10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
35,438 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #5

Dec 252012

Explorer 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles
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 updated 03/11/2013

- Starkville, MS, USA

problem #4

Aug 122006

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,179 miles
4 items 1 - have owned the 2003 Ford Explorer for 7 months. While test driving, I noticed a hum noise coming from rear tires. Was told it was tread noise. We took it for oil change at very well respected national automotive service shop. I was informed I needed to replace the rear hub assembly that is was critically broken. Waiting to contact local Ford dealer for resolution based on tsb research I have done. 2 - whining noise from air conditioner when accelerating. Don't really know what is going on. Saw this also on tsb. Contacting local Ford dealership. 3 - ABS light randomly comes on. Don't know why and no pattern to when. Contacting local Ford dealership. 4 - cruise control not working. I was driving down the road this weekend, using cruise control. Stopped quickly for a car in front of me. When I started going again, the cruise control wouldn't work and hasn't worked since then. I don't know if it has to do with the brakes. I noticed Ford recalled some cruise control mechanisms in other vehicles but not in the 2003 Explorer.

- Chattanooga, TN, USA

problem #3

Aug 012003

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The consumer complained of noise coming from the air conditioner.

- Southampton, PA, USA

problem #2

Apr 152004

Explorer

  • 15,000 miles
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.

- Seneca, PA, USA

problem #1

Jun 012003

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12 miles
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.

- Alexandria, VA, USA