Problems with the rear panel cracking up, being replaced twice, still cracked again, also the transmission not able to check it during a trip unless you go under the truck, last thing the brake light switch sticking causing to drain battery and not able to order part because the manual are wrong.
2003 Ford Explorer transmission complaints
Page 6 of 12: complaints 131 to 160 of 335, newest first, as owners wrote them.
O/d off light blinks on dashboard and vehicle shifts hard. Was advised that transmission rebuild was necessary.
2003 ford explorer 5r55-w transmission failure wherein the internal linkages, servo valve and bearings failed at startup, rendering the vehicle unmovable under it's own power and stranding the driver.
I sent a letter of complaint to ford regarding my situation with my transmission failing on me and the local ford dealer charging me $4,300 since my car is no longer under warranty. I truly hope that ford gets their act together and addresses this issues as I'm seeing more and more complaints pop-up everywhere regarding this. Poor excuse!!! Dear valued customer, thank you for contacting the ford motor company customer relationship center inquiring for any recalls on your 2003 ford explorer. I sincerely understand the frustration that this transmission concern on your vehicle has brought you. Please be informed that ford motor company is working with the national highway traffic and safety administration (the federal safety agency) to proactively identify areas of concern through investigation of consumer and dealership feedback. If a concern is noted, a recall is conducted to remedy a safety or emissions concern in the interest of customer satisfaction and environmental responsibility. Thus, I have reviewed if any available coverages or programs may provide assistance towards your vehicle repair. After extensively reviewing your situation, I regret to inform you that there are no recalls, warranties or other coverages available that may cover the repair on your vehicle. While this is so, I would like to thank you for taking the time to bring your concern into our attention as this is definitely something we can build on. If a program is announced on a specific component and/or for the transmission concern on your vehicle, ford will notify you by mail. I appreciate the fact that you are a loyal ford customer and hope that we might have the opportunity in the future to assist you with a more favorable resolution to keep your confidence in our products and services. If you have any other inquiries and/or concerns that need to be addressed, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to assist a valued customer like yourself. Sincerely, customer relationship center
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH when the rpms increased up to 405 and the over drive light illuminated as well. The contact drove onto the emergency lane and was able to restart the vehicle it recurred. The dealer was informed about the failure and they stated that the bands in the transmission are shot and will have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 62000 and the current mileage was 62010.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. While driving 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost power, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to a transmission specialist who stated that the gear solenoid needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current and failure mileages were approximately 110,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt (n/a). While driving the over drive light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop where the mechanic located the failure at the transmission solenoid. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that there were no related recalls. The contact planned to have the vehicle repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000 the current mileage was approximately 153,300.
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.
O/d light began flashing and transmission started to slip from 2nd t 3rd gear. Had the trans solenoid pack replaced which helped for awhile but problem came back after a month or so. Took it to repair shop again and this time they said it's the 4th and 5th gear servos.
2003 ford explorer with 74,000 miles on it - o/d light began flashing. Around the same time I noticed that when going from a stop to a start it would take a long time to shift into gear. Took it into the mechanic - suggested a new transmission for $4100!!! For a car that has less than 100,000 miles this is ridiculous.
With no warning, while driving my 2003 explorer yesterday, the o/d off light comes on then the check transmission light also comes on. After that I notice the shifting of gears feels really weird. It shifts slower and harder when it shifts. I cannot drive the car because it is unsafe for me and my 2 young children. The repair shop says I need a new transmission which will cost me $2000 that I don't have, to put into a vehicle I am still paying on. If I continue to drive it with the transmission the way it is now, it could lock up and make me stop in the middle of the road, and possible get myself and others seriously injured or killed. This seems to be a problem with this make, model and year vehicle that I have, but I didn't not know that until I began doing research when it messed up yesterday.
The transmissions is failing in 2nd and 5th gear. It occurs everyday and you can not accelerate without it sticking in a higher gear, making it difficult to stop safely.
I own a 2003 ford explorer-4.6 liter v8 4 wheel drive, the vehicle has 158,000 miles and have experienced the sparkplug blowout while driving home from work. I was traveling on a busy state road when the engine miss fired and then heard a loud pop and the engine went to missing bad. I immediately pulled to the side and checked to see what was happening. I limped the vehicle into a parking lot and proceeded to reinstall the plug and coil pack. The forcing push of the plug broke the coil pack and tore the plug boot. I just replaced the coil pack and plug boot assembly and reinstalled the plug bck in. I feel that this issue is common on the 4.6 liters, a friend and shadetree mechanic did a motor swap in an expedition with this same motor for the same reason cause the plug in cylinder #4(passenger rear) tore the threads coming out and let loose metal into the piston journal and caused severe damage.
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.
Overdrive light is blinking and transmission is shifting hard and sometimes not at all. The car has 90,000 miles on it. Nothing has ever been toed. It is a daily commute car I have owned since brand new. There is no way I should already need a new transmission. Also the wheel bearings have gone on both sides of the front of my car. This has happened to countless other people with this year (2003) explorer. I have researched both and this is a common occurrence with this car. And both are extremely hazardous for safety reasons. I believe this is a huge defect from ford and needs to be investigated.
I have a 2003 ford explorer with approx. 70,000 miles on it. On july 15, 2010, I noticed that the overdrive light was flashing on and off and then the check engine light turned on. This problem happened on and off for about a week. On july 26, 2010, I took the vehicle in for repair and was told that I needed a new transmission and a new solenoid pack. The cost of these items was $2,500! I proceeded to do some internet research and found that this seems to be a common problem with the 2002 and 2003 ford explorers. The transmissions of these vehicles have major problems as no one should have to replace a transmission with only 70,000 miles on it. I feel ford needs to issue a recall of this item as it has caused many people a lot of money to repair.
While I am driving the truck slows down then speeds back up. Vehicle is only 7 years old and has 71,000 miles, a few days ago the o/d light started flashing and then a day later the check engine soon light came on as well. I took the truck to a transmission shop they hooked the truck up to the machine and 5 malfunctions came up in the transmission he said that the 1st and 5th gear is slipping. He would have to rebuilt the transmission, which would cost at least $2000. He also stated that my truck was too young and didn't have enough miles in it to already have transmission problems. I see by the other complaints on carcomplaint.com that I am not the only one have this problem. Who do we have to contact in order to have ford notice that they truck should get recalled b/c of the transmission problems?
I have a 2003 ford explorer. I have had several incidents of it not easily changing from park to reverse, and reverse to park. Last night, I was unloading some items from the explorer. The car was in park, and the emergency brake was engaged. I was standing in the right side passenger doorway. I reached over to turn off the ignition. Upon turning it off, the explorer immediately began to roll into reverse. My mother was sitting in the backseat at this time as well as my two babies, who were strapped in their car seats. My driveway is an incline, so the explorer rolled backwards. I tried to run with it as I was trapped in the doorway. The explorer gained speed going down the driveway, causing me to be knocked down, unsure of whether or not I was about to be run over, or whether my mom and children were going to be injured. I was thrown down, landed on my buttocks which has caused severe bruising, hit my head on the concrete, and was left with painful, open cuts on my left arm. My mother was tossed about causing pain to her back. My kids were thankfully restrained in their car seats. They rolled backward into a neighbor's yard, then proceeded to roll forward back across the street into my yard. When the car finally stopped, the emergency brake was still engaged, and the gear shift was stuck between park and reverse. It would not come out of this position. It took quite a lot of work to get the car to go into reverse or drive so that the explorer could be properly moved. I am very upset at the incident which could have left myself, my kids, or my mom critically or fatally injured. I am very afraid to drive this vehicle now, and I am very afraid to park it. If I had another vehicle to drive right now, I certainly would be driving it instead of the ford explorer.
Overdrive light flashes on my 2003 ford explorer.
I have a 2003 ford explorer that I bought brand new, it now has 135,553 miles on it. Have never had problems and it actually drives very well, but the o/d off light started flashing. Took it to the ford dealer 3 days later, was told the torque converter needed to be replaced at a cost of $1,225.00. The dealer has told me that the torque converter has been replaced twice, the o/d off light still flashing and after further diagnostics they have now determined the computer needs to be replaced at a cost of an additional $1,325.00. According to the internet this is a persistent problem that ford has yet to do anything about. It should be a recall issue.
Steering column.. Hard to shift into park.
Transmission started slipping and taking a long time going into gear and jerking into gear since around 67000 miles. It now has over 91000 miles and keeps getting worse. The transmission shop told me that this is common with this model explorer.
Ford 2003 explorer overdrive light flashing and service engine soon light on. Brought in for service to be told ford has this problem but they've done nothing about it. Could break down on street and strand motorist. Now I have to replace transmission. I feel my families safety was jeopardized by fords neglect.
The o/d light is flashing on the dashboard,service engine light comes on and when I accelerate the transmission shifts rough,ford says it is not a common problem,but I have visited several sites today with complaints from other consumers,all makes,all models of ford trucks and suvs. I have 2003 ford explorer .the vehicle just went over 80,000 mile.
Over drive light is blinking; transmission is revving high.. Only has 79,000 on it!
2003 o/d light blinking, service engine light soon light turned on. Transmission problems detected. Lots of fords transmissions seem to have flaws need to force a recall.
2003 ford explorer xlt - overdrive light starting flashing and now the transmission slips when shifting from 1st to second gear. Engine revs to 3200 rpms and makes a loud noise before feathering the gas to get the transmission to shift into 2nd gear. Vertical crack in fiberglass tailgate panel just below rear window glass. No impact to tailgate occurred-crack just appeared.
2003 ford explorer "o/d off" light blinking.
I own a 2003 ford explorer xlt and the o/d light constantly blinks. The transmission is sluggish shifting from 1st to 2nd and my car failed an emissions inspection due to this problem. I have read how many other people have had this very same problem even after a transmission has been repaired or replaced. Hoping this problem could be recalled because this is too wide spread for it to be a consumer issue.
Driving my 2003 ford explorer on highway when gear slipped..o/d light started flashing! It needs a new transmission they say but I haven't done the repair yet.
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