2003 Ford Explorer problems

“There is a crack down the middle section of the liftgate for quite some time. The liftgate has been unlocking and opening automatically by itself. On only rare occasions has the liftgate opened all the way while driving. On the morning of 7/28/2022 while the vehicle was parked in my driveway the liftgate was discovered to have again unlocked by itself and opened slightly and now with one of the two hinges holding the glass sheared leaving the liftgate glass hanging by only one hinge. With the glass now hanging without having both hinge supports functioning and the inability to close and lock the liftgate, 1) the glass could fall out while driving and 2) with the liftgate unable to now close and lock, contents of the back storage area could fall out of the vehicle while driving. On 8/1/2022 the vehicle was inspected by the foreman of the Service Dept. at Healy Ford, Goshen, N.Y. I was told to take it to a body shop for realignment repair. Apparently a recall on 9/13/2022 # 04V442000 did not include my Vin. However, In driving around I do see many 2003 explorers with the identical crack on the liftgate.”

“SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF INSIDE STEERING COLUMN OF MY WIFE'S EXPLORER WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO DRIVE TO EXIT FROM A BOAT LAUNCH RAMP WITH NO BOAT ON THE TRAILER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON A FLATBED WRECKER TO MY GARAGE. BROKEN ELEMENT ( SEE PHOTOS) WAS NOT REPLACEABLE BY ITSELF. STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BUT RATHER A FAULTY /WEAK COMPONENT THAT REPRESENTS A DANGER. I HAVE NOTED REPORTS OF IDENTICAL INCIDENTS ONLINE. THUS FAR, NEITHER THE DEALER NOR FORD NATIONAL "CUSTOMER SERVICE" IS PREPARED TO REIMBURSE.”

“2003 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HUMMING/WHINING NOISE IN THE REAR END OF VEHICLE AND A FREQUENT LEAK IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SEVERAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE RING AN PINION, BEARINGS, SEALS AND GEAR AND PINION WERE ALL REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE REMAINED UNRESOLVED. ALSO, THE REAR HATCH WAS CRACKED. WHEN THE CONSUMER INQUIRED ABOUT A REPLACEMENT AND ITS COST, THE DEALER ADVISED AGAINST THE REPLACEMENT/REPAIR AS THE NEW HATCHES HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A DAMAGED THERMOSTAT HOUSING.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT AND FOUR BYSTANDERS PUSHED THE VEHICLE INTO A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,412.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DETACHED DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM BEING CORRODED. THE CONTACT CALLED ELDER FORD (777 JOHN R RD, TROY, MI 48083, (248) 825-8646) AND WAS ADVISED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE METAL OF THE UPPER CONTROL ARM WAS NOT A GOOD METAL; THEREFORE, THE CONTROL ARM WAS CORRODED THROUGH AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE REAR WINDOW, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGES WERE CRACKING AND WERE TILTED ON ONE SIDE. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN, STATED THAT THE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED FORT MILL FORD AT (866) 680-5276 (LOCATED AT 801 GOLD HILL RD, FORT MILL, SC 29708) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.”