Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||||
| 18123 | 09/01/2004 | 10011333 | Updated rear halfshaft removal procedure. *tt | 01/18/2005 | |
| 17560 | 02/01/2004 | 10008124 | Rear axle noise. also includes lincoln aviator 2002. *mj | 07/22/2004 | |
| 17555 | 02/01/2004 | 10008120 | Certified rear axle available. *mj | 07/22/2004 | |
| 17050 | 08/01/2003 | 10003163 | Tcil flashing with diagnostic trouble code p0741 and/or noise from the converter housing. *tt | 10/09/2003 | |
| 16806 | 04/01/2003 | 10002674 | Fluid leaks from the rear halfshaft seal. 2002-2003 explorer/mountaineer/aviator added. *tt | 09/10/2003 | |
| 16883 | 06/01/2003 | 10002600 | Tcil flashing with diagnostic trouble code p0741 (tcc slippage detected) and/or noise from the torque converter housing. *tt | 09/08/2003 | |
| 16898 | 06/01/2003 | 10002609 | A whine noise on tip-in at speeds of 45 to 65 mph. this may be due to driveline stack-up tolerance with the driveshaft and rear axle. *tt | 09/08/2003 | |
| 16708 | 03/01/2003 | 10001949 | An audible creak / click / pop (not a clunk) from the rear driveline. *tt *jb | 07/28/2003 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||||
| 042107 | 12/13/2004 | 042414 | 10014086 | General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures. *tt | 04/28/2005 |
| 16702 | 03/01/2003 | 10001945 | 4x4 control module not interchangeable issues. *tt *jb | 07/28/2003 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - COOLING UNIT AND LINES | |||||
| 03148 | 07/21/2003 | 10003748 | New transmission cooler flusher - service tips. 2003 escort and super duty f series included. *tt | 10/29/2003 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | |||||
| 042212 | 11/15/2004 | 10013398 | Gear selector lever - increased effort to shift from drive to park. *tt | 04/18/2005 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER | |||||
| 16971 | 07/01/2003 | 10003847 | A fluid leak coming from within the converter housing on vehicles with 5r55s transmission. *tt | 11/04/2003 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 05618 | 04/01/2005 | 10017892 | Rear axle noise repair. *tt | 12/06/2005 | |
| 18478 | 05/01/2005 | 18590 | 10014668 | Axle seal leaks. *eh | 05/05/2005 |
| 18466 | 03/01/2005 | 10014659 | Axle whine howl. this includes 1997-05 ford vehicles. *eh | 05/05/2005 | |
| 06216 | 01/01/2006 | 0644 | 10014100 | Limited slip axle chatter, shudder, binding sensation, or vibration during low speed turning maneuvers. *tt | 04/28/2005 |
| 041715 | 09/06/2004 | 10013121 | Front axle tube leak. *eh | 04/08/2005 | |
| 18423 | 02/01/2005 | 10012959 | Axle whine howl service with individual parts instead of an axle assembly. *eh | 04/05/2005 | |
| 18221 | 10/01/2004 | 10010732 | Rear axle noise. oasis. various models including 2005 explorer, mountaineer and aviator. *tt | 12/07/2004 | |
| 17905 | 07/01/2004 | 10009332 | Multiple vehicles using fehp rear axle fluid. fluid usage change. *tt | 09/23/2004 | |
| 17717 | 04/01/2004 | 10008222 | Rear axle chatter, shudder, binding sensation, or vibration during low speed turns. *tt | 07/23/2004 | |
| 17736 | 04/01/2004 | 10008236 | Rear axle noise. *tt | 07/23/2004 | |
| 17641 | 03/01/2004 | 10007413 | Rear 3.55 axle noise. certified rear axle or improved gear set available. *tt | 06/22/2004 | |
| 04B15 | 05/01/2004 | 10007006 | Rear axle date code inspection and service. vehicles may have been built with an improper mix of rear axle lubricant and friction modifier additive. if so, the customer may experience noise and vibration while driving. *tt *mj | 05/21/2004 | |
| 03198 | 09/06/2004 | 04175 | 10004037 | Chatter, shudder, a binding sensation, or vibration during low speed turns on vehicles equipped with the 9.75 inch or 8.8 inch limited slip rear axle. *tt | 11/14/2003 |
| 16949 | 07/01/2003 | 10003838 | Rear axle vibration/drone above 60 mph. *tt | 11/04/2003 | |
| 17054 | 08/01/2003 | 10003164 | Axle whine at cruise or during acceleration/ deceleration. *tt | 10/09/2003 | |
| 16754 | 04/01/2003 | 10002652 | Excessive whine noise from the rear axle at cruise, or on acceleration and/or deceleration. *tt | 09/09/2003 | |
| 0186 | 04/30/2001 | 619276 | On some vehicles, including sport and sport trac, the front axle leaks fluid from the vent tube. *tt | 05/22/2001 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT | |||||
| TSB-08-19-3 | 05/01/2009 | 10028736 | Ford: some vehicles may exhibit oil separation from the internal lube found in the unitized cartridge seal. oil separation appears to be and is often misdiagnosed, as an axle lube leak. *pe | 05/20/2009 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT - SEAL | |||||
| TSB-08-19-3 | 05/01/2009 | 10028736 | Ford: some vehicles may exhibit oil separation from the internal lube found in the unitized cartridge seal. oil separation appears to be and is often misdiagnosed, as an axle lube leak. *pe | 05/20/2009 | |
| 04105 | 06/07/2005 | 05155 | 10008994 | Axle seal leaks. leaks from rear halfshaft axle seal. service tips. *tt | 09/07/2004 |
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE | |||||
| 0537 | 06/07/2005 | 05164 | 10012952 | Driveline 1st order vibration/boom/drone. *tt | 04/05/2005 |
| 17107 | 09/01/2003 | 10004046 | Driveline vibration on drone/boom at highway speeds. *tt | 11/17/2003 | |
| 16640 | 02/01/2003 | 10002507 | Rear driveline ping/creak/pop noise. *tt | 09/04/2003 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | ||||||
| EA09013 | Ford Motor Company | 08/18/2009 | 02/12/2013 | Vehicle Rollaway Allegations | ||
| 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 years.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.for additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for ea09-013. the odi reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints under the following identification (odi) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078. | ||||||
| EA09013 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 08/18/2009 | VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS | |||
| 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 consumers 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 ford released a redesigned bsi solenoid with a shorter pin retracting time as a serviceable component. ford has noted the shorter retraction time significantly lessens the likelihood of bsi solenoid pin to swing arm contact even with rapid consumer shifts.ford also issued a technical service bulletin, tsb 04-22-12, to instruct service technicians on the proper diagnosis and vehicle repair. reviewing complaints to odi and data submitted by ford, odi has identified 200 alleged incidents of unintended vehicle movement after consumers believe they have shifted the vehicle into park, resulting in 85 alleged crashes and 32 alleged injuries.in addition to the reports of alleged incidents of unintended vehicle movement, odi has also identified 883 reports of consumers alleging difficulty or the inability to shift the vehicle into park.preliminary evaluationpe09-020 has been upgraded to an engineering analysis to further assess the scope, frequency and risk to motor vehicle safety of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. | ||||||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT | ||||||
| EA09013 | Ford Motor Company | 08/18/2009 | 02/12/2013 | Vehicle Rollaway Allegations | ||
| 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 years.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist.for additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for ea09-013. the odi reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints under the following identification (odi) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078. | ||||||
| EA09013 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 08/18/2009 | VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS | |||
| 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 consumers 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 ford released a redesigned bsi solenoid with a shorter pin retracting time as a serviceable component. ford has noted the shorter retraction time significantly lessens the likelihood of bsi solenoid pin to swing arm contact even with rapid consumer shifts.ford also issued a technical service bulletin, tsb 04-22-12, to instruct service technicians on the proper diagnosis and vehicle repair. reviewing complaints to odi and data submitted by ford, odi has identified 200 alleged incidents of unintended vehicle movement after consumers believe they have shifted the vehicle into park, resulting in 85 alleged crashes and 32 alleged injuries.in addition to the reports of alleged incidents of unintended vehicle movement, odi has also identified 883 reports of consumers alleging difficulty or the inability to shift the vehicle into park.preliminary evaluationpe09-020 has been upgraded to an engineering analysis to further assess the scope, frequency and risk to motor vehicle safety of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||
| 03/04/2013 | 101000 | ||
| Transmission failure | |||
| 03/01/2013 | 131000 | ||
| My 2003 ford explorer while going down the road, i started to notice that it was a hard shift from 1st to second gear, the rpm would go to almost 4000rpm, then almost slam into gear. my o/d light started flashing, and my check engine light came on, when i got home i researched it on the internet and found there are numerous problems with the ford transmissions, after contacting ford they basically told me i was out of luck they wouldnt help,,,, i have been a loyal ford customer for years and so has the rest of my family and my business uses ford vehicles. someone needs to research this, ford is getting away with a big injustice by making a substandard transmission that is costing their customs thousands of dollars. but all ford will say is if the nhtsa decides to investigate and sees its a problem then they will act on it. | |||
| 03/04/2013 | 101000 | ||
| Transmission failure | |||
| 03/01/2013 | 131000 | ||
| My 2003 ford explorer while going down the road, i started to notice that it was a hard shift from 1st to second gear, the rpm would go to almost 4000rpm, then almost slam into gear. my o/d light started flashing, and my check engine light came on, when i got home i researched it on the internet and found there are numerous problems with the ford transmissions, after contacting ford they basically told me i was out of luck they wouldnt help,,,, i have been a loyal ford customer for years and so has the rest of my family and my business uses ford vehicles. someone needs to research this, ford is getting away with a big injustice by making a substandard transmission that is costing their customs thousands of dollars. but all ford will say is if the nhtsa decides to investigate and sees its a problem then they will act on it. | |||
| 03/04/2013 | 101000 | ||
| Transmission failure | |||
| 03/01/2013 | 131000 | ||
| My 2003 ford explorer while going down the road, i started to notice that it was a hard shift from 1st to second gear, the rpm would go to almost 4000rpm, then almost slam into gear. my o/d light started flashing, and my check engine light came on, when i got home i researched it on the internet and found there are numerous problems with the ford transmissions, after contacting ford they basically told me i was out of luck they wouldnt help,,,, i have been a loyal ford customer for years and so has the rest of my family and my business uses ford vehicles. someone needs to research this, ford is getting away with a big injustice by making a substandard transmission that is costing their customs thousands of dollars. but all ford will say is if the nhtsa decides to investigate and sees its a problem then they will act on it. | |||
| 02/20/2013 | 136000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the transmission shifted gears independently with the illumination of the over drive indicator. the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the problem and informed the contact that there was not a recall related to the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 136,000. kmj | |||
| 02/20/2013 | 136000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated while driving approximately 60 mph, the transmission shifted gears independently with the illumination of the over drive indicator. the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the problem and informed that there was not a recall related to the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 136,000. js | |||
| 01/23/2013 | 94000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact was driving approximately 15 mph when the transmission began to slip gears. the failure occurred whenever the vehicle was in operation. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who stated that the transmission would need to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the problem and informed the contact that there was not a recall related to the defect. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 94,000. | |||
| 01/23/2013 | 94000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact was driving approximately 15 mph when the transmission began to slip gears. the failure occurred whenever the vehicle was in operation. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, who stated that the transmission would need to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the problem and informed the contact that there was not a recall related to the defect. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 94,000. kmj | |||
| 01/23/2013 | 94000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving approximately 15 mph, the transmission began to slip gears. the failure occurred whenever the vehicle was in operation. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated the transmission would need to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the problem and they informed that there was not a recall related to the defect. the vehicle had not been repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 94,000. js | |||
| 01/21/2013 | 126000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the transmission failed and the vehicle stopped accelerating. the contact attempted to restart the vehicle to reset the problem but the failure recurred. the vehicle was towed to a transmission center for inspection and they advised that the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 126,000. | |||
| 01/21/2013 | 126000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the transmission failed and the vehicle stopped accelerating. the contact attempted to restart the vehicle to reset the problem but the failure recurred. the vehicle was towed to a transmission center for inspection and they advised that the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 126,000. kmj | |||
| 01/21/2013 | 126000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the transmission failed. the contact stated that the vehicle stopped accelerating. the contact attempted to restart the vehicle to reset the problem but the failure recurred. the vehicle was towed to a transmission center for inspection and they stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified but they provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 126,000. ap | |||
| 11/12/2012 | 95000 | 1 | |
| Vehicle transmission will not shift into upper gears. o/d light blinks on and off. there are many complaints on this issue to ford. ford will not repair or compensate owners for this known dangerous and faulty transmission issue on many 2000-2003 explorer's. this should be a recall. *tr | |||
| 11/12/2012 | 95000 | ||
| Vehicle transmission will not shift into upper gears. o/d light blinks on and off. there are many complaints on this issue to ford. ford will not repair or compensate owners for this known dangerous and faulty transmission issue on many 2000-2003 explorer's. this should be a recall. | |||
| 10/16/2012 | 122000 | 1 | |
| While i was merging from one road to the next the explorer transmission felt like it popped out of gear. when i continued the transmission would not change gears without me feathering the gas. took it to a repair shop and had to pay $2000+ to repair/rebuild the transmission. *tr | |||
| 10/16/2012 | 122000 | ||
| While i was merging from one road to the next the explorer transmission felt like it popped out of gear. when i continued the transmission would not change gears without me feathering the gas. took it to a repair shop and had to pay $2000+ to repair/rebuild the transmission. | |||
| 10/13/2012 | 175000 | 1 | |
| I was backing up to the garage to unload the stuff in the back and the car made a loud whinning noise and took off fast..i couldn't stop the truck.. *tr | |||
| 08/11/2012 | 1 | ||
| It's the transmission. the vehicle is having problems going into gear and jerking. the transmission is sealed so i can not change the fluid myself either. there are many others having the same problem as i am having. how do i go about getting a recall on the transmission? *tr | |||
| 04/10/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explore. the contact stated that while driving 40 mph the transmission failed. the over drive warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact then depressed the brake pedal and everything seized before stalling. the contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle functioned properly. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop where they stated that the solenoid was defective in the transmission. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance because the vehicle was no longer under warranty. the failure mileage was 100,000. | |||
| 04/10/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explore. the contact stated that while driving 40 mph the transmission failed. the over drive warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact then depressed the brake pedal and everything seized before stalling. the contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle functioned properly. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop where they stated that the solenoid was defective in the transmission. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance because the vehicle was no longer under warranty. the failure mileage was 100,000. kmj | |||
| 04/10/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explore. the contact stated that while going 40 mph, the transmission failed. the contact stated that od light light illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact that she depressed the brake pedal and everything locked up. the contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle functioned properly afterwards. the vehicle was taken to a repair shop and they stated that the selonoid was bad in the transmission. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and they stated that the vehicle was out of warranty and there were no recalls. the failure mileage was 100,000. ap | |||
| 04/24/2012 | 105000 | ||
| 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! | |||
| 02/22/2011 | 99000 | ||
| Transmission slipping while driving | |||
| 03/15/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated while driving 35 mph the od 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. rvk | |||
| 03/15/2012 | 100000 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph the od warning lamp illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 100,000. pm | |||
| 03/12/2012 | 152000 | ||
| 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. sm. | |||
| 03/12/2012 | 15200 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the vehicle would not accelerate over 15mph, and the over drive light illuminated, while the failure occurred. the vehicle was towed to the local mechanic, a diagnostic was performed. the failure was located at the third gear 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 a ware of the failure. the failure and the current mileage was 152,000. li | |||
| 02/12/2012 | 77000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 02/28/2012 | 77500 | ||
| Travelling the i-95 corridor in north carolina at approx. 3am the transmission over drive light began flashing and the check engine ligh came on shortly after. vehicle began to have shifting problems. had to ease into 1st gear and play with acceleratotr 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 yaers, 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. | |||
| 03/03/2012 | |||
| O/d light flashing and wont go into overdrive. the transmission is a sealed unit | |||
| 02/12/2012 | 77000 | ||
| 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. kmj | |||
| 02/28/2012 | 77500 | ||
| Travelling the i-95 corridor in north carolina at approx. 3am the transmission over drive light began flashing and the check engine ligh came on shortly after. vehicle began to have shifting problems. had to ease into 1st gear and play with acceleratotr 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 yaers, 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. | |||
| 03/03/2012 | |||
| O/d light flashing and wont go into overdrive. the transmission is a sealed unit | |||
| 02/12/2012 | 77000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated the vehicle has had two rebuilt transmissions. the contact stated the transmission started slipping and the torque converter had to be replaced again. the failure mileage and current mileages were 77,000.rl | |||
| 02/28/2012 | 77500 | ||
| Travelling the i-95 corridor in north carolina at approx. 3am the transmission over drive light began flashing and the check engine ligh came on shortly after. vehicle began to have shifting problems. had to ease into 1st gear and play with acceleratotr 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 yaers, 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. | |||
| 03/03/2012 | |||
| O/d light flashing and wont go into overdrive. the transmission is a sealed unit | |||
| 02/28/2012 | 77500 | ||
| Travelling the i-95 corridor in north carolina at approx. 3am the transmission over drive light began flashing and the check engine ligh came on shortly after. vehicle began to have shifting problems. had to ease into 1st gear and play with acceleratotr 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 yaers, 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. | |||
| 03/03/2012 | |||
| O/d light flashing and wont go into overdrive. the transmission is a sealed unit | |||
| 11/09/2011 | 74000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving approximately 30 mph, the transmission began to slip gears in a jerking motion. there was also a hesitation and the engine revved continuously. in addition, the over drive and transmission warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. the indicators remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. the vehicle was diagnosed by two different independent mechanics and they informed the sensor solenoid would need to be replaced and possibly the transmission. the vehicle was in the process of being taken to an authorized dealer for a third opinion. the manufacturer was not notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 74,000. the vin was unavailable. kmj | |||
| 11/09/2011 | 74000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving approximately 30 mph, the transmission began to slip gears in a jerking motion. there was also a hesitation and the engine revved continuously. in addition, the over drive and transmission warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. the indicators remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. the vehicle was diagnosed by two different independent mechanics and they informed the sensor solenoid would need to be replaced and possibly the transmission. the vehicle was in the process of being taken to an authorized dealer for a third opinion. the manufacturer was not notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 74,000. the vin was unavailable. js | |||
| 12/28/2011 | 100003 | ||
| I called ford customer relations to report my transmission was failing, and discovering that many people were reporting the same issue on the web: flashing overdrive light, constant engine service light, and my transmission was sticking and not shifting properly. i told the representative about my issue and immediatedly they said i did not have the extended warrenty. i told them i did have the extended which was up to 100000 miles, but i was barely over by 3000 miles. i explained that a lot of other people were complaining about the same transmission issue with the same make, model, and year. the agent sounded like he was reading from a script, including his supervisor saying i was out of warranty, sorry, and go to the dealer you bought the car from. when it was clear he was not going to do anything, i asked to speak with a supervisor, but it was clear that she was not going to do anything either. all i was asking for was a goodwill repair discount, and they refused. i grew up with fords; fairlane, falcon, galaxy, maverick, ltd, taurus, expedition, t-bird, and explorer. i am not going to say i will never drive another ford, but i no longer feel loyal to the brand. honda's and toyota's transmissions last longer and they stand by their product. i am very disappointed about thier lack of customer service and indifference with my problem. this is going to cost $2500 for a rebuild or $3500 for a new transmission. | |||
| 11/28/2011 | 148000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the transmission would not shift into gear and failed. the check engine and the bs warning lights were illuminated. the contact notified a mechanic of the failure and was advised that the transmission would likely need replacing.the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was 148,000. | |||
| 11/28/2011 | 148000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the transmission would not shift into gear and failed. the check engine and the bs warning lights were illuminated. the contact notified a mechanic of the failure and was advised that the transmission would likely need replacing.the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was 148,000. kmj | |||
| 11/28/2011 | 148000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated while driving 30 mph the transmission fail. the transmission does not shift from gear to gear in a normal way. the check engine light and the bs light started to illuminate. the contact notified a mechanic and was told it was the transmission. the vin was unknown. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 148,000. mw | |||
| 09/07/2011 | 175024 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving 50 mph, the overdrive and check engine warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was towed to the dealer who inspected the failure and informed the contact that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified who advised that there were no recalls for the failure and offered no further assistance. the failure mileage was 175,024. kmj | |||
| 09/07/2011 | 175024 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving 50 mph the over drive and checking engine warning lights started to illuminate. the vehicle was towed to the dealer who inspected the failure and informed him the transmission was faulty and need to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified who stated there are no recalls and offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 175,024. mw | |||
| 08/24/2011 | 34029 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer eddie bauer edition. the contact was driving 30 mph when the overdrive warning light illuminated and the vehicle became hard to shift. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where it was diagnosed that the overdrive band was fractured and possibly had caused damage to the torque converter. the manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 34,029 and the current mileage was 64,846. | |||
| 08/24/2011 | 34029 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer eddie bauer edition. the contact was driving 30 mph when the overdrive warning light illuminated and the vehicle became hard to shift. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where it was diagnosed that the overdrive band was fractured and possibly had caused damage to the torque converter. the manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 34,029 and the current mileage was 64,846. kmj | |||
| 09/05/2011 | 105000 | ||
| While entering the highway, my suv would not shift into gear. the fastest it would go was 35mph, the tachometer was pegged out, the o/d light was flashing on and off and transmission would not shift into the next gear. almost got hit by vehicles traveling the speed limit which is 65mph, because the transmission would not shift properly for me to merge into traffic. | |||
| 08/24/2011 | 34029 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer eddie bauer edition. the contact was driving 30 mph when the over drive light illuminated, and the vehicle became hard to shift. the overdraft failed to work during the course of the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a failure testing diagnostic. the diagnosis was the transmission had broken overdraft band and possibly caused damaged to the torque converter. the manufacturer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 34,029 and the current mileage was 64,846. rds | |||
| 09/05/2011 | 105000 | ||
| While entering the highway, my suv would not shift into gear. the fastest it would go was 35mph, the tachometer was pegged out, the o/d light was flashing on and off and transmission would not shift into the next gear. almost got hit by vehicles traveling the speed limit which is 65mph, because the transmission would not shift properly for me to merge into traffic. | |||
| 08/12/2010 | 125491 | ||
| Transmision failure, replaced at dealership. new transmision failed within a week, replaced at dealership also replaced all hub bearings, excessive noise. rear end also has excessive noise. rear back up sensor frequently turns off and does not work. | |||
| 08/24/2011 | 34029 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer eddie bauer edition. the contact was driving 30 mph when the over drive light illuminated, and the vehicle became hard to shift. the overdraft failed to work during the course of the failure. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a failure testing diagnostic. the diagnosis was the transmission had broken overdraft band and possibly caused damaged to the torque converter. the manufacturer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 34,029 and the current mileage was 64,846. rds | |||
| 09/05/2011 | 105000 | ||
| While entering the highway, my suv would not shift into gear. the fastest it would go was 35mph, the tachometer was pegged out, the o/d light was flashing on and off and transmission would not shift into the next gear. almost got hit by vehicles traveling the speed limit which is 65mph, because the transmission would not shift properly for me to merge into traffic. | |||
| 08/12/2010 | 125491 | ||
| Transmision failure, replaced at dealership. new transmision failed within a week, replaced at dealership also replaced all hub bearings, excessive noise. rear end also has excessive noise. rear back up sensor frequently turns off and does not work. | |||
| 09/05/2011 | 105000 | ||
| While entering the highway, my suv would not shift into gear. the fastest it would go was 35mph, the tachometer was pegged out, the o/d light was flashing on and off and transmission would not shift into the next gear. almost got hit by vehicles traveling the speed limit which is 65mph, because the transmission would not shift properly for me to merge into traffic. | |||
| 08/12/2010 | 125491 | ||
| Transmision failure, replaced at dealership. new transmision failed within a week, replaced at dealership also replaced all hub bearings, excessive noise. rear end also has excessive noise. rear back up sensor frequently turns off and does not work. | |||
| 09/05/2011 | 105000 | ||
| While entering the highway, my suv would not shift into gear. the fastest it would go was 35mph, the tachometer was pegged out, the o/d light was flashing on and off and transmission would not shift into the next gear. almost got hit by vehicles traveling the speed limit which is 65mph, because the transmission would not shift properly for me to merge into traffic. | |||
| 08/12/2010 | 125491 | ||
| Transmision failure, replaced at dealership. new transmision failed within a week, replaced at dealership also replaced all hub bearings, excessive noise. rear end also has excessive noise. rear back up sensor frequently turns off and does not work. | |||
| 07/07/2011 | 120300 | ||
| Suddenly the transfer case started jerking and the suv was shaking badly that i almost couldn't drive it home. i was lucky to have this happening at 1/2 mile from my house and at about 20-25 miles per hour! it was no code to indicate where the failure occured within the power train. i tooke a part the rear end, i found nothing wrong with it. i started to troubleshoot the transfer case and i noticed that the electrical motor with actuator does not spin the shaft from tranfer case, reason that the transfer case can't select firmly the position of hi, low por 4wd!!!!. observing that trhe motor of the transfer case sifter does not spin, i purchesd a new motor from ford,. after replacemnt, the problem persisted; so, i replaced the transfer case module, behaind the glove box; no result. to be able to move the car around i unplugged the transfer case motor shift frokm the main harness and the suv stays now in 4wd with blinking lights on my dash for abs and 4x4 wd!!! i am still wandering what could happend to me if the jumping and grinding was to happend when i was driving the car with 65-70 miles per hour and the power train could snap and the drivesfat could fly out... who shall be resonsible for my life or somebody else's that i could hit? i consider that the manufacturer shall recall the explorer's affected and address the transfer case issues. the old parts that i have replaced are available, they are functgional. i still don't know what is wrong becasue i couldn't find any advise from any ford sites, neither from a qualified diagnostic specialist. if i go to ford dealership they will be charging tons of $$$ until the car runs again; they don't care how many parts will replace and i will have to pay ford's mistakes from my pocket; this is not right! | |||
| 05/03/2011 | 85000 | ||
| First i must say i love this truck. its my second one and both had same problems. while driving home from work all of a sudden truch lurched forward then o/d off lite started flashing then check engine lite flashing.took it to my mechanic and it came up with a po775 code, he said its very common and not the first one hes seen do this. pressure control solenoid b needs replacing for about $400.00 then after removing pan whole transmission needed overhaul now $2200.00 later. i think ford knows of this problem and should stand behind it. also blend door stopped working and all 4 calipers seized up. dont know if ill ever buy another ford.also power windows quit working, broken wire in door. nothing but trouble with this vehicle.i think a class action suit should be started against ford for repairs on these transmissions.i cant afford to dump hundreds of dollars into this truck after paying thousands of dollars for it. | |||
| 12/15/2010 | 90000 | ||
| Explorer od light came on and truck would not shift gears properly. check engine light appeared and the truck just made it to the mechanic. the truck needed a new transmission at the expense of $3000. it is obvious that the ford explorer is known for this type of failure. sent an email to ford and they will not assist on the expenses or admit there is a problem with these vehicles. | |||
| 03/12/2011 | 59000 | ||
| Accelerator defect ; the car atuomatically sped up without my foot on the gas pedal. caused damages to 3 other vehicles, 1 of which was totalled. | |||
| 01/22/2011 | 86000 | ||
| Engine revs to nearly 5000 rpm before slamming into 2nd gear. had several mechanics tell me that these transmissions are junk. | |||
| 10/13/2010 | 110000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving 35 mph the vehicle lost power after a few minutes the service engine light illuminated, the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to a transmission specialist they advised the gear solenoid will need to be replaced. the vehicle wasn't repaired. the manufacturer advised they will not assist with the repair, because of the vehicle mileage and the warranty expired. the current and the failure mileage were 110,000. li | |||
| 05/04/2009 | 72450 | ||
| I keep reading about 2 complaints that people need to know about and ford should take action on; the first being the back tail gate... ford do the right thing. the second has to do with the transmission, overdrive light, the parking brake and the cruise control. i use the cruise control when driving long distances and while on a few trips the overdrive light would come on for no reason, at least i thought, i then found out that i had an abs problem and wheel bearings problems. all happening at the same time? as if that wasn't enough my transmission was dripping fluid on my new driveway! this was while i only had only 70,000 miles, it wasn't right, i checked out the brakes, they had been replaced before however when i pull off the rear drum / disk to check the parking brake that's when i found the problem. i never use my parking brake, it rotted and delaminated and was dragging hence the od light, the overheating of the transmission which blew out the seal, the excessive brake dust which was partially the cause of abs sensor malfunctioning. the last part impacts the bearings, when the abs sensor malfunctions it can apply the brakes as in skidding or in tire slippage adding to early unnecessary wear on bearings and again overheating of the transmission. ford needs to install a few smart sensors, one which could track parking brake malfunctions, also one for fail safe temperature readings for the transmission. (that is before it is compromised.) do the right thing ford, your sales depend on it. | |||
| 07/06/2009 | 40000 | 1 | |
| The rear end on the 2003 ford explorer starts to whine, then growl' then leak then go bad. the rearend on the ford explorers evidently go bad often. the owners would be put in danger when the breakdown occurs on the road. the explorer is a family vehicle so the rearend going out on a trip away could be disaster. i googled 2003 ford explorer rearend problems and found hundreds of complaints. *tr | |||
| 01/15/2006 | 62500 | 1 | |
| Transmissions in 2003 ford explorers . first transmission replaced at 62,500 miles and second needs replacing at 87,000 miles. was told by mechanic that is the ford transmission problem for that year of explorer may complaints online about the same issue. *tr | |||
| 05/12/2009 | 70000 | 1 | |
| I currently own a 2003 ford explorer. abs light had been showing sometimes and gained a small vibration in the engine. then one day by a turn of the key there was a loud thumb sound and it never started again. put a new starter on got it started but it had a major pecking sound coming from transmission. took transmission out and found that the torque had a bad rattle in it. replaced torque and restarted engine and still had another small pecking sound it was coming from the engine dropped oil pan and found to have a balance shaft chain guide busted and the timing chain was loose. so by the turn of the key resulted in torque lock up in which caused started drive to bust and all the pressure when the new starter kick in broke torque loose and caused the crank to over spin the timing chain in which broke chain guide. so lucky it happened by the turn of the key instead of driving down the road. *tr | |||
| 07/20/2007 | 78000 | 1 | |
| This vehicle is a 2003 ford explorer limited with a severe roar coming from the rear end. there is a technical bulletin out at repair shops but no recall. it could result in the gears locking down and losing control while driving. it is a defect of the ford motor co and should be under recall. the cost of repair is around $1400.00. the noise is so loud that it could block the ability to hear oncoming traffic and emergency vehicles. you don't have to worry about using a cell phone while driving in this vehicle because you would not be able to hear the other person. i understand that all ford,lincoln, and mercury suv's are a part of this tech-bulletin. the years that are affected are 2002-2006. please consider issuing a recall soon. *tr | |||
| 07/24/2005 | 16000 | 1 | |
| Factory rearend was replaced in my 03 ford explorer. since then the problem of gradual rearend deterioration has not been fixed. if the rearend fails catastrophically then a serious accident could occur. ford motors does not consider this to be a safety concern, but it definitely is. ford should recall all vehicles with the defective rearends and fix their problem. *tr | |||
| 09/25/2007 | 55000 | 2 | 08/15/2003 |
| Rear axle loud noise. front left wheel bearing became extremely noisy. automatic 4wd control engaged unexpectedly during low speed turns and parking. several visits to the ford repair shop, almost $2.5k in repairs, erroneously diagnosed. results: finally, failures still in place. what a shame!!! *tr | |||
| 07/14/2004 | 12000 | 3 | 10/13/2003 |
| Consistent rear axle whine from 45-65 miles per hour highway driving, dealer, ramp ford in port jefferson, ny replaced rear end three different occasions, and finally stated that all explorers make the same noise. they could not give me any indication whether or not this is a safety issue. i definitely get the feeling that they wish i would just go away. there are numerous tsb's on this issue and i can not understand why there is not a recall on this obvious defect. *nm | |||
| 06/01/2005 | 1 | ||
| I have a 2003 ford explorer xlt 4x4, i have had nothing but problems with it, a few months ago i took it to the dealership because the abs light was on and the 4x4 was not working properly, they supposedly fixed it and told us they replaced a speed sensor, they also found 2 rear axle seal leaks and supposedly fixed those, then in october of '05 i took it in to the dealership because it was jerking between 30 and 40 mph and upon acceleration on hills not mention that i could hear something happening underneath my vehicle, they put it up on the rack and came back out and said the clutch in the rear end was scorched and needed to have the whole rear end replace, so i did but when i was driving it back home after the repair it started jerking again, and after several weeks of worry and wonder another dealership tells me that the transfer case is bad, my explorer is trying to engage itself in 4x4, so now i am having the transfer case replaced! my explorer has 41,000 on it right now and ford has not been much of a help, i have to pay $1500 for the transfer case, i will never buy another ford product, i will buy a foreign car. ford really needs to look into all of the complaints and technical service bulletins on these vehicles and i will do anything i can to promote that. *nm | |||
| 09/28/2005 | 47400 | 1 | |
| I own a ford explorer 2003 v6 truck i have had ford vehicles for the last 15 years. my issue is with ford service and the trucks transmission. i was in the service bay on august 17 for routine recall stuff and added some basic services to my visit. oil change, flush and transmission fluid change/check was in order. $500 later i am out the door. 25 days after the initial visit i am back at ford with concerns about my transmission. it seems to be whining and revving high while changing into 2nd and or 5th gear. the fluid all over my driveway certainly didn't give me a comfortable feeling. ford service confirmed a problem but could not diagnose it unless they tore it apart. i was instructed to make an appointment at the end of the month because the trans mechanic would be on vacation through end of month. i made an appointment for my truck to once again visit the ford service for an overnight visit. on september 29th. dropped it off and never got a call for three days. on october 3 end of business day, i called. they seemed to have forgotten my vehicle and would work on it the next day. tuesday i get a call in the mid morning stating that i need a new transmission or a rebuilt one . pricing ranges from $2600 to $3400. they couldn't tell my why or any more specifics on how an engine with 47k needs a new transmission. especially since it was recently in the shop for routine transmission maintenance less than 30 days prior to the incident. to whom it may concern...i have had many fords for the past 20 years and i have never seen a transmission go up under 50k miles. whether the service guys didn't tighten up something right or ford has an inferior product; i feel that i should not be held responsible for this issue. please advise. *nm | |||
| 10/15/2003 | 0 | ||
| I have recently bought 2 brand new fords from champion ford in shreveport louisiana. my brand new ford xlt explorer 2 door sport has been in the shop for various repairs longer than i have had the vehicle. the vehicle was purchased on 09/27/2003 since then the hood had to be re-painted, both side body molding has been replaced, the front turn signal light came loose , both bottom exterior body door trim had to be replaced, interior trim piece below the rear window broke and had to be re-placed, but the main problem is a vibration in the motor/transmission that vibrates the dash i have spent already over $60.00 in gas back and forth to dealership, me and my wife have taken off two days at work costing us over $500.00 in loss of pay, i have already paid the first truck note and insurance payment and now the truck is back at the dealership for repairs for approximately one more week of repairs. on 10/17/2003 the truck was brought back to the dealership and my wife drove another explorer of the same make/model and had no problems i then was told by the service mgr. that this problem was inherent to this make/model. i then approached the sale mgr. with the hopes of either exchanging or trading up too the 4 door model to help defray the profit loss. it was explained to me that the vehicle had already depreciated some $4000.00 and that to swap vehicles it would cost me an additional $75.00 an up a month car note. i have contacted ford motor company who basically told me i was stuck with the vehicle even though the dealership has had the vehicle longer than i have had it. i was sent from employee to employee mgr. of this to mgr. of that. i would appreciate any information or ideas you could provide me with this situation. this vehicle is to be my wife's truck and i would like her in a safe truck that is safe for her to travel in. the dealership has already replaced the cosmetic faults but has stated that this problem is of doubtful outcome. | |||
| 04/17/2003 | 6000 | 1 | |
| The vehicle rolled backwards while in the park. the dealership was unable to duplicate the problem. *jb | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 07/24/2011 | 105000 | ||
| Transmission failure....o/d light flashes and service engine light stays on. | |||
| 06/25/2011 | 55 | ||
| O/d light spontaneously came on. can not be turned off.transmition takes off slow.first gear slams into second, with slow takeoff causes cars behind me to stop short because my takeoff is very slow. | |||
| 06/30/2011 | 135000 | ||
| My 2003 ford explorer had a thunk noise from day one. ford dealership could not duplicate the complaint even i took if back multiple times. had to replace the torque converter at 70k miles and now at 135k miles the whole transmission and another torque converter for rattling again. od/off blinking light and check transmission notice came on with erratic shifting and loss of 2nd and 5th gears. replacement of trans eliminated thunk and my $4600. similar complaints without any acknowledgement of faulty materials or engineering by ford has plagued hundreds if not thousands of explorer owners. where is the expected investigation of these problems? why do we have to wait until accidents or injury to have faulty autos recalled? why are spark plugs ejected more of a safety concern than transmissions that leave drivers without proper moving capability on the highway? where is the recall for these units? | |||
| 03/30/2011 | 71000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 05/15/2011 | 110000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 04/18/2007 | 48065 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the door ajar light illuminated frequently and the dome light stayed illuminated even when the doors were closed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a manufacturers recall and the dealer stated that the repair had previously been performed. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact stated that the vehicle hesitated intermittently. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the current mileage was approximately 72,000. the failure mileage was approximately 49,000. | |||
| 05/15/2011 | 110000 | ||
| 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 higher gears. the vehicle was stopped and shut off. upon restart the vehicle operated as normal. after driving for a few miles the failure recurred. the vehicle was not taken 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. sm. | |||
| 04/18/2007 | 48065 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the door ajar light illuminated frequently and the dome light stayed illuminated even when the doors were closed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a manufacturers recall and the dealer stated that the repair had previously been performed. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact stated that the vehicle hesitated intermittently. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the current mileage was approximately 72,000. the failure mileage was approximately 49,000. | |||
| 05/15/2011 | 110000 | ||
| 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 higher gears. the vehicle was stopped and shut off. upon restart the vehicle operated as normal. after driving for a few miles the failure recurred. the vehicle was not taken 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. sm. | |||
| 04/18/2007 | 48065 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the door ajar light illuminated frequently and the dome light stayed illuminated even when the doors were closed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a manufacturers recall and the dealer stated that the repair had previously been performed. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact stated that the vehicle hesitated intermittently. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the current mileage was approximately 72,000. the failure mileage was approximately 49,000. | |||
| 04/18/2007 | 48065 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the door ajar light illuminated frequently and the dome light stayed illuminated even when the doors were closed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a recall (recall not listed on nhtsa website) and the dealer stated that the repair had previously been performed. the vehicle had not been repaired. the contact stated that the vehicle hesitated intermittently. the vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. the manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. the current mileage was approximately 72,000. the failure mileage was approximately 49,000-bk | |||
| 05/03/2011 | 117500 | ||
| My 2003 ford explorer was parked in my driveway and it somehow rolled down approx 150 feet and smashed into a tree. there was no one in the vehicle it was parked and the keys were in the house. i immediately called my insurance (state farm) and they had me call a collision garage to come out and they came within the hour. they have stated that the vehicle is a total loss. the next morning i called ford and they disregarded anything i said and said my insurance should take care of it. i am still paying on a loan for this car and i do have full coverage but i am now without a vehicle and i am scared to think of what might of happened if my daughters would of been playing in the backyard. | |||
| 04/02/2011 | 91000 | ||
| Vehicle transmission slips out of gear and sometimes wont engage. frequently occurs at stop/start movements.ocurrs in forward and reverse. o/d off light is frequently displayed. unsafe to drive anywhere!!! | |||
| 11/15/2010 | 100000 | ||
| Transmission problems started around 100k miles; high rpm shifting between 1st and 2nd gear with subsequent flashing o/d light. many times transmission will clunk into gear either from going into reverse, stopping completely, then shifting into drive and/or when putting in reverse or drive. appears this is a common problem for my model year explorer (03) and same code many others receive (p0775) which really does not describe the problem or lead a not so mechanical inclined person to try and troubleshoot/buy parts to fix. i'm career military man w/family and my truck is paid off next month--owned 5 years and really sucks to have to possibly dump $3k into a truck that ford has known contained issues with the 5r55w transmission. | |||
| 04/02/2011 | 91000 | ||
| Vehicle transmission slips out of gear and sometimes wont engage. frequently occurs at stop/start movements.ocurrs in forward and reverse. o/d off light is frequently displayed. unsafe to drive anywhere!!! | |||
| 11/15/2010 | 100000 | ||
| Transmission problems started around 100k miles; high rpm shifting between 1st and 2nd gear with subsequent flashing o/d light. many times transmission will clunk into gear either from going into reverse, stopping completely, then shifting into drive and/or when putting in reverse or drive. appears this is a common problem for my model year explorer (03) and same code many others receive (p0775) which really does not describe the problem or lead a not so mechanical inclined person to try and troubleshoot/buy parts to fix. i'm career military man w/family and my truck is paid off next month--owned 5 years and really sucks to have to possibly dump $3k into a truck that ford has known contained issues with the 5r55w transmission. | |||
| 04/02/2011 | 91000 | ||
| Vehicle transmission slips out of gear and sometimes wont engage. frequently occurs at stop/start movements.ocurrs in forward and reverse. o/d off light is frequently displayed. unsafe to drive anywhere!!! | |||
| 11/15/2010 | 100000 | ||
| Transmission problems started around 100k miles; high rpm shifting between 1st and 2nd gear with subsequent flashing o/d light. many times transmission will clunk into gear either from going into reverse, stopping completely, then shifting into drive and/or when putting in reverse or drive. appears this is a common problem for my model year explorer (03) and same code many others receive (p0775) which really does not describe the problem or lead a not so mechanical inclined person to try and troubleshoot/buy parts to fix. i'm career military man w/family and my truck is paid off next month--owned 5 years and really sucks to have to possibly dump $3k into a truck that ford has known contained issues with the 5r55w transmission. | |||
| 04/02/2011 | 91000 | ||
| Vehicle transmission slips out of gear and sometimes wont engage. frequently occurs at stop/start movements.ocurrs in forward and reverse. o/d off light is frequently displayed. unsafe to drive anywhere!!! | |||
| 11/15/2010 | 100000 | ||
| Transmission problems started around 100k miles; high rpm shifting between 1st and 2nd gear with subsequent flashing o/d light. many times transmission will clunk into gear either from going into reverse, stopping completely, then shifting into drive and/or when putting in reverse or drive. appears this is a common problem for my model year explorer (03) and same code many others receive (p0775) which really does not describe the problem or lead a not so mechanical inclined person to try and troubleshoot/buy parts to fix. i'm career military man w/family and my truck is paid off next month--owned 5 years and really sucks to have to possibly dump $3k into a truck that ford has known contained issues with the 5r55w transmission. | |||
| 04/02/2011 | 131500 | ||
| I have a 2003 ford explorer and my o/d light keeps flashing i took it to the dealer to get it checked and they said i need a new transmission because i have no 2nd or 5th gear they also said this is a common problem with that year. they said the shift sealnoid went out so now i cant drive my truck tell i can afford 3400 dollars to get it fixed so that has made it harder for me to get to work and to get my family where they need to be. | |||
| 03/15/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Transmission went out | |||
| 07/25/2009 | 67000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle began to decelerate independently with the illumination of several warning lights. the failure would recur intermittently and the either the vehicle would restart immediately or the vehicle would be towed. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and they advised her that the transmission would need to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 67,000. the vin was unavailable. | |||
| 07/25/2009 | 67000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph the vehicle then suddenly slows down. warning lights would illuminate on the instrumental panel intermittently. the vehicle sometimes would restart and get up to speed, and others she would have to have it towed. the vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic and they advised her that the transmission needs to be replaced. the vehicle has not been repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 67,000. the vin was unavailable. tb | |||
| 03/15/2008 | 85000 | ||
| I own a 2003 ford exporer, i have owned it for almost 5 years and took care of it. i also paid alot of money for it and after about three years out of nowhere my o/d light started blinking and my car started shifting wrong.i had the selonoid on tranny replaced soon as i put it in 4wheel drive my o/d light started blinking again and shifting wrong.this is making the car accelerate to much at times and almost not wanting to shift others.so while waiting thinking i need a new transmission my engine light comes on followed by a light ticking noise, that got louder and louder over about a month.so the car was taken to the dealership an put on a computer they said i should junk it, yes its 5 years old but i bought my car from their and i paid alot for it.so no one knows exactly whats wrong with it i myself beleave but ford.i been told i need a new transmission and my timeing chian is bad on the engine.the car still runs although i wont drive it completely unsafe. its a nice looking car but i seen alot of people with this same problem with the same year make and model how is that and its dangerous? me and my daughter wrecked after sudden acceleration thankfully the airbags deployed and burnt her but we were both fine otherwise.i just now this is dangerous,ford knows about it and why it happened and how to fix it. | |||
| 03/12/2011 | 200000 | ||
| Well this will be the 2nd transmission for my 2003 ford explorer, the first was at 88700 miles about 4 years ago. it took the dealership almost 2 weeks to figure out what was wrong. then 2 weeks after that heard a loud ping while driving home, at 9:00 at night, took in to dealer and the drive shaft had water in it. now i am the original owner, truck has never been off road, never towed anything, highway miles. so, i fix all that( about $3,000.00 in one month) now this past weekend coming home on the interstate truck gives a large shudder 3 times, i almost get run over by a tour bus because truck is getting ready to die. limp home can't drive over 60 miles an hour, went back roads home, did not like going up small hills. when 1 mile from home o/d off light came on and transmission started acting bad. pulled into driveway, barely. now i'm pissed because here i go again pouring out money to fix and almost got hit on interstate. | |||
| 01/24/2011 | 73859 | ||
| I recently encountered problems with my vehicle's acceleration. the vehicle then began to buck, make loud noises, the check engine light came on and then the o/d light began to flash. i took my vehicle to the dealer to have a diagnostics test performed which determined that my transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle that i am referencing is a 2003 ford explorer with 73,859 miles (at the time of the diagnosis). i did reseach which revealed that this has been a common issue with 2003 ford explorers with approximately the same number of miles. i did get the transmission replaced in my vehicle, however the complaint is that these vehicles are requiring transmission replacements at such low miles. with all of the complaints involving this issue, it seems to warrant an investigation into the matter........please investigate. | |||
| 02/13/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact was traveling 45 mph when the over drive warning light illuminated and the transmission failed. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the torque converter, servo pack and clutch would need replacing. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 100,000. | |||
| 01/24/2011 | 73859 | ||
| I recently encountered problems with my vehicle's acceleration. the vehicle then began to buck, make loud noises, the check engine light came on and then the o/d light began to flash. i took my vehicle to the dealer to have a diagnostics test performed which determined that my transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle that i am referencing is a 2003 ford explorer with 73,859 miles (at the time of the diagnosis). i did reseach which revealed that this has been a common issue with 2003 ford explorers with approximately the same number of miles. i did get the transmission replaced in my vehicle, however the complaint is that these vehicles are requiring transmission replacements at such low miles. with all of the complaints involving this issue, it seems to warrant an investigation into the matter........please investigate. | |||
| 02/13/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact was traveling 45 mph when the over drive warning light illuminated and the transmission failed. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the torque converter, servo pack and clutch would need replacing. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 100,000. | |||
| 02/16/2011 | 94583 | ||
| Tl -the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving approximately 35 mph, the over-drive and engine service warning indicators illuminated. the warning indicators remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where a diagnostic test was performed which detected that the gear ratio and pressure control solenoid b were defective within the transmission. the contact was waiting on the parts for the vehicle to be repaired. the failure mileage was 94,583. js | |||
| 01/24/2011 | 73859 | ||
| I recently encountered problems with my vehicle's acceleration. the vehicle then began to buck, make loud noises, the check engine light came on and then the o/d light began to flash. i took my vehicle to the dealer to have a diagnostics test performed which determined that my transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle that i am referencing is a 2003 ford explorer with 73,859 miles (at the time of the diagnosis). i did reseach which revealed that this has been a common issue with 2003 ford explorers with approximately the same number of miles. i did get the transmission replaced in my vehicle, however the complaint is that these vehicles are requiring transmission replacements at such low miles. with all of the complaints involving this issue, it seems to warrant an investigation into the matter........please investigate. | |||
| 02/13/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact was traveling 45 mph when the over drive warning light illuminated and the transmission failed. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the torque converter, servo pack and clutch would need replacing. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 100,000. | |||
| 02/16/2011 | 94583 | ||
| Tl -the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving approximately 35 mph, the over-drive and engine service warning indicators illuminated. the warning indicators remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where a diagnostic test was performed which detected that the gear ratio and pressure control solenoid b were defective within the transmission. the contact was waiting on the parts for the vehicle to be repaired. the failure mileage was 94,583. js | |||
| 02/13/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact was traveling 45 mph when the over drive light came on and the transmission failed. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told the torque converter, servo pack and clutch would have to be replaced. the failure mileage and contact mileages were 100,000.rl | |||
| 02/16/2011 | 94583 | ||
| Tl -the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving approximately 35 mph, the over-drive and engine service warning indicators illuminated. the warning indicators remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where a diagnostic test was performed which detected that the gear ratio and pressure control solenoid b were defective within the transmission. the contact was waiting on the parts for the vehicle to be repaired. the failure mileage was 94,583. js | |||
| 11/15/2008 | |||
| The transmission went out several months after the warranty expired and the company did nothing to address this...the car was only 5 years old when this happened and we had to get a new transmission | |||
| 02/15/2011 | 120000 | ||
| I was driving my 2003 ford explorer xlt v6 4.0l on i40w, when all of a sudden the vehicle began to decelerate while the rpms were constantly going up. this put me in the interstate with no power as the gears weren't shifting. i took it to my local ford dealership and they put it on the diagnostic machine and told me they really didn't know what was wrong with it and that they would have to break the transmission down in order to know for sure. i searched online for any common transmission problems and came across a site where people with vehicles just like mine having the same exact problem. as of now i'm still waiting on ford to let me know what's going on with my truck, but with hundreds of other people having the same problem i see no reason for them not know what the problem is as well as have a recall on the vehicle to fix the problem. | |||
| 11/15/2008 | |||
| The transmission went out several months after the warranty expired and the company did nothing to address this...the car was only 5 years old when this happened and we had to get a new transmission | |||
| 02/15/2011 | 120000 | ||
| I was driving my 2003 ford explorer xlt v6 4.0l on i40w, when all of a sudden the vehicle began to decelerate while the rpms were constantly going up. this put me in the interstate with no power as the gears weren't shifting. i took it to my local ford dealership and they put it on the diagnostic machine and told me they really didn't know what was wrong with it and that they would have to break the transmission down in order to know for sure. i searched online for any common transmission problems and came across a site where people with vehicles just like mine having the same exact problem. as of now i'm still waiting on ford to let me know what's going on with my truck, but with hundreds of other people having the same problem i see no reason for them not know what the problem is as well as have a recall on the vehicle to fix the problem. | |||
| 11/15/2008 | |||
| The transmission went out several months after the warranty expired and the company did nothing to address this...the car was only 5 years old when this happened and we had to get a new transmission | |||
| 02/15/2011 | 120000 | ||
| I was driving my 2003 ford explorer xlt v6 4.0l on i40w, when all of a sudden the vehicle began to decelerate while the rpms were constantly going up. this put me in the interstate with no power as the gears weren't shifting. i took it to my local ford dealership and they put it on the diagnostic machine and told me they really didn't know what was wrong with it and that they would have to break the transmission down in order to know for sure. i searched online for any common transmission problems and came across a site where people with vehicles just like mine having the same exact problem. as of now i'm still waiting on ford to let me know what's going on with my truck, but with hundreds of other people having the same problem i see no reason for them not know what the problem is as well as have a recall on the vehicle to fix the problem. | |||
| 11/15/2008 | |||
| The transmission went out several months after the warranty expired and the company did nothing to address this...the car was only 5 years old when this happened and we had to get a new transmission | |||
| 02/15/2011 | 120000 | ||
| I was driving my 2003 ford explorer xlt v6 4.0l on i40w, when all of a sudden the vehicle began to decelerate while the rpms were constantly going up. this put me in the interstate with no power as the gears weren't shifting. i took it to my local ford dealership and they put it on the diagnostic machine and told me they really didn't know what was wrong with it and that they would have to break the transmission down in order to know for sure. i searched online for any common transmission problems and came across a site where people with vehicles just like mine having the same exact problem. as of now i'm still waiting on ford to let me know what's going on with my truck, but with hundreds of other people having the same problem i see no reason for them not know what the problem is as well as have a recall on the vehicle to fix the problem. | |||
| 03/22/2010 | 60356 | ||
| No second gear | |||
| 02/01/2011 | 102000 | ||
| Like every other day, i started the suv a few minutes before i had to leave to let it warm up because ny is cold, and then left to run some errands. i realized right away that the truck sounded a little funny when accelerating, so the radio went off so i could listen. i found that when shifting from first to second, in this automatic vehicle, the overdrive was kicking on prematurely. then the o/d light started flashing. i came home and started researching it and found hundreds of complaints, so here i am, in the same boat as everyone else, about to look up numbers to transmission specialists because the dealer is definitely not going to make any money off of my with this one. | |||
| 01/20/2011 | 130200 | ||
| I own a 2003 ford explorer and have never had any problem with my vehicle. i do not drive it hard and make sure that it gets the proper upkeep. as i was driving down the road one day my check engine lihgt came on. the next day on my way to work i noticed that the transmisson was having trouble shifting and the time i got home that evening the transmission was shifting very hard if it would even shift at all. my o/d off light also started flashing. i thought that it was just a fluke with my transmission until i checked online to find that there is alot of other people having the same problem and that ford is doing nothing to fix the problem. my car is currently in the shop and they have said that it will cost atleast 3200 or more to fix the transmission. i have contacted my ford dealership and they were well aware of the problems with this transmission but stated there was nothing they could do and ford hasn't accepted responsibility for the problem. they also stated that there was an obvious defect with the transmission. i would like to know if there is or was a defect investigation seeing that there are so many people with the same problem and if anyone can tell me if there is a class action lawsuit for this mattter. | |||
| 01/18/2010 | 160000 | ||
| I was driving my 2003 ford explorer, and all of a sudden when merging onto the highway, my overdrive light started flashing, and the transmission won't shift out of 1st gear. absoultly unacceptable! an 03?! please! | |||
| 04/01/2008 | 54655 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the vehicle experienced difficulty changing gears while driving at any speed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was then taken to an independent repair shop where the transmission was rebuilt. approximately 3 years later the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where the transmission was again rebuilt. the failure mileage was 54,655 and the current mileage was 111,260. sm. | |||
| 01/18/2010 | 160000 | ||
| I was driving my 2003 ford explorer, and all of a sudden when merging onto the highway, my overdrive light started flashing, and the transmission won't shift out of 1st gear. absoultly unacceptable! an 03?! please! | |||
| 04/01/2008 | 54655 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the vehicle experienced difficulty changing gears while driving at any speed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was then taken to an independent repair shop where the transmission was rebuilt. approximately 3 years later the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where the transmission was again rebuilt. the failure mileage was 54,655 and the current mileage was 111,260. sm. | |||
| 01/18/2010 | 160000 | ||
| I was driving my 2003 ford explorer, and all of a sudden when merging onto the highway, my overdrive light started flashing, and the transmission won't shift out of 1st gear. absoultly unacceptable! an 03?! please! | |||
| 04/01/2008 | 54655 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the vehicle experienced difficulty changing gears while driving at any speed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was then taken to an independent repair shop where the transmission was rebuilt. approximately 3 years later the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where the transmission was again rebuilt. the failure mileage was 54,655 and the current mileage was 111,260. sm. | |||
| 01/18/2010 | 160000 | ||
| I was driving my 2003 ford explorer, and all of a sudden when merging onto the highway, my overdrive light started flashing, and the transmission won't shift out of 1st gear. absoultly unacceptable! an 03?! please! | |||
| 04/01/2008 | 54655 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the vehicle experienced difficulty changing gears while driving at any speed. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was told the transmission needed to be replaced. the vehicle was then taken to an independent repair shop where the transmission was rebuilt. approximately 3 years later the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where the transmission was again rebuilt. the failure mileage was 54,655 and the current mileage was 111,260. sm. | |||
| 01/09/2011 | |||
| Some sort of transmission failure dealing with the shifting solenoid. this leads to sporadic shifting between the lower gears. this lead to very hard driving in slow and icy conditions. the car would be at such high rpms at slow speeds such as 20-30 mph that the car would loose traction, so far i have had no accedents with this problem but the potential is very apparent. | |||
| 01/08/2011 | 124999 | ||
| Service engine light appeared, then the od (overdrive) light began flashing. then the explorer had difficulty accelerating. the engine was running higher rpms than usual, especially when accelerating from 0 to 30mph. i took the explorer to the ford dealer where the explorer was purchased and exclusively serviced since when i bought it new in july 2003. they would not acknowledge that this is a persistent problem with 2003 explorers. they told me that i have no 2nd or 5th gears, int. servo failed and case bore damaged. they want over $3,600 to repair (and that, they say is a discount!). i then took it to a transmission shop, who was well aware of this problem and there were 2 other explorers currently there being repaired for the same thing. an investigation needs to be done for a recall. this is a safety issue and a consumer rip-off! | |||
| 01/01/2011 | 70000 | ||
| My 2003 ford explorer xlt only has 70000k and the transmission is completely in need of rebuild. it doesnt drive in reverse and doesnt go faster than 25mph without sounding as if the engine is going to fall off. it kicks back while attempting to change gears and the rpm is working hard with the truck going nowhere fast. i cant afford to repair the problem as im still making monthly payments on it. this should not be happening with an eight year old vehicle. this little bit of information on how there is no dipstick to check the transmission fluid should have been revealed at time of purchase i think. | |||
| 01/08/2011 | 124999 | ||
| Service engine light appeared, then the od (overdrive) light began flashing. then the explorer had difficulty accelerating. the engine was running higher rpms than usual, especially when accelerating from 0 to 30mph. i took the explorer to the ford dealer where the explorer was purchased and exclusively serviced since when i bought it new in july 2003. they would not acknowledge that this is a persistent problem with 2003 explorers. they told me that i have no 2nd or 5th gears, int. servo failed and case bore damaged. they want over $3,600 to repair (and that, they say is a discount!). i then took it to a transmission shop, who was well aware of this problem and there were 2 other explorers currently there being repaired for the same thing. an investigation needs to be done for a recall. this is a safety issue and a consumer rip-off! | |||
| 01/01/2011 | 70000 | ||
| My 2003 ford explorer xlt only has 70000k and the transmission is completely in need of rebuild. it doesnt drive in reverse and doesnt go faster than 25mph without sounding as if the engine is going to fall off. it kicks back while attempting to change gears and the rpm is working hard with the truck going nowhere fast. i cant afford to repair the problem as im still making monthly payments on it. this should not be happening with an eight year old vehicle. this little bit of information on how there is no dipstick to check the transmission fluid should have been revealed at time of purchase i think. | |||
| 01/08/2011 | 124999 | ||
| Service engine light appeared, then the od (overdrive) light began flashing. then the explorer had difficulty accelerating. the engine was running higher rpms than usual, especially when accelerating from 0 to 30mph. i took the explorer to the ford dealer where the explorer was purchased and exclusively serviced since when i bought it new in july 2003. they would not acknowledge that this is a persistent problem with 2003 explorers. they told me that i have no 2nd or 5th gears, int. servo failed and case bore damaged. they want over $3,600 to repair (and that, they say is a discount!). i then took it to a transmission shop, who was well aware of this problem and there were 2 other explorers currently there being repaired for the same thing. an investigation needs to be done for a recall. this is a safety issue and a consumer rip-off! | |||
| 01/01/2011 | 70000 | ||
| My 2003 ford explorer xlt only has 70000k and the transmission is completely in need of rebuild. it doesnt drive in reverse and doesnt go faster than 25mph without sounding as if the engine is going to fall off. it kicks back while attempting to change gears and the rpm is working hard with the truck going nowhere fast. i cant afford to repair the problem as im still making monthly payments on it. this should not be happening with an eight year old vehicle. this little bit of information on how there is no dipstick to check the transmission fluid should have been revealed at time of purchase i think. | |||
| 01/08/2011 | 124999 | ||
| Service engine light appeared, then the od (overdrive) light began flashing. then the explorer had difficulty accelerating. the engine was running higher rpms than usual, especially when accelerating from 0 to 30mph. i took the explorer to the ford dealer where the explorer was purchased and exclusively serviced since when i bought it new in july 2003. they would not acknowledge that this is a persistent problem with 2003 explorers. they told me that i have no 2nd or 5th gears, int. servo failed and case bore damaged. they want over $3,600 to repair (and that, they say is a discount!). i then took it to a transmission shop, who was well aware of this problem and there were 2 other explorers currently there being repaired for the same thing. an investigation needs to be done for a recall. this is a safety issue and a consumer rip-off! | |||
| 01/01/2011 | 70000 | ||
| My 2003 ford explorer xlt only has 70000k and the transmission is completely in need of rebuild. it doesnt drive in reverse and doesnt go faster than 25mph without sounding as if the engine is going to fall off. it kicks back while attempting to change gears and the rpm is working hard with the truck going nowhere fast. i cant afford to repair the problem as im still making monthly payments on it. this should not be happening with an eight year old vehicle. this little bit of information on how there is no dipstick to check the transmission fluid should have been revealed at time of purchase i think. | |||
| 12/31/2010 | 62000 | ||
| Od (overdrive) light blinking in dash. then service engine soon light on on 12-31-10. higher rpm's in engine then usual, to shift gears in automatic tranmission. trans having thumping sounding when placed into park, drive or reverse. broken servo sidearm inside transmission.. vehicle only has 62,000 miles on it. taken to local tranmission shop. estimate of $1,475 to fix | |||
| 01/01/2011 | 70000 | ||
| My 2003 ford explorer xlt only has 70000k and the transmission is completely in need of rebuild. it doesnt drive in reverse and doesnt go faster than 25mph without sounding as if the engine is going to fall off. it kicks back while attempting to change gears and the rpm is working hard with the truck going nowhere fast. i cant afford to repair the problem as im still making monthly payments on it. this should not be happening with an eight year old vehicle. this little bit of information on how there is no dipstick to check the transmission fluid should have been revealed at time of purchase i think. | |||
| 12/31/2010 | 62000 | ||
| Od (overdrive) light blinking in dash. then service engine soon light on on 12-31-10. higher rpm's in engine then usual, to shift gears in automatic tranmission. trans having thumping sounding when placed into park, drive or reverse. broken servo sidearm inside transmission.. vehicle only has 62,000 miles on it. taken to local tranmission shop. estimate of $1,475 to fix | |||
| 02/12/2010 | 140000 | ||
| Problems with the rear panel cracking up, being replaced twice, still cracked again, also the transmission not able to check it during a trip unless you go under the truck, last thing the brake light switch sticking causing to drain battery and not able to order part because the manual are wrong. | |||
| 12/06/2010 | 104000 | ||
| O/d off light blinks on dashboard and vehicle shifts hard. was advised that transmission rebuild was necessary. | |||
| 11/22/2010 | 84090 | ||
| 2003 ford explorer 5r55-w transmission failure wherein the internal linkages, servo valve and bearings failed at startup, rendering the vehicle unmovable under it's own power and stranding the driver. | |||
| 12/06/2010 | 104000 | ||
| O/d off light blinks on dashboard and vehicle shifts hard. was advised that transmission rebuild was necessary. | |||
| 11/22/2010 | 84090 | ||
| 2003 ford explorer 5r55-w transmission failure wherein the internal linkages, servo valve and bearings failed at startup, rendering the vehicle unmovable under it's own power and stranding the driver. | |||
| 12/06/2010 | 104000 | ||
| O/d off light blinks on dashboard and vehicle shifts hard. was advised that transmission rebuild was necessary. | |||
| 11/22/2010 | 84090 | ||
| 2003 ford explorer 5r55-w transmission failure wherein the internal linkages, servo valve and bearings failed at startup, rendering the vehicle unmovable under it's own power and stranding the driver. | |||
| 10/06/2010 | 85245 | ||
| I sent a letter of complaint to ford regarding my situation with my transmission failing on me and the local ford dealer charging me $4,300 since my car is no longer under warranty. i truly hope that ford gets their act together and addresses this issues as i'm seeing more and more complaints pop-up everywhere regarding this. poor excuse!!! dear valued customer, thank you for contacting the ford motor company customer relationship center inquiring for any recalls on your 2003 ford explorer. i sincerely understand the frustration that this transmission concern on your vehicle has brought you. please be informed that ford motor company is working with the national highway traffic and safety administration (nhtsa) to proactively identify areas of concern through investigation of consumer and dealership feedback. if a concern is noted, a recall is conducted to remedy a safety or emissions concern in the interest of customer satisfaction and environmental responsibility. thus, i have reviewed if any available coverages or programs may provide assistance towards your vehicle repair. after extensively reviewing your situation, i regret to inform you that there are no recalls, warranties or other coverages available that may cover the repair on your vehicle. while this is so, i would like to thank you for taking the time to bring your concern into our attention as this is definitely something we can build on. if a program is announced on a specific component and/or for the transmission concern on your vehicle, ford will notify you by mail. i appreciate the fact that you are a loyal ford customer and hope that we might have the opportunity in the future to assist you with a more favorable resolution to keep your confidence in our products and services. if you have any other inquiries and/or concerns that need to be addressed, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist a valued customer like yourself. sincerely, customer relationship center | |||
| 10/28/2010 | 62000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer . the contact stated that while driving 30 mph when the rpms went up to 405 and the over drive light illuminated as well. the contact pulled over and started it back up and it occurred once again . the dealer was informed about the failure and they stated that the bands in the transmission are shot and will have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 62000 and the current mileage was 62010.cv | |||
| 09/20/2010 | 153000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt. while driving the over drive light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the garage diagnosed located the failure at the transmission solenoid. the manufacturer was contacted they advised the failure didn't have a recall. the vehicle will be repaired. the failure mileage was 153,000 the current mileage was 153,300. li | |||
| 03/25/2010 | 135000 | ||
| There have been multiple problems with my 2003 ford explorer since i bought it brand new in august of 2003. but ironically they have all appeared after the warrently had expired. in september 2007 the air conditioning unit no longer worked. it cost me $2000 and a week without a car, to get it fixed. in august 2009 the passenger door window would no longer work. in september 2009 my suv started making a clicking sound when turning on the heater. since we lived in a warm climate this did not concern us much, as the heat had worked even with the clicking sound. but we moved to a colder climage and the heater went out in march 2010. in april 2010 the service engine light came on. after speaking with the mechanic, he said it was a transmission problem that occured when the car shifted from 1st to 2nd gear and from 4th to 5th gear. he could not give me any more infomration and was not willing to fix my transmission problem (he suggested i go elsewhere because he was not an expert in transmissions). in may 2010 the o/d light started flashing off. after speaking to mechanic again, he said it was retlated to the transmission problem. in august 2010 the door adjar light started coming on randomly, even when the door is not open. and in september 2010, i noticed my abs light will come on randomly. it does not appear to be triggered by any specific reason, and does not always come on. | |||
| 09/20/2010 | 153000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt. while driving the over drive light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the garage diagnosed located the failure at the transmission solenoid. the manufacturer was contacted they advised the failure didn't have a recall. the vehicle will be repaired. the failure mileage was 153,000 the current mileage was 153,300. li | |||
| 03/25/2010 | 135000 | ||
| There have been multiple problems with my 2003 ford explorer since i bought it brand new in august of 2003. but ironically they have all appeared after the warrently had expired. in september 2007 the air conditioning unit no longer worked. it cost me $2000 and a week without a car, to get it fixed. in august 2009 the passenger door window would no longer work. in september 2009 my suv started making a clicking sound when turning on the heater. since we lived in a warm climate this did not concern us much, as the heat had worked even with the clicking sound. but we moved to a colder climage and the heater went out in march 2010. in april 2010 the service engine light came on. after speaking with the mechanic, he said it was a transmission problem that occured when the car shifted from 1st to 2nd gear and from 4th to 5th gear. he could not give me any more infomration and was not willing to fix my transmission problem (he suggested i go elsewhere because he was not an expert in transmissions). in may 2010 the o/d light started flashing off. after speaking to mechanic again, he said it was retlated to the transmission problem. in august 2010 the door adjar light started coming on randomly, even when the door is not open. and in september 2010, i noticed my abs light will come on randomly. it does not appear to be triggered by any specific reason, and does not always come on. | |||
| 09/20/2010 | 153000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt. while driving the over drive light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the garage diagnosed located the failure at the transmission solenoid. the manufacturer was contacted they advised the failure didn't have a recall. the vehicle will be repaired. the failure mileage was 153,000 the current mileage was 153,300. li | |||
| 03/25/2010 | 135000 | ||
| There have been multiple problems with my 2003 ford explorer since i bought it brand new in august of 2003. but ironically they have all appeared after the warrently had expired. in september 2007 the air conditioning unit no longer worked. it cost me $2000 and a week without a car, to get it fixed. in august 2009 the passenger door window would no longer work. in september 2009 my suv started making a clicking sound when turning on the heater. since we lived in a warm climate this did not concern us much, as the heat had worked even with the clicking sound. but we moved to a colder climage and the heater went out in march 2010. in april 2010 the service engine light came on. after speaking with the mechanic, he said it was a transmission problem that occured when the car shifted from 1st to 2nd gear and from 4th to 5th gear. he could not give me any more infomration and was not willing to fix my transmission problem (he suggested i go elsewhere because he was not an expert in transmissions). in may 2010 the o/d light started flashing off. after speaking to mechanic again, he said it was retlated to the transmission problem. in august 2010 the door adjar light started coming on randomly, even when the door is not open. and in september 2010, i noticed my abs light will come on randomly. it does not appear to be triggered by any specific reason, and does not always come on. | |||
| 09/20/2010 | 153000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt. while driving the over drive light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the garage diagnosed located the failure at the transmission solenoid. the manufacturer was contacted they advised the failure didn't have a recall. the vehicle will be repaired. the failure mileage was 153,000 the current mileage was 153,300. li | |||
| 03/25/2010 | 135000 | ||
| There have been multiple problems with my 2003 ford explorer since i bought it brand new in august of 2003. but ironically they have all appeared after the warrently had expired. in september 2007 the air conditioning unit no longer worked. it cost me $2000 and a week without a car, to get it fixed. in august 2009 the passenger door window would no longer work. in september 2009 my suv started making a clicking sound when turning on the heater. since we lived in a warm climate this did not concern us much, as the heat had worked even with the clicking sound. but we moved to a colder climage and the heater went out in march 2010. in april 2010 the service engine light came on. after speaking with the mechanic, he said it was a transmission problem that occured when the car shifted from 1st to 2nd gear and from 4th to 5th gear. he could not give me any more infomration and was not willing to fix my transmission problem (he suggested i go elsewhere because he was not an expert in transmissions). in may 2010 the o/d light started flashing off. after speaking to mechanic again, he said it was retlated to the transmission problem. in august 2010 the door adjar light started coming on randomly, even when the door is not open. and in september 2010, i noticed my abs light will come on randomly. it does not appear to be triggered by any specific reason, and does not always come on. | |||
| 01/10/2010 | 98000 | ||
| O/d light began flashing and transmission started to slip from 2nd t 3rd gear. had the trans solenoid pack replaced which helped for awhile but problem came back after a month or so. took it to repair shop again and this time they said it's the 4th and 5th gear servos. | |||
| 09/04/2010 | 74000 | ||
| 2003 ford explorer with 74,000 miles on it - o/d light began flashing. around the same time i noticed that when going from a stop to a start it would take a long time to shift into gear. took it into the mechanic - suggested a new transmission for $4100!!! for a car that has less than 100,000 miles this is ridiculous. | |||
| 08/24/2010 | 115304 | ||
| With no warning, while driving my 2003 explorer yesterday, the o/d off light comes on then the check transmission light also comes on. after that i notice the shifting of gears feels really weird. it shifts slower and harder when it shifts. i cannot drive the car because it is unsafe for me and my 2 young children. the repair shop says i need a new transmission which will cost me $2000 that i dont have, to put into a vehicle i am still paying on. if i continue to drive it with the transmission the way it is now, it could lock up and make me stop in the middle of the road, and possible get myself and others seriously injured or killed. this seems to be a problem with this make, model and year vehicle that i have, but i didnt not know that until i began doing research when it messed up yesterday. | |||
| 03/09/2009 | 86000 | ||
| The transmissions is failing in 2nd and 5th gear. it occurs everyday and you can not accelerate without it sticking in a higher gear, making it difficult to stop safely. | |||
| 08/24/2010 | 115304 | ||
| With no warning, while driving my 2003 explorer yesterday, the o/d off light comes on then the check transmission light also comes on. after that i notice the shifting of gears feels really weird. it shifts slower and harder when it shifts. i cannot drive the car because it is unsafe for me and my 2 young children. the repair shop says i need a new transmission which will cost me $2000 that i dont have, to put into a vehicle i am still paying on. if i continue to drive it with the transmission the way it is now, it could lock up and make me stop in the middle of the road, and possible get myself and others seriously injured or killed. this seems to be a problem with this make, model and year vehicle that i have, but i didnt not know that until i began doing research when it messed up yesterday. | |||
| 03/09/2009 | 86000 | ||
| The transmissions is failing in 2nd and 5th gear. it occurs everyday and you can not accelerate without it sticking in a higher gear, making it difficult to stop safely. | |||
| 08/24/2010 | 115304 | ||
| With no warning, while driving my 2003 explorer yesterday, the o/d off light comes on then the check transmission light also comes on. after that i notice the shifting of gears feels really weird. it shifts slower and harder when it shifts. i cannot drive the car because it is unsafe for me and my 2 young children. the repair shop says i need a new transmission which will cost me $2000 that i dont have, to put into a vehicle i am still paying on. if i continue to drive it with the transmission the way it is now, it could lock up and make me stop in the middle of the road, and possible get myself and others seriously injured or killed. this seems to be a problem with this make, model and year vehicle that i have, but i didnt not know that until i began doing research when it messed up yesterday. | |||
| 03/09/2009 | 86000 | ||
| The transmissions is failing in 2nd and 5th gear. it occurs everyday and you can not accelerate without it sticking in a higher gear, making it difficult to stop safely. | |||
| 08/12/2010 | 158000 | ||
| I own a 2003 ford explorer-4.6 literr v8 4 wheel drive, the vehicle has 158,ooo miles and have experinced the sparkplug blowout while driving home from work. i was traveling on a busy state road when the engine miss fired and then heard a loud pop and the engine went to missing bad. i immediately pulled to the side and and checked to see what was happening. i limped the vehicle into a parking lot and proceeded to reinstall the plug and coil pack. the forcing push of the plug broke the coil pack and tore the plug boot. i just replaced the the coil pack and plug boot assembly and reinstalled the plug bck in. i feel that this issue is common on the 4.6 liters, a friend and shadetree mechaanic did a motor swap in an expedition with this same motor for the same reason cause the plug in cylinder #4(passenger rear) tore the threads coming out and let loose meteal into the piston journal and caused severe damage. | |||
| 08/24/2010 | 115304 | ||
| With no warning, while driving my 2003 explorer yesterday, the o/d off light comes on then the check transmission light also comes on. after that i notice the shifting of gears feels really weird. it shifts slower and harder when it shifts. i cannot drive the car because it is unsafe for me and my 2 young children. the repair shop says i need a new transmission which will cost me $2000 that i dont have, to put into a vehicle i am still paying on. if i continue to drive it with the transmission the way it is now, it could lock up and make me stop in the middle of the road, and possible get myself and others seriously injured or killed. this seems to be a problem with this make, model and year vehicle that i have, but i didnt not know that until i began doing research when it messed up yesterday. | |||
| 03/09/2009 | 86000 | ||
| The transmissions is failing in 2nd and 5th gear. it occurs everyday and you can not accelerate without it sticking in a higher gear, making it difficult to stop safely. | |||
| 08/12/2010 | 158000 | ||
| I own a 2003 ford explorer-4.6 literr v8 4 wheel drive, the vehicle has 158,ooo miles and have experinced the sparkplug blowout while driving home from work. i was traveling on a busy state road when the engine miss fired and then heard a loud pop and the engine went to missing bad. i immediately pulled to the side and and checked to see what was happening. i limped the vehicle into a parking lot and proceeded to reinstall the plug and coil pack. the forcing push of the plug broke the coil pack and tore the plug boot. i just replaced the the coil pack and plug boot assembly and reinstalled the plug bck in. i feel that this issue is common on the 4.6 liters, a friend and shadetree mechaanic did a motor swap in an expedition with this same motor for the same reason cause the plug in cylinder #4(passenger rear) tore the threads coming out and let loose meteal into the piston journal and caused severe damage. | |||
| 03/09/2009 | 86000 | ||
| The transmissions is failing in 2nd and 5th gear. it occurs everyday and you can not accelerate without it sticking in a higher gear, making it difficult to stop safely. | |||
| 08/12/2010 | 158000 | ||
| I own a 2003 ford explorer-4.6 literr v8 4 wheel drive, the vehicle has 158,ooo miles and have experinced the sparkplug blowout while driving home from work. i was traveling on a busy state road when the engine miss fired and then heard a loud pop and the engine went to missing bad. i immediately pulled to the side and and checked to see what was happening. i limped the vehicle into a parking lot and proceeded to reinstall the plug and coil pack. the forcing push of the plug broke the coil pack and tore the plug boot. i just replaced the the coil pack and plug boot assembly and reinstalled the plug bck in. i feel that this issue is common on the 4.6 liters, a friend and shadetree mechaanic did a motor swap in an expedition with this same motor for the same reason cause the plug in cylinder #4(passenger rear) tore the threads coming out and let loose meteal into the piston journal and caused severe damage. | |||
| 05/09/2010 | 74681 | ||
| Overdrive light flashes on my 2003 ford explorer | |||
| 04/09/2010 | 135500 | ||
| I have a 2003 ford explorer that i bought brand new, it now has 135,553 miles on it. have never had problems and it actually drives very well, but the o/d off light started flashing. took it to the ford dealer 3 days later, was told the torque converter needed to be replaced at a cost of $1,225.00. the dealer has told me that the torque converter has been replaced twice, the o/d off light still flashing and after further diagnostics they have now determined the computer needs to be replaced at a cost of an additional $1,325.00. according to the internet this is a persistent problem that ford has yet to do anything about. it should be a recall issue | |||
| 05/20/2007 | 83000 | ||
| Steering colom.. hard to shift into park | |||
| 10/01/2007 | 67000 | ||
| Transmission started slipping and taking a long time going into gear and jerking into gear since around 67000 miles. it now has over 91000 miles and keeps getting worse. the transmission shop told me that this is common with this model explorer. | |||
| 03/10/2010 | 104900 | 1 | |
| Ford 2003 explorer overdrive light flashing and service engine soon light on. brought in for service to be told ford has this problem but they've done nothing about it. could break down on street and strand motorist. now i have to replace transmission. i feel my families safety was jeopardized by fords neglect. *tr | |||
| 03/08/2010 | 80100 | 1 | |
| The o/d light is flashing on the dashboard,service engine light comes on and when i accelerate the transmission shifts rough,ford says it is not a common problem,but i have visited several sites today with complaints from other consumers,all makes,all models of ford trucks and suvs. i have 2003 ford explorer .the vehicle just went over 80,000 mile. *tr | |||
| 02/17/2010 | 79000 | 1 | |
| Over drive light is blinking; transmission is revving high.. only has 79,000 on it! *tr | |||
| 01/23/2010 | 113059 | ||
| 2003 o/d light blinking, service engine light soon light turned on. transmission problems detected. lots of fords transmissions seem to have flaws need to force a recall.*cw | |||
| 01/22/2010 | 82000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford explorer xlt - overdrive light starting flashing and now the transmission slips when shifting from 1st to second gear. engine revs to 3200 rpms and makes a loud noise before feathering the gas to get the transmission to shift into 2nd gear. vertical crack in fiberglass tailgate panel just below rear window glass. no impact to tailgate occurred-crack just appeared. *tr | |||
| 01/18/2003 | 90000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford explorer o/d off light blinking. *tr | |||
| 12/20/2009 | 70596 | 1 | |
| I own a 2003 ford explorer xlt and the o/d light constantly blinks. the transmission is sluggish shifting from 1st to 2nd and my car failed an emissions inspection due to this problem. i have read how many other people have had this very same problem even after a transmission has been repaired or replaced. hoping this problem could be recalled because this is too wide spread for it to be a consumer issue. *tr | |||
| 12/05/2009 | 110000 | 1 | |
| Driving my 2003 ford explorer on highway when gear slipped..o/d light started flashing! it needs a new transmission they say but i haven't done the repair yet. *tr | |||
| 07/13/2009 | 82549 | 1 | |
| I started noticing that my explorer was not shifting correctly and the overdrive light was staying on, along with the check engine light. i had the computer tested and it resulted in code p0775. i called ford (in bethlehem pa) and they could not get me in until the w/o 7/20. since i was leaving for vacation and needed it, i took it to bethlehem transmissions. after they fixed it rebuilt the transmission and $3309.70 later, the owner stated to me that this is a known problem with the 2003 explorers. so i called ford, who told me to take my receipt to the local dealership, that was a waste of my time b/c the service manager was rude, and didn't care about the problem. my truck only had 82,000 miles on. i upgraded to this vehicle to not have problems. well, i received no satisfaction with ford, so i am now coming to you. there are no recalls, but this needs to be taken care of, i should not have had to spend that amount of money to fix a known problem with this model. the tsi for this issue is 5r55w. can someone help me? this is alot of money and i think ford should be standing by their product and fix this problem. i have the complete receipt for the repair, but i do not have the old transmission. *tr | |||
| 11/28/2009 | 96000 | 1 | |
| I have noticed over the past 2 weeks the gear shift lever getting harder to move from park to reverse and vise-versa. now, the steering column mounted gear selector (prnd321) at times won't come out of park. i have to play with the gear select lever/brake pedal in order to get the interface to release. i haven't as yet taken the vehicle to my mechanic for repairs. *tr | |||
| 11/16/2009 | 118000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford explorer xls awd - driving on highway, vehicle begins vibrating excessively. o/d off light flashes, service engine soon light comes on. transmission bad. $3000 to replace. *tr | |||
| 09/16/2009 | 78000 | 1 | |
| Overdrive light came on as well as the check engine light the vehicle had been running fine, then the gears would not shift, we were on interstate 70 eastbound between wheeling wv and washington pa traveling at 65 mph in heavy traffic. the vehicle began to slow without warning we were nearly hit by a tractor trailer that had been following us! we searched the internet to see if this had happened to anyone else and lo and behold hundreds of complaints were listed on numerous sites, the vehicle is now at the transmission shop and before its all done it will cost at least $2300 to repair as the transmission went all at once with no warning at all! there is no way for the diy mechanic to check the transmission fluid as the transmission is completely sealed (no dipstick) so i guess i am grateful that the truck driver was able to swerve enough to not hit us or ford would be directly responsible for our deaths! *tr | |||
| 07/17/2009 | 58000 | 1 | |
| Add to the pile. we have a ford explorer limited, 2003 built 2004 model. i have had the rear differential repaired at my cost but the car still kicks when put into reverse. we live in australia. i have been told to have two additives put into the transmission fluid and replace the solenoid. the additives are not even available from ford in australia. they sell it but no parts. amazing. i even had to source the parts for the rear diff myself from the u.s. ford australia could not give a price, date etc. they took the money but did not warn anyone about the fact that you are driving a time bomb. we bought this car used from a ford dealer. i only wish there was a way to prove they knew and did not disclose. it would be an interesting class action against the dealers if ford will not take responsibility. i just want to get rid of it but can't in clear conscience dump it on some other poor bugger. this car has suffered from every problem from flashing abs to diff to transmission. the last time the transmission slipped the car rolled. luckily no one was in front of the car considering it was put into reverse. *tr | |||
| 07/12/2009 | 83000 | 1 | |
| The transmission started not shifting properly and the o/d light started flashing. check engine came on. took 2003 ford explorer to get checked by ford dealership. result: transmission failed and required replacing. ford explorer only had 83,000 miles. $3,000 dollars to replace. told that it was a common problem among ford explorers. *tr | |||
| 05/24/2008 | 48000 | 1 | |
| I bought my 2003 explorer in 2002 at 110 miles. within the 3 year warranty the air conditioning had a urine smell and knocking noise in the rear but they didn't want to fix it. as a result i have a slow leak which means it has to be charged every year. in feb 2007 a crack formed in the rear panel they didn't want to fix. october 2007 at 45000 miles i needed wheel bearings for inspection. at 48000 miles when i paid my truck off may 2008, within a few days the 0/d light & service engine soon light came on resulting in my gears slipping. i found out through several shops that my 2nd and fifth gears were burned out. the dealership said the solenoid body, then has to go in to check for more. i filed a complaint with the attorney general because i had no extended warranty which was a waste of time because ford wasn't cooperating. so now it's june 2009 and i'm still driving it a whole year later because i can't afford to get it fixed. i learned how to drive the truck but i'm reminded everyday about the problems. park to reverse is a struggle, it doesn't start easily sometimes, it has no power while driving, abs and door ajar lights stay on, and reverse alarm when to close doesn't work, and instead of being happy i paid it off it's nothing but a feeling of frustration, anger, and regret for buying from ford. *tr | |||
| 06/10/2009 | 45000 | 1 | |
| My 2003 ford explorer sometimes will lock the shifter at reverse as i move it to park. it feels like it went all the way to park, but it really stops (and won't move) at reverse. letting off the brake, assuming it is in park, causes the vehicle to roll backwards. *tr | |||
| 06/11/2009 | 87993 | 1 | |
| Today i got in my ford explorer and noticed that my overdrive light was flashing. so, pulled over to see what the owners manual says and soon right after the engine light comes on..i then look through the manual and it indicates that if these lights were to come on please take it to service asap. i did the following and took the suv to pep boys. i described my problem to the service manager and he said please don't tell me it's a ford explorer....i hesitated and looked at him with a puzzled look on my face and said yes. why ? i said. well ford explorers are known for this problem and that i should check to see if there are any recalls. i then went to fords website and followed the directions on how to check for any recalls on your vehicle and entered my vin# and got back no recalls on this vehicle. with all these complaints and consumers crying about this problem how can we allow a car giant like ford to get away with this manufacturing problem? at least they should have the decency to inform you that there cars have been known for having transmission problems dating back to 1995. the list of people with the same problem that i have was rude awakening and very disturbing to see. we need a resolution to this problem regardless of what it takes. please contact me directly if you need to. *tr | |||
| 09/20/2006 | 50000 | 1 | |
| The passenger side airbag warning light comes on intermittently for no reason (has since i bought it used in 2006). the door ajar warning light comes on and won't allow me to lock/set my alarm on my vehicle plus it leaves the interior lights on for a while (started about 6 months ago). i am now experiencing a banging sound under the hood when i change the temperature (heat or air conditioning)(started in last 4 months). i have to turn the fan on high to get it to stop. it will do it even if the temp is off sometimes. it also will not lock into gear when put into park on an incline (my driveway)...without rocking backwards into gear(started in the last 6 months). *tr | |||
| 05/11/2003 | 1 | ||
| I have a 2003 ford explorer. i recently was pulling out of my garage when i realized i needed to check and see if i had my glove and shoes in the back for my softball game. i put my car in park and popped the trunk, when i got out of my car the car kicked back into reverse and started to roll. luckily the door caught on the garage door and bent it, but no one was hurt. clearly, the transmission kicked back into reverse without me doing it. this is not the first item i have noticed something 'screwy' like this with my car, it has been acting up a time or two before. *tr | |||
| 04/26/2009 | 26577 | 1 | |
| Ii purchased a 2003 explorer, 2-11-03. kept having problems shifting out of reverse, and finally, 3-8-04, and again, 9-13-04, and was told by dealer the problem was not valid, and would eventually go away, with no damage to vehicle. i continued to have problems, on and off, and now have over 89,000 miles on vehicle, and it is happening more and more. sometimes, i have to continue cutting the engine off, restart, and keep trying to get the transmission to shift out of reverse. i have never received any recall notice regarding the transmission, either from ford, or dempewolf, the dealer. this does not happen all the time, but, enough to make me nervous that one day it might not back up at all. when it does shift, the force almost throw me out of the seat. it is a scary situation. i always took my vehicle to dempwolf for servicing, and to try and get the transmission problem rectified. i have my maintenance receipts, all of them! *tr | |||
| 04/01/2007 | 52000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2003 ford explorer. i just read the article in the paper regarding transmission hazards. i can honestly say i do believe these suv's do have a problem with transmission slipping in and out of gear on there own. i have several incidents where mine has done it. one time i had put my car in reverse and it jumped forward and i actually ran over the curb in front of me but the gear shift was in reverse. there is problems regarding this suv. i took the car back to carmax where i purchased it from but it still does it. the car is out of warranty now. it will do it randomly. i don't know the reason but i do think it is a safety issue that needs to be investigated. *tr | |||
| 12/31/2008 | 1 | ||
| Was driving to work and trans started slipping. o/d light started blinking and then next day check engine light came on. took it to a dealer who told me i need to either rebuild my trans for $3200 or put in a rebuilt from ford for over $4000 which would give me a 100k mile warranty, 64k more than the brand new one that was in the car when i bought it. car had 74,500 miles on it but was less than 3 weeks over the 5 year/ 75k extended warranty i purchased from ford. i called the customer relationship number and the warranty people numerous times and no one offered any help. i even offered to by a new ford if they would give me a fair trade on my old one, it seemed as if after driving ford's for the past 8 years they did not want me as customer any longer. i took it to an independent shop and fixed it for $2000 and i just traded it for a new nissan pathfinder which cost me less, has more power and gets better gas mileage. i am happy to say i have owned my last ford. *tr | |||
| 04/12/2009 | 98000 | 1 | |
| We were driving the vehicle from wi to mn and the overdrive light was flashing and the ford explorer was not shifting correctly and a few times was stuck at 50+ mph even though the cruise control was not on. we returned to our home and took the 2003 ford explorer in to a repair shop who said the report indicated that the transmission needs to be replaced. the design of the transmission on these vehicles doesn't allow the owner to check fluid levels. it felt like a very dangerous situation with children in the car and the vehicle not shifting correctly and actually revving and staying at 50+ mph while the cruise was not on. *tr | |||
| 04/03/2008 | 72000 | 1 | |
| I was driving my 2003 ford explorer on the highway and suddenly the overdrive light came on and began flashing. i brought it in to get checked and was told it is a transmission problem. supposedly need to change the torque converter. i am not the first and afraid that i won;t be the last with this problem. this needs to be addressed! *tr | |||
| 03/15/2009 | 69349 | 1 | |
| Three days ago i get into my truck and start to drive down the road and my truck doesn't shift into gears. then when it finally did it jerked really hard and i bout went into a ditch. then the o/d light starts flashing. later that day the check engine light comes on. i try to check the transmission fluid level but you can't in this transmission. when i google this problem i find all these people with the same problem i have. the transmission is going out on my truck and it only has 69,000 on it. i owned an older model explorer and had to replace the transmission two times in it. this is an on going problem ford has with these vehicles and they aren't doing anything to help their customers fix it or fix it themselves. i think this being such a common occurrence with ford explorers that ford should do something about it. this is a major safety issue considering you never know when your transmission is going to go out driving down the road. i hope that you can find some solution to this problem. *tr | |||
| 12/29/2008 | 89000 | 1 | |
| Had to replace wire harness to transmission after 85,000 miles now the overdrive service engine light always flashing. *tr | |||
| 01/11/2008 | 124000 | 1 | |
| Just had transmission serviced last week. now o/d light is flashing and check transmission light is coming on. see by internet this is a well known problems with the fords. *tr | |||
| 06/30/2003 | 35998 | 1 | |
| I put the date of incident as the date i purchased the vehicle. i put this date as such because ever since i purchased this vehicle, we have had nothing but run arounds by the service providers and constant repairs every 3-7 months since i purchased the vehicle. the first major repair occurred when i had owned the vehicle for 18 months, at 35,998. it had an $1800 transmission job. subsequent repairs have been focused transmission issues (always something slightly different than previous), engine function, and other mechanical issues. an extended warranty was purchased, but due to the parameters of the warranty, all issues were not fixed because they were not able to be duplicated, (i.e. an intermittent transmission issue that had been occurring for 30,000 miles). now that we are out of our warranty vehicle, we have an overpriced vehicle that is still owed on that will continue to need significant repairs. the most recent issue is the heating element, including the actuator and blend door function. this faulty piece will fail in the cold position. this causes a safety issue because you are faced with a repair that you may not be able afford (since they can run up to $1200) and having heat in the winter. with the current auto industry having the issues they are, they need to begin to make quality vehicles that aren't made to break just to get more money out of customers. to have continued customers, a company must have a consistent product that people can trust. the current american auto industry does not have that. *tr | |||
| 12/07/2008 | 58000 | 1 | |
| The transmission in our 2003 ford explorer failed and needed to be replaced after only 58,000 miles. from what i've been reading, it seems as though others have had similar problems with 2003 explorers and i wanted to document the problem we had. i contacted ford and was told they were unaware of any problem with the transmission and they refused any help. *tr | |||
| 10/30/2008 | 83998 | 1 | |
| I noticed my transmission slipping around 27 oct 29th 2008, took it to a ford dealership for what i presumed was perhaps a needed transmission flush, the service manger told me that i had a transmission problem and that the transmission can go at any time, two days, two months or two years, took the vehicle home that night, the transmission failed to engage, had the vehicle towed to aamco for a free diagnostic, was told that the transmission is gone and would have to be rebuilt at a cost ranging from 2500 to 3500, i then called fords national number told them that i am a (4) time explorer owner and ask if there is any help or assistance that i can receive form ford, i was told that ford will honor any price assistance given to me by any local ford dealership to repair my transmission, i called my local dealership and told them what national had told me, they said that they would repair the transmission for $2200 out of the door, later that day that number was reduced to $1900, i told aamco to please move my vehicle to the designated ford dealership, after about 5 days i received a call from the dealership telling me that the vehicle is finished and was test driven and everything was ok,, then it was test driven again later that day and a problem was discovered and now the valve body would have to be replaced at a cost of an additional $400.00. i got my vehicle back then after about 10 days i noticed that the transmission was slipping again and there was leak spots on my driveway, i took it back to the dealer and was told that some seal in the transmission is leaking, however it is under warranty, but i should replace some sort of pump within the transmission for and additional $300.....this is the classic bait and switch, they are the professional and should be competent and experienced enough to diagnose and fix a transmission. the $1900 is now $ 2600; i am done with ford after over 15 years of loyalty. *tr | |||
| 10/01/2008 | 155000 | 1 | |
| O/d light began blinking, later abs light on. aamco said tranny was going out...probably torque converter but could be seal. recommended junk yard tranny. he said that ford had all kind of trouble with this transmission. *tr | |||
| 09/22/2008 | 84000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2003 4wd 4.0 6 cyl. ford explorer with 84,000 miles on it. my over drive light starts flashing and the transmission is slipping. i have just seen online hundreds of people with the exact same problem and ford is not recalling or doing anything to help with repairs. *tr | |||
| 10/02/2008 | 124000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford explorer purchased new. out of the blue check transmission and o/d off light starts flashing. at dealership now for repair estimate. while researching on the internet i was amazed to see the number of identical complaints for the exact problem on the exact same car. i spoke with ford today & they told me sorry and to have a good day. i am mortified at the problem and the lack of assistance ford is willing to provide with this obviously large spread problem. *tr | |||
| 10/20/2006 | 50000 | 1 | |
| I purchased a 2003 explorer in august 2006; mileage was approximately 45,000. by october the car would not start and the alternator was replaced. a few weeks later, i was back because my car was jerking. nothing showed up on the diagnostic tool at that time. however, i was told the starter would have to be replaced as would the recently installed alternator. i returned less than a month later with the same jerking issue, only this time i notified the repair shop that the o/d light had been coming on. furthermore, my car had actually stalled in the middle of traffic. again, nothing was found. by early december, i was back. my car had stalled on a few more occasions and would not pick up. that is, even though the rpm's would reach anywhere from 2500 - 4000, my car could not accelerate above 25 - 30 mph. several days later i was told that the transmission needed work. i got my car back a few days before christmas and decided last minute to head to the mountains. as soon as i reach a slight elevation, the car ceased to accelerate and what's more, a thick heavy cloud of black smoke came out of the rear and persisted for at least two miles. i headed back down the mountain for home. i took the car back and they kept it for at least a week and a half to repair the torque converter and other transmission related issue. in early fall 2007, i took the car to my local ford dealer for some strange noise coming from the engine. it ended up costing $2500.00 to repair. i returned in november for more work, this time for the same torque converter and solenoid issue as a year ago. during this two year period, my vehicle was under extended warranty. the total repair cost for the first year of ownership is anywhere from $5000 - $9000, of which i paid at least $2500 out of pocket. my warranty has since expired and i am worried that these same issues will recur, as i have read they have. this is not an isolated incident and should be investigated and a recall issued. *tr | |||
| 03/27/2008 | 86000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2003 ford explorer. i have owned it since buying it from vogler ford in carbondale, illinois. a few months ago the overdrive light began to flash all the time and it shifts hard going from 2nd to 3rd gear. i searched this problem on the internet to see if i could replace a part on it. i have read numerous complaints about these transmissions. have they recalled any faulty transmissions from ford vehicles. *tr | |||
| 11/20/2004 | 20000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the transmission frequently malfunctioned. when he would shift into reverse or drive, the vehicle would not respond. he would have to wait ten minutes for the transmission to engage or even shut off the vehicle and try again. everytime the vehicle was taken to the dealer, they could never duplicate the failure. after a diagnostic was performed, the dealer could not find any failures. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer at least 5-6 times for the failure, but was not given any explanation. the current mileage was approximately 62,000 and failure mileage was approximately 20,000. | |||
| 04/14/2008 | 80000 | 1 | |
| April 2008, o/d light started blinking & vehicle started shifting hard; took to ford dealership the next week; after computer diagnostic said i needed to replace transmission on 2003 explorer with 80,000 miles; within 2 months the vehicle was parked because the transmission was not wanting to shift into reverse regardless of weather conditions. *tr | |||
| 03/04/2008 | 44000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving 25 mph, the transmission caused the rpm's to increase from 1,000 to 4,000, followed by a loud thumping noise. the overdrive light would also remain illuminated after the malfunction. the vehicle has been diagnosed by the dealer, but still continues to fail. the failure mileage was 44,000. | |||
| 04/07/2008 | 110000 | 3 | |
| O/d light flashes transmission has trouble shifting out of 1st gear. *tr | |||
| 04/02/2008 | 90205 | 1 | 05/28/2003 |
| Driving to work from home, o/d off light began flashing and going from 1st to 2nd gear lagged. returning home that night, o/d off light began flashing and service engine soon light came on along with lagging in shifting. took to mechanic who performed transmission maintenance and replaced solenoid. this corrected service engine light, but o/d light still flashed. found filings in transmission fluid which led to replacing transmission. found forums that related similar problems with transmission. at least i got 90,000 miles before this happened. *tr | |||
| 02/26/2008 | 53300 | 5 | 02/24/2008 |
| When shifted into reverse the vehicle will intermittently slam into the gear after some time has lapsed, or other times it won't move into any gear and freezes in a neutral state, even when the shift lever is moved into drive or any other gear, for that matter. these events have occurred at least several times in the 1 month period we have owned it. purchased it from a dealer on 2/24/08 with 53,000k miles on it. it is currently in a ford dealer (1 week so far) for service, but they say they can not replicate the problem with the transmission. if i pick up the vehicle now the used vehicle warranty that came with the vehicle will expire and will not cover the problem when it does completely fail. after reading all the problems these transmissions have, it is inevitable it won't be long before that happens. hopefully, it won't be in the middle of traffic or worse yet, when driving with my grandkids somewhere. this is definitely a safety issue, as the total failure often happen with no warning. the vehicle otherwise drives great. *tr | |||
| 10/15/2007 | 120000 | 2 | 04/30/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving 30 mph, the contact heard a whining noise coming from the vehicle. the noise becomes louder as the vehicle travels faster. the whining appears to be coming from the rear suspension. the failure mileage was 120,000 and current mileage was 144,800. updated 04/14/08. *lj the consumer stated the transmission was replaced at no charge by ford at 55,000 miles due to a defect. the 4-wheel drive makes excessive noise when in gear. updated | |||
| 02/23/2008 | 78000 | 1 | 12/13/2002 |
| Transmission was fine and then it started having trouble switching from 1st to 2nd gear. next thing the od light started flashing so i decided to take it to the dealer. by the time i got there the service engine soon light came on. they did a computer check ($90 cost) on it and recommended to install a remanufactured unit for $3829. after some more research, i decided to take it to aamco. they went beyond the computer check and discovered that the 2nd servo piston was broken and the od servo piston also recommended to be replaced along with the torque converter because there have been so many problems with them. in the end, the cost will be $2043. *tr | |||
| 05/20/2006 | 40000 | 5 | 07/15/2003 |
| At 40,000 miles 4000 out of warranty, the transmission on my 2003 ford explorer catastrophically failed. no warning at all. driving down the highway, the o/d light started to flash and the car started to shift in and out of gear. my wife nursed the car home. the car had no first gear and would slam from second to third. ford confirmed this, and said the only fix was a complete transmission. 6,000 miles later, the same thing. since this was under warranty, ford said that they could replace some solenoids and that would fix it....not!! three more trips and finally a transmission that doesn't act up all the time. it still shifts funny and sometimes fails to go into gear. my wife has come close to being rear-ended numerous times, i.e. backing into the street. this is a safety issue that ford has been ignoring, read the forums. i have many other numerous complaints about this vehicle. read differential clutches going bad, keyless entry failing, door locks failing, and a window that works part-time....kinda like ford engineers. *tr | |||
| 01/18/2008 | 130000 | 4 | 12/16/2003 |
| Brand new 2003 ford explorer. replaced engine at 115 k miles and now the trans is going; specifically, the o/d light keeps flashing and it shifts badly. i've seen numerous complaints about the same thing online, while ford ignores this faulty trans. *tr | |||
| 12/01/2007 | 62000 | 1 | 08/01/2003 |
| 2003 ford explorer transmission failure at 62,000 miles. *tr | |||
| 10/20/2007 | 59500 | 1 | |
| Well maintained vehicle - and transmission only lasted 59,500miles (less than 5 years). covert ford dealer in austin, tx only money hungry. wouldn't help at all. *tr | |||
| 11/12/2007 | 57000 | 1 | 05/19/2003 |
| 2003 explorer eddie bauer 4.6l v-8 awd, transmission failed during morning commute. i hear noise, the car lost speed, and o/d off was flashing. i could barely merge the car to the far right lane and manage to get the car to the office. *tr | |||
| 10/20/2007 | 1 | ||
| I'm never buying another ford. last week the o/d light came on in my ford explorer. i drove it right home and got the manual out to see what the problem was. transmission problem was what the manual indicated, as well as several websites i reviewed. i didn't worry at first, since i figured this would be covered under warranty. my explorer is just under 5 years old and just under 60k miles. surely there would at least be a 60k power train warranty. no one would buy a vehicle if they knew the transmission would only last 59k miles. well, the dealer told me a new transmission was needed (5th and 2nd gears were worn down), that it would cost $3500, and that it is not covered by warranty. and to add insult to injury he charged me $90 to tell me the transmission was bad (something i obviously knew) - isn't this similar to stealing? i then asked him what trade in value i could get (not that i really would buy another poor quality ford, but i wanted to explore all options). $5500 is the most they could give. i laughed - since i had taken very good care of the vehicle. it told me that they didn't want the vehicle either - so much for them really standing behind their product. they know the quality is poor. obviously i was quite irritated. i asked what caused this. none of the possibilities applied since i took good care of the vehicle and had it serviced according to the maintenance manual. in fact, the dealer (cover ford in austin) did the 30k checkup. i spent $1k on that (and probably got ripped off). i took it to a transmission specialist and had it fixed for under $2500. he informed me that he sees a lot of issues like this with explorers - probably a poor design and poor quality. also, judging by various websites there are indeed lots of complains like this. *tr | |||
| 07/30/2003 | 1 | ||
| The transmission on my 2003 ford explorer failed. i'm told this is a consistent problem but ford won't stand by their product. *jb | |||
| 03/24/2007 | 58742 | 2 | 02/24/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the transmission was slipping and was difficult to shift into park. when attempting to shift the vehicle in gear it hesitated and jerked before engaging. the transmission has been repaired twice previously at 18,000 miles and 27,000 miles. the contact stated that the vehicle needed the same repair at 58,000. the failure mileage was 58,742.*ak | |||
| 03/04/2007 | 49000 | 1 | 04/04/2004 |
| 2003 ford explorer faulty transmission. *jb | |||
| 01/20/2007 | 54000 | 1 | 12/15/2002 |
| My 2003 ford explorer had transmission problems. the vehicle has only 54,000 miles. the transmission had to be complete replaced. additionally, i was surprised to find out how wide spread the issue is. in reading other complaints, the common theme is an issue with the transmission @ roughly 50,00 miles or lower. more specifically, my od light kept flashing ,not able to shift to reverse, and not being able to shift to higher gears. *jb | |||
| 01/29/2007 | 56107 | 1 | 01/15/2004 |
| 2003 ford explorer xlt vertical crack in fiberglass tailgate panel just below rear window glass no impact to tailgate occurred-crack just appeared while driving. transmission had to be rebuilt at 50000 miles. *jb | |||
| 12/22/2006 | 49550 | 1 | 12/15/2003 |
| While cruising uphill on an interstate highway at approximately 70 mph the transmission downshifted to maintain speed. after cresting the hill, the transmission would not shift back into overdrive and the overdrive light began to flash. i pulled off the highway and the truck would not shift 1-2 until approximately 4500 rpm and then would do so very harshly. when accelerating the transmission slips and does not provide full acceleration. according to my local transmission shop the repair will cost approximately $3000 and require an all new transmission. *nm | |||
| 10/01/2006 | 45734 | 1 | 11/01/2003 |
| While driving the 2003 ford explorer it started to shake causing lose of steering and brakes. the left rear wheel the came off because the lugs had unscrewed. the vehicle was taken to a dealer who determined that the front differential had blown apart from the inside out. it appeared that the damage was caused by uneven tires and the 4x4 engaging and disengaging on its own. *ts *nm | |||
| 11/20/2006 | 60234 | 1 | 05/12/2006 |
| I have a 2003 ford explorer with 60,000 miles on it. my over drive light starts flashing and the transmission is slipping. i have just seen online hundreds of people with the exact same problem and ford is not recalling or doing anything to help with repairs. i think there is a defect in the design. i also got into a car accident in may of 2006 with my 2002 explorer and it was totaled. i flipped in the vehicle twice and not one airbag deployed. *jb | |||
| 10/31/2006 | 31735 | 5 | 09/19/2003 |
| Have a 2003 ford explorer 2wd that was purchased new from local ford dealership. started having transmission concerns in early 2005, vehicles just over a year old. after taking it in to the dealership 4 times in a year, was told they couldn't verify the problem. finally, in march 2005 was told they had to tear transmission down and replace the clutch pack, on testing transmission, line pressure was low. after work performed, took back again, was having same concern, again told couldn't verify problem. had transmission serviced, after telling them i was experiencing same problem, they serviced transmission and said all was fine. in october of 2006, was heading out of town on a two lane road, when i went to pass a big rig on highway 113, just outside of woodland, as i got around big rig, and accelerated, the car wouldn't go into 3rd gear, the rpms kept racing and falling, racing and falling. i had plenty of room to pass this truck, or so i thought, until the car did what it did. i was nearly hit head on by an oncoming car because i couldn't get around the truck, due to the transmission not shifting into a higher gear. we got to woodland and immediately went to ford dealership where we were told the transmission was not serviceable, and that we would need a new transmission installed. upon returning home, and doing some research, have discovered there are hundreds of people out there that have had exact same failure of their transmissions. contacted ford motor co., and have had no result. local dealership says sorry, car is out of warranty now, it will cost around 3600.00. asked what has to happen before ford recognizes they have a problem with this transmission, and was told they didn't know. very dangerous in my opinion, to be out on a highway and have the car lose the 3rd gear, preventing you from going over about 25 miles per hour. *jb | |||
| 11/08/2006 | 43000 | 1 | 06/20/2006 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while shifting to any gear at various speeds, a noise was heard. the vehicle was driven to the dealer who determined the oil needed to be changed every month. | |||
| 10/21/2006 | 13000 | 1 | 08/01/2004 |
| Have a 2003 ford explorer eddie bauer edition. at 13,000 miles my transmission stopped working. had to tow my car to a ford dealership. their initial assessment was that my transmission was completely broken due to a factory default. they said they would have to replace my entire transmission. after 3 weeks, the dealership stated they could not find the problem, made no repairs and did not replace my transmission. they said the problem mysteriously fixed itself. now at 28,000 miles, my transmission is slipping everytime into 3rd gear, sometimes just revving instead of going and then jerking very hard into gear. ford dealership states they can't find a problem. i have heard the same complaint about ford explorers after 2002 and transmissions going out too early. ford needs to own up to the problem and recall those parts. it feels as if they are blowing me off until my warranty expires so they won't have to fix my car. i am scared driving down the highway that i will get rear ended every time my transmission slips and goes into neutral. i have had a few close calls. i am going back on monday, still trying to get them to fix my car... *nm | |||
| 08/21/2006 | 62468 | 1 | 08/28/2003 |
| 2003 ford explorer 63,000 miles od light started flashing 2 days ago. took it to ford dealership they ran a check on it and the code came up: po741-torque converter clutch solenoid inter/mechanical failure. i was told they would replace the solenoid pack and that it would be 218.00 plus labor. went to pick it up 3 hours later and was told the transmission needs to be replaced. this vehicle was bought new and should not need a transmission replaced! *nm | |||
| 04/05/2006 | 50611 | 5 | 11/23/2002 |
| Less than 2 yrs after purchase of a new 2003 ford explorer eddie bower 4x4 v8 from a dealer, the transmission started grinding and slipping. dealer service records documented my concerns and their inability/unwillingness to diagnose the problem due to the lack of a service warning light. subsequent visits with the same issue brought similar results from the dealer. warranty expired less than one year before i finally got a warning light and the news from my dealer was that it meant i needed a new transmission for just under $6500. with absolutely no help from any level of ford customer service, i had the transmission replaced for just over $3000 - obviously not by ford. *nm | |||
| 08/01/2006 | 56300 | 1 | 07/06/2003 |
| Dt:* the contact stated that the automatic transmission shuttered without warning while driving 35mph. the vehicle was inspected by the dealer who determined the fuel filter needed to be changed. a new fuel filter was installed by the problem continued to occur. the manufacturer was not contacted. | |||
| 06/29/2006 | 1 | ||
| My suv has 86791 miles its a 2003 and the transmission went.. i was driving down the highway and it stop shifting and the overdrive light kept flashing. i had to take it to the dealer and $1400.00 later its fixed.. with the ford explorer you can't change or check the transmission fluid it's in a sealed canister.. its mostly highway driving and the transmission should not have failed this soon in a vehicle....this is a poor design and ford won't even face up to it.. i also found out it is a problem not only in my car but in others.. *jb | |||
| 06/28/2006 | 12000 | 5 | 02/23/2003 |
| Hello. i have several complaints regarding my 2003 ford explorer including several safety issues. the first complaint is regarding the driver's seat which shifts routinely on acceleration and de-acceleration. this concerns me if i get into an accident and the seat malfunctions. the second complaint is regarding the gear shifter not going into park easily. i have to jiggle it to into park. i am concerned that this might not properly engage park and my vehicle might roll. thirdly, my rear lift gate trim has had to be repaired at least 3 times. i am concerned that although the dealership says there is no safety issue, there possibly could be due to the rear lift gate hinges being recalled and representative informing me that the reason that i continue to have a crack appearing is due to design flaw. this concerns me b/c i frequently utilize the lift gate to retrieve groceries and other items and do not want the window to fail and fall on my head. the remainder concerns are regarding the function of my vehicle. i have had to have 3 of the window motors replaced under warranty. the transmission has had to be fixed twice (shifting module malfunction). finally, the fuel gauge had to be repaired due to improper fuel readings. i guess all these items could be very problematic as well b/c i could run out of gas and be stranded with my child, my vehicle might not shift properly leaving me stranded. please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions. ps. i would also like to add that as i was completing this process i remembered that my vehicle had a high pitched whine that had to be repaired. i do not remember exactly what had to be repaired but it was covered under warranty. *nm | |||
| 06/01/2005 | 25000 | 1 | |
| I have had several problems with my 2003 ford explorer transmission. it clunks out of gear when letting off the gas going from second to first gear. it also seems to disengage the transmission at times as it acts like it is in neutral going from first to second on occasion. i have had it in for repair several times. the said the replaced the transmission with one that was rebuilt, but it acted the same way. i have taken it back and was now told that until it actually breaks, they will not work on the transmission any longer. *jb | |||
| 02/07/2006 | 17564 | 5 | 03/05/2003 |
| 2003 explorer - transmission goes into *neutral* when accelerating between 2nd and 3rd and/or 3rd and 4th. a solenoid body has been replaced 4 times at decreasing mileage intervals. now failing for 5th time with 2,000 miles since last *fix*. failure has occurred while attempting to merge with freeway traffic. pursuing bbb arbitration for repurchase as ford is unable to repair. *nm | |||
| 02/11/2006 | 25700 | 20 | 10/29/2003 |
| Ford explorer does not shift from 1st into 2nd gear, allowing vehicle to move into intersection then stall until transmission eventually slips into gear. ford tech line wants us to drive until the problem occurs continuously so the problem will be easy to find. dealer has reset cpu, replaced valve body, and now placed an additive in transmission. obviously having no idea as to the real problem. *jb | |||
| 02/03/2006 | 45760 | 1 | 10/11/2004 |
| Rear axle is leaking and there is a humming noise on my 2003 ford explorer and thew transmission is slipping. i have 75000 mile warranty and vehicle has only 45,500 miles on it. *nm | |||
| 03/15/2005 | 18000 | 1 | 10/01/2004 |
| Dt: the contact stated vehicle was making a clanking noise and it jumped out of gear. the dealer had the vehicle several times and upgraded the transmission. they replaced parts in the rear end of the transmission. the replacement of these parts did not solve the problem. *ak | |||
| 09/29/2005 | 41550 | 6 | 09/16/2003 |
| Engine cut off while running, when i turned on high beams. engine rpms and engine accelerated, when i turned on high beams loss control of acceleration, when fog lights were turned on. message center flashed check transmission, o/d off (overdrive off) flashed, when fog light were turned on. *nm | |||
| 06/05/2005 | 35000 | 1 | 09/26/2003 |
| Dear nhtsa: in october 2003 i purchased the nbx - v8 version of the ford explorer with an upgraded tow package for my wife. she never uses the tow package and i, very occasionally pull a 300lb utility trailer. i get the oil changed religiously and recently had the 30,000 mile 4wd lubrication package from goodyear for approx. $500. at 34,000mi my wife began to notice a non-descript noise in the rear end, a rumble at slow speeds while turning. she carries things in the back and thought they were rolling around. i drove the car at 36,600 mi and also noticed the noise but we had a low rear tire and i thought it was the tire pressure. the tire actually picked up a nail and went flat and i brought the tire to goodyear for repair. after the repair the rear end noise persisted only at low speeds and we finally got the car in to goodyear for evaluation at 38,000 miles. they replaced the rear differential fluid again and the noise persisted. they then went on line and pulled a technical service bulletin tsb 04-17-5 which was for limited slip axle chatter, shudder, binding sensation or vibration during low speed turning maneuvers in 2002-2004 ford explorers, 2003-2004 expeditions and 2004 f-150s. this was exactly what i was experiencing. since this vehicle is not used off road, is not used to tow anything heavy, is pampered but does get a fair amount of highway miles 38,000mi in 19 months, i felt that having a transmission problem at this stage was unusual. well, after talking to my manager at work, half the ford explorer fleet in boston was having this problem, with one vehicle in the shop 3 months and one never seeing the light of day yet. the tsb noted problems with the entire transmission. what about next time?? my vehicle. vehicle # 1fmzu73w93ua84901 ford explorer silver v8 nbx version? they also know they have a real problem with their transmissions and the consumer will end up eating it. is ford quality job 1?? | |||
| 08/28/2004 | 9000 | 30 | 08/15/2003 |
| Transmission clunking from reverse to forward or from forward to reverse. whirling sound, 55-65 mph, rear differential. | |||
| 11/02/2004 | 48000 | 10 | 01/06/2003 |
| I am the owner of a 2003 ford explorer. i had problems with my transmission engaging properly and the transmission making a loud noise when shifting from park to reverse whether the vehicle was hot or cold. the transmission did this intermitently for a week or so until i took it into a dealership for repair. they said nothing was wrong. i drove it for another week with the same problems. the vehicle would lurch in mid-acceleration at any speed and would lunge when coming to a stop leaving me never knowing when i might stop on the freeway or run into the back of somebody. the next time i took it in they said it was the clutch pack that failed and the repair cost me $1,131.00. the repair consisted of removing the transmission, opening it up and replacing the parts and then re-installing the transmission. i have read a service bulletin recently from ford motor company saying that these problems have been reported in 2004 ford explorers and mercury mountaineers. they are saying that they will be fixed for free. i have a 2003 ford explorer and i am not aware of the two model years being mechanically dissimilar. i want it known that the 2003 explorers are suffering the same problems, which is why i am registering the complaint.*ak | |||
| 11/30/2004 | 100 | 03/31/2003 | |
| We have a 2003 ford explorer-when you shift from reverse to drive-like backing out of a driveway and then putting into drive vehicle doesnt move for a while-if you try to give it gas engine revs up and then slams into drive--in the meantime you are wondering if the car coming around the corner is going to rear end you and cause injury to your family and damage to your vehicle--been in the shop several times-put several parts in trans still the same. *ak | |||
| 04/21/2003 | 9000 | 2 | 04/18/2003 |
| 2003 ford explorer----5 second lag, delayed engagement, harsh jerking movement from reverse to drive to reverse, and a bang can also be heard. shuddering is also prevalent. power train module was reflashed to correct problem. lag condition still is present sometimes. first incident was on april 21, 2003, latest incident was in may 2004.*ak | |||
| 10/01/2004 | 1 | 12/01/2003 | |
| 2003 explorer's transmission made a loud pop or whump sound while driving about 20-24 mph. it was infrequent but alarming. *bf the noise seems to be occurring when the vehicle shifts gears. *nm *tc *jb | |||
| 08/11/2004 | 10000 | 2 | 01/10/2004 |
| Purchased a 2003 ford explorer 4x4 january 2004, around 10k miles noticed a shudder/slipping in transmission under hard excelleration. i brought vehicle to pulliam ford in cola. sc to have transmission and whining rear end repaired. when i called the service writer, he informed me that the technician said that they could not duplicate the transmission vibration, and that the whine was no louder than other explorers, even though they did acknowlege that the explorer did have a rear end problem. i am not satisfied and would like to get my 32k worth out of this vehicle, not a excuse for a poor product and poor service. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 3 | ||
| Problems with brakes, transmission and seat recliner handle.*mr dealer was notified. *cb | |||
| 05/05/2004 | 5000 | 20 | 10/24/2003 |
| 2003 ford explorer- 5 speed automatic transmission randomly disengages. reproduced by first accelerating from 1st or 2nd gear and back off gas just before the transmission shifts. transmission disengages and engine revs up. must either rev engine up over 4k or backoff gas altogether to recover. ford is non-responsive to inquires. problem websites are full of similar experiences. *la | |||
| 09/29/2003 | 3000 | 1 | 06/13/2003 |
| While on any type of incline our ford explorer xlt rolls back while in drive. after telephoning ford motor company, i was told by ann to take the issue up with the dealership where the car was purchased. she said there were no recalls related to the issue of the rollback while vehicle is in drive on an incline. when we took the vehicle back to the dealer where we purchased it, they said they would work with us and ford motor company. in early december after speaking with the dealership manager and service department manager, i was told that the 8 cylinder vehicle that i purchased has a different transmission than the 6 cylinder. while the 6 cylinder explorere does not roll back on an incline while in drive, the 8 cylinder model does. i was told that it is simply the way the transmission is designed and that changing the transmission will not eliminate the roll back issue. when i picked up my vehicle on dec. 7, 2003, tony (service dept. manager) told me that claudia would be calling me within the next week to make some type of arrangements with me along the lines of an extended warranty due to the fact that perhaps the transmission would experience problems down the road. my main concern with the roll back issue is that my daughter is going to be driving this summer, and we cannot allow her to drive this vehicle. for an inexperienced, new driver to operate this vehicle could have the potential of turning into an accident due to the vehicle roll back while on an incline in drive. this is the first new vehicle my wife & i have ever purchased and we are extremely disappointed, not only about the rollback issue but by ford's lack of interest in the rollback issue. repeated emails to ford motor have gone unanswered, and as of the date of this complain neither claudia or anyone from ford motor co. has contacted me.*ak | |||
| 12/27/2003 | 5000 | 3 | 03/16/2003 |
| Brake pedal goes down to the floor intermittently.this is a major safetty issue.the dealership has not fixed the problem yet.took in the shop for more than 3 times.also the oil leak from the rear main seal,harshe shift in transmission ,power steering pump failure,oil pan gasket leak ,master cylinder leak ,coil (spark plug) failure.*ak | |||
| 03/16/2004 | 22000 | 1 | |
| Transmission began locking up when vehicle was placed in reverse to back-up. *nm | |||
| 06/01/2003 | 0 | 1 | 03/16/2002 |
| 2003 explorer xlt, 2wd: loud noise coming from driveline from 30 through 70 mph. dealer changed differential gear set--no fix. then changed the driveshaft--no fix. i now have 26,000 miles on it and the noise is so loud it is distracting. ford says they have no fix (transmission? axles? another bad ring and pinion set?). dealer says one of their staff has a 2003 with the same problem....still no fix.*ak | |||
| 10/23/2003 | 7500 | 9 | 06/23/2003 |
| My 2003 ford explorer 2wd xlt started making whinning noises when placed into gear. the car has been to the dealer nine times with over $1200 worth of work. really don't have any faith in the technicians or service manager. going through arbitration now to have the lemon repurchased by ford.*ak | |||
| 02/01/2004 | 12000 | 3 | 03/01/2003 |
| On 3 separate occasions the engine was started then with foot on the brake shifted into reverse. the auto won't shift into reverse. absolutely nothing happens. upon increasing the rpm by 50-100 the car slams into reverse and lunges 2-3 feet. *jb | |||
| 12/14/2003 | 9590 | 1 | 04/05/2003 |
| When dirving vehicle at slow speed and applying the brakes it feels like someone has rear ended you, as the vehicle lunges forward. it has happened to me three or four times and is more frequent with my wife as it is her vehicle. today my wife was backing up and it felt like someone ran into the front of her as the vehicle lurched backward. she said it really bounced her head. today is the first time it has happened in reverse. this is a 2003 ford explorer, v-8 xlt 2wd. i have some time off later this month and will be taking vehicle to the dealer.*ak | |||
| 09/01/2003 | 700 | 90 | 08/15/2003 |
| New 2003 ford explorer 2wd 4.0 6cyl prob began at 500-700 miles. excessive vibration and whining noise at speeds from 40-70 mph. vehicle appears to struggle when accelerating, and cruising speeds. dealer unresponsive after learning that ford engineers acknowledge problem and have no current fix. dealer unwilling to explore a replacement vehicle, or refund. ford feild services engineer admitted to me that approximately 50% of new explorers have this faulty ring & pinion gear and that vendors are working to certify replacement parts. | |||
| 09/16/2003 | 1300 | 6 | |
| While driving the transmission would shift into neutral on its own without warning. this caused the vehicle to slow down as if the brakes were being pressed. the consumer managed to move the vehicle to side of the road and restart it. the vehicle was driven to the dealership to have a mechanic check the transmission. the technician found nothing wrong and the problem has not been resolved. *nlm | |||
| 06/13/2003 | 10000 | 3 | 09/25/2002 |
| Transmission indicator light on. transmission slips during shifting. dealer initially said there was nothing they could do until ford engineering gives them the fix. second visit to dealership they rebuilt transmission two days later transmission is slipping again. *nlm | |||
| 01/16/2003 | 437 | 1 | 12/19/2002 |
| While driving and without warning a loud clinking noise can be heard. the dealer is aware of the problem. *nlm squeeling noise from motor. transmission lurched and would not engage. transmission and transfer case had to be flushed. replace steering shaft for clinking noise. clockspring replaced. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||
| 11/21/2006 | 67000 | 1 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated the transmission failed while driving 30 mph. there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle and when the contact stopped to inspect the problem, leaking transmission was noticed. the service dealer was notified and the vehicle was towed to a transmission shop where a computer diagnostics identified the problem as a failure to the onboard computer. the manufacturer was not alerted. | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 1 | ||
| 2003 explorer engine stalling and surging when driving and coming to a stop. *ts ***nar*** the dealer reprogrammed the pcm. 8jb | |||
| 01/27/2006 | 55000 | 1 | 09/08/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle experienced a problem with hesitation when the speed was kept constant. the dealership replaced the mass air flow sensor. the hesitation problem continued, the vehicle was returned to the dealership which was unable to duplicate the problem. while backing into the driveway the vehicle suddenly accelerated. although the brakes were applied the vehicle did not stop. the vehicle hit the contact's home resulting in a neck sprain injury. the acceleration continued until the shifter was moved into drive. the dealership was unable to determine the cause of the acceleration. also, contact complained that abs light was on and pedal felt stiff. vehicle ran rough. in addition, removed and installed automatic transmission main control valve body. *ak | |||
| 2 | |||
| Consumer called complaining about having transmission problems. while vehicle was parked it started rolling back. the dealer was contacted, and stated that they could not find anything wrong with the vehicle.*ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | |||
| 02/21/2004 | 20000 | 2 | |
| While vehicle was parked and key out of the ignition vehicle rolled backwards, colliding into a tree. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT | |||
| 08/18/2009 | 127000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. when attempting to shift gears, the column shift lever had fractured. he had to push the vehicle to the side of the road-way. the vehicle was then towed to a dealership, and he was advised that he would have to purchase a new steering column. the manufacturer was notified, and he was advised that they would not provide assistance. the vehicle was taken to a local service station and repaired. after the repair the failure re-occurred, the current mileage was approximately 130,000. the failure mileage was 127,000. | |||
| 11/03/2006 | 40000 | 2 | 04/18/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving 10 mph, the contact heard a noise similar to a tire blowout. she pulled the vehicle off the road and discovered that the lug studs for the driver and passenger side rear wheels had sheared off. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and the studs were replaced. the failure occurred twice. the contact attempted to shift into park, but the gear became stuck. she jiggled the gear until it went into park. the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. the failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 60,000. | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH | |||
| 04/08/2004 | 12000 | 2 | |
| Consumer was unable to shift the vehicle out of park. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER | |||
| 01/03/2008 | 81000 | 1 | 10/12/2007 |
| Typical ford explorer tranmission problem having to do with the torque converter. od light flashing. nothing done to envoke this problem and no events leading up to the failure. just driving on the highway. *cn | |||
| 12/01/2007 | 62000 | 1 | 08/01/2003 |
| 2003 ford explorer transmission failure at 62,000 miles. *tr | |||
| 08/25/2007 | 55000 | 1 | 08/06/2003 |
| Torque converter failure. converter rattles, needs replacement. prior complaint to dealer about lurching and clunking were found to be non-duplicative during warranty period. *jb | |||
| 02/20/2007 | 51600 | 1 | 08/28/2004 |
| I have a 2003 ford explorer with 51,000 miles. on 2/13/2007 o/d light started flashing and service transmission message appeared in message center. took to an independent service shop and was told it was probably the torque converter. had it transferred to a transmission shop where they removed the transmission pan and found metal shavings. they said it is the torque converter and i will need a partial or full rebuild, they will not be sure until they remove the transmission. they also mentioned they have seen this in multiple vehicles and have had to replace a large number of explorer transmissions for similar problems. *jb | |||
| 10/25/2006 | 86739 | 10 | 01/31/2003 |
| 2003 ford explorer xlt torque converter causes transmission to lurch and slip unexpectedly. fearful of driving this vehicle because the transmission might lock up. ford is aware this is a common problem with their 2002 and later models. *nm | |||
| 04/03/2006 | 38000 | 1 | 12/07/2002 |
| Nhtsa 10003163. noise from converter housing. suv has 42,272 miles and dealer estimated $1200.00 repair. ford knew there was a problem with tsb #17050. *jb | |||
| 09/22/2005 | 35908 | 4 | 12/27/2002 |
| Dt: the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. noise coming from the front of the car. the dealership could never find the origin of the noise. the fourth time when the contact took the car to the dealership, they found that the origin of the noise was the torque converter. the dealer changed the torque converter on 9-22-05. the contact sold the car a few days after 9-22-05. the contact was disappointed with the service they received from the dealer. when they were trying to make the trade, the dealership offered them $13,000.00, and when they went back the dealership offering them $10,000.00. the contact wanted to file a complaint because she felt there may be a defect in the torque converter, and she wanted to complain about it to the dealership'. *ak | |||
| 06/17/2004 | 76425 | 1 | 12/30/2002 |
| Took my suv into mr. tire to replace all 4 tires. left mr. tire & my o/d light started to flash @ 35 mph. took suv back to mr. tire to have them look at it. i wasnt sure if they might have cause it or not. they did a diagnostic on it & found a code p0741 tcc. they told me it could be just a selenoid or the converter. either way, its not locking up to do a 1:1 conversion for overdrive to save on gas & prevent overheating of the transmision. they told me to go immediately to a ford dealership. i went to purvis ford service department & they did their own diagnosis. purvis ford found that the converter is bad & coming apart. they also said it was overheating & this type of transmission for my vehical for that year was a bad transmission. also they've had customers w/ this exact problem w/ as little as 100 miles & some w/ as much as 100,000 miles. for a 120k mile maintenance free transmission (w/ exception of changing out the transmission fluid) this sure seems to be an expensive transmission. what is more interesting is that ford wont replace the transmission w/ the original type of transmission. instead they wanted to put a different one in that has an external cooler & filter. totalling $3300 not including tax. it was also told to me by purvis ford's service department that ford has had numerous problems with their transmissions on these vehicals. 2 other people alone was in their shop for rebuilds on their 2003 ford explorer transmissions. why doesnt ford voluntarily recall on this & replace them w/ this new type of transmission at no cost to the customer. right now i am not happy w/ ford & i will not keep my suv nor will i buy another one. this is the third problem i've had with this suv that has costed me big $$$$. i would not recommend anyone buying a ford suv. at this time i have not had the transmission repaired due to high cost. the suv is currently in my driveway not being driven to avoid furhter damage to the transmission. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||
| 05/24/2009 | 55294 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that the seals on 3 axles were leaking and needed to be repaired; therefore, the right front axle and both rear axles were repaired. the axles were improperly installed and were repaired again four weeks later. the manufacturer stated that they were unable to provide any assistance regarding the repairs. the contact is aware of the safety risk since the axles could fail while driving and potentially cause a crash. the current mileage was 60,828 and the failure mileage was 55,294. | |||
| 07/15/2007 | 55000 | 1 | 06/01/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact heard a loud whining sound coming from the rear of the vehicle while accelerating and decelerating. the service manager stated that he could not find anything in his computer that was related to the failure. there are currently ten nhtsa service bulletins related to the failure. the current mileage was 76,000 and failure mileage was 55,000. update 09/10/08 *cw the consumer was told the rear axle may have to be replaced. updated 09/11/08. *jb | |||
| 12/21/2004 | 74000 | 1 | 08/03/2003 |
| Vehicle purchased in 2003 after 1 year roaring noise began in rear axle. vehicle taken to dealer and differential carrier assembly replaced. vehicle now having the same problem with differential assembly. (roaring noise) *tr | |||
| 09/20/2006 | 1 | ||
| Rear axle was making a loud noise, was told that it was due to the seal was broken and needed to be replaced. this was replaced and the noise still continues. other consumers have had this same problem and nothing has ever happened with this issue. it cost a lot of money to have the axle worked on and it is still not fixed! *jb | |||
| 01/15/2007 | 1 | 12/30/2002 | |
| Rear pinion gear on 2003 ford explorer causes high pitched whining sound, and is well known to ford dealerships in the area. the stated cost to repair (replace pinion ring, pinion gear, seals) is in excess of $1,100. *tr | |||
| 03/07/2007 | 70000 | 1 | 08/15/2006 |
| Noise at rear end of vehicle. diagnosis rear axle and rear end. replace rear axle and rear end kit (rebuild). the noise was noticeable for sometime and became worse. i have reviewed numerous similar complaints and this appears to be an issue that the manufacturer should address. there were service bulletins that referenced improper fluid use by manufacturer. *jb | |||
| 02/13/2007 | 60000 | 1 | 12/12/2002 |
| My 2003 ford explorer was serviced at dick edwards ford in junction city , ks to replace a left hand rear axle shaft seal on the 12th of febuary 2007. vehicle was picked up at the dealership by my wife. on the 13th of febuary she was driving home from work (about 3-5 miles) she called me on her cell phone and said she could hear noises, smelled something burning and the rear of the car was moving around and the brake pedal was low. i told her to proceed home with caution. when she arrived home i looked at the vehicle, and noted the lh rear wheel assembly was at a 30 deg angle. i called dick edward ford and they informed me to have it towed to the dealership. today they implied it was a bearing failure. i looked at the vehicle, spoke to the mechanic and i noted it was a rear axle shaft retention nut malfunction. the nut had backed out on the axle to the point that the assembly was about depart from the vehicle. the mechanic wanted to blame the axle bearing, which was destroyed. this nut if improperly torqued, or the assembly is not installed properly prior to torquing the nut, the nut can become loose and back off, especially since it is rh thread, there is not a cotter pin or anything holding this thing together, only a torqued nut. they then told me that they would not pay for it as it was a coincidence this happened. i refuse to pay. i have pictures of the vehicle setting in my driveway. i should have taken pictures at the dealership when it was taken apart. if my loved one had been on the interstate doing 70 mph this would have probably have allowed the wheel assembly to depart from the vehicle resulting in a catastrophic accident. and possible death to her as well as others. how many other vehicles out there with the same poor engineering design ? *jb | |||
| 07/06/2006 | 66266 | 1 | |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 03/25/2006 | 1 | 10/20/2002 | |
| Rear axle noise, replaced at a price of 1200 dollars. *jb | |||
| 02/26/2006 | 5 | ||
| Have had mechanical problems with my 2003 ford explorer which should not have occurred with the least amount of miles on it. have had rear brake sensor replaced 2 times under warranty, front axle seal replaced under warranty and rear axle bearing replaced with 44000 miles and now the rear axle seal is leaking on the right side. the mechanic who does my repairs stated the axle seals are on backorder due to the amount of explorers the seals are defective on. i have not received any recall information on the seals as i believe this is a safety concern. could you please check into this defect. i believe there were several defective parts used on the 2003 ford explorers that have not been recalled or reported. thank you. *jb | |||
| 10/24/2005 | 3 | 10/23/2003 | |
| Repeated failure of rear axle, drive train noise from rear of vehicle between45-65mph. | |||
| 07/09/2004 | 55000 | 3 | 09/01/2003 |
| I purchased a new 2003 ford explorer xlt 2wd in september 1, 2003. with 20,000 miles on the vehicle i noticed a whine from the rear end that was audible from 45 mph to 65 mph. the noise would stop when i let off on the gas and would resume when the gas was reapplied indicating a bearing failure. i took the vehicle to leith ford of wendell, nc, where i purchased the vehicle. they replaced the rear axle assembly under warranty on july 9, 2004 with 21,899 miles on the vehicle. the replacement rear axle made the same whine from 45 mph to 65 mph indicating rear bearing failure. the complete rear axle assembly was replaced by leith ford under warranty. the rear axle assembly was ordered from ford on october 20, 2004 with 32980 miles on the vehicle. the assembly was received and installed with 36,000 miles on the vehicle. with 63,280 miles on the vehicle i returned the vehicle on october 17, 2005 to leith ford to check out the same whine in the rear end from 45 mph to 65 mph. they confirmed that the rear bearings were failing and ordered a rear differential kit to rebuild the rear axle assembly. *nm | |||
| 04/15/2005 | 18 | 4 | 08/17/2003 |
| I have had numerous mechanical failures with my 2003 ford explorere. the front wheel brearings and front axle bearing have failed. the rear axle has been rebuild twice and replaced once. another rebuild is needed. total mileage is 49,000 miles. | |||
| 07/20/2004 | 12000 | 1 | |
| While driving consumer heard a loud noise coming from the rear axle/driveshaft. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 08/11/2004 | 10000 | 2 | 01/10/2004 |
| Purchased a 2003 ford explorer 4x4 january 2004, around 10k miles noticed a shudder/slipping in transmission under hard excelleration. i brought vehicle to pulliam ford in cola. sc to have transmission and whining rear end repaired. when i called the service writer, he informed me that the technician said that they could not duplicate the transmission vibration, and that the whine was no louder than other explorers, even though they did acknowlege that the explorer did have a rear end problem. i am not satisfied and would like to get my 32k worth out of this vehicle, not a excuse for a poor product and poor service. *ak | |||
| 07/01/2004 | 1 | 07/24/2003 | |
| Various complaints involving the 2003 ford explorer xlt.*mr consumer believed that noise on vehicle was coming from rear. repairs and/or replacements were made on: front and rear suspensions, transfer case, and seals in the rear axle due to leak. now, consumer is waiting for a new axle assembly to be replaced on the vehicle. also, a cooling system noise on vehicle but dealer coudn't find the source of the problem. *la | |||
| 11/18/2003 | 1 | ||
| Soon after purchase the explorer (2wd) developed an axle whine from 55-70 mph on acceleration. it's quiet on coast. the local dealer found a tsb (#16898). they replaced the driveshaft as specified. the only change was the range of the whine, now 58-63mph. back to dealer on 1/8/04. they said a fix was in the works, call back in 3 months. called today (4.21), no fix and no date. ps: sure sounds like a bad ring/pinion to me...*ak | |||
| 10/13/2003 | 5743 | 1 | 07/30/2003 |
| Purchase vehicle on july 30, 2003. rear axle whine during speeds between 45 - 60 during acceleration/ decelleration diagnosed on 13 october 2003. advised that engineers were working on a fix and no service was to be performed. very displeased at the attitude of ford customer service representatives and the lack of service received with ford vehicle. filed complaint with settlement dispute board and with better business bureau. next step is to contact attorney to file lemon law. also, consumers need to get out information to the public that ford is selling these vehicles knowing there is a problem and is not willing to fix them.*ak | |||
| 10/29/2003 | 1 | 09/06/2003 | |
| About a month after we purchased our 2003 ford explorer xlt, we noticed a whining noise from the rear of the vehicle. we notified the dealership and they refused to work on it. they said ford is investigating the noise and could give no time frame on when if would be fixed. asked us to just be patient.. this is totally unacceptable, and the way customer relations has been dealing with us, ford should be embarrassed. we are currently research the lemon laws. we do not want a brand new vehicle that makes this awful whine (which is getting worse day by day). who knows if it is safe, given ford's trac record! *jb | |||
| 12/04/2003 | 1 | 1 | 09/15/2003 |
| My wife and i bought a new 2003 eddie bauer explorer vin 1fmdu74k23zb45658 with 1 mile registered on it. we purchased it 9/15/03, since day one the vehicle has had a whine in the rear, a vibration at 55 mph. complaints to ford as well as to the len stoler dealership,11275 reisterstown road, owings mills, md 21117 phone 410-356-2635 has brought nothing but frustration. the vehicle can't be fixed is what we are told! but after 5 visits, it is being worked on now for the vibration 12/04/03, the whine in the rear still cannot be fixed. notifications from ford to its service centers: driveline axle concerns from ford motor company 509000 dealing with problem 17054 quote: 2002- 2004 explorer 4 dr-rear axle whine, some 2002-2004- explorer 4dr vehicles may exhibit axle whine at normal or during acceleration. to service, perform normal diagnostics. if specific root cause is not identified, be aware that engineering is currently investigating via the quicker service fix process. a service procedure will be published as soon as it becomes available, please continue to submit concern reports for any vehicle which exhibits this condition. monitor oasis for updates.-this is one of our problems, dealership cannot fix it at this point, so we are stuck with a whining rear in new vehicle. the second problem with our vehicle is trying to be fixed, quote: 17107 2002-2004 explorer 4x4 driveline vibration or drone/boom at highway speeds. some 2002 -2004 explorer 4x4 vehicles may exhibit a vibration or drone/boom at 55 - 75 mph. electronic vibration analyzer (eva) reading will fall under 1st order rear driveshaft at 2700 rmp . if concern is till present in 3rd gear and isolated to the driveline, a premium balanced driveshaft is available. install 3c5z-4602-aa driveshaft assembly, referring to workshop manual section 205-00 for procedure. if vibration persists after replacing driveshaft, reindex at pinion flange 90 degrees at a time, for 360 degrees, until vibration is minimized. *nlm | |||
| 09/01/2003 | 700 | 90 | 08/15/2003 |
| New 2003 ford explorer 2wd 4.0 6cyl prob began at 500-700 miles. excessive vibration and whining noise at speeds from 40-70 mph. vehicle appears to struggle when accelerating, and cruising speeds. dealer unresponsive after learning that ford engineers acknowledge problem and have no current fix. dealer unwilling to explore a replacement vehicle, or refund. ford feild services engineer admitted to me that approximately 50% of new explorers have this faulty ring & pinion gear and that vendors are working to certify replacement parts. | |||
| 10/14/2003 | 1 | 06/20/2003 | |
| Excessive whining noise coming from the rear differential/drive axles/driveshaft area of the vehicle at speeds between 50 and 60 m.p.h. *la | |||
| 10/11/2003 | 1 | 09/22/2003 | |
| I bought a 2003 ford explorer 4wd, v8 - sept. 22, 2003. about 3.5 weeks later it began to shake and made a loud noise. i haven't gotten 1100 mile on it before it began its downward spiral. i took it into be repaired on 10/13/03 regarding the whining but i forgot to mention the vibration-- it only happen on 2 occasion thus far. but the whining is constant - around 50 mile and above. i was by the service person the engineers are working on it and i am to wait until they find a cure for it. i am not trusting them with my safety, i was told it was in the driveline/axle /driveshaft- the name changes but still the same explanation - no fix as of yet. could be long-term or not at all. i want this vehicle replace - asap. *la | |||
| 6000 | 1 | ||
| The consumer stated the vehicle vibrated excessively in the rear end. dealer acknowledged manufacturer's tsb on issue advised problem caused by rear axle.*ak *ph *ph | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT | |||
| 02/13/2007 | 60000 | 1 | 12/14/2002 |
| Tl*- while driving the 2003 ford explorer at 60 mph the contact heard a noise and the back of the suv began to vibrate. once the vehicle was checked the contact noticed that the tire was at an angle. the contact thought the dealer forgot to put the lugs:nuts back on the wheel. the drivers side rear axle shaft failed ,almost causinga crash after the dealer had worked on it. only one nut was holding the shaft in place. the contact believed that this was also a manufacturing defect. the weather was overcast and 20 degrees. it snowed, but the road was dry. the vehicle had to be towed the next day to the dealership to be repaired. the current and failure mileage were 60000.*ak | |||
| 12/04/2004 | 41000 | 3 | 09/08/2004 |
| Whining noise coming from rear became louder 41,000 mile on odo dealer advised rear wheel bearings seals and strut inserts, we had the repairs made $1000.00 one year later we noticed more noise and chatter when turning,dealer advised rear differential needs rebuild, and new clutch packs. we are having the repairs made at this time. these are expensive problems ford should be held responsible. *jb | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT - SEAL | |||
| 03/17/2007 | 32900 | 1 | 11/22/2003 |
| Purchased a 2003 explorer xlt in november 2003. within a few months noticed a leak that originated from differential area. took to dealer was told a seal had to be replaced and everything should be ok. took a family trip recently, the first one in the explorer on march 17, 2007 and rear axle seal failed on a 1,200 mile round trip. called ford customer service and explained what happened, i even explained there were several tsb concerning my issue, i was informed that it was not a recall therefore it wasn't covered. i was told by ford to go and have it diagnosed by local dealer, same one that fixed the problem originally. i had problem's diagnosed, called ford and was told that dealer would provide customer care after warranty. called dealer waiting for reply for next step. my explorer only has 33,600 miles while 1,200 miles were placed in the last few days, and warranty expired 4 months back. *ak | |||
| 01/31/2007 | 39000 | 03/17/2003 | |
| Tl* - the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt. the contact stated that the vehicle was making noises, wining, and grinding. the contact stated that the differential system failed and needed to be replaced. also, the following components needed to be replaced: clutches, ring, pinion, carrier bearing, pinion bearing, and pinion seal. the contact had to update the axle seals. at the time of the original failure the vehicle had an odometer reading of 37,000 miles and the warranty had just lapsed. the contact did not believe that the weather was a factor, and the sounds were always when she was in the process of accelerating. the contact stated that it started very slowly and became an every day occurrence. *ak | |||
| 01/01/2006 | 34000 | 1 | 01/16/2003 |
| Rear axle noise. started at about 34,000 miles but i did not bring to ford until just after the 3 year warranty. ford would do nothing and said repair was about $2,000. at 42,000 now and noise is getting worse. *jb | |||
| 06/05/2006 | 58000 | 2 | 07/30/2003 |
| At 58,000 miles, both left and right rear axle seals developed substantial leakage necessitating immediate repair. ford dealership service department made no mention that this was a known problem and required full payment by me for cost of replacement. *jb | |||
| 05/04/2004 | 40000 | 1 | |
| Aroiund 37,000 miles i started having electrical problems. half of them go off when they should and half of them stay on which runs my battery down and i have to be jumped. then around 40,000 mile i started hearing a lound whining noise from my rear end. the dealer said nothing was wrong. it is so loud you have to almost yell to talk to someone. then at 47,000 miles my service engine light soon started coming on. it has something to do with the coolant area. i am afraid to take my vehicle out of town and i owe too much on it to trade it. *nm | |||
| 10/06/2003 | 544 | 1 | 09/22/2003 |
| Had to replace rear axle seals on 2003 explorer with 500 on new vehicle. *la | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE HUBS | |||
| 09/25/2007 | 55000 | 2 | 08/15/2003 |
| Rear axle loud noise. front left wheel bearing became extremely noisy. automatic 4wd control engaged unexpectedly during low speed turns and parking. several visits to the ford repair shop, almost $2.5k in repairs, erroneously diagnosed. results: finally, failures still in place. what a shame!!! *tr | |||
| 08/12/2006 | 52179 | 1 | 11/10/2005 |
| 4 items 1 - have owned the 2003 ford explorer for 7 months. while test driving, i noticed a hum noise coming from rear tires. was told it was tread noise. we took it for oil change at very well respected national automotive service shop. i was informed i needed to replace the rear hub assembly that is was critically broken. waiting to contact local ford dealer for resolution based on tsb research i have done. 2 - whining noise from air conditioner when accelerating. don't really know what is going on. saw this also on tsb. contacting local ford dealership. 3 - abs light randomly comes on. don't know why and no pattern to when. contacting local ford dealership. 4 - cruise control not working. i was driving down the road this weekend, using cruise control. stopped quickly for a car in front of me. when i started going again, the cruise control wouldn't work and hasn't worked since then. i don't know if it has to do with the brakes. i noticed ford recalled some cruise control mechanisms in other vehicles but not in the 2003 explorer. *jb | |||
| POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | |||
| 01/31/2007 | 39000 | 03/17/2003 | |
| Tl* - the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt. the contact stated that the vehicle was making noises, wining, and grinding. the contact stated that the differential system failed and needed to be replaced. also, the following components needed to be replaced: clutches, ring, pinion, carrier bearing, pinion bearing, and pinion seal. the contact had to update the axle seals. at the time of the original failure the vehicle had an odometer reading of 37,000 miles and the warranty had just lapsed. the contact did not believe that the weather was a factor, and the sounds were always when she was in the process of accelerating. the contact stated that it started very slowly and became an every day occurrence. *ak | |||
| 06/05/2005 | 35000 | 1 | 09/26/2003 |
| Dear nhtsa: in october 2003 i purchased the nbx - v8 version of the ford explorer with an upgraded tow package for my wife. she never uses the tow package and i, very occasionally pull a 300lb utility trailer. i get the oil changed religiously and recently had the 30,000 mile 4wd lubrication package from goodyear for approx. $500. at 34,000mi my wife began to notice a non-descript noise in the rear end, a rumble at slow speeds while turning. she carries things in the back and thought they were rolling around. i drove the car at 36,600 mi and also noticed the noise but we had a low rear tire and i thought it was the tire pressure. the tire actually picked up a nail and went flat and i brought the tire to goodyear for repair. after the repair the rear end noise persisted only at low speeds and we finally got the car in to goodyear for evaluation at 38,000 miles. they replaced the rear differential fluid again and the noise persisted. they then went on line and pulled a technical service bulletin tsb 04-17-5 which was for limited slip axle chatter, shudder, binding sensation or vibration during low speed turning maneuvers in 2002-2004 ford explorers, 2003-2004 expeditions and 2004 f-150s. this was exactly what i was experiencing. since this vehicle is not used off road, is not used to tow anything heavy, is pampered but does get a fair amount of highway miles 38,000mi in 19 months, i felt that having a transmission problem at this stage was unusual. well, after talking to my manager at work, half the ford explorer fleet in boston was having this problem, with one vehicle in the shop 3 months and one never seeing the light of day yet. the tsb noted problems with the entire transmission. what about next time?? my vehicle. vehicle # 1fmzu73w93ua84901 ford explorer silver v8 nbx version? they also know they have a real problem with their transmissions and the consumer will end up eating it. is ford quality job 1?? | |||
| 11/02/2004 | 48000 | 10 | 01/06/2003 |
| I am the owner of a 2003 ford explorer. i had problems with my transmission engaging properly and the transmission making a loud noise when shifting from park to reverse whether the vehicle was hot or cold. the transmission did this intermitently for a week or so until i took it into a dealership for repair. they said nothing was wrong. i drove it for another week with the same problems. the vehicle would lurch in mid-acceleration at any speed and would lunge when coming to a stop leaving me never knowing when i might stop on the freeway or run into the back of somebody. the next time i took it in they said it was the clutch pack that failed and the repair cost me $1,131.00. the repair consisted of removing the transmission, opening it up and replacing the parts and then re-installing the transmission. i have read a service bulletin recently from ford motor company saying that these problems have been reported in 2004 ford explorers and mercury mountaineers. they are saying that they will be fixed for free. i have a 2003 ford explorer and i am not aware of the two model years being mechanically dissimilar. i want it known that the 2003 explorers are suffering the same problems, which is why i am registering the complaint.*ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE | |||
| 06/06/2007 | 87000 | 1 | |
| 2003 ford explorers have defective rear ring and pinion gears. starting with a whine, the misalignment and wear could cause the drive train to seize up. replacement parts by dealerships are also inferior, and only provide ~ 40-45k miles of relief. *tr | |||
| 10/21/2008 | 52381 | 1 | |
| Vehicle was serviced in july, 2008 and mechanic at country ford noted noise from rear of vehicle. while driving on vacation in oct. 2008, i noticed noise in rear which was noticeable at 35-40 mph and getting progressively worse. brought vehicle to country ford and they found the rear carrier bearings worn and had to replace the rear differential. cost was $1132. vehicle not under warranty (52,000 miles). vehicle has been maintained as per ford guidelines at country ford service, levittown, ny. *tr | |||
| 06/01/2006 | 70000 | 1 | |
| I can't seem to get the front differential to stop leaking - neither can my mechanic. my mechanic has replaced the crush washer (where the driveline connects to the differential) a couple of times. i was told the differential was manufactured by dana. i don't want to replace the differential because my driver's side front half-shaft will probably have to be replaced also... the threads on the end of the spindle have rusted off. i'll probably also have to replace the (lf) wheel bearing. (i think i'll have to because i had to have the ford dealership replace both rear wheel bearings back when the vehicle only had 36,000 miles on it) not critical stuff here - just a nuisance. thanks. *tr | |||
| 08/01/2007 | 65000 | 1 | |
| Severe rear end noise has been happening for over a year now. rear differential now needs to be changed. although there are technical service bulletins the dealership will not work with me on the cost of these repairs. i have also had a sensor replaced twice and it is now broken again. *tr | |||
| 07/31/2006 | 94800 | 1 | |
| I recently purchased a 2003 ford explorer with 94,000 miles on it. within 2000 miles the rear end began howling so much that my fiance is afraid to ride in the vehicle as the thinks something is ready to break. i read some forum posts to learn that this is a common problem with the 2001-2004 explorer. ford should fix this problem as it is clearly a mechanical failure that will leave a family stranded on the side of the road. *nm | |||
| 02/13/2003 | 600 | 5 | 01/02/2003 |
| At 600 mini winding in rear end deler said drive it and see if it gets better it did not so at around 2000 mi damerow ford replaced all bearings and seals problem worse then before seals went out, and had to be towed in to damerow ford replaced rear end with tested rearend same problem at 2400 mi same problem at aprox. 3000 mi later damrow replaced with another svt rear edn this was also, tested and again at 19,000 mi and ait was replaced at mackenzie ford at 25,000 mi it was replaced again and now it has abad vibration noise 40 to 70 mi and above at 28,000 it goes back tommorrow we will see what if nothing they can do. *ak | |||
| 10/04/2003 | 235 | 1 | 09/30/2003 |
| 2003 ford explorer - loud whining noise from rear drive line around 55-70 mph. *jb | |||
| 08/01/2003 | 1500 | 1 | 06/04/2003 |
| I bought a 2003 ford explorer 4wd v8 june 4, 2003. about 1 month later,and less then 2,000 miles on the vehicle, i started to notice a vibration when driving between 60 and 70 mph. the vibration became more noticeable and i took the vehicle in for service at star ford in glendale in early august. the service department believes the vibration is coming from the drive train, probably the rear axle assembly. i was notified that there was a technical service bulletin for this problem on 2002 - 2003 4wd mountaineers and explorers and that the engineers at ford were working on fix for this problem. after discussing the vehicle's problem with the quality control manager at star ford, i brought the vehicle back to the service department in an attempt to correct the vibration problem. but, the attempt to correct the vibration did not work. now, i am left with a vehicle that has a vibration, that seems to be coming from the drive train, which the engineers at ford motor company have not been able to determine the source or cause, and the mechanics at the dealer cannot fix. i am extremely dissatisfied and would like the vehicle replaced or my money refunded. *jb | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | |||
| 06/22/2007 | 60508 | 1 | 06/08/2003 |
| Excessive whine/noise coming from the rear end of the vehicle, at highway speeds. *tr | |||
| 10/02/2007 | 50000 | 1 | 02/01/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving 25 mph, the rear end of the vehicle suddenly slumped and the rear driver side tire detached from the vehicle. the wheel, brake, rotor, lower control arm, and axle were damaged. repairs were made. the current and failure mileages were 50,000. updated 01/09/08.*lj the dealer replaced brake pads and rear end vibrating. updated 12/12/07 *tr | |||
| 09/22/2007 | 83000 | 1 | 07/28/2007 |
| I bought a 2003 ford explorer in june of 07 with no problems in sept of 07 i started to experience a load noise coming from the rear of the vehicle sounding like a tire was flat or something was rubbing. i took it into the shop and they told me that the rear diff was out on this and it was going to cost several thousand dollars to fix. i contacted ford they acknowledge the problem but refused to fix it and said that it was not under warranty so they weren't going to do anything about it. i now sit hear with something that i owe money on and can not afford to fix. i have a wife and a son and this is our only mode of transportation. i am very upset that ford does not stand behind their products like they should. there are numerous complaints on the internet about the same problem but with no solution. *jb | |||
| 01/13/2007 | 96000 | 3 | 08/28/2003 |
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. after installing two new tires on the front of the vehicle the contact heard a thumping sound while driving. the dealer stated that the sound was caused by the difference in tread between the new tires and older rear tires, causing the front differential and transfer case to fail. the current and failure mileages were 96,000.*ak | |||
| 02/02/2007 | 49000 | 1 | 07/27/2003 |
| I was driving my 2003 ford explore and i started to here and noise from the rear end when i took off from a dead stop. i didn't worry about it right any,then it kept getting worse, so i took it in to the ford dealership where i bought it and they said the clutch was bad in the differential and it would be between 500 to 700 to fix. this explorer only has 49,000 miles on it. my wife drives this car and i know it has never been beat on. i still do not have my truck back yet it has been in the shop for about 4 days now. i am about up to 1200 dollars in repairs. i have read several complaints about this same thing on the internet. i juast can't understand why they don't have a recall. *jb | |||
| 02/26/2007 | 92000 | 1 | |
| I purchased a 2003 ford explorer xlt. i quickly noticed a noise from the rear of the vehicle when speeds of 55-60 mph were achieved. after bringing the vehicle to the auto repair shop i was told that the rear differential needed to be replaced and that it was not only dangerous to drive but extremely expensive. after some research i have discovered that this is a common issue with the ford explorer. should this type of repair that could result in human injury, be addressed by ford. i am hopeful that your answer will be yes! *jb | |||
| 01/31/2007 | 39000 | 03/17/2003 | |
| Tl* - the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt. the contact stated that the vehicle was making noises, wining, and grinding. the contact stated that the differential system failed and needed to be replaced. also, the following components needed to be replaced: clutches, ring, pinion, carrier bearing, pinion bearing, and pinion seal. the contact had to update the axle seals. at the time of the original failure the vehicle had an odometer reading of 37,000 miles and the warranty had just lapsed. the contact did not believe that the weather was a factor, and the sounds were always when she was in the process of accelerating. the contact stated that it started very slowly and became an every day occurrence. *ak | |||
| 06/30/2004 | 1 | ||
| Excessive noise form rear drivetrain. *jb | |||
| 11/30/2006 | 30000 | 1 | 06/24/2003 |
| My 2003 ford explorer 4x4 has developed a severe binding, shudder sensation in the rear axel during low speed turning maneuvers. it also has a whining sound at highway speeds, typically 55 - 70 mph). this vehicle has only 34,000 miles on it and the dealer wants to rebuild the rear axle/differential - at my expense since the 3 year warranty time limit is up. if let go, the ford dealer indicates the rear axle could 'blow up' (their words), resulting in a complete loss of drive to the rear wheel. i have discovered at least six (6) technical service bulletins issued by ford on this problem! this is obviously a bad design and latent defect which can effect the safe operation of the vehicle. *jb | |||
| 09/15/2003 | 6000 | 3 | 02/18/2003 |
| 2003 ford explorer eddie bauer. 50 to 60 mph rear axle whine started at 6000 miles, at 12,000 miles dealer inspected and said the rear axle assy was unsafe to drive and replaced the assy. whine returned and dealer replaced the assy again at 24,000 miles. whine has returned and i am considering going to independent shop to repair since beyond 36,000 mile warranty. can't understand why ford can't fix this widespread problem. *nm | |||
| 03/25/2006 | 1 | 10/20/2002 | |
| Rear axle noise, replaced at a price of 1200 dollars. *jb | |||
| 02/22/2006 | 37000 | 90 | 01/03/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated during cornering and emergency maneuvers the rear differential locks up. there is also a shudder in the steering at this time. this has become progressively worse over the last 4,000 miles. the manufacturer stated the rear differential clutch pack required redesign. there is a new clutch pack available at the consumer's cost. | |||
| 06/16/2004 | 29000 | 3 | 01/02/2004 |
| Roaring sound coming from the back end of the truck. *jb | |||
| 02/03/2006 | 9000 | 1 | 07/05/2003 |
| Purchased new 2003 ford explorer. at around 9000 miles had rear end replaced due to infamous loud whining noise. problem improved...but was not completely fixed. after complaining that there was still some noise, sale ford in kingston, nc said it was uneven tire wear. replaced 2 tires. when taken back and told there was still a problem, we were told that they had done all they could do except offer us a good deal on a trade. (like we will ever buy from them again). at 59,000 miles, we are now having rear end chatter when starting or stopping. ford is crap and so is their customer service. *nm | |||
| 12/04/2004 | 41000 | 3 | 09/08/2004 |
| Whining noise coming from rear became louder 41,000 mile on odo dealer advised rear wheel bearings seals and strut inserts, we had the repairs made $1000.00 one year later we noticed more noise and chatter when turning,dealer advised rear differential needs rebuild, and new clutch packs. we are having the repairs made at this time. these are expensive problems ford should be held responsible. *jb | |||
| 05/01/2005 | 30000 | 1 | 04/17/2004 |
| Loud whine coming from rear differential. *nm | |||
| 01/05/2005 | 73971 | 1 | 12/20/2003 |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 06/17/2005 | 37100 | 2 | 04/26/2003 |
| After a shudder was felt in the steering at 14,580 mi., it was discovered that the problem was in the rear-end. ford recommended a rear-end additive. (which was performed). at 37,000 mi. the shudder returned and a new clutch pack was installed in the rear-end. after receiving car from dealer, a whine started to occur between 50 to 70 mph. took back to dealer and was told this was normal. i called ford motor and they recommend that a ring and pinion repair kit be installed to prevent failure. dealer does not think this should be installed and that vehicle is o.k. to drive even though the tech can hear the noise. | |||
| 06/05/2005 | 35000 | 1 | 09/26/2003 |
| Dear nhtsa: in october 2003 i purchased the nbx - v8 version of the ford explorer with an upgraded tow package for my wife. she never uses the tow package and i, very occasionally pull a 300lb utility trailer. i get the oil changed religiously and recently had the 30,000 mile 4wd lubrication package from goodyear for approx. $500. at 34,000mi my wife began to notice a non-descript noise in the rear end, a rumble at slow speeds while turning. she carries things in the back and thought they were rolling around. i drove the car at 36,600 mi and also noticed the noise but we had a low rear tire and i thought it was the tire pressure. the tire actually picked up a nail and went flat and i brought the tire to goodyear for repair. after the repair the rear end noise persisted only at low speeds and we finally got the car in to goodyear for evaluation at 38,000 miles. they replaced the rear differential fluid again and the noise persisted. they then went on line and pulled a technical service bulletin tsb 04-17-5 which was for limited slip axle chatter, shudder, binding sensation or vibration during low speed turning maneuvers in 2002-2004 ford explorers, 2003-2004 expeditions and 2004 f-150s. this was exactly what i was experiencing. since this vehicle is not used off road, is not used to tow anything heavy, is pampered but does get a fair amount of highway miles 38,000mi in 19 months, i felt that having a transmission problem at this stage was unusual. well, after talking to my manager at work, half the ford explorer fleet in boston was having this problem, with one vehicle in the shop 3 months and one never seeing the light of day yet. the tsb noted problems with the entire transmission. what about next time?? my vehicle. vehicle # 1fmzu73w93ua84901 ford explorer silver v8 nbx version? they also know they have a real problem with their transmissions and the consumer will end up eating it. is ford quality job 1?? | |||
| 08/28/2004 | 9000 | 30 | 08/15/2003 |
| Transmission clunking from reverse to forward or from forward to reverse. whirling sound, 55-65 mph, rear differential. | |||
| 09/10/2004 | 25000 | 4 | 05/06/2003 |
| 1 loud noise coming from rear-end(whining)2.fluid forced from front of differential.3. rear-end replaced 4 times to no avail.*ak | |||
| 01/06/2005 | 35000 | 0 | 11/04/2002 |
| Bought vehicle nov 2002. no problems till jan 2005 at approx 35000 mi. whining noise coming from rear end at 45 - 65 mph. hoped problem would go away but has not. vehicle past warranty in feb 2005 when brought in for tailgate recall at 37,000. dealer would not look at problem. currently driving vehicle with whining noise. | |||
| 02/13/2003 | 600 | 5 | 01/02/2003 |
| At 600 mini winding in rear end deler said drive it and see if it gets better it did not so at around 2000 mi damerow ford replaced all bearings and seals problem worse then before seals went out, and had to be towed in to damerow ford replaced rear end with tested rearend same problem at 2400 mi same problem at aprox. 3000 mi later damrow replaced with another svt rear edn this was also, tested and again at 19,000 mi and ait was replaced at mackenzie ford at 25,000 mi it was replaced again and now it has abad vibration noise 40 to 70 mi and above at 28,000 it goes back tommorrow we will see what if nothing they can do. *ak | |||
| 08/24/2003 | 9500 | 2 | 02/15/2003 |
| I purchased a new 2003 explorer xlt in mid-february 2003. at about 9500 miles the suv developed a whining noise from the rear differential. local ford dealer confirms noise, but is unable to fix as ford engineers have not yet found a fix also at 3800 miles the at failed and was repaired-not replaced. local dealer is supposed to let me know. as of 3/9/04 no word. this suv is a poor vehicle. | |||
| 10/14/2003 | 1 | 06/20/2003 | |
| Excessive whining noise coming from the rear differential/drive axles/driveshaft area of the vehicle at speeds between 50 and 60 m.p.h. *la | |||
| 10/07/2003 | 1 | ||
| While driving between 35 mph and up consumer heard loud noise coming from under the vehicle. dealer stated the need to replace the differential. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT | |||
| 07/20/2004 | 12000 | 1 | |
| While driving consumer heard a loud noise coming from the rear axle/driveshaft. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||
| 12/09/2003 | |||
| Car vibrates at highway speed. have had in shop three time now. the fourth is coming. they have replaced the driveshaft, fixed some bent metal, and are now going to replace the rear. | |||
| 10/14/2003 | 1 | 06/20/2003 | |
| Excessive whining noise coming from the rear differential/drive axles/driveshaft area of the vehicle at speeds between 50 and 60 m.p.h. *la | |||
| 10/11/2003 | 1 | 09/22/2003 | |
| I bought a 2003 ford explorer 4wd, v8 - sept. 22, 2003. about 3.5 weeks later it began to shake and made a loud noise. i haven't gotten 1100 mile on it before it began its downward spiral. i took it into be repaired on 10/13/03 regarding the whining but i forgot to mention the vibration-- it only happen on 2 occasion thus far. but the whining is constant - around 50 mile and above. i was by the service person the engineers are working on it and i am to wait until they find a cure for it. i am not trusting them with my safety, i was told it was in the driveline/axle /driveshaft- the name changes but still the same explanation - no fix as of yet. could be long-term or not at all. i want this vehicle replace - asap. *la | |||
| 02/25/2003 | 1900 | 1 | |
| The drive shaft was replaced.*jb | |||
| POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION | |||
| 07/14/2007 | 63000 | 3 | 01/01/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving 10 mph, the vehicle shifted into four wheel drive without warning. the contact pressed the reset button on the dashboard, which deactivated the four wheel drive feature. she also stated that the door open light remained illuminated. the dealer has not inspected the vehicle. the current and failure mileages were 63,000. | |||
| 01/09/2005 | 4700 | 9 | 10/21/2003 |
| I bought a 2003 explorer new from the dealer and ever since i had this vehicle it has clunked into gear from park to drive, from reverse to drive, and sometimes when i am parked and put it in reverse to pull out of the spot it lunges back for no reason. i am afraid to even parallel park not knowing if it will go and lunge back and hit the car behind me. i have had it to the dealer approx. 9 times for the trans and they cant seem to fix it. they keep pulling at strings and changing parts and trying to fix the problem but it has not been fixed yet. this was 1 year ago and i am still having the same problem, the vehicle has been having more problems as the year went on and i continue to take it back to the dealer but they still cant seem to fix it. it started 10/2003 and this is 1/2005 and still not fixed... *nm | |||
| POWER TRAIN - TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | |||
| 10/15/2007 | 120000 | 2 | 04/30/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. while driving 30 mph, the contact heard a whining noise coming from the vehicle. the noise becomes louder as the vehicle travels faster. the whining appears to be coming from the rear suspension. the failure mileage was 120,000 and current mileage was 144,800. updated 04/14/08. *lj the consumer stated the transmission was replaced at no charge by ford at 55,000 miles due to a defect. the 4-wheel drive makes excessive noise when in gear. updated | |||
| 01/30/2008 | 40000 | 1 | 12/05/2004 |
| The transfer case failed on our 2003 ford explorer. this is a known problem at ford and due to a design flaw with the explorer. it cost $2,000 to fix. our mechanic referred us to a transmission/transfer case specialist who had seen multiple explorers with this problem. ford should issue a recall for this known defect. the consequences of a failure in the transfer case can be a complete shredding of the gears and sudden loss of power, which could be extremely dangerous. *tr | |||
| 05/11/2007 | 70000 | 500 | 10/15/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. the contact stated that she heard a clicking sound during deceleration. a mechanic diagnosed the cause of failure as a worn out range hub in the transfer case. the contact stated that she could never get out of 4 wheel drive, which burns more gas and activates components that are unnecessary during normal driving. the current mileage is 73,000 and failure mileage was 70,000. updated 02-01-08 *bf | |||
| 01/13/2007 | 96000 | 3 | 08/28/2003 |
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. after installing two new tires on the front of the vehicle the contact heard a thumping sound while driving. the dealer stated that the sound was caused by the difference in tread between the new tires and older rear tires, causing the front differential and transfer case to fail. the current and failure mileages were 96,000.*ak | |||
| 10/27/2006 | 89583 | 3 | 04/12/2006 |
| I bought a 2003 ford explorer the end of april 2006 at time of purchase abs light was on- dealer fixed problem within first 1 1/2 weeks of purchase after ordering a part. now 6 months after purchase the check engine and o/d light come on unexpectantly. within 1 week of lights coming on car stops on me unexpectantly. when taken to a repair shop for i am told i need a new alternator and a rebuilt transmission as the suv slips out of 2nd and 5th gears. i didn't purchase an extended warranty due to thinking it was still under original warranty and just purchased. i felt the dealership should have overhauled the vehicle and made sure everything was working up to par. i now have a repair bill of almost $2000 and don't feel responsible for it. | |||
| 02/19/2005 | 38914 | 100 | 12/08/2003 |
| Clutch in transfer case defective. causes vehicle to shift into 4 wheel drive unexpectedly.*ak | |||
| 07/01/2004 | 1 | 07/24/2003 | |
| Various complaints involving the 2003 ford explorer xlt.*mr consumer believed that noise on vehicle was coming from rear. repairs and/or replacements were made on: front and rear suspensions, transfer case, and seals in the rear axle due to leak. now, consumer is waiting for a new axle assembly to be replaced on the vehicle. also, a cooling system noise on vehicle but dealer coudn't find the source of the problem. *la | |||