Driving home from vacation without problems, o/d off light started flashing, tried to turn it back on but wouldn't do anything. Stopped, turn key off, started no light. After about 150 miles after stopping on traffic light o/d off light started flashing again. 10 miles later engine service light came on and stayed on .
2003 Ford Explorer electrical complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 54, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The transmission light, 4'4 and the od light came on. It does shift gear from 1 to 2 until 3000 RPM.
My 2003 ford explorer has some serious electrical issues. My right front passenger window will not roll down. It gets very hot in my truck out in the heat. It stopped working all of a sudden and the A/C in the car does not blow. (I didn't break any of these things) my door ajar light is always on the dash... My driver's door sensor went out for some reason and now my vehicle thinks that the door is always open, which drains my battery and my lights will not turn off at times. I have to manually turn them on/off. I dislike doing that because I'll forget sometimes. My rear lift-gate cracked one day too. I believe its from the cheap plastic. It's dangerous and my glass can fall out any day now. I also pinched two blood clots in my hand from opening this cracked rear hatch and had to see a doctor for it. Please help me get these things fixed. Thanks in advance.
Truck jerks when trying to pick up speed picks up speed very slow sometimes doesn't want to go in drive.
When I started my truck, the interior dome lamp would not go off and door ajar indicator was chiming as if there was a door open. I got out of my vehicle and walked around the car opening and closing all the doors as well as the liftgate and rear hatch glass. I got back in the car and it was still going off. After I started driving and got above 10mph the light and indicator went off. I did a search on the web and found out that its a common problem for ford explorer owners regardless of the year it was manufactured. All of the wires that run from the driver's side door and into the body of the vehicle become brittle over time which eventually leads to cracks and breaks in the wires thus resulting in a electrical short. Ford should have addressed this issue given that its a common problem for explorers manufactured between 2001 and 2009. For those who are electrical savvy, you can run new wires yourself. For those of us who are not, we have to rely that some mechanic isn't gonna rape our pockets and charge some ridiculous price to fix it. Thanks ford motor company!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact was driving approximately 40 MPH when the navigational system functions disabled without warning. The contact maneuvered to the side of the road and turned the engine off. Once restarted, the navigation system began to operate normally however, the failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer five times for the same problem. The navigational system software was updated. In addition, an unknown part was replaced at a later date. The failure continued to persist after the repairs. The dealer was unable to provide a remedy for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 12,000.
Door adjar sensor fails in 2003 ford explorer its all over internet.
Multiple issues with my 2003 ford explorer which include the electronic mother board having been replaced twice (under warranty), cracked liftgage (not under warranty cost $300), transmission rebuild approx 90,000 ($3000), dome lights do not turn off, door ajar lights, electric rear windows do not open, o/d light flashes and now the final problem after having replaced my transmission in july 2011 is a drive train or drive line issue. At approximately 45 MPH after dropping from a higher speed, a thumping happens. Diagnosis for this issue has been 3 days still with no final determination.
I payed 18,000 for my 2003 ford explorer xlt with the flex fuel in 2006. Its a very nice looking SUV but I only drove it for 2 years before the transmission started to fail. I beleave a transmission should last more than 2 years. My concearn is that its defective all around the transmission and I could still drive it if I wasnt in fear for my life. I have had it to ford dealership and they could not diagnose the problem, they wanted me to pay them to taket out the tranny and wanted way to much for any parts,so I had it looked at by a transmission place that been around a long time and he had no idea what was wrong.replaced the selenoid for like 900 and my it ran fine for like 2 weeks until I put in 4 w/d than my o/d light started bliking again and the transmission slipped, the o/d light eluminated the first time my transmission ever slipped.and if I went and drove it right now it would cause an accident and some people might still depend on there defective explorer to get somewhere.it accelerates by its self it sometimes dosnt want to go in gear and if this is electrical someones vehicle could stop in the middle of a highway with no warning but a blinking o/d light.and worst thing is, if ford would reconize this problem with out selling new transmissions that will eventually have the same problem with I could have it fixed but no one but ford knows what is wrong and they obviously dont know how to fix it or know if they admit their mistake it was a design flaw I want my money back.I bet you they wouldnt even take my explorer on a trade in. And if you just google ford explorer anything from 1999 to 2007 I think....its going to have like thousands of people with the same problem as mine and probaly like from 40,000 miles up, way to early for transmission replacement.
First I must say I love this truck. Its my second one and both had same problems. While driving home from work all of a sudden truch lurched forward then o/d off lite started flashing then check engine lite flashing.took it to my mechanic and it came up with a po775 code, he said its very common and not the first one hes seen do this. Pressure control solenoid b needs replacing for about $400.00 then after removing pan whole transmission needed overhaul now $2200.00 later. I think ford knows of this problem and should stand behind it. Also blend door stopped working and all 4 calipers seized up. Dont know if ill ever buy another ford.also power windows quit working, broken wire in door. Nothing but trouble with this vehicle.I think a class action suit should be started against ford for repairs on these transmissions.I cant afford to dump hundreds of dollars into this truck after paying thousands of dollars for it.
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.
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.
I have experienced all of the warnings the federal safety agency listed for ford drivers regarding possible imminent fires including getting the vehicle out of park mode. My problem is the recall only includes 1995-2002 explorers and I have a 2003 explorer. The manufacture date is 02/03. Is it possible the plant still had the texas instrument cruise control deactivation switch in stock from 2002 and installed it in my vehicle? Approximate incident date is the most recent date and the vehicle would not get out of the park mode on that particular date (8/27/2009). The antilock braking system warning has been an on and off problem for at least the last 2 years. Brake light warning on dashboard only a couple of times. The malfunctioning cruise control last happened about 8 months ago and may have happened again but don't remember when for sure. The only item I had checked out was the antilock braking system light on the dashboard. November 21, 2008 they replaced the differential speed sensor, I have yet to find out if that is related to the recalled switch. It fixed the antilock brake dashboard light from coming on mostly. It has come on after that, but only a couple of times and only for a short time.
The door ajar light intermittently illuminates as the overhead lights come on. I had this occur once in the past and the dealer replaced a switch / relay but now it is occurring again... Much more frequently ... In fact, it is illuminated more then not now.
The passenger side airbag warning light comes on intermittently for no reason (has since I bought it used in 2006). The door ajar warning light comes on and won't allow me to lock/set my alarm on my vehicle plus it leaves the interior lights on for a while (started about 6 months ago). I am now experiencing a banging sound under the hood when I change the temperature (heat or air conditioning)(started in last 4 months). I have to turn the fan on high to get it to stop. It will do it even if the temp is off sometimes. It also will not lock into gear when put into park on an incline (my driveway)...without rocking backwards into gear(started in the last 6 months).
Door ajar light comes on and turns on interior light which makes driving difficulty. Interior light come on with no warning. Vehicle has no damage and periods of extended wet weather causes sensor to malfunction.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. While driving at an unknown speed, the warning indicator for the doors illuminated on the instrument panel and would not dim. The vehicle was driven to the dealer and they stated that there were no defects. The failure persisted over the next few months. The contact allowed the vehicle to remain parked for a couple of days and was unable to restart the vehicle. The battery was replaced and the vehicle was able to be driven again; however, it began to stall shortly afterwards. The vehicle has not been repaired. The dealer and manufacturer have not been notified. The current mileage was 110,000 and failure mileage was 100,000.
I purchased a 2003 ford explorer in april of 03. When we took receipt of the vehicle the dome light was not functioning. The vehicle was repaired and we took over the vehicle. From about 6000 miles we had a problem with the vehicle stalling or not starting in cold or humid weather. We have had the car in for service to the dealership approximately 8-10 times a year for various problems. We have had the following concerns with the vehicle; the dome lights have been out, the rear driver window has gone out, the service engine light has come on numerous times, the light for the rear differential has come on several times, the power door locks have failed or locked and unlocked when driving the car at speeds above 40 MPH. We have had problems with the vehicle stalling or not starting in cold temperatures or when it is humid or damp outside. They have reprogrammed the computer twice and replaced various sensors. The dealership also put a flight recorder on the car to try and determine what the sensors were doing at the time. On one occasion, while the auto was at the dealership, the car was in park, the car rolled backwards. We are still experiencing problems with the car starting hard or stalling or not starting and are frustrated that nothing seems to be able to be done for it. I have paid to have the vehicle hooked up to the machine and it is showing a problem with the fuel sensors now. The auto repair shop stated the ignition coils are rusty and should not be this way for the car having 60,000 miles on it. After the original 3 year warranty was up on the vehicle I told the dealership I wanted an additional warranty which the dealer supplied with no questions asked. I realize with it being an "intermittent problem" it may be hard to diagnose, but ford has received their money for the product, I don't think it's too much to expect a "reliable" car. Thank you for your help with this matter.
I purchased a 2003 explorer in august 2006; mileage was approximately 45,000. By october the car would not start and the alternator was replaced. A few weeks later, I was back because my car was jerking. Nothing showed up on the diagnostic tool at that time. However, I was told the starter would have to be replaced as would the recently installed alternator. I returned less than a month later with the same jerking issue, only this time I notified the repair shop that the o/d light had been coming on. Furthermore, my car had actually stalled in the middle of traffic. Again, nothing was found. By early december, I was back. My car had stalled on a few more occasions and would not "pick up". That is, even though the RPM's would reach anywhere from 2500 - 4000, my car could not accelerate above 25 - 30 MPH. Several days later I was told that the transmission needed work. I got my car back a few days before christmas and decided last minute to head to the mountains. As soon as I reach a slight elevation, the car ceased to accelerate and what's more, a thick heavy cloud of black smoke came out of the rear and persisted for at least two miles. I headed back down the mountain for home. I took the car back and they kept it for at least a week and a half to repair the torque converter and other transmission related issue. In early fall 2007, I took the car to my local ford dealer for some strange noise coming from the engine. It ended up costing $2500.00 to repair. I returned in november for more work, this time for the same torque converter and solenoid issue as a year ago. During this two year period, my vehicle was under extended warranty. The total repair cost for the first year of ownership is anywhere from $5000 - $9000, of which I paid at least $2500 out of pocket. My warranty has since expired and I am worried that these same issues will recur, as I have read they have. This is not an isolated incident and should be investigated and a recall issued.
Stalling with no warning. Ford found nothing. They know of the problem. Said I should get an after market computer. Ok
String of electrical failures a the same time - resulted in loss of vehicle for 3-4 days and we had to rent a car to fill in while it was getting repaired - full battery failure, failure of the 4wd component, broken or detached wire in driver's door, resulting in inability to lock/alarm that door with remote.
The message center lights are not visible in the daytime unless driver is in a shaded spot causing a dangerous situation to get any of the readouts!
I have a 2003 ford explorer that cuts off after take off, but while yielding to oncoming traffic or braking to make a turn. The steering column locks and the car must be brought to a full stop to place in park and restart. This is extremely dangerous. We have complained to our local dealer, dick masheter, who has been unable to duplicate. This problem has been happening since the vehicle was new, but happened twice yesterday.
The message center on 2003 ford explorer can't be seen in daylight causing a very dangerous situation while driving and trying to read the compass , mileage, miles /gal, any readout of the auto. Almost caused my wife and I to run off the road while trying to read the compass. Night reading is fine, but daylight is terrible.. This situation should be fixed by ford before someone gets killed trying to read the message center in daylight.
We were involved in a motor vehicle accident on the below date. A person went through a red light and hit our 2003 ford explorer on the right rear wheel area at approx 40 MPH. There was over $ 6,000 in damage on our vehicle. When our vehicle was released to us from the body shop 6 weeks later, our heater, when turned on was making a loud banging sound. It sounded like something was knocked loose from the impact. It is now april 2007, and we have been trying to get our insurance company to fix this. We took our 2003 ford to capital ford in carson city, nevada where we bought 3 new ford vehicles. Capital ford told the insurance company that this is a common problem with this vehicle. Allstate , our insurance company told us that we would have to pay "at our own expense" to take the dash apart on this vehicle to see if this was accident related, at 10 hours labor at $ 90 per hour! I have checked all recalls with this vehicle, and called ford directly, and have found no problem with this heater. Please help us!
I bought a 2003 ford explorer the end of april 2006 at time of purchase ABS light was on- dealer fixed problem within first 1 1/2 weeks of purchase after ordering a part. Now 6 months after purchase the check engine and o/d light come on unexpectantly. Within 1 week of lights coming on car stops on me unexpectantly. When taken to a repair shop for I am told I need a new alternator and a rebuilt transmission as the SUV slips out of 2nd and 5th gears. I didn't purchase an extended warranty due to thinking it was still under original warranty and just purchased. I felt the dealership should have overhauled the vehicle and made sure everything was working up to par. I now have a repair bill of almost $2000 and don't feel responsible for it.
Aroiund 37,000 miles I started having electrical problems. Half of them go off when they should and half of them stay on which runs my battery down and I have to be jumped. Then around 40,000 mile I started hearing a lound whining noise from my rear end. The dealer said nothing was wrong. It is so loud you have to almost yell to talk to someone. Then at 47,000 miles my service engine light soon started coming on. It has something to do with the coolant area. I am afraid to take my vehicle out of town and I owe too much on it to trade it.
I had 2003 ford explorer that caught fire in my driveway, my car was backed in about 10 feet from house with tailgate open. The investigator from my insurance company is telling me it was an electrical fire in back inside drivers side of the vehicle. The fire destroyed the vehicle and I also have damages to my house and property.
2003 ford explorer xlt stalls without warning. Dealership repaired/replaced transmission main control valve twice; reprogrammed/recalibrated the PCM twice; repaired/replaced transmission solenoid valve; replaced fuse relays; tested fuel pressure and did numerous other diagnostic test. Stalling problem still exists. Vehicle has been to dealership 6 plus times since march 05 for the same problem.
Engine cut off, when high beams were switched on.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Ford Explorer?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history