DOESN'T KNOW IF THEY WILL SINCE THEY HAVE DENIED PAYING FOR A FEW OF THESE THAT HE HAS ALREADY SUBMITTED. I AM CONVINCED THIS DAMAGE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE HINGE AND FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD REPAIR MY VEHICLE. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS WAITING SINCE OCTOBER 2004 FOR REPAIRS. FORD CONTINUOUSLY TOLD HER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT IN. *AK

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V442000 CONCERNING REAR LIFTGATE GLASS. OWNER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN OCTOBER 2004. OWNER HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALERSHIP, BUT IS CONSTANTLY BEING TOLD THAT PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE RECALL ARE UNAVAILABLE. *AK

THE CONSUMER HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AT 30 MPH WHEN HE/SHE TRIED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER MOTORIST. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER. *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE LIFTGATE LATCH. SHE THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO GET SERVICED. RECENTLY WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING, THE BACK WINDOW LITERALLY CAME OFF. SHE WAS AWARE OF A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. NHTSA'S RECALL #04V442000. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS SUCH A RECALL. *JB

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. *NM *TC *JB

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL."I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND THE REAR GLASS HATCH HAS A RECALL. RECALL # 04S20 WE FIRST BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO HAWKINSON FORD'S ATTENTION SEPT 2004. IN OCT 2004 WE RECEIVED A NOTICE AND WERE TOLD THE HINGE HAD TO BE REDESIGNED AND WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS. JAN 11, 2005 WE HAD THE REPAIRS DONE TO THE HINGES. THE NEXT DAY THE VERY FIRST TIME THE HATCH WAS OPENED BOTH HINGES MOVED I DROVE RIGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I SPOKE TO PAUL'S THE ASSISTANT MANAGER AND SHOWED HIM THIS PROBLEM, HE WAS AMAZED. WE SET UP ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND REPAIRED. MY CONCERN IF THIS IS THEIR NEW DESIGN, WOW IT LASTED 1 OPENING AND NOW I HAVE MOISTURE IN MY EXPLORER BECAUSE THE WINDOW DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY. I CAN ONLY USED THE LIFT GATE AND HAVE TO WORRY IF I DRIVE COULD BUMPS CAUSE THE WINDOW TO FALL OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO SOMEONE ON THE SUBJECT IN REGARDS TO MY OPTIONS." *NM