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.
Burn It - 1st.use a burning agent,2nd. lite burning agent from safe distance,3rd let ford explorer burn.4th. blame fire on ford.OPTIONAL:contact ford dealer first,any shit,refer to step 1 thru 4.
Bought this vehicle used, from a Ford dealer on Long Island New York, noticed after driving it home and getting out of vehicle then right back in to the vehicle when I went to put in reverse the engine just revved with no transmission engagement. After revving the engine a couple of times the transmission engaged. I called the dealer and because of New York law they ended up replacing the transmission. Which meant renting a vehicle while they replaced the transmission, this was not covered and it took a week. I found later Ford did not do the work a local transmission shop did.
My car was working good and all of a sudden the O/D and check engine lights went off. Obviously, I do not have the money to fix it so I wait a week, while driving on the fwy with my baby in the car the car completely died without warning. At first I thought it was the battery and went out to have it replaced, which of course did not fix the problem. I decided to check online and in checking all the posts on the ford explorers and issues with the transmission decided to get it checked at a transmission shop. Sure enough the issue was the transmission and with that came the cost of $2,000. I had to borrow money to get it fixed since I do not have the option of buying a new car. With all the issues with the transmission why is there no class action suit against Ford. It is unfair that we have to deal with what is obviously a Ford manufacturer problem, that is undisclosed none the less. Shouldn't this fall under the "Lemon Law"?
I can't believe that Ford won't recall this transmission. There are thousands of complaints about this transmission. I had mine rebuilt and it failed again shortly after the waranty expired from the transmission shop. And they know that this one is a problem so they jacked up the price on this year's replacement transmission. It is an out and out consumer ripoff.
I bought my 2003 explorer about 2 weeks ago.I just tried to go to the store and my transmission would not work in any gear. I recently experienced what everyone else is complaining about tranny slipping and jerking when changing gears, this is a problem that ford needs to fix by making a recall, this is the true meaning of Found On Roadside Dead. problems like this is the reason why people buy foreign cars...
This car is a lemon. The transmission failed at 53000 miles, just out of warranty, which means it started to fail before then, within warranty. At about the same time we had a sensor problem that impacts the airbags, we had that serviced 4 times and it was never fixed, I gave up on bringing it back.
The car now has 106,000 miles and I've replaced both front bearing assemblies 2x each. Last we just had the transmission serviced again because the transmission computer went. I went through the process of contacting their customer support, only to be told there was nothing they could do.
I could rant about the car for pages, but I rather vote with my wallet.
Sincerely,
I will never again buy a ford - and I'll share my experience
- Michael R.,
South Easton, MA, US
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Well maintained and much needed as I have 6 drivers in the family and 5 vehicles. Paying a few college tuitions and then this happens. I have been a loyal Ford owner for one or more of my vehicles and now after just replacing brakes, alternator and battery this happens. During the Obama years I have NOT been able to afford a new car or get a fair loan so I have accepted keeping what I have. Going out today to see what I can do about it. Sorry to have read on so many other comments that it is common and FORD will do nothing about it.
To fix the transmission the following was necessary:
1 new assembly set
1 new filter w/400 inlet
1 new band intermediate
1 new band intermediate
12 new trans fluid filled to manufacturers specification
Exchange rebuilt torque converter
Planet carrier
I own a 2003 Exp. While on vacation I had the engine completely fail, so I replaced it with a newly rebuilt 4.0 v6 vin K that I rebuilt myself. After less than 5k miles on that, the trans fails. After several times of pulling and replacing the trans I find that it is going to require total trans replacement.
Much of the same issue has been previously reported here. O/D light blinks, check engine light comes on. Mine also vomited all of its' fluid out onto the highway on the way to work.
The problem: this transmission (E55W) was an experimental model from their designers that was supposed to be a 'maintenance free' model. There is no dipstick with which to check the fluid level, so your recourse is to take it to a dealer, yet they cannot check the fluid levels. The only thing they can do is hook it up to a specifically designed machine that extracts 'all' of the fluid and replaces it with new fluid. (Any mechanic can tell you that the only way to remove ALL of the fluid is to take out the trans and remove the torque converter and drain that as well, it holds an additional 4 quarts above what the trans holds, for a total of 14.5 quarts, at $5.99 per quart, plus a filter replacement.
Since there is no way to maintain the transmission it IS going to have problems. I know that I got lucky by mine lasting 300k miles, but that is not the point. For the people of this world that are mechanically inclined, you should be able to maintain a vehicle the way it is required to keep it in good mechanically working condition.
Thank you FoMoCo for putting a piece of $HIT Ford Exploder on the market that cannot be maintained in the appropriate manner.
OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 70929 MILES. FORD MOTOR CO KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM BUT DID NOT ALERT OWNERS OR DO A RECALL. I THINK THIS IS POOR BUSINESS ON FORD'S PART. THEY SHOULD AT LEAST COVER SOME OF THE COSTS OF REPAIR. THIS WAS A BIG EXPENSE FOR US AS MY HUSBAND IS RETIRED AND I WOULD LIKE TO RETIRE. BUT WITH EXPENSE LIKE THIS I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO.
The transmission did not fail per se, but it certainly has a problem although it works flawlessly. I took it in to a transmission shop for a fluid exchange as it is a closed system which usually requires that the pan is dropped. The owner (who is a 33 yr. Ford transmission veteran) found large shavings of metal in the bottom, and a ¼ inch piece of what looked like a snap ring. He wanted to immediately pull the thing apart and rebuild it better for a cost of not less than 10 days and $2,400 -$3,400. I think for those prices, I ought to let the thing fail completely since it still works fine. In other news I just completed installing new front bearings because the old ones caused vibration and noise, and expect the rear bearings to go along with the differential which leaks around the seal. I also have the paint bubbling up at the hood and the crack in the rear door latch cover.
I was told that the 4.0 liter engines are excellent, but Ford makes their transmissions with a life expectancy of 100,000 miles, at which point they hope the owner will trade in the vehicle and buy another new car. Such is life.
So my 2003 Eddie Bauer Explorer has been very well maintained. First it loses complete power on a mountain pass, then stopped altogether. Local mechanics claim exhaust went back up into engine...I had the y pipe exhaust, catalytic converters and ball joints replaced. Months later, I drove a few miles, parked, left 20 minutes later and the gear shifter moved fine, but the suv didn't ! Now I learn after doing research online that this is a very common problem for especially 2002-2005 Explorers-the trannys go out at 100k miles. I still owe 4k on the darned thing and now hear the replacement or rebuild of the transmission will cost over 3k...I mean COME ON!! I am not a rich person, and expected my vehicle to last me a lot longer than this!
The truck was about five years old when this happened. I'd expect it on a ten year old truck. I called Ford-no recalls. I had to pull out my retirement fund to get this fixed. After the rear wheel falling off, I was ready to shoot and salute...however, I still owe on the truck, I'm hoping it does not happen again. My hopes are not that high though.
It's been 25 years since I owned an American manufactured car. I finally purchase a Ford, and what did I get? A failed transmission at just over 100,000 miles. These days, with a Honda or Toyota, both of which I've owned, this is unheard of. Unless Ford makes good on this repair, I won't ever purchase one again.
Ford should step up to the problem of the known transmission problems in the Ford explorers. The OD light came on and then Check engine light. Now $3000 latter and paying for rental car while the car is getting fixed is not a good economcial situation.
WHEN I LOOK UP THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS W/THE FORD EXPLORERS, AND HAVED TALKED TO MECHANICS, THEY SAID THIS IS A NORMAL PROBLEM, FOR FORD TO RECOGNIZE IT AS A DEFECT AND NOT FIX IT, IS WRONG. I DEPEND ON THIS CAR AND NOW HAVE NO CAR SINCE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX IT.
my 2003 explorer only has 70,000k and the transmission should not be in this condition. this vehicle should be recalled obviously for this problem. we should be given a goodwill repair by our dealership of purchase. this is crazy that i'm making payments for a car thats sitting in my parking lot. everyone with these model year trucks should complain to our local news reporter and bring the cameras to the dealership after they refuse the goodwill repair on a vehicle they new would be problematic!!!!
THAT ALL FORDS IN MODEL YEAR 2003 WILL BE LED TO A TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK IN MOST OF THE MODELS SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA AND ALSO IF ITS FROM A USED CAR DEALER, THEY WILL NOT TELL YOU! IF YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHEN TO FILL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, ITS A SETUP FOR A POORLY DESIGNED VEHICLE! THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWS AND WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU IF IT BREAKS DOWN WITHOUT GIVING UP YOUR FIRSTBORN TO REPAIR IT! FORD MOTOR COMPANY YOU SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE ALL OF THESE VEHICLES WITH THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS!!!!!!!
WELL I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN FLORIDA TO BRING BACK TO ONTARIO AS I HAD GOOD LUCK WITH EXPLORERS IN THE PAST. NOT THIS ONE. AT 72,000 MILES IT STARTED SLIPPING THE TRANSMISSION AND LOUD CLUNKING NOISES WHEN TAKING OFF AND STOPPING. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT FORD MADE THE TRANSMISSIONS SLOPPY IN THESE VEHICLES. WELL HERE WE ARE AT 102,000 AND THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVIN AS IT NEEDS A TRANSMISSION. THANKS FOR FOR THE SH*T YOU ARE PUTTING OUT NOW.
I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. 3000.00 TO REPAIR IT.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Bought this vehicle used, from a Ford dealer on Long Island New York, noticed after driving it home and getting out of vehicle then right back in to the vehicle when I went to put in reverse the engine just revved with no transmission engagement. After revving the engine a couple of times the transmission engaged. I called the dealer and because of New York law they ended up replacing the transmission. Which meant renting a vehicle while they replaced the transmission, this was not covered and it took a week. I found later Ford did not do the work a local transmission shop did.
- Robert H., Saint Cloud, FL, US