general problems of the 2003 Ford Explorer - part 1

2003 Ford Explorer. Consumer writes in regard to defective throttle in model vehicle.

Shift lever broke off inside steering column of my wife's Explorer when changing from park to drive to exit from a boat launch ramp with no boat on the trailer. Vehicle was towed on a flatbed wrecker to my garage. Broken element ( see photos) was not replaceable by itself. Steering column had to be replaced. This was not normal wear and tear, but rather a faulty /weak component that represents a danger. I have noted reports of identical incidents online. Thus far, neither the dealer nor Ford national "customer service" is prepared to reimburse.

My 2003 Ford Explorer xls is having issues with the automatic transmission. When I accelerate from a stopped position, the transmission stalls, slips and delays when it shifts into the next gear. As I searched for issues with the transmission I found 100's of complaints regarding this matter. From what I have found, the transmission is a design flaw.

I purchased my 03 Ford Explorer back in 2/15. It looked like I purchased a very very good used vehicle. Everything has been fine with it up until 2 weeks ago. My door ajar light keeps coming on when everything is closed, the od light is blinking non stop and the trunk window opens by itself when I am driving. When im driving it feels like the car is trying to "catch up". Like it knows I'm trying to do a certain speed but its way below and after a min. Or so, then it will go the correct speed. I had it hooked up to a diagnostic tool and its giving me the code of p7032 (something like that). Something about 2nd gear of trans? ive been told that this is a known issue with this make, model and year. . Ive also ready 100s of reviews and complaints on these issues. What I don't seem to understand is why isn't Ford doing anything about this???? if you are a manufacturer and see all these complaints and reviews (which I'm sure they do) then why aren't these vehicles getting recalled? I'm not rich in any way fashion or form. I'm a single mother of 4 who works full time and receives no gov't assistance. If I would have known that this is a "known" issue I would never have spent my hard earned money. . . . Does anyone know if anything is being done about this??.

Being that I am disabled, I'm affraid that when the transmission finally goes completely out, I'll be straned somewhere or the SUV will cause a wreck and hurt/kill me or someone else. There have been thousands of complaints about the transmission on this Explorer that a recall should have been sent out. I can not affored the repair cost or the cost of another SUV/car, please help!.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. While driving 45 mph, the transmission experienced difficulty shifting from first into second gear. When it shifted, an abnormal sound was heard. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it diagnosed that the transmission needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 152,000.

We have recurring wheel bearing and hub assembly issue. The timing I put on the form may be off a bit but not much. Its all like a recurring Ford Explorer nightmare at this point! we have replaced bearings, hib assembly, tie rod, then rear end went up ( and shouldn't have)/now again, another bearing and wheel sensor. The truck cuts out when at a slower speed. I lost steering a few months ago while driving and when I try to put it in gear, sometimes it won't move. I have called Ford, nhtsb and no one is willing to make Ford recall these issues and Ford won't do the right thing knowing it's an ongoing problem with a lot of Fords! please someone help! I have multiple sclerosis and a heart issue. I need a safe reliable car and can't afford to get another one. Someone, please do the right thing here! I know its an older model and I question if this is why the recall isn't happening. Idk but this isn't right. The truck is sitting out front needing an additional $700 of work . After rear end, tie rod, bearings, brakes in the past several months, we have no way to fix this lemon. Always been Ford but if they or a governing agency doesn't help. . Never a Ford again. Look at all the complaints for the same thing!!!! shameful.

Was leaving gas station, shifted from park to drive, shift lever broke off into my hand. Obviously a defect, as I have over 2 million miles under my belt, driven numerous cars & trucks, and have never had this happen before in over 40 years of driving, both personally and professionally. I see there are hundreds of similar complaints for this, why is there no recall??.

The transmission light, 4ã¿4 and the od light came on. It does shift gear from 1 to 2 until 3000 rpm.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly decelerated down to approximately 45 mph and the over drive warning sensor light illuminated. Also, the contact indicated that during the incident the vehicle failed to shift into gear. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 156,000.

Tl- the contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle would not accelerate and the transmission would malfunction while in third gear. The contact also indicated that while driving up hills the failure would occur and the overdrive and check engine sensor lights would illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 94000. Jft.

Transmission od light flashing, slamming into gear while shifting. We had the pan dropped and found pieces of the gears inside. . . Need a total rebuild or new transmission. After reading all of the problems with this year and model I believe Ford needs to make some kind of recall. . . .

Truck jerks when trying to pick up speed picks up speed very slow sometimes doesn't want to go in drive.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the over drive light illuminated and the vehicle lost acceleration power while traveling various speeds. The contact also mentioned that a grinding noise was heard. The local mechanic performed a diagnostic but was unable to locate a failure code. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 185,697.

I have had to had the transmission replaced 3 times so far on this vehicle. After looking online and talking to the transmittion shops in the area, this seems to be a problem (at least for the Ford owner) with this year of the Ford transmission. One estimate is they see this year at least 4-5 times in a two week span. The entire 2003 Ford transmittion seems faulty and costing custmers thousands of dollars to fix. Ford has been asked to investigate their transmission for this year with no resolve (at least not to the public). If a transmittion fails on an uphill and the owner does not catch on fast they may cause an accident.

Flashing o/d off, check transmission, and check engine lights went on. Took to transmission service CO for inspection. There response was this model Ford transmission was no good. They flushed system, added new fluid and asked that I pray for extra miles. That was Nov. '13. Now Feb '14, transmission lighting same check lights. Total re-build likely at $2500 +/_. Complaints on 2003 Explorers at carcomplaints. Com are extremely out of control signaling something wrong. Please inquire about this defect and the 2003 Explorer in general.

1. Transmission does not let you accelarate. Pressure builds up while you are pressing on the gas pedal and it doesn't increase your speed until 10 seconds or so of pressing the gas pedal, and than it explodes and you are thrust back with the acceleration. Very dangerous when you are trying to change lanes or are entering the highway. Lack of acceleration has almost got us into a few accidents. 2. Sensors are not functioning, constantly telling me that the doors are open. I don't know when a door is actually open or not. 3. The rear hatch is cracked and I'm afraid it doesn't provide enough stable prorectection for the rear glass to be held in place properply.

Driving on interstate at high speed. O/d and tramission lights came on tramission died!.

I was driving down I-10 at 3:30 in the afternoon on my way home and my 2003 Ford Explorer out of no were whent in reverse I was about an inch away from hitting the car behind me. My children were crying scared and I too was shaking tried to make it home but my car wouldnt go past 20mph and we got stuck at the gas station had to get towed to my house. I have been told that I need a new transmision and cannot afford one I just bought the car a year ago. Thank you Ford for almost killing me and my children!.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the overdrive and check engine transmission warning lights both illuminated upon starting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis but no cause for failure was found. The vehicle would also jerk and lunge forward when the contact was driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the transmission would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 154,615.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated the over-drive light illuminated while driving 65 mph and the vehicle slowed down to 20 mph. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer stated the transmission was defective and needed to be replaced. The contact did not replace the transmission. The failure mileage was 110,000.

I was driving my 2003 Ford Explorer and I was going about 40 miles per hr. I was approaching a red light, and as I was braking my vehicle accelerated without me having my foot on the gas paddle. I have had major transmission work (re-built trans, $3000) on my vehicle, in which I had to take it back to the transmission repair shop three times, yet I continue to have unexplained problems. The vehicle seems to be unsafe for me to drive at this time.

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.

Transmission shifts hard and clunks, is not safe to drive. The estimate repair is around $ 3,400. Will never buy a Ford again.

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. .

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?.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the over drive light illuminated and the vehicle shifted erratically. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 96,706.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 35 mph the overdrive 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.

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.

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.

Engine revs to nearly 5000 rpm before slamming into 2nd gear. Had several mechanics tell me that these transmissions are junk.

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.

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.

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.

Locked up and failed causing accident.