Four problems related to driveshaft have been reported for the 2003 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2003 Explorer.
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.
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.
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.
The drive shaft was replaced.