2003 Ford Explorer: engine knocking or ticking

Filed Jun 22, 2015 · Body · 134,986 miles · VA

I used my key remote and popped open the back hatch and while the hatch was up the hinge snapped dropping the hatch on my head nearly knocking me out cold.

Filed Sep 7, 2014 · Engine · 105,000 miles · CO

My truck just went out of warranty by 5,000 miles and I was driving and hit a bump and my #3 spark plug blew out of the engine. Scared me to death because it sounded like a gun. I had just turned off a red light so I had no speed at all. $500 to put a helio coil in it. Then I hit 170,000 and another one blew out while my family and I were in the mountains and we had to limp home. Told by the mechanic the truck could have started fire. I had every single service by ford until the first one blew. Never ever heard of this happening until I searched it on the internet. What if I had my hood open changing the air filter and or other part and one of them had blown? Could kill anyone. How is that safe. And the fact that your in the middle of no where with no cell coverage and you have to drive a ticking time bomb. Please hold ford accountable for design flaw. I take care of my ford explorer, after all it cost 36k new and I want to get my money out of it. They are supposed to be built to last with regular maintenance. It has been a great SUV with the exception of the spark plug issue. The only reason I still have it is because I love it. (last number on VIN is 5 but it wouldn't let me enter it.)

Filed Jul 25, 2014 · Engine · 145,000 miles · CA

The car was idling rough and the "service engine" light kept coming on, even after I had the auto repair shop (pep boys) check and fix things. They advised me to go to the ford dealer, and said it may be the timing chain. Future ford ran diagnostic, said it may be timing chain but have to open engine to verify. Estimate for repairs $1500 to open engine and $2500 to fix). Did not have work done yet. The engine has a loud rattling sound that started suddenly and has gotten worse, and increases upon acceleration. There is an oily smell. At stop light when idling, the idle is slow and a loud knocking sound - idle sounds like car is about to shut off. The normal idle sound for the car is smooth and like a soft hum. Called ford to see if there is a recall for this problem, as there are many complaints similar to mine that are listed on the ford website about several years of the ford explorer. Mileage now is 150,000 miles. Ford said there is no recall, but keep receipts for work done in case of one in the future.

Filed Dec 2, 2011 · Engine · 13,000 miles · GA

Timing chain broke, with no warning, bent all the valves and wasn't even driving it. Had just started the car in the garage and backed out of driveway with car idling very rough. Pulled back in driveway and oil was pouring out underneath, due to chain had busted the valve cover. Well had to pull the motor, replaced guides, cassettes, and tensioners, with 2000.00 just in parts alone. Had car back from mechanic not even 3 weeks and engine started knocking as if a rod was knocking. Went back to mechanic and tensioners were the cause of timing-chain "clank". Apparently they (ford) designed these tensioners with "plastic" guides which shred off into the hydraulic tensioner pick up tube therefore clogging up the hole for oil to get to chain and will continue to do so unless you get updated tensioners directly from ford at 100.00 each. There are 3 timing chains and multiple tensioners as well, which continue to go out after 30,000 miles and need replacing, which most can be replaced with motor in but some cant therefore I have had motor out twice now, at 2500.00 each time. There was an onp to owners but ford would only cover cost up to 100,000 miles and only if owners complained!! Otherwise they would not fix!!! Well this is a bad design on fords part with plastic tensioners to guide your timing chain!!! Now they have updated with a tougher nylon "plastic". But have not recalled the old ones so unless you order dealer parts you receive the old parts which are no good and will end up making you spend more money and for the last 12months, I have had my car 3 weeks due to cant afford the enormous repair bill, which ford knew about all along, but failed to recall plastic parts unless someone complained. According to my research it has been an ongoing problem since the 1996-2006 year model explores with 4.0 sohc v-6 motors. Something definitely needs to be done!!!

Filed Mar 21, 2011 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · PA · crash · fire · 1 injury

I own a 2003 ford explorer, I have owned it for almost 5 years and took care of it. I also paid alot of money for it and after about three years out of nowhere my o/d light started blinking and my car started shifting wrong. I had the solenoid on tranny replaced soon as I put it in 4wheel drive my o/d light started blinking again and shifting wrong. This is making the car accelerate to much at times and almost not wanting to shift others.so while waiting thinking I need a new transmission my engine light comes on followed by a light ticking noise, that got louder and louder over about a month.so the car was taken to the dealership an put on a computer they said I should junk it, yes its 5 years old but I bought my car from their and I paid alot for it.so no one knows exactly what's wrong with it I myself believe but ford.I been told I need a new transmission and my timing chain is bad on the engine.the car still runs although I wont drive it completely unsafe. Its a nice looking car but I seen alot of people with this same problem with the same year make and model how is that and its dangerous? Me and my daughter wrecked after sudden acceleration thankfully the airbags deployed and burnt her but we were both fine otherwise. I just now this is dangerous,ford knows about it and why it happened and how to fix it.

Filed Jul 22, 2010 · Engine · 92,000 miles · TX

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that when she started the vehicle there was a knocking noise in the engine compartment. The vehicle was the towed to the dealer who stated that the timing chain failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 92000.

Filed Jun 30, 2009 · Transmission · 48,000 miles · PA

I bought my 2003 explorer in 2002 at 110 miles. Within the 3 year warranty the air conditioning had a urine smell and knocking noise in the rear but they didn't want to fix it. As a result I have a slow leak which means it has to be charged every year. In feb 2007 a crack formed in the rear panel they didn't want to fix. October 2007 at 45000 miles I needed wheel bearings for inspection. At 48000 miles when I paid my truck off may 2008, within a few days the 0/d light & service engine soon light came on resulting in my gears slipping. I found out through several shops that my 2nd and fifth gears were burned out. The dealership said the solenoid body, then has to go in to check for more. I filed a complaint with the attorney general because I had no extended warranty which was a waste of time because ford wasn't cooperating. So now it's june 2009 and I'm still driving it a whole year later because I can't afford to get it fixed. I learned how to drive the truck but I'm reminded everyday about the problems. Park to reverse is a struggle, it doesn't start easily sometimes, it has no power while driving, ABS and door ajar lights stay on, and reverse alarm when to close doesn't work, and instead of being happy I paid it off it's nothing but a feeling of frustration, anger, and regret for buying from ford.

Filed Jul 4, 2008 · 65,558 miles · NV

The heater no longer works and no matter where the heat dial is turned, it makes a constant ticking sound. I looked into getting it fixed at a local shop and was told it was going to be at least a $1,500 charge.

Filed Jun 27, 2007 · Engine · 60,000 miles · NE

When we starte d our car for the first time after it had sat at an airport parking lot for a week, we heard a ticking noise upon start up ouf our vehicle (2003 ford explorer eddie bauer with v8 engine). Upon taking it to a repair shop they stated the noise is coming from the value guard area in the would need to replace both cylinder heads (per ford need to replace both & cannot replace just one). The cost of this repair would be $4,000.00. Upon further research, it appears that this is a common problem for our model & year. With all the other problems we have had to pay out of pocket for, it would be nice to have ford look into this issue and possible have a recall. Thank you.

Filed Mar 2, 2007 · Airbags, Locks · 114,000 miles · MD

Tl* - the contact called about the 2003 ford explorer xlt. The contact stated that the air bag light stayed on, and when it was on, the airbag deactivated which was a safety problem. It happened all the time. The fuses have been changed under warranty, and now that it was not under warranty, it was no longer repaired free of charge. The contact stated that she was told by one service station that it was standard for the fuses to blow because of the fuse box location. Another service station told the contact that this was not true that the fuse box was to high in the car for pebbles to be able to get into the fuse box. Also, the windshield wipers won't turn off by them selves, even when the keys were out of the ignition. The contact stated that the airbag light and the door ajar light were consistently on. Moreover, the electronic seat would not move forward or backward. She had the seat repaired twice and it failed again. Finally, contact stated that the vehicle was making a knocking noise in the front and rear of the vehicle's undercarriage. The vehicle clanked stopping, turning to go forward, or just sitting still. The first time the contact took the vehicle for repair she was told by the repair shop that it was the driver's seat that was causing the clanking noise, and the second time she was told that the noise was not something they could identify because during diagnostic testing it did not show a specific failure code. The current and failure mileage were both 114000.