5.9
fairly significantTypical Repair Cost:
$300.00
Average Mileage:
51,857 miles
Total Complaints:
14 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (11 reports)
- take to a body shop and paint (3 reports)
body / paint problem
Helpful Websites About 2003 Ford Explorer black plastic panels between windows fade and crack
2006Feb 26
Explorer Eddie Bauer V6
- Automatic transmission
- 30,000 miles
Just like all the rest. Came back from skiing and there it was...the crack of death over the Ford logo. Maybe it was a message from ? Couple hundred bucks later and a week or two the replacement piece fell off. Poor body work at the dealership. This vehicle has had problems since day one from computer module, ($800) faulty engine light sensor, ($100) gears in the differential ($1200), cruise control ($400) and most recently, the entire transmission, ($3300) and not yet 80,000 miles. Ford is staying in business with all the repairs as these all seem to be pretty common issues. Edsel was just the beginning.
2009Jun 05
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 72,000 miles
Came out one day to get in the car and there it was....crack running from center of hatch to base of hatch. Stress crack running just to the left of FORD logo....I called Ford and they said noone has complained of this problem. If I fixed it, it would just occur again begin what I believe to be design problem with it since I have seen so many other cars on the road with the same flaw. I have been additionall have a problem with the door ajar light. After reading other complaints...I now realize the door ajar has to do with the hatch not being securely/completely closed with the crack. Otherwise I have had no problems with this vehicle.....I sure wised FORD would fix this obviously design problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Jan 04
Explorer XLT 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 55,000 miles
Add me to the list. Plastic cracked on the rear door by the Ford emblem. I was told it was due to metal and plastic glued together but having different expansion rates. The crack has "only" been cosmetic- it doesn't allow water into the vehicle. Junk engineering.
2005Jun 01
Explorer XLT 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 20,000 miles
finish almost completely gone now,really a cheap finish by Ford.I guess a Lear jet is more important to them than customer satisfaction and doing a quality job.
2007Jan 01
Explorer XLT V6
- Manual transmission
- 70,000 miles
The exterior of this 2003 Explorer looks terrible. I have paint issues on hood, paint peeling & cracking on trim between & around windows and the plastic trim is all fading. I've also had issues with interior trim (fabric pulling out on seat retainer & visor), visor vanity cover broke off, flash on molded A and B pillars (plastic that holds seat belts for both driver and passenger). This is my 5th Ford Explorer product - and my LAST Ford purchase. I've had 3 Explorers with a warranty recall on rear window. This is terrible.
oh- I forgot about the seat belts not retracting properly.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Jan 01
Explorer XLT V6
- Manual transmission
- 70,000 miles
see comments on complaint relating to paint issues on hood - I am a very very disappointed Ford owner.
2007Jan 22
Explorer XLT 4.0V6
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
Paint fades and flakes off between windows, on black painted surfaces. Caused from the sun. You can't leave this vehicle in the sun!
Quality product!
2007Jun 01
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 42,000 miles
Fading body panels just makes the thing look cheap. I looked all over for a faded 4 Runner, Highlander, Rav 4, Cr-V, Pilot, Pathfinder, Xterra.....I got nothin'! Expeditions, Explorers are all over the place....fancy lookin'. Looks aged like a fine wine.
2007Aug 01
Explorer XLT 4.0L, V6
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
This is crap, how does something like this go unnoticed, someone should put it in the news. I have my plastic panels fading at the top. It is ugly and need to be replaced.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Jul 01
Explorer Eddie Bauer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 48,000 miles
I noticed the finish on the black trim between the windows peeling this summer. Silly me, I thought it was maybe because of the RainX treatment that I had put on the car at the automatic car wash. Now I see that others have the same problem. So I can just chalk it up to having purchased a poorly built Ford.
2007Oct 29
(reported on)Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
At around 50,000 i noticed the black panels between the door were fading at the top and noticed they were peeling...not very attractive.
2007Aug 15
(reported on)Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.6L V-8
- Automatic transmission
- 50,000 miles
DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS RE. ANY CRACKS IN THE TAILGATE, AS REPORTED BY UR NUMEROUS READERS, BUT I HAVE NOTICED THIS YEAR AN UNUSUAL FADING/CRACKING OF PAINT IN THE TOP CORNERS OF ALL FOUR DOOR PANELS (INCLUDING BOTH TOP CORNERS OF TAILGATE), WHERE THE THE DOOR MEETS THE TOP TRIM... SEEING AS MY VEHICLE IS BLACK IN COLOR, U CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE UNSIGHTLY... BOUGHT IT USED FROM CARMAX, SO I'M GONNA B RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COSMETIC REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET... I LOVE GENERALLY LOVE THE TRUCK, EXCEPT 4 DEPLORABLE GAS MILEAGE, BUT MAY RECONSIDER "EXPLORING" DIFFERENT VEHICLE OPTIONS WHEN PAYMENTS R UP
2007Jan 14
(reported on)Explorer XLT 4.0
- Automatic transmission
- 58,000 miles
Started noticing that the glossy black window panel trim was starting to fade around 50k miles. Now it looks pretty bad. I've never used harsh detergents or other cleaning material on the car. Looks like it is losing it's finish.
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your body / paint problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2006Feb 01
Explorer XLT-LTD 4.0L V8
Well like many other complaints, the back panel under the rear window is cracked. At first the single crack was annoying at best. Now another crack has formed along with a horizontal split and it looks like *%+^. I wonder how many Ford exec's would ride around with this unpleasant display? I don't think I will stop buying Fords but I may take a little longer before I do, (research, complaints etc) I want to support our USA products so much, but my gosh Honda's, Toy's, Hundais sure seem to back their product a little better.
Michael C.
Portsmouth, VA, USA
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