6.4
fairly significantTypical Repair Cost:
$576.00
Average Mileage:
74,569 miles
Total Complaints:
10 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replaced wheel bearings (9 reports)
- not sure (1 reports)
wheels / hubs problem
Helpful Websites About 2003 Ford Explorer rear wheel bearing failure
2009Aug 12
Explorer Eddie Bauer 5.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 68,000 miles
03' Ford Explorer of my Son's.. It cost us $80 for a new rear/right wheel bearing and $50 for new e-brake shoes - this was a good three day's of work in just getting them off and pressed out.. I made my own billet aluminum spacer to press out the "race" because it sticks inside the hub while the remainder falls out.. it takes a little heat around the cast-iron hub to get the thing to move after you get the snap-ring out.. but it did come out and the new one went back in easily.. three bolts, some lug-nuts and it was rolling again... My complaint would be why there is so much weight on one little double-bearing assembly.. Terrible would be a good word here! -Rob in NH
2009Apr 13
Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 91,000 miles
This is my second posting about wheel bearings on the 2003 Explorer. In my first posting one of the front bearings failed. I took it back again due to moaning/whining/roaring noise in the rear end. Both bearings were bad in the back. The mechanic took the left side off and replaced it. He said the noise was mostly gone but he wanted to make sure so checked the other side and found it was actually worse mechanically but just not making as much noise. He had a lot of trouble getting the right side off. He said he had to send it out to a place that had a 90-ton press to get the hub off. Then he said he had to cut the bearing off with a torch.
I'm no expert on this, but having three bearings on the same vehicle fail before 100,000 miles sounds like a defect to me!!
My wife and I have had a 1988 Nissan Sentra up to 175,000 miles, a 1996 Ford Probe up to 120,000 miles, a 2001 Subaru Legacy up to 125,000 miles, and a 1988 Honda Accord up to 170,000 miles and I don't remember ever replacing a single wheel bearing on any of those vehicles. The bearings are supposed to be designed to outlive the engine and transmission.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Jun 11
Explorer NBX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 73,000 miles
Well maintained explorer, normal use only. Discovered during a routine tire balance and rotation. Hadn't noticed anything abnormal during driving, which seems odd. Very dangerous situation, driving on this much longer could have been catastrophic. Mechanic confirmed that wheel was dangerously close to breaking loose. Quoted repair cost (at a dealership) was around $600 to replace both the bearing and hub.
2008Apr 23
Explorer NBX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 72,000 miles
I went in for an oil change and a "wobbling noise on turns". They came back with that my tires weren't balanced and needed to be rotated, my belts and pulley were worn, front brakes and rotors, sway bar bushing was shot, rack and pinion seal was leaking and the rear bearings were starting to go and if I didn't change them "my tire could come off while I was driving". My laundry list of problems ran me $1800. Good times...........
2008Mar 08
Explorer XLT 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 100,000 miles
The driver side rear hub assembly is currently being replaced because the bearings failed. I took it to the shop and they were unable to get the bearing out to replace them so they have to replace the entire hub assembly. The mechanic said my he was surprised my tire hadn't already fell off while I was going down the road.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Feb 01
Explorer Eddie Bauer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 86,992 miles
Our company has another 2003 Explorer and we just replaced the real wheel bearing on it. Now, our second 2003 Explorer is making the same noise. So it looks like this too will have to be have the bearings replaced. This is my first experience with Ford and it is not a good one. The vehicle has been extremely well maintained. Often the 'check engine' light also comes one, but there is no obvious problem.
2008Jan 27
(reported on)Explorer Eddie Bauer 4.6L V8
- Automatic transmission
- 55,500 miles
Three of four wheel bearings are being replaced now (along with one rear axle) Differential may also need to be replaced. How can Ford justify this at 55,000 miles?
2007Sep 26
(reported on)Explorer Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 59,700 miles
I bought this SUV in 2006. Its a 2003 with 30,400 mi. On Mother's day of 2007, I was on the parkway going about 65. I heard a loud sound and then we almost tipped over. I swerved all over the road and almost hit two different cars. Thank goodness the exit was right there. I got out and looked around to see the blowout. All the tires were filled. No blowout. I started looking at the tires closely. My rear passenger tire had no bolts on it. I called a friend. He came and lifted the car up with a jack. The tire fell right off!!! We couldn't believe it. There was nothing there to hold it. I had to have it towed and everything. It was very scary!!! I can't believe they know what's going on, and not fixing the problem. I had to have all the tires fixed. I can't believe they are risking peoples lives for money!!!! I bet they are NOT driving their FORDS!!!
2007Apr 21
(reported on)Explorer Limited 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 59,500 miles
Both rear wheel bearings developed loud roaring noise and required replacement. Failure at 59K miles is not acceptable. Ford does not acknowledge that this failure is abnormal or that it is not an isolated case. The front bearings also failed at the same mileage.
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your wheels / hubs 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
2009May 10
Explorer 4.0L V6
Roaring, squeaking sound detected while vehicle is moving. Wheel bearing replaced in rear hub on drivers side. 6000 miles later wheel bearing appears to have failed again. Did not know that this was a recurrent problem on the 2003 Explorer until I visited the internet and was directed to your website.
I thought this might be a recurrent problem and after a quick failure of a replaced wheel bearing, I went looking for supporting information. Interested in whether Ford is paying to replace these bearings without cost to the customer. I will be calling customer relations on the national level to see just what they have to say.
ibemarc
Chesapeake, VA, USA
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