2003 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH 105,000 MILES ON IT. YESTERDAY (4/24/12) IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INTO 2 AND 3 GEAR + THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT JUST STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND I AM TOLD IT WILL COST ME $4,000.000 TO REPAIR! I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE (FMCS) AND THEY TELL ME THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE NOR CAN THEY OFFER ME ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE COST. THE GUY I SPOKE TO AT THE FMCS WAS RATHER SHOCKED AT THE $4,000 PRICE TAG AND DID AGREE WITH ME THAT THE TRANS FAILED PREMATURELY. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO TO HELP ME. THIS CONVERSATION WAS RECORDED BY THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER OUT OF FLORIDA. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE LOOKING OVER SEVERAL BLOGS AND SEVERAL WEB SITES AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT THE FORD EXPLORER HAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE, MOSTLY FROM THE EARLY 2000S -- ESPECIALLY THE 2002 TO 2004 FORD EXPLORER. MINE IS A 2003! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING COMING FROM THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD HINGE WAS CROOKED AND THE PANEL WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE HINGES NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000. UPDATED 6/4/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW ON THE REAR HATCH DEVELOPED A CRACK AND THE HINGE WAS BENT DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) WERE PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT SPARKS WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.

TRANSMISSION LIGHT FLASHING AND I AM TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THIS TRANNY SHOULD BE MORE DURABLE, FORD IS BETTER THAN ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. *TR

WHILE IN PARKED POSITION, IGNITION STARTED, GEAR SHIFT BROKE WHILE PUTTING IN REVERSE - FAILURE OF METAL ALLOY CONNECTING GEAR SHIFT HANDLE TO STEERING COLUMN. KEY WAS STUCK IN IGNITION AND WAS NOT REMOVABLE. HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. TOWING EXPENSES INCURRED AS WELL AS REPAIR EXPENSES. PROBLEM CAUSED BY WEAKNESS/FAILURE IN METAL ALLOY CONNECTING GEAR SHIFT HANDLE TO TRANSMISSION STEERING COLUMN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONNECT THE REAR TAILGATE DOOR TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS), DID NOT INCLUDE THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLASS ON THE REAR HATCH BOTTOM MOLDING WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A FRACTURE ON THE LIFT GATE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE PANEL REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,000. UPDATED 04/26/12*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED.