wheels / hubs problem
7.3
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$528.00
Average Mileage:
60,174 miles
Number of complaints:
26 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace wheel bearing (22 reports)
- not sure (4 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2003 Ford Explorer front wheel bearing failure
2008Aug 20
Explorer XLS 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 48,000 miles
After changing the stock tires that wore out at around 35k, I put slightly more aggressive tires on (same size) so I assumed the noise that developed was due to them, but it turns out it was both front wheels bearings. I only wish I did the work myself as it ran my $810, and who knows what else is going to pop up with this car.
2008Jul 01
Explorer XLT 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 80,000 miles
The front wheel bearing started making some noise so I climbed underneath for a look and checked the manual. What I see is a part that looks like it was designed for a short life. The narrow bearing pack looks like it has to endure an unnatural twisting force. I guess it was cheap and easy for Ford to install. Did I mention the transmission failed too. It's an automatic without a dipstick that was supposed to go 100,000 miles before service. It was gone at 63,000. I begged my wife not to buy this vehicle to begin with and now I have to fix it.
2008Mar 11
Explorer AWD 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 52,000 miles
replaced Front Wheel Hubs, Loud humming noise from front end.
2008Jun 09
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 53,000 miles
I feel a rubbing, almost grinding sensation through the steering wheel coming from the driver front wheel. I was told my wheel bearing was loose. Since it's a hub style bearing it's about $250 for just the part. The Exploder only has 53k miles on it. This shouldn't happen. Now I just wait for the other wheel bearings to fail. I think it's worth mentioning this is a TIMKEN bearing. They deserve the blame/credit for this lovely design.
2005May 01
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 30,000 miles
Took the Explorer to Capital Ford in Wilmington NC for front end noise. Dealer told me that it was tire noise and not to worry about it. Well.......Bought new tires and the problem did not heal itself. Bought new tires at 66K and the problem was still there. A suggestion is thjat if you think it is tire noise, drive on a dirt road and compare. My drive on the dirt road did not improve at all. Bought some new tires because I needed them and the noise did not improve. Although I liked the massage to my hands through the steering wheel, I admitted that there was another problem. I searched the web the other day after the noise was still getting worse and found a few disgruntled consumers with the Ford dealerships and their usual "tire noise" answer. Well, I replaced the front wheel hubs this morning and all is well now; the left hub was a real mess once I got it off, but the right was ok. Replaced both of them anyway. The Explorer is running smooth. Since I did the repair myself it only cost me $460.00 for all of the parts and my labor was approx. 2 hrs. Since the front calipers were off, I also did the brakes too. This is included in the price.
2008May 06
Explorer XLT
- Automatic transmission
- 73,000 miles
Had to replace both the left and right front wheel bearings, lots of vibration, almost sounded like the all wheel drive was on all the time.
At a cost of $373 per side, the truck is once again very smooth.
2008Apr 29
Explorer 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 53,063 miles
Round 2 on the front wheel bearing/hub. First time was at 39,000 miles left front bearing was replaced. This time at 52,000 miles both right and left front bearings/hubs were replaced. How many more times will this happen?? I am so happy that I got the extended service. But jeez how often should a front wheel bearing/hub be replaced????
I used to do just about all my vehicle service and I have never had wheel bearing issues like this Explorer. :(
I am debating whether I should just sell this vehicle while its still worth something. And then go buy a Honda pilot. I own a Ridgeline and have only seen one complaint here on this web sight about it.
2007Jun 16
Explorer 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 39,045 miles
39,000 miles and a wheel bearing needs replaced? Wow! never happened that early to me before and I have owned and operated many vehicles for the last 25 years
2008Apr 08
Explorer XLT 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 76,000 miles
I have felt a slight buzz in the steering wheel above 50 mph for the past few weeks. Took it to the Ford dealer who provided the local village idiot to tell me that the Explorer felt normal, gave up on that route. Checked the front end and all seemed ok, no play detected in the front wheel bearings. Rather than risk a front wheel making a break for freedom at 80 mph while on I-95, I decided to replace both front hubs/bearings today; when the hubs were removed I could feel significant roughness in the drivers side wheel bearing. The steering wheel buzz has gone with the installation of new hubs/bearings. Thankfully it is a simple job, and took two hours with only a medium amount of bad language required.
The design of the hub is poor, the wheel bearing seems insufficient for the required load. It looks as if the wheel knuckle would take a bigger ( deeper by 0.5 inches) bearing with a slightly shorter drive shaft. Ford need to come up with a recall/fix for this POS design.
2008Mar 31
Explorer XLT
- Automatic transmission
- 63,300 miles
I purchased the "EXPLOSION" at 53,000 miles thinking it would be very dependable - Always change the oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles, regular tune-ups, Tires replaced, balanced, etc. However, in approximately January, 2008, I started hearing a slight noise in the front end. I am very aware of how vehicles work and knew this was not normal. I mentioned it to my husband who said it could be the Tires making noise, so I just let it go. I asked my brother in law to take a look at the Brakes to make sure they were not rubbing or needed changing. He changed the front Brakes (although they did not look worn) and the noise continued. It reached a point that it sounded like I was riding on huge TRACTOR TIRES! I told my husband that it had to be the Right Wheel Bearing because that is where the noise is coming from. Fortunately he is very Mechanically inclined; purchased the part and replaced the Right Side. I drove it that afternoon and the noise did get better, but not completely gone. When I drove it the next day it now sounds like it is coming from the LEFT side!!!!!!!! Well here we go again! BOTH AT ONCE?????????? I am completely discouraged now (especially after reading all of the other complaints). Guess I should tell my husband to start saving money to replace his on his Truck.
2008Mar 10
Explorer LT V8
- Automatic transmission
- 96,000 miles
I understand that this is a very common problem. They day I took my Explorer in, the mechanic had just finished on another Explorer. Said he had repaired two bearings about three months ago and then the other two went out. Nice. I can hardly wait.
2008Feb 18
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
All Fords are piece of &*%@. Bought mine at 59000 perfect condition 5000 miles later wheel bearing issue all 4 bearings loud noise from front and rear transmission slips and is hard sometimes shocks are all dead car is very slow bad mpg like 11 engine belt is loud now might have to spend at least 2000+ to fix this shit and sell it %$^%#(*&^*$%##*%& ford
2008Feb 04
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.6L
- Automatic transmission
- 62,000 miles
Just another problem in a growing list of problems with the vehicle.
2008Jan 27
(reported on)Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 55,500 miles
Car is in the shop now with three out of four wheel bearings needing replacement (along with one rear axle). Expecting a $1700 bill. After completion of these repairs, they will listen to see if rear differential is also making noise; if yes, add another $1000.
2007Dec 17
Explorer Eddie Bauer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 81,000 miles
I purchased this 2003 Explorer because I own a Ford Ranger and I have had great
service out of it. But the Explorer is crap. It started making a noise in the front end
about 20,000 mile ago and the only answer I got was it is the tires. So I put a new
set on it. It was a little quieter but got louder. We had it fix but feel like the
front end bearings were poor design on Fords part. I am in the market now for a car
to replace the Explorer. I will tell you this I will never own a Ford again.
2007Dec 19
Explorer XLS 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 110 miles
I have had the 03 Explorer since new. At 61k and 66k I had replaced both front wheel bearing assemblies with factory replacements. Now at 110k I am having the same problem this is crazy $180 per bearing if you do it yourself, this should not be happening every 50 -60k miles
2007Sep 04
(reported on)Explorer 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 33,000 miles
I've only had this vehicle 4 years, only 33,000 miles on it, still making payments, and of course the warranty ran out last year. I'm the only one that drives it, and I baby it, I do not handle it rough at all. I don't feel that the wheel bearing should go bad at this point. I believe it's faulty parts or workmanship involved.
2007Aug 19
(reported on)Explorer 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 95,000 miles
Front wheel bearings failed and needed to be replaced. With 100,000 miles I guess I can't complain, but $6000.00 in repairs for two Explorers in five years. I'd rather suck lead paint than buy another FORD!
2007Apr 21
(reported on)Explorer Limited 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 59,000 miles
Front wheel bearings failed at 59.5K miles. Extended warranty cover repairs. Ford does not acknowledge that this is an abnormal failure or that it is not an isolated case.
The rear bearings failed at the same time. I'll fill out another complaint to keep the numbers straight.
2007Mar 20
(reported on)Explorer XLT 4.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 55,000 miles
Another low mileage bearing failure, only 55k. Thank goodness for the extended warranty or it would have cost me $700 to replace both front wheel bearings. This is my last Ford.
2007Mar 12
(reported on)Explorer XLT 4.0 V6
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
I bought my explorer with about 75000miles on it and it had a slight noise in the front end that sounded like tire noise. It got much worse with milage and at 91000 the backing plate on the passenger side hub assembly came off forcing replacement. I now have 101000 and have changed both. Not a tough job but difinitely dont think that catastrophic failure at 90000 miles on a sealed hub assembly is acceptable.
2007Mar 05
(reported on)Explorer 6cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
I am writing about my 03 ford explorer, I have had not 1, but 2 wheel bearings replaced, and now another one is going, the first one started out w/ slight noise on my way from buffalo to NC on a family trip, by the time we reached Virginia it sounded like I was driving an airplane, I had to have my truck fixed out of town, whopping $400, and then about 3 months later another one went, local dealer only charged $350 for that one, now I believe another bearing is going in the back, I though my truck was having problems because I bought it in Buffalo, snow ruins a vehicle, now I live in NC and everyone that works on my truck calls it a rust bucket! I think I will start driving chevys!
2007Feb 22
(reported on)Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 75,000 miles
My driver's side wheel bearing hub was roaring to the point I was told that it was unsafe to drive. I had it repaired about the middle of January. Now the same roaring is happening again and I was told that it probably was coming from the opposite side. Since this is happening to a late model vehicle I decided to go on-line to see if their was a recall. I can't afford this type problem to keep happening over and over again.
2006Oct 24
(reported on)Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 49,500 miles
Front wheel bearings making terrible noise. Guess what? This will cost me from 400.00 to 500.00 dollars and I brought this new, 0 mileage. Because new cars don' t have problems. Help, right!!!!
2005Feb 15
(reported on)Explorer
- 65,000 miles
I am a single mother of 2 and commute to work daily about 200 miles. I purchased this vehicle with 25000 miles on it less than a year ago thinking that I needed to have dependable transportation to work daily. Recently both wheel bearings go out at the same time costing over 400.00 each. From what I have been told by several mechanics this a part that normally does not need replacing this quickly and definately not both at the same time. Calling Ford Customer relations has been no help at all. When speaking to a repersentative they tell you if there is a recall and if not you are completely out of luck!!!! I also ask if a regional rep could speak with me or look at the part or the vehicle to see if there is some type of defect in the car or the parts. I guess it takes lives being lost or injuries before anyone within Ford will even consider that there is some type of problem wtih these vehicles. This is the first and DEFINITELY the last time I will ever purchase a Ford vehicle again!!!!
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2006Aug 21
Explorer TT 4.0L V6
Didn't really mind it the first time,,But I got very sick and was in a coma for two months,,My wife went back & forth to WVU Hosp,Daily,,Now I'm starting to get what's left of my life together,,And Hello,,Here We Go again,,,AT 65 mph It reminds me of the gulf war ,,,Because It sounds Like an M1 Tank,,And feels like its running on tracks,,Can't wait to see how much this will cost,,Just think,,I was thinking of getting a F250 D,,,Don't think so.THANKS FORD!!!!
Keith D.
Oldtown, Maryland, USA
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