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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.
6.2
fairly significant- Typical Repair Cost:
- $300
- Average Mileage:
- 67,200 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 33 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
- not sure (19 reports)
- Ford should recall it (7 reports)
- take to a body shop and paint (7 reports)
body / paint problem
Helpful websites
- No one has added a helpful site for this 2003 Explorer problem yet. Be the first!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
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.
- Mark N., Roseburg, OR, US