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.
Customer - My 2003 Explorer 4.0 AWD 126700 was shifting fine, then, it started staying in 1st too long, O/D light flashing, check engine light came on. Transmission shop said the servo ports needed to be bored, brass sleeves inserted/transmission rebuilt $2000. I went to the above website, saw that the symptoms were the same as what I had, ordered the modified servos, had a shop install them, and vehicle shifts like new. Total cost for parts and installation less than $700. Check it out
I can not understand why Ford has not sent out any recalls on this problem. I just had this sympton start today. I searched on the Internet and couldn't believe that there are 125 cases just on this FORUM alone.
I am affraid to bring it to my trusty transmission gurus, becasue i do not need a bill of $4,000 or so right now. I have never towed anything with it. I am the second owner and when I bought it the hitch had never been used.
It seems that I am the only Canadian with this problem. But reading all the other complaints with the same problem and reading that FORD knows of the situation, then I belive we should start a class action law suite.
It is my first FORD but I will not buy another one again. I would rather take my chances with one of the other Domestic car builders..
OMG! I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORE THAT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY! First the o/d light flash and now the check engine light is one. It takes time for the truck to switch from first gear and go into second. I have to take my foot off the gas and that's when it will switch from first to second gear. I so not have the money for a new transmission. So I was told you can pay around $400 to switch out the gears. Sometimes that work and if not guess what you will need???? YUP A NEW TRANSMISSION. I am so mad at FORD right now. I will never purchase another FORD in my life!
Absolutely no warning before transmission went out. Just bought this car before winter set in and now I'm back to walking or finding rides until we can get this fixed. Oh and don't have the money to do so right now.
I purchased this Eddie Bauer Explorer 11 months ago from Shawnee Mission Ford. It has been back to the service center every 4 weeks or less since I drove it off the lot. First was the HEGO sensor, then the wheel baring, next a transmission gasket, then other misc transmission issues (I don't have my records in front of me currently), and about 9 other major problems. The dealership refuses to right the wrong doing... the best they can offer me with this show stopper is an "estimated $4,800 replacement" which is completely unacceptable considering all else I've been through with Ford and this vehicle.
My warranty expired and they failed to make any mention of it. The sales rep and finance manager had left me with the impression that I was covered to 124,000 miles with what I had purchased... apparently this was not the case either.
If this was an isolated case where this was the only issue I'd ever had with this vehicle, I'd understand having to foot the bill for the repair, but taking into consideration that I can't even keep the thing out of the shop for more than one month at a time, I am an extremely unhappy Ford owner and a less than pleased Shawnee Mission Ford customer!!!!
I am just adding this to the complaint I just filled out, I have an 03 Explorer and the O/D light keeps flashing when I get over 30 mph. I have been told that I do not have 2nd and 5th geer and that it will cost about $1500 and up to fix it and it's not fair to me or my 4 kids to be without a vehicle since I don't have the money to fix it.
- barrett_d,
Buffalo, NY, US
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Same problem everyone else has, son saw the flashing od on the way home from prom, I saw the service engine light, pulled cables from battery to clear, light was on in 2 days. Contacted Ford Dealer, couldn't get us in for 3 days (wonder why, too many other trannys). FInally got in, called 5 hours later, they wanted 3890 for a rebuilt or some unspecified amount to try and rebuild, also wanted to replace my front brakes, said a caliper was stuck (they replace the brakes constantly, no issue 3 months back when they last had the car). Anyone want to buy an Explorer for parts ;-0, I'm done with ford, bought my wife a Mazda while I was waiting for the appointment.
Transmission started slipping at the end of July. Took it to a transmission shop and they thought at first it was the gear linkage but it turns out it wasn't. Could not find anything wrong at the time so we brought it home. Then transmission started not going into gear and then the o/d light started flashing then the service engine light came on. Took it back to the transmission shop and now they are saying it needs a new transmission at the cost of 2200.00. This is on top of the clanking that happens when you turn your air conditioning from cold to hot and the cracked rear panel under the back glass. Will not buy another Ford.
Same as everyone else. O/D light started flashing!!! Check engine light comes on. Took it to a local garage and ran the codes. Says solenoids are bad. In my case my transmission hasn't acted up. It shifts normal but even after reset of Computer the O/D and Check Engine light comes on. North Carolina will fail me on my emissions test because Check engine light is tied into transmission failure. I suspect either an electrical problem or solenoids are failing. Ford Garages near Military Bases here in North Carolina will rip your wallet apart. Not looking forward to the trip.
I have had this Explorer since October 2010. I have had to replace the transfer case $800 plus dollars first then the o/d light started flashing then check engine light came on now transmission needs replaced and the lift gate is cracked. All of these problems are common problems reported on several websites and made known to Ford but obviously this isn't a concern to them. My transmission will cost me $2200 to replace and a huge inconvenience at that, and why would anyone ever not put a dipstick on a vehicle so the transmission fluid can be checked?????????? I have spoken with several people and am preparing to file a class action lawsuit. If you are interested feel free to email me at longmindy24@yahoo.com THANK YOU TO ANYONE WILLING TO HELP
Anyone wanting to become part of a class action Lawsuit against Ford Motor Company please email or call me with your information. I need to retain an attorney but have to have enough people willing to become part of this suit. I will follow up with everyone on a weekly basis or daily if I need to until we get this ball rollin. Please help yourself and the others that are struggling with these cars with no help from Ford, Please email me @longmindy24@yahoo.com or call 240-727-4459
would not shift from 3rd to o/d' o/d light started flashing. check engine light came on. called transmission place and they said it would cost 14 to 1900 dollars to fix. he said servo broke in transmission. my husband and i are on social security and so is our son .
we cannot afford to fix and still owe $9000 on this car.
the dealer who sold it to us is no longer in business
we may have to have it repossessed and ruin our credit
Let me begin by SCREAMING $4050, for the exact same problem that everyone here has been describing. O/D light blinking off and on, then service engine light comes on and the car rivals up after 30 mph. UGHHHH!!! I am seriously disappointed that Ford has not recalled this and so many of us loyal Ford customers have to suffer and come out of our pocket whether it be to fix the problem or purchase another vehicle. I will never purchase another Ford again based on the treatment I received regarding this issue. My husband is in the military deployed and they wouldn't even offer me a decent discount, I was out of a vehicle for an entire week and had to depend on others for transportation because Ford does not provide loaner vehicles. If there is a Class Action Lawsuite please email me at crystaldlife@gmail.com.
In reading on the internet there is a history of problems with this vehicle and the transmission. If that wasn't enough as soon as we got the car out of the shop my wife drove it to an automated car wash and the drying mechanism blew of a section below the rear window. No fault to the car wash.
We got this explorer 9 months ago. We needed it for the room with kids,dog,etc. Well bam 3 days ago the O/D light starts flashing and the transmissions starts shifting really hard and hesitating. We are like everyone else right now and cant just run right down to ford and say hey give me a new tranmission. We have looked online for a transmission and the cheapest we have found is $1100.00! Well let me just right a check! NOT! This is the only vechile we have at the moment and as you all know no one will take a truck on trade with a bad tranny.
My husband call the National Highway Safety Deptarment and complained. They said in 4 to 8 weeks we will get paper work to fill out and if there are enough complaints there will be a lawsuit! I also called Ford customer care with no luck. They took my complaint and said it would be looked at by ford. Well Big Deal! So call complain do what you need to do,because ford is not standing by there Built Ford Tough! I have always loved ford untill now, I will not buy another ford knowing that they are so sorry to not address the problem!Please let me know if there are any lawsuits going on thaks!
O/D Light flashing, Service Engine soon light on and Tranny is slipping bad out of first gear. I have never missed an oil change and take great care of my truck. I am very disappointed. UNBELIEVABLE
I have owned (8 Ford vechicles and currently own (2) Explorers. So I have been a loyal customer. However, my 2003 Ford Explorer only had about 38,000 miles and the transmission had to be replace. This was the worst ever and then to know that hundreds of other Ford Explorers have the same problem. Why isn't there a recall?
Apparently, this transmission problem is common in Ford Explorers, however, I was never informed of this!!!!! I will NEVER buy another Ford vehicle!!!!
First my "check engine" light illuminated sometime in mid June 2010. I have had it check out-tune up; filter changed, the electrical system revamped-the engine light came on again in November. In December is when the vehicle started cutting off while driving....I can feel the sluggishness in the transmission-how it would get loud then channels down to some since of normalcy then the O/D lights began to flash at which time I began to panic but the engine light goes out. So I decided to do some research and discovered this is a common occurrence to which FORD refuses to address. Which lead me to this forum. Class action suit, yes I’m on board with that! By the way, this is my third explorer.
i BOUGHT THIS suv NEW,HAD ALL THE SERVICES ON TIME AND ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING ALONG MY O/D LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH THAN THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON.wHEN I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THEY TOLD ME THAT I COULD HAVE IT REBUILDED OR GET A NEW ONE,THE REPAIRMAN DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEAL TO REPLACE WITH THE SAME KIND OF TRANSMISSION , HE SAID I WOULD BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS MADE OF ALUM. AND RODS RUBBING, AND HE ALSO SAID FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THATS WHY THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN. THIS IS THE LAST STRAW WITH FORD AND ME , I'M GOING TO BUY ME A TOYOTA
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I can not understand why Ford has not sent out any recalls on this problem. I just had this sympton start today. I searched on the Internet and couldn't believe that there are 125 cases just on this FORUM alone.
I am affraid to bring it to my trusty transmission gurus, becasue i do not need a bill of $4,000 or so right now. I have never towed anything with it. I am the second owner and when I bought it the hitch had never been used.
It seems that I am the only Canadian with this problem. But reading all the other complaints with the same problem and reading that FORD knows of the situation, then I belive we should start a class action law suite.
It is my first FORD but I will not buy another one again. I would rather take my chances with one of the other Domestic car builders..
- drkangel, Ottawa, Ontario, canada