2003 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

SUBMISSION FROM CONSTITUENT RE A FILED COMPLAINT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSE FOR ALL THE COST BY FORD. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT CRANK. HE REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. THERE WAS NO WARNING FROM THE DASH INDICATORS, NO ENGINE SOUNDS, AND THE OIL WAS AT THE PROPER LEVEL. IT COST $3,669.98 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND TRANSMISSION LINES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES LINES, FUEL TANK COVER, DOOR LOCKS AND THE RUNNING BOARDS WERE ALSO CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157,372. RK

ON FEBRUARY 18TH I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE REAR GLASS LIFT GATE MOLDING OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REAR APPLIQUE. AFTER A GOOGLE SEARCH I REALIZED THIS IS KNOWN DEFECT THAT FORD MOTOR CO. DOES NOT RECOGNIZE OFFICIALLY. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS DEFECT. ON APRIL 25TH 2014 I OPENED THE REAR GLASS LIFT GATE TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE REAR CARGO AREA. UPON CLOSING THE GLASS LIFT GATE THE ENTIRE WINDOW SHATTERED INTO MANY PIECES AND ACTUALLY PUT THREE CUTS ON MY ARM. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OWNERS OF THE 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORER'S, MERCURY MOUNTAINEER'S AND LINCOLN AVIATOR'S ALL HAD THIS CRACKING OF THE REAR APPLIQUE. ALSO FOUND OUT WHETHER OR NOT A CRACK WAS VISIBLE MANY PEOPLE HAD THE REAR GLASS SHATTER UPON THEM WHILE CLOSING THE GLASS LIFT GATE. RIGHT NOW I MUST PAY FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET, INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER IT SINCE THEY SAY I HAVE A $1000.00 DEDUCTIBLE. THE COST FOR THE GLASS WAS QUOTED AT $495.25 PLUS TAX. I ALSO WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE REAR APPLIQUE WHICH COVERS A PORTION OF THE GLASS WINDOW AT AN ADDITIONAL COST. NOT SURE WHY THIS IS NOT COVERED BY FORD SINCE THE WINDOW SHATTERING CAN CAUSE INJURY AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I WILL GET THIS FIXED AND KEEP MY RECEIPTS FOR ALL REPAIRS AND HOPE ALL OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE GET SOME SORT OF REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE INTO A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT. BEFORE I GOT OUT FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I RAN INTO A STORE AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TRY AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. I FAILED, AS THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE EXPLORER WAS IN FLAMES AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT. I HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 7 WEEKS. THE USED DEALER WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. SHOULD THEY? I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON MAR. 3,2014 AT OC AUTO EXPO IN WESTMINSTER, CA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE REAR LIFT GATE SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED, LEAVING GLASS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO LET OFF ON MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GET MY CAR TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. SOMETIMES I WOULD PUSH ON THE ACCELERATOR AND AT 4000 RPM, MY CAR WOULD SHIFT. AFTER TAKING THE CAR INTO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE BAND FOR SECOND GEAR SNAPPED AND A ROD STARTING GRINDING WHICH DISPERSED METAL INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE ROD AS WELL AS THE GEARS, SOLENOID, AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS 1700 DOLLARS. SHOULD MY TRANSMISSION BE GOING OUT THIS SOON? WHY WASN'T THERE A RECALL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE TUBE FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,300. UPDATED 5/27/14*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A DRAGGING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE LUG NUTS WERE LOOSE AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE. THE FAILURE WAS PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE LUG NUTS HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE LUG NUTS CONTINUED TO SEPARATE FROM THE REAR WHEELS WHILE DRIVING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN THE EARLY GEARS. *JS