MyCarTSB

2003 Ford Explorer Equipment Problems

7 owner-reported equipment complaints from NHTSA data

7
Complaints
Jan 2004Jul 2003
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (7)

mediumEQUIPMENT
Filed: Jan 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE A/C HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. IN ADDITION, THE A/C FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 03/07/13*LJ UPDATED 03/11/2013 *JS

NHTSA #: 10494621
mediumEQUIPMENT,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2005

ISSUE IS NON SAFETY RELATED. ISSUE WITH KNOWN MANUFACTURERS DEFECT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND WILL NOT BE REPLACED. PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN SEPTEMBER OF 2003. DESIRED FEATURE WAS HARD TONNEAU COVER TO KEEP BED DRY AND SECURE. COVER LEAKED. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AFTER APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF TO GET REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT "LEAKING" WAS NOT A COVERED ITEM PER FORD WARRANTY GROUP AND THAT IT WAS EXPECTED. TOLD TO RESOLVE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE IF HAD FURTHER QUESTIONS. CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE TO CLARIFY WHY THEY DIDN'T CONSIDER LEAKING A COVERED ITEM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS COVERED AND THEY WOULD WORK WITH DEALER TO UNDERSTAND WHY NOT FIXED. GOT CALL BACK NEXT DAY STATING THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF LEAKING ISSUES AND WHILE SHOULD BE A WARRANTY COVERED ITEM, THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX OR IF THEY EVER WOULD. WAS TOLD TO CHECK BACK PERIODICALLY TO SEE IF ANY FIX HAD BEEN ISSUED. FORD IS NOT HONORING THEIR STATED WARRANTY. IT HAS BEEN 2 YEARS SINCE MY 2003 WAS PUT ON THE MARKET AND STILL NO FIX FOR THE ISSUE WHICH FORD SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF. MY $600 SPENT ON A TONNEAU COVER TO KEEP THE BED DRY IS WASTED AND FORD IS STILL SELLING THIS TONNEAU COVER TO OTHER CONSUMERS.

NHTSA #: 10116513
mediumEQUIPMENT
Filed: Jan 2005

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. *NM *TC *JB

NHTSA #: 10109566
mediumEQUIPMENT
Filed: Jun 2004

WHILE DRIVING/IDLING HEAT WOULD BE COMING OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) VENTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO THE CONSUMER'S RIGHT LEG. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA #: 10080197
mediumEQUIPMENT
Filed: Jan 2004

I HAVE HAD MY EXPLORER SINCE MAY 27. IT HAD 11 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THE FIRST TIME IT WOULD NOT START IT HAD 300 MILES ON IT. EVENTUALLY I DID GET IT STARTED, BROUGHT IT TO FORD AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE 2ND TIME THE SAME THING HAPPENED I HAD 2300 MILES ON IT. I HAD IT TOWED TO FORD. WHEN IT GOT TO FORD IT STARTED AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AT 2500 MILES AND 2700 MILES. FORD STILL HAS IT NOW. THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON JUNE 5, JULY 8, JULY 25 AND AUGUST 21. SO FAR ALL WORK HAS BEEN WARRANTY BUT I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE 21 DAYS IN THE 3 MONTHS I HAVE OWNED IT.

NHTSA #: 10070719
mediumEQUIPMENT
Filed: Jan 2004

THE REMOTE DOOR AUTO LOCK DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK WHEN REMOTE PUSHED. THIS HAPPENS VERY OFTEN AND WITH BOTH REMOTES. WHEN THIS PROBLEM EXISTS, THE RADIO GETS CRACKLY TOO. BEEN TO FORD IN PLYMOUTH, MN BUT CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. IF I SHOULD NEED TO USE IN AN EMERGENCY, THIS COULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA #: 10052324
mediumEQUIPMENT
Filed: Jul 2003

ON MY NEW FORD EXPLORER, THERE IS A AIR CONDITIONER LEAK IS LETTING 134A GAS INTO THE OZONE LAYER. 134A PISSES OUT OF THE A/C SYSTEM EVERYTIME I USE THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT.*AK

NHTSA #: 10029167

Other 2003 Ford Explorer Issues