CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2003 Ford Explorer one of our worst vehicles on record. "Avoid like the plague" is putting it lightly.
The 2002-2005 Explorer has a very well-established record of expensive transmission failure at under 100k miles. The Explorer has an enclosed transmission which is typically replaced with a rebuilt transmission at a cost of almost $3,000.
Another common problem for the 2002-2003 Explorer is wheel bearing failure at around 90k miles, with a typical repair bill of $500 to $1000 depending on how many wheel bearings failed.
Adding insult to injury, the 2002-2005 Explorer also has a massive problem with the rear panel cracking. While it's a minor annoyance compared to transmission failure, ironically the crack usually goes right through the Ford logo.
This is the last Ford I will ever buy. Piece of junk. Problems from the start with transmission, ball bearings (all bearings have been replaced) and now the body starts fail
falling apart. Dealer says its our problem. Sent registered letter to Ford Motor Co and
new Chief Executive (can't remember his name right now) and they essentially told
The crack appeared small, but has expanded and spread. I just saw another Explorer 1 year older (2002) with the same problem and after reading other complaints feel this is an obvious defect with the materials used and Ford should repair at no charge.
The panel below the glass on my lift gate cracked this last week. I have noticed many Explorers with this problem. I figured it was a matter of time before mine would break. I will call Ford about this but I am sure they will tell me usual answer they give. Everytime I have a problem with this "Fart Exploder" they tell me no one else has had this problem. This is Fords standard answer. I have owned six Fords. I will never buy another. I bought a new Honda in April 2007. Great SUV.
This is just not acceptable. Clearly this is some kind of design flaw on Ford's part and they need to address it and fix it on their dime. This is the only and definitely the last American made vehicle my wife and I will ever purchase.
- Jose M.,
McAllen, TX, US
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I went to the dealer for a oil change and mentioned the sudden appearance of a crack in the rear lift gate. There was another gentleman at the dealership with the exact same problem. We tried to appeal to the service manager for a fair remedy to what is obviously a design problem and Ford could have cared less. They told me the vehicle is out of warranty and there is no recall. The people at Malouf Ford in North Brunswick NJ said since there is no recall, it would cost ME $800 to fix this problem.
I called Ford Customer Service and they said there is nothing they can do. I asked what has to happen to get a recall and they said it's up to THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC & SAFETY ASSOCIATION. So I hope others will join me and contact this association ( I plan to google to find the contact information) and let's try to get this issue resolved. We should not have to pay for what is obviously a design flaw.
The gentleman in the dealership who has the same problem with the cracked lift gate, said he has done research and FORD DID RECALL CERTAIN EXPLORERS FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT ONLY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS BUILT AT A CERTAIN PLANT. Obviously the recall needs to be expanded to include more factories. Complain people
I called Ford and they said there was no recall and no history of the problem... after looking at the complaint log, I see that they were obviously lying! I never use the rear window gate, I always use the whole door gate. I'm contacting my news action team locally to see if they can help.
This crack occurred by itself and I had not even used the hatch. Now I noticed that the crack has spread below the Ford emblem as well. We have had issues with the mechanics in the dealership we purchased the car trying to advise that things needed to be fixed that did not, but had not had issues with the vehicle itself. We are planning to go to the dealership (knowing it is a waste of time) and will call the Ford Customer Service number listed. A class action suit is a good idea - I will not buy another Ford product if they do not stand behind this problem. We recently purchased a 2007 Honda because we are fed up with the American automakers complaining about not buying American. We always had in the past and look where we are with this vehicle! I think it is criminal that there is a problem out there and they are not standing behind their product.
Kimberly on this board has a address in which you can e-mail the NTSB about our problem. It only takes a couple of minutes to fill out the questions and we need all the help that we can get in order to keep Ford responsible for their defects. Take a few minutes and go to the site, it may make a difference.
I'm serious about this problem and I'm prepared to stop at 0 to make Ford fix my vehicle.
I was aware of the problem because my brother has one with a crack and I had noticed how many of the Explorers in my area are cracked. Yesterday I found my own. I am shocked that Ford does not want to protect it's customer base by addressing this problem.
Ford customer service was not helpful. The dealer said that the cracked panel is plastic applied with double sided tape! It only costs $70 for a new panel, but $200 for painting. They said it is not at all structural and the pieces will not fall off. The car has performed well until now but it only has 38,000 miles on it.
Only other problem was motors on the windows which worked only intermittently. they replaced these during the warranty period.
I also have a 2003 ford explorer cracked panel to lefty of ford emblem 1 large crack then spits again into 2 half way through, really pissed about it, just bought car 7 months ago, dealer wants 500 bucks to fix, has anyone had any luck getting ford to pay for it, or are we jusu SOL, Best of luck to everyone
This vehicle has 3 cracks in the back tailgate panel, 1 of which is about 4 inches long. We took it to the local Ford dealers bodyshop and the manager told us that he sees it all the time in all the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury SUV's. He said that Ford knows about the problem but will not conduct a recall. He advised going to the dealer and asking them to fix it. I did but to no prevaol because the car is out of warranty. They gave me a number to call Ford and ask for their help in getting it fixed and I did. It was a waste of time!! Ford doesn't care about fixing my car that they know is a defect from the factory and for that reason I will never own another Ford in my life!!
My 2003 also has the cracked panel. I originally went to Ford and was told that I must have hit it and caused the crack. I started noticing other Explorer with the same problem. One of my friends had a 2004 and hers cracked as well. She went to Ford and they told her that it was not under warranty and she too must have hit something. Since then I have spoken again to Ford and they have admitted that it's a problem and they will fix it, if I pay $100 deductible. What a ripe off? Why should we pay a cent for a manufacturer defect? Some one had suggested a class action. I think that's a great idea..I'm in!!
Same as everyone else I have seen 6 cracked panels in one day around town, I called Ford and they said there is no re-call, the rep acted as if she never heard of this problem, what liars they are, I called the dealership and they will charge me $150 to fix what a rip off, I will never buy another Ford EVER.
I had the same crack occur last January that 93 others have mentioned here. It happened on a day that was around 5 degrees outside. I was parked in a lot and when I came outside after two hours, the crack was there. Funny thing is that I met a guy three years earlier who was driving an '02 Explorer. I asked him how he liked the car and his only complaint was that he cracked his lift gate plastic trim panel when he slammed it too hard. I bought my Explorer soon after and made sure EVERY time I closed the glass that I didn't do it too hard. This happened all by itself. They really have to step up and replace these when they fail, for FREE. It is a bad advertisement for Ford when there is an ugly crack right next to their logo!
I called the customer service number today and registered my complaint. I'm not holding my breath...
Another case to add for the cracked rear panel below the Ford emblem. I called the dealership and was told to bring it in because they had heard of this problem already. Once I was there, I was told that neither the manufacturer or extended warranty covered this(how convenient). I'm not a quiet customer so they offered me to pay 25% of the $300 repair. When I picked up the vehicle I was shocked to be billed $327! They said I misunderstood the quote(Not true, my husband also heard the quote) Then I oversaw how much they were actually billed from the body shop and the invoice said $327 (I took a picture of it with my cell phone before the manager yanked it away)! So I became unquiet at their busy Saturday morning dealership and they brought it down to $216. I paid the bill angry to get my car back. So even if they try to work things with you, they still get you. And that is what you get when you purchase a $30,000 car from FORD.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
This is the last Ford I will ever buy. Piece of junk. Problems from the start with transmission, ball bearings (all bearings have been replaced) and now the body starts fail
falling apart. Dealer says its our problem. Sent registered letter to Ford Motor Co and
new Chief Executive (can't remember his name right now) and they essentially told
me to go fly a kite. American made cars stink!
- Bernard B., Warrior, AL, US