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.
I have called the Ford Co. they say it is not covered. They use to help with repair & now stopped that. It is a problem I have seen 10 Fords in 1 weeks time. Come on Ford fix this problem. It is happening on the newer models also. Ford built like a truck stand behind your name. We really like the vehicle or we wouldn't still have it.
I'm really upset. I take pride in the appearance of my Explorer, washing & waxing regularly and having it serviced at the dealer from whom I purchased it. The panel was fine on Sunday and Monday when I went to the car, the panel was cracked. There was no indication of how it happened, it just appeared.
2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6 CRACKED PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THIS PROBLEM, DEVALUED MY CAR AND ALSO ANOTHER PROBLEM IN GLASS DOOR REAR, AND ALMOST ALL OF THIS MODEL EXPLORER TO BE THE SAME CRACK, CAUSING DISSATISFACTION THAT. THE FORD SHOULD BECOME AWARE OF THIS AND APPROPRIATE ACTION.
What would be the appropriate action? Replace the panel? Ford paid for repair? Repair or replace tailgate? Need a redesigned tailgate?
I am still paying for this car. I never new how much problems I would have when I purchased this car it is costing me $15,000. And every month I have to have some thing done to it I paid about $100.- $300. out of my pocket every time for issues that this car has. I have a crack in the middle of the Ford sign in the back panel I feel that the dealers should pay for this problem not me I have this car for 1 year and I have a great deal of problems ever since I made this purchase. Everyone I know said don't buy from Ray Price Ford every car I purchase from them is issues after issues. My crappie Ford came from them. And I was given an extended warranty that I paid for that I was told started 2 years before I even had a license there excuse is we were trying to save you money. Now I pay out my pocket.
- kennedyn,
Long Pond, PA, US
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Ford has Known of this problem, If they want to remain #1 They should take care of their customer's complaints Better!!! It's our choice what vehicle we buy, they should remember that...Without us, they have nothing...
so, to add to the transmission problem I just b*tched about, a week prior, I went leave for work one morning & I noticed the rear panel was cracked. It wasn't like that the night before, so it literally happened overnight. My mechanic said it was cosmetic, the window would be fine, but it bothers me nonetheless. Not a fan of Ford anymore...
It just really angers me that this is the second 03 Explorer I have owned that has had the same problem!! And I drive alot and within the past few months I have seen at least 15+ other Explorers with the same problem! If there are so many vehicles that this is happening to why can't Ford just fix this!! It is obviously a manufacturer DEFECT!!!! But because it is not a safety thing it's not a big deal to them! Well, IT LOOKS TACKY!!!!! And it is nothing that I have done wrong! The blame is 100% FORD MOTOR!!
I'm the first owner of this 2003 Ford Explorer (third explorer I have owned) and didn't notice crack until my son asked what happened to the rear panel of my car. I was sick to say the least. Mentioned to my friend and she has same problem with her 2003 Explorer too. (my mechanic calls it my exploder) Checked internet to see if I missed a recall only to find hundreds with same issue. Window hinge is also malfunctioning. Hope I can get Ford to fix otherwise this will be my 3rd and final Explorer even though I love the look of the new 2011 if they don't stand behind their design I will go with something different next time.
Just another of many ignored problems with FORD Explorers,this crack problem seems to be related with the door ajar light constantly on as well as remote lock not responding; especially after rain.
Went to close rear batch on rear tail lift door and noticed a crack running down the plastic on the panel where the Ford logo is affixed. Other owners have seen my crack and said they have the same problem. Appears to be the result of repeated closings of of the panel. The panel simply does not hold up. Have not taken it to dealer because of past lack of help.
I noticed the back panel of my explorer had cracked all the way from the window to the bottom. What the Heck?? Today I was in a parking lot and saw another explorer that was identical to mine with the same crack, same place. In reading about the problem on several sights, why would ford not step up and take care of the issue. It happens to be time for a new car and a new explorer was on the list.....not any more.
Problem reported to Ford Motor Co. Consumer affairs office. Was told there was no plan to recall or give Ford customers any help. I am retired and don't have the funds to pay for a problem that was caused by Ford design. They need to take care of this problem. I guess I am a member of the Cracked Ford Tailgate Club.
I have seen many explorers with this same crack and ford will not own up to the problem and fix it. It looks horrible & it allows water to get into the back tailgate. FORD YOU SUCK!
There is a weakness in the construction of this vehicle and every ford explorer I see has the same crack under the window panel in the back. I have actually had someone leave a note when I was in a store asking me to call them if I knew if this was recalled because they have the exact same problem. The paint job is also poor and has bubbled and pealed on the front hood of the car for no reason and now is rusting.
Called Ford about the problem of cracked panel below the rear window, a common problem
for Explorers. Ford confirmed the problem, but when I asked if the panel had been corrected, they said no changes had been made. So Ford is selling a defective panel to repair a defective panel. Volvo and Subaru had the same method of gluing on the panel to rear window, but they don't have a problem. Ford had produced a inferior product in the panel and refused to correct so that if you pay yourself to have the panel fixed, there is a good chance it will happen again. That why there is so many complaints.
I just discovered a crack that runs from the bottom of my lift gate window around the ford emblem to where it lifts separate from the entire lift gate. It runs vertically. I had just moved my car this winter from southern california to utah. I thought my daughter had done something to the car. As it turns out when I took it to the ford dealer for another problem and I showed it to them they actually told me that there was a brief time that they were taking care of the problem that it was something that had occurred in other explorers. She even asked her boss, I guess, if they could honor the period before and fix it but came back with a "no" answer. I was told it would cost around $350.00 to fix. Needless to say I'm not going to repair the crack.
My daughter and I went shopping, nothing out of the ordinary and when we went to the back of my 2003 Ford Explorer to open the tailgate, OMG!!!!!! There was a big ugly crack down the back tailgate from the window down, I didn’t do anything different and where I parked no one could have backed into it or hit it. I have been the only owner of my Explorer, Ford won’t do anything, is there any recourse that I can take, it is a manufacturers defect, I have seen others with the same problem, I am so upset, I hate seeing that big ugly thing in the back of my vehicle, I take such good care of my vehicles and don’t even like seeing a dent let alone an unsightly crack that is in no way my fault, what and who can I go to. I am buying a new vehicle in August 2011, now I am not sure that I even want to buy a Ford or a least not another Ford Explorer, however, I strongly think and feel Ford should be held accountable for their manufacturer defects and should pay for the tailgate to be replaced or fixed, it will reduce my trade in value when I sell it to a dealer or an individual..
For the last couple of years every time I drive by and pass a Ford Explorer - no matter what the year of the car - I notice thery all have a a crack right under the rear window. I don't know if I'm glad I'm not alone or irritated that no one from Ford has stepped up to fix the problem. I think I am "MORE IRRITATED".
I noticed my SUV with the same issue as everyone else, a crack in the back panel. First it started out with a small crack then continued to spread. I thought that someone hit my SUV, but start noticing a lot of Explorers with the same issue. Something needs to be done immediately. If a class action lawsuit is started, I am willing to be apart of it. Ford is wrong to allow such a situation to continue to happen.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have called the Ford Co. they say it is not covered. They use to help with repair & now stopped that. It is a problem I have seen 10 Fords in 1 weeks time. Come on Ford fix this problem. It is happening on the newer models also. Ford built like a truck stand behind your name. We really like the vehicle or we wouldn't still have it.
- Elaine C., Macungie, PA, US