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.
Rear window washer sprayer didn't work. I checked under the hood located a hose that came disconnected. attached it and it worked for a while. Then all of a sudden no fluid coming out of sprayer again. Checked under the hood again everything was connected. Some where towards the back is where I suspect a hose has been disconnected. I just haven't had the patience to try to locate it. So I do with out a washer fluid sprayer for the rear window. So many problems with this generation explorer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Rear window washer sprayer didn't work. I checked under the hood located a hose that came disconnected. attached it and it worked for a while. Then all of a sudden no fluid coming out of sprayer again. Checked under the hood again everything was connected. Some where towards the back is where I suspect a hose has been disconnected. I just haven't had the patience to try to locate it. So I do with out a washer fluid sprayer for the rear window. So many problems with this generation explorer.
- Mark G., Corpus Christi, TX, US