2003FORDEXPLORER

1369 complaints filed with NHTSA.

1369
Complaints
70
Crashes
10
Fires
69
Injuries
2
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION141
STRUCTURE:BODY135
POWER TRAIN110
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE90
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS55
STRUCTURE44
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM43
UNKNOWN OR OTHER43
WHEELS42
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING33
AIR BAGS28
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL28
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT28
SUSPENSION27
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE24

Recent Complaints

20190212CrashAIR BAGS

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, MOVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON A CITY STREET AND INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL.

Mileage: 149,000

20171229FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO HIGH AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES DUE TO THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20171211UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN REAR WINDOW EXPLODED AFTER DOOR CLOSED. SHARDS OF GLASS FLEW OUTWARD

Mileage: 130,000

20170802CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT AND FOUR BYSTANDERS PUSHED THE VEHICLE INTO A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,4

Mileage: 108,412

20170110CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWDERY DUST FROM THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG CLOUDED HIS VISION AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REAR END THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CRASH CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION THAT INVOLVED FOUR VEHICLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS AND PAINS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHI

Mileage: 73,700

20160819CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED ON A HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OTHER VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STOPPED AT THE MEDIAN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION, A BRUISED STERNUM, BACK AND NECK PAINS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD AND DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOS

Mileage: 319,000

20160713CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, BACK, AND KNEES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,404. UPDATED 09/27/16*LJ *JS

Mileage: 95,404

20160615CrashAIR BAGS

I LOST CONTROL AROUND A BEN GOING 35MPH AFTER IT GOT DONE RAINING AND GOT IN AN ACCIDENT HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AND FARM POST AFTER SPINNING ABOUT 4XS CAR IS TOTALED AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF

Mileage: 143,000

20151127FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE WAS PARKED(ENGINE COLD) ON RESIDENTIAL STREET,ALARM SOUNDED,UPON OPENING HOOD DISCOVERED FLAMES, PUT OUT IMMEDIATELY WITH EXTINGUISHER, CAR WILL NOT RUN AND THERE APPEARS TO BE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ESPECIALLY ON RIGHT SIDE.

Mileage: 150,000

20151118CrashAIR BAGS

TL* 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 INFLAMMATION OF THE LOWER BACK. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE

Mileage: 100,000

20150312CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED LACERATIONS TO THE LEFT ARM AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 260,000

20141217CrashAIR BAGS

FRONT END ACCIDENT DID NOT DEPLOY DRIVER AIRBAG,HOWEVER PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH NO OCCUPANT IN SEAT. *TR

Mileage: 104,000

20140815CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN HEAVY RAIN, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, FLIPPED OVER, AND CRASHED INTO A RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND ONE INJURY WAS REPORTED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

Mileage: 189,000

20140620STEERING

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS SOME SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. MY RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. IT GETS VERY HOT IN MY TRUCK OUT IN THE HEAT. IT STOPPED WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN AND THE A/C IN THE CAR DOES NOT BLOW. (I DIDN'T BREAK ANY OF THESE THINGS) MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON THE DASH... MY DRIVER'S DOOR SENSOR WENT OUT FOR SOME REASON AND NOW MY VEHICLE THINKS THAT THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN, WHICH DRAINS MY BATTERY AND MY LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF AT TIMES. I HAVE TO MANUALLY

Mileage: 195,000

20140620ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS SOME SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. MY RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. IT GETS VERY HOT IN MY TRUCK OUT IN THE HEAT. IT STOPPED WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN AND THE A/C IN THE CAR DOES NOT BLOW. (I DIDN'T BREAK ANY OF THESE THINGS) MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON THE DASH... MY DRIVER'S DOOR SENSOR WENT OUT FOR SOME REASON AND NOW MY VEHICLE THINKS THAT THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN, WHICH DRAINS MY BATTERY AND MY LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF AT TIMES. I HAVE TO MANUALLY

Mileage: 195,000

20140620SERVICE BRAKES

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS SOME SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. MY RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. IT GETS VERY HOT IN MY TRUCK OUT IN THE HEAT. IT STOPPED WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN AND THE A/C IN THE CAR DOES NOT BLOW. (I DIDN'T BREAK ANY OF THESE THINGS) MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON THE DASH... MY DRIVER'S DOOR SENSOR WENT OUT FOR SOME REASON AND NOW MY VEHICLE THINKS THAT THE DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN, WHICH DRAINS MY BATTERY AND MY LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF AT TIMES. I HAVE TO MANUALLY

Mileage: 195,000

20140611POWER TRAIN

I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND WHEN I SHIFTED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO REVERSE SO HARD THAT IT HIT THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED BEHIND ME. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

20140426STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

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 IN

Mileage: 114,124

20140315CrashPOWER TRAIN

LOCKED UP AND FAILED CAUSING ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 119,000

20140126CrashFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THIS EVENT HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS EXCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING ! AND WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME ENDING IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE JUST UNDER 2 MONTHS ! THE FLOOR MATS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM HERE. ONCE I WAS IN REVERSE AND A POWER SURGE CAME OVER THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK DIDN'T RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT BUT WAS SOMEWHAT AFRAID OF IT. I WAS COMING HOME LAST NITE TURNED INTO MY DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE EXCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING

Mileage: 83,547