2003 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFTER DETACHED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILURE TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,900. ..UPDATED 04/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE ENTIRE GEAR SHIFT CAME OUT IN HIS HAND. LEAVING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF. A CAST IRON BRACKET WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF IN THE STEERING COLUMN. UPDATED 05/31/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 15 MPH AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE THIRD GEAR, WHICH WOULD NOT SHIFT, AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 152,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR GLASS HATCH HOUSING WAS CRACKED IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR HATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFT GATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) AND WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FRACTURE IN THE PANEL UNDER THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ UPDATD 04/20/12. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK AT THE REAR HATCH BACK UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS BECOMING WIDER WHEN THE HATCH BACK WAS OPENED AND CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW HATCH WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 03/21/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR PANEL CONNECTED TO THE BACK REAR WINDOW CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW AND HAS WEAKENED THE REAR VIEW WINDOW. THE SEAL HAS ROTTED OUT DUE TO WATER SEEPING INTO THE DEFECTIVE CRACKED PANEL. UPDATED 04/09/12 WATER SEEPED INTO THE CRACKED PANEL AND CAUSED CORROSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. UPDATED 05/07/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

TRAVELING THE I-95 CORRIDOR IN NORTH CAROLINA AT APPROX. 3AM THE TRANSMISSION OVER DRIVE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER. VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS. HAD TO EASE INTO 1ST GEAR AND PLAY WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. NOT A GOOD FEELING WHEN 500 MILES FROM HOME AND IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE VEHICLES. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO AAMCO AND WAS INFORMED AGAIN COMMON IN THE EXPLORER. COST ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR $2500.00. VEHICLE HAD 77000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. CALLED FORD FOR "GOODWILL" REPAIR. SHOULD HAVE TALKED TO A DOOR KNOB. STANDARD REPLY "VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY". DRIVING OVER FORTY YEARS, NEVER EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING. THEY MAY NOT PAY NOW BUT IN THE LONG RUN THE COST WILL BE GREAT. DROVE MY LAST FORD. *TR

O/D LIGHT FLASHING AND WONT GO INTO OVERDRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION IS A SEALED UNIT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BODY MOUNT FRACTURED AND WAS PROTRUDING THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE CAB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. . UPDATED 04/11/12 *BF UPDATED 04/30/12