2003 Ford Explorer: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Jan 30, 2017 · Brakes · 163,000 miles · WV

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. While driving at low speeds, the vehicle began to experience a jerking motion and the ABS indicator illuminated. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the wheel speed sensors, ABS sensors, and ABS pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 163,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Aug 28, 2015 · Brakes, Steering · 142,000 miles · OR

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the check engine and ABS indicator illuminated. The contact mentioned that the brakes failed and the steering wheel seized. The emergency brake was engaged in order to come to a complete stop. The contact restarted the vehicle after few minutes and it functioned normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.

Filed Oct 5, 2012 · Brakes · 21,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that when the brakes were depressed, the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 21,000 and the current mileage was 105,000.

Filed Jul 13, 2011 · Transmission · 120,300 miles · NH

Suddenly the transfer case started jerking and the SUV was shaking badly that I almost couldn't drive it home. I was lucky to have this happening at 1/2 mile from my house and at about 20-25 miles per hour! It was no code to indicate where the failure occurred within the power train. I took a part the rear end, I found nothing wrong with it. I started to troubleshoot the transfer case and I noticed that the electrical motor with actuator does not spin the shaft from transfer case, reason that the transfer case can't select firmly the position of hi, low or 4wd!!!!. Observing that the motor of the transfer case sifter does not spin, I purchased a new motor from ford,. After replacement, the problem persisted; so, I replaced the transfer case module, behind the glove box; no result. To be able to move the car around I unplugged the transfer case motor shift from the main harness and the SUV stays now in 4wd with blinking lights on my dash for ABS and 4x4 wd!!! I am still wandering what could happened to me if the jumping and grinding was to happend when I was driving the car with 65-70 miles per hour and the power train could snap and the driveshaft could fly out... Who shall be responsible for my life or somebody else's that I could hit? I consider that the manufacturer shall recall the explorer's affected and address the transfer case issues. The old parts that I have replaced are available, they are functional. I still don't know what is wrong because I couldn't find any advise from any ford sites\, neither from a qualified diagnostic specialist. If I go to ford dealership they will be charging tons of $$$ until the car runs again; they don't care how many parts will replace and I will have to pay ford's mistakes from my pocket; this is not right!

Filed Dec 29, 2010 · Wheels · 105,000 miles · TN

As I was driving to work the other day, I was sitting in a line of cars waiting for my turn to go through a 4-way stop when my 2003 ford explorer suddenly stopped running. I had plenty of fuel and the electrical worked. The engine simply wouldn't turn over. I called a tow truck and had the vehicle towed to my local repair shop. After some inspection, the repairman determined that I had blown a fuse. The cause was my ABS sensor continually sending out an problem signal. The cause of that was my wheel bearings going bad. Further inspection showed that at least three of my wheels have bad bearings. The repairs are incredibly costly (well over $1,000). And the mechanical failure is dangerous, including wheel separation, wheel seizing up and brake failure. I was lucky to have been stopped at an intersection. I drive on the interstate daily and if the car had failed there, it could have been incredibly bad. While wheel bearings to fail, the mechanic said it is incredibly rare to see multiple bearings go out at the same time. Well, except for fords. He said the explorer and focus (especially the '02 & '03 models) have a reputation for wearing out. Sometimes, multiple times for the same wheel. A quick google search proved him right. There are hundreds of complaints for this problem on the '02 & '03 ford explorers. I realize we're going on 8 or 9 years since these vehicles were produced, but how could the same issue on hundreds of cars not have been addressed yet? The problem seems to obviously not be due to user error or poor mechanical maintenance. I implore you to investigate this further for the sake of the thousands of people still driving these cars every day.

Filed Sep 27, 2010 · Electrical, Engine · 135,000 miles · AE

There have been multiple problems with my 2003 ford explorer since I bought it brand new in august of 2003. But ironically they have all appeared after the warranty had expired. In september 2007 the air conditioning unit no longer worked. It cost me $2000 and a week without a car, to get it fixed. In august 2009 the passenger door window would no longer work. In september 2009 my SUV started making a clicking sound when turning on the heater. Since we lived in a warm climate this did not concern us much, as the heat had worked even with the clicking sound. But we moved to a colder climate and the heater went out in march 2010. In april 2010 the service engine light came on. After speaking with the mechanic, he said it was a transmission problem that occurred when the car shifted from 1st to 2nd gear and from 4th to 5th gear. He could not give me any more information and was not willing to fix my transmission problem (he suggested I go elsewhere because he was not an expert in transmissions). In may 2010 the o/d light started flashing off. After speaking to mechanic again, he said it was related to the transmission problem. In august 2010 the door ajar light started coming on randomly, even when the door is not open. And in september 2010, I noticed my ABS light will come on randomly. It does not appear to be triggered by any specific reason, and does not always come on.

Filed Sep 26, 2010 · Wheels · 100,000 miles · NY

Abs light on,second wheel bearing needs replaced.

Filed Sep 20, 2010 · Brakes, Electrical · 93,000 miles · PA

93,000 miles and ABS light and loud grinding noise (in addition to applique crack in rear). Need to replace both rear hub bearings, brake pad rotors, and parking brake shoes. Search the web on these problems, and over 3 hundred complaints seen on just one site for 2003 explorers alone.

Filed Aug 16, 2010 · Body, Brakes · 72,450 miles · MS

I keep reading about 2 complaints that people need to know about and ford should take action on; the first being the back tail gate... Ford do the right thing. The second has to do with the transmission, overdrive light, the parking brake and the cruise control. I use the cruise control when driving long distances and while on a few trips the overdrive light would come on for no reason, at least I thought, I then found out that I had an ABS problem and wheel bearings problems. All happening at the same time? As if that wasn't enough my transmission was dripping fluid on my new driveway! This was while I only had only 70,000 miles, it wasn't right, I checked out the brakes, they had been replaced before however when I pull off the rear drum / disk to check the parking brake that's when I found the problem. I never use my parking brake, it rotted and delaminated and was dragging hence the od light, the overheating of the transmission which blew out the seal, the excessive brake dust which was partially the cause of ABS sensor malfunctioning. The last part impacts the bearings, when the ABS sensor malfunctions it can apply the brakes as in skidding or in tire slippage adding to early unnecessary wear on bearings and again overheating of the transmission. Ford needs to install a few "smart" sensors, one which could track parking brake malfunctions, also one for fail safe temperature readings for the transmission. (that is before it is compromised.) do the right thing ford, your sales depend on it.

Filed Jul 12, 2010 · Wheels · 83,000 miles · GA

2003 ford explorer ext with less than 85,000 miles. After having my ABS (antilock brakes) lights come on several times, I had the ABS module completely replaced. The light continued to come on afterwards, so I had sears complete a front end inspection. Found out that the vehicle needs both front end wheel bearing hub assemblies replaced. This is apparently affecting the tires and the brakes as well. Had I not found out when I did, the bearing could have went out completely, and caused a crash and possible injuries and death. This vehicle does not have alot of milage on it and should not need bearings this quickly. I am not the only person with this complaint... After alot of research, I have found alot of ppl with this problem. View this website for more info.. Http://www.carcomplaints.com/ford/explorer/2003/wheels_hubs/front_wheel_bearing_failure.shtml.

Filed Dec 1, 2009 · Acceleration · 50,000 miles · AL

My 2003 ford explorer exhibits most of the symptoms described in consumer advisory dated 13 october 2009. It has an intermittently functioning cruise control, a permanently on ABS indicator light, and it occasionally gets stuck in park. I was wondering why 2003 wasn't included in the safety recall.

Filed Oct 16, 2009 · Acceleration · 115,000 miles · NH

I have a 2003 ford explorer manufactured in 01/03. It is not included in the current 'voluntary' recall of ford vehicles due to a defective speed control deactivation switch. However, the vehicle exhibits the symptoms of the vehicles with a defective speed control switch (see faq below from ford.com): q. Are there any early warning signs or symptoms I would notice that would indicate a problem? A. If the system malfunctions, a customer may notice vehicle symptoms such as; the speed control may become inoperable, the vehicle may not shift out of park, the rear brake lamps may not work, brake fluid may leak at the switch, the battery may drain or go dead, the ABS warning light may flash or a fuse in the system may open. My vehicle has an inoperable speed control. It started as an intermittent problem, but is now inoperable. The vehicle frequently does not shift out of park, and the ABS lamp frequently illuminates. I have contacted ford, and the dealer to request the vehicle be included in the recall and have the problem corrected at no cost. Both have refused.