KnownCarProblems2003 Ford Explorer Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 1,131 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Explorer, most often about the body and structure (31% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles). It is 10th of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2003 Ford Explorer problems
Body and structure
354 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
I have a 2003 Ford Explorer xls. The rear lift gate on this vehicle has cracked directly below the rear window. We have spoken to the Ford dealership here and they say they are not obligated to fix this piece due the vehicle being out of the initial warranty even though I have the premium esp plan and the fact that…
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…
Transmission
335 complaints · 30%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, axle assembly, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
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.
2003 Ford Explorer rear axle failure at 66,266 miles. Rear end was grinding when taking off from a stop and during a left turn. Dealer had to replace complete interior parts of the axle assembly. Replaced ring and pinion gears, replaced bearings due to pitting, replaced differential clutch pack.
Engine
91 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
I bought my 2003 Explorer new. Appx. 2-3 years ago (don't have exact date yet, still searching for info) it would suddenly stall and shut off. The RPM indicator would also jump really fast. I took it to the dealer and they said it was an idle issue and "fixed" it. A few days ago, I noticed a similar issue and nearly…
There was a clicking noise in the dash when I turned the heat on. One day there was one more hard click and after that no more heat. So now when I turn the heat on there's a clicking noise and no heat, when I turn it on cool the clicking noise stops.
Wheels and tires
70 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles. Parts named most often: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs, sidewall, tread/belt, hub.
Overdrive light is blinking and transmission is shifting hard and sometimes not at all. The car has 90,000 miles on it. Nothing has ever been toed. It is a daily commute car I have owned since brand new. There is no way I should already need a new transmission. Also the wheel bearings have gone on both sides of the…
The shocks and the wheel bearings on the back left passenger side tires on my 2003 Ford Explorer are shot. My Explorer has 87,000 miles on it!!!
Suspension
63 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: rear, front.
Loud roaring sound inside of car. Turned out to be the front drivers side wheel bearing. Replaced now the rear is doing the same thing. My vehicle doesn't have enough miles for these failures to happen.
Recently had to have the rear bearing and hub replaced b/c it was going bad. Repair shop informed me that it was very dangerous b/c the wheel could come off while driving and it was walking wearing the brake pads out unevenly resulting in additional safety concerns. The repair shop is replacing bearing assembly and…
Visibility and wipers
62 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: glass, side/rear, defroster/defogger/hvac system, power window devices and controls, windshield.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the plastic underneath the rear liftgate's glass door has begun to crack. The door still operates properly. The VIN was unavailable. The current mileage is 78,000 and failure mileage was 74,000.
2 complaints - back rear hatch panel under rear window has multiple cracks live in augusta ga and visit florida and this seems to be a common problem every make body like mine have this crack and some panel has even fallen off. This has to be a manufacturing problem for this large amount of SUV's to have the same…
Electrical
54 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, alternator/generator/regulator, instrument cluster/panel.
We were involved in a motor vehicle accident on the below date. A person went through a red light and hit our 2003 Ford Explorer on the right rear wheel area at approx 40 MPH. There was over $ 6,000 in damage on our vehicle. When our vehicle was released to US from the body shop 6 weeks later, our heater, when turned…
I have a 2003 Ford Explorer that cuts off after take off, but while yielding to oncoming traffic or braking to make a turn. The steering column locks and the car must be brought to a full stop to place in park and restart. This is extremely dangerous. We have complained to our local dealer, dick masheter, who has been…
Air bags
50 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 101,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
Traveling north bound on highway 99 in chico ca, between exits 385 and 386, the side air bags deployed. This was in the middle of a construction zone but there was little in the way of debris on the road or bumps to have caused the air bag deployment. My head was violently thrown toward the center of the vehicle but I…
The contact owned a 2003 Ford Explorer. While driving at 50 MPH, the front and rear driver side tires blew out, which caused the vehicle to flip over several times. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact suffered injuries to the lower back, arm, and knees. The passenger suffered an…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Ford Explorer recalls
Body and structure: hinge and attachments
Risk: If the hinge should fracture, there is a potential for the glass to fall and ultimately break and personal injuries could occur.
Fix: Dealers will have the liftgate glass strut brackets and glass hinges replaced. For the vehicles built from august 1, 2000 through march 3, 2002, the dealers will replace the hinges and liftgate strut bracket. On vehicles built from march 3, 2002 through june 23, 2003, the dealers will only replace the hinges. The recall began on september 30, 2004. A postcard was sent to owners on december 27, 2004, advising them that parts are now available. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles, the liftgate glass strut may become disengaged or the hinge may fracture allowing the glass to fall and possibly break.
Body and structure: structure
Risk: This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began march 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact southern comfort at 1-800-745-6096.
Full defect summary
Certain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Vehicle rollaway allegations
Summary
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.by the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (I.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during ea09-013, odi identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.the highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the automatic transmission parking system, was 4.4/100k.the next-highest failure rate was for the bsi system, at 3.4/100k.for all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent
Vehicle rollaway allegations
Summary
In response to an information request (ir) letter sent by the office of defects investigation (odi), ford stated consumer reports of higher than expected efforts when shifting into and out of park could be a result of a groove being worn into the swing arm ramp of the steering column. The swing arm is a component bolted to the steering column that assists in shifting through the transmission gears.an engineering evaluation conducted by ford of returned steering columns found the groove could be created over time if consumer shift more quickly from the drive or reverse to park than the brake shift interlock (bsi) solenoid pin retracts after the brake pedal is applied. In november of 2004, for
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Summary
On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehi
Questions about the 2003 Ford Explorer
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford Explorer?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (354 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); transmission (335 complaints, typically around 77,000 miles); engine (91 complaints, typically around 65,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Ford Explorer have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 13, 2004 (body and structure). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Ford Explorer?
- It is 10th of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints, with 1,131 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.