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Clunking Into Gear
2003 Ford Explorer (Page 1 of 2)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Ford dealer.
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.
8.2
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $2,770
- Average Mileage:
- 88,050 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 25 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
- not sure (12 reports)
- rebuild transmission (6 reports)
- ford needs to recall (3 reports)
- needs solenoid body (2 reports)
- replace transmission (1 reports)
- replaced transmission with a jasper rebuilt (1 reports)
transmission problem
Helpful websites
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Oh how I wish I had found this page before today. Just bought the Ford "Explosion" and now I want to spew chunks. It was half an hour after purchase that the OD/Off light came on and the tranny began clunking.
I live in the rural mountains of TN and it's going to up to the "good old boys" to do the repair work. I'm a single mom and as if I didn't have enough problems ... Thank Ford and to the a**hat that sold me this vehicle without a mention of the problem. I don't know where to go for repairs that's not going to charge me my first born and I'm surely not set up to pay Ford.
Can anyone tell me the average number of labor hours this will run to replace solenoid body? Or for replacing the tranny?
Do I purchase a rebuild?
Excuse me whilst I go loose my dinner.
- cpadgett, Turtletown, TN, US