2003 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

View complaints related to 2003 FORD EXPLORER. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 1,200 complaints submitted for the 2003 FORD EXPLORER. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
    - BUFFALO, NY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE OPENING THE REAR HATCH THE LIFT GATE HINGE FAILED OFF CAUSING THE LIFT GATE TO HANG ON BY ONE HINGE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE HINGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE HINGE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE LIFT GATE COULD HAVE FALLEN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
    - FOOTHILL RANCH, CA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED A DEFECT WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 08/10/11

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
    - RIOLENDA, CA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH BACK HAD A CRACK FROM THE END OF IT TO THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY STRESS FROM OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
    - VA, VA

    CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE IN REVERSE AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO NO AVAIL. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
    - COLUMBUS, OH

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE FRACTURED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW SEAL. SHE NOTICED WHEN THE DOOR WAS AJAR THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AS IF SHE HAD OPENED THE DOORS. THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
    - PERRYVILLE , MO

    THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT COULD HAVE LEFT US STRANDED ON THE ROAD. FORD KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THE 2003-2004 EXPLORERS. I THINK THEY SHOULD MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT ON THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. TRANSMISSION ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST LONGER THAN 71,000 MILES. WE DID NOT MISTREAT THIS VEHICLE IN ANY WAY. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
    - CARY, NC

    THE BACK PANEL ON MY EXPLORER CRACKED BY JUST CLOSING THE GLASS. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ONLY 65 SO CONSIDERING THE MORE EXTREME TEMPERATURES WE HAVE SEEN IN NORTH CAROLINA WAS DID IT CRACK ON THAT DAY? *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
    - CARY, IL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS CLOSING THE REAR LIFTGATE WHEN THE REAR GLASS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GRAB HOLD OF THE GLASS TO PREVENT IT FROM SHATTERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
    - STEUBENVILLE, OH

    I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. I STARTED MY CAR UP THIS MOURNING TO GO TO WORK. I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR TO REMOVE AN EMPTY CUP WHEN I HEARD A POP FROM INSIDE MY CAR. AS I TURNED AN LOOKED I SAW MY CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE. AS I WENT BACK TO THE CAR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS CAR IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. IT HAS 130000 MILES ON IT. I AM AFRAID OF THIS HAPPENING TO THE DRIVERS SIDE BAG NOW AS I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TO THIS MODEL. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
    - LANSING, NC

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT INTO A HIGHER GEAR. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND UPON RESTARTING IT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE