2003 FORD EXPLORER Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO PARK. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN GEAR IT HESITATED AND JERKED BEFORE ENGAGING. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE PREVIOUSLY AT 18,000 MILES AND 27,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE SAME REPAIR AT 58,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,742.*AK

2003 FORD EXPLORER FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *JB

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT HOW WIDE SPREAD THE ISSUE IS. IN READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, THE COMMON THEME IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION @ ROUGHLY 50,00 MILES OR LOWER. MORE SPECIFICALLY, MY OD LIGHT KEPT FLASHING ,NOT ABLE TO SHIFT TO REVERSE, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT TO HIGHER GEARS. *JB

2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT VERTICAL CRACK IN FIBERGLASS TAILGATE PANEL JUST BELOW REAR WINDOW GLASS NO IMPACT TO TAILGATE OCCURRED-CRACK JUST APPEARED WHILE DRIVING. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT AT 50000 MILES. *JB

WHILE CRUISING UPHILL ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED TO MAINTAIN SPEED. AFTER CRESTING THE HILL, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK INTO OVERDRIVE AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT 1-2 UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 4500 RPM AND THEN WOULD DO SO VERY HARSHLY. WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND DOES NOT PROVIDE FULL ACCELERATION. ACCORDING TO MY LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP THE REPAIR WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3000 AND REQUIRE AN ALL NEW TRANSMISSION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER IT STARTED TO SHAKE CAUSING LOSE OF STEERING AND BRAKES. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL THE CAME OFF BECAUSE THE LUGS HAD UNSCREWED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAD BLOWN APART FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IT APPEARED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY UNEVEN TIRES AND THE 4X4 ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING ON ITS OWN. *TS *NM

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT. MY OVER DRIVE LIGHT STARTS FLASHING AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I HAVE JUST SEEN ONLINE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND FORD IS NOT RECALLING OR DOING ANYTHING TO HELP WITH REPAIRS. I THINK THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. I ALSO GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT IN MAY OF 2006 WITH MY 2002 EXPLORER AND IT WAS TOTALED. I FLIPPED IN THE VEHICLE TWICE AND NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *JB

HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER 2WD THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION CONCERNS IN EARLY 2005, VEHICLES JUST OVER A YEAR OLD. AFTER TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES IN A YEAR, WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T VERIFY THE PROBLEM. FINALLY, IN MARCH 2005 WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO TEAR TRANSMISSION DOWN AND REPLACE THE CLUTCH PACK, ON TESTING TRANSMISSION, LINE PRESSURE WAS LOW. AFTER WORK PERFORMED, TOOK BACK AGAIN, WAS HAVING SAME CONCERN, AGAIN TOLD COULDN'T VERIFY PROBLEM. HAD TRANSMISSION SERVICED, AFTER TELLING THEM I WAS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM, THEY SERVICED TRANSMISSION AND SAID ALL WAS FINE. IN OCTOBER OF 2006, WAS HEADING OUT OF TOWN ON A TWO LANE ROAD, WHEN I WENT TO PASS A BIG RIG ON HIGHWAY 113, JUST OUTSIDE OF WOODLAND, AS I GOT AROUND BIG RIG, AND ACCELERATED, THE CAR WOULDN'T GO INTO 3RD GEAR, THE RPMS...

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHIFTING TO ANY GEAR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE OIL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED EVERY MONTH.

HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. AT 13,000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. HAD TO TOW MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEIR INITIAL ASSESSMENT WAS THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN DUE TO A "FACTORY DEFAULT". THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. AFTER 3 WEEKS, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, MADE NO REPAIRS AND DID NOT REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM MYSTERIOUSLY FIXED ITSELF. NOW AT 28,000 MILES, MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING EVERYTIME INTO 3RD GEAR, SOMETIMES JUST REVVING INSTEAD OF GOING AND THEN JERKING VERY HARD INTO GEAR. FORD DEALERSHIP STATES THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT FORD EXPLORERS AFTER 2002 AND TRANSMISSIONS GOING OUT TOO EARLY. FORD NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM AND RECALL THOSE PARTS. IT FEELS AS IF THEY ARE BLOWING ME OFF UNTIL MY...

2003 FORD EXPLORER 63,000 MILES OD LIGHT STARTED FLASHING 2 DAYS AGO. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP THEY RAN A CHECK ON IT AND THE CODE CAME UP: PO741-TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SOLENOID INTER/MECHANICAL FAILURE. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SOLENOID PACK AND THAT IT WOULD BE 218.00 PLUS LABOR. WENT TO PICK IT UP 3 HOURS LATER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW AND SHOULD NOT NEED A TRANSMISSION REPLACED! *NM

LESS THAN 2 YRS AFTER PURCHASE OF A NEW 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BOWER 4X4 V8 FROM A DEALER, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED GRINDING AND SLIPPING. DEALER SERVICE RECORDS DOCUMENTED MY CONCERNS AND THEIR INABILITY/UNWILLINGNESS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE LACK OF A "SERVICE WARNING" LIGHT. SUBSEQUENT VISITS WITH THE SAME ISSUE BROUGHT SIMILAR RESULTS FROM THE DEALER. WARRANTY EXPIRED LESS THAN ONE YEAR BEFORE I FINALLY GOT A WARNING LIGHT AND THE NEWS FROM MY DEALER WAS THAT IT MEANT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR JUST UNDER $6500. WITH ABSOLUTELY NO HELP FROM ANY LEVEL OF FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR JUST OVER $3000 - OBVIOUSLY NOT BY FORD. *NM

DT:* THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHUTTERED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 35MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. A NEW FUEL FILTER WAS INSTALLED BY THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

MY SUV HAS 86791 MILES ITS A 2003 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT.. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT STOP SHIFTING AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEPT FLASHING. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND $1400.00 LATER ITS FIXED.. WITH THE FORD EXPLORER YOU CAN'T CHANGE OR CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IT'S IN A SEALED CANISTER.. ITS MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED THIS SOON IN A VEHICLE....THIS IS A POOR DESIGN AND FORD WON'T EVEN FACE UP TO IT.. I ALSO FOUND OUT IT IS A PROBLEM NOT ONLY IN MY CAR BUT IN OTHERS.. *JB

HELLO. I HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER INCLUDING SEVERAL SAFETY ISSUES. THE FIRST COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHICH SHIFTS ROUTINELY ON ACCELERATION AND DE-ACCELERATION. THIS CONCERNS ME IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND THE SEAT MALFUNCTIONS. THE SECOND COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE GEAR SHIFTER NOT GOING INTO PARK EASILY. I HAVE TO JIGGLE IT TO INTO PARK. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE PARK AND MY VEHICLE MIGHT ROLL. THIRDLY, MY REAR LIFT GATE TRIM HAS HAD TO BE REPAIRED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. I AM CONCERNED THAT ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NO SAFETY ISSUE, THERE POSSIBLY COULD BE DUE TO THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGES BEING RECALLED AND REPRESENTATIVE INFORMING ME THAT THE REASON THAT I CONTINUE TO HAVE A CRACK APPEARING IS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. THIS CONCERNS ME B/C I FREQUENTLY UTILIZE THE LIFT GATE TO...

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION. IT CLUNKS OUT OF GEAR WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS GOING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. IT ALSO SEEMS TO DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION AT TIMES AS IT ACTS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL GOING FROM FIRST TO SECOND ON OCCASION. I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES. THE "SAID" THE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH ONE THAT WAS REBUILT, BUT IT ACTED THE SAME WAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK AND WAS NOW TOLD THAT UNTIL IT ACTUALLY BREAKS, THEY WILL NOT WORK ON THE TRANSMISSION ANY LONGER. *JB

2003 EXPLORER - TRANSMISSION GOES INTO *NEUTRAL* WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD AND/OR 3RD AND 4TH. A SOLENOID BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AT DECREASING MILEAGE INTERVALS. NOW FAILING FOR 5TH TIME WITH 2,000 MILES SINCE LAST *FIX*. FAILURE HAS OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE WITH FREEWAY TRAFFIC. PURSUING BBB ARBITRATION FOR REPURCHASE AS FORD IS UNABLE TO REPAIR. *NM

FORD EXPLORER DOES NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO MOVE INTO INTERSECTION THEN STALL UNTIL TRANSMISSION EVENTUALLY SLIPS INTO GEAR. FORD TECH LINE WANTS US TO DRIVE UNTIL THE PROBLEM OCCURS CONTINUOUSLY SO THE PROBLEM WILL BE EASY TO FIND. DEALER HAS RESET CPU, REPLACED VALVE BODY, AND NOW PLACED AN "ADDITIVE" IN TRANSMISSION. OBVIOUSLY HAVING NO IDEA AS TO THE REAL PROBLEM. *JB

REAR AXLE IS LEAKING AND THERE IS A HUMMING NOISE ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND THEW TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. I HAVE 75000 MILE WARRANTY AND VEHICLE HAS ONLY 45,500 MILES ON IT. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS MAKING A CLANKING NOISE AND IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND UPGRADED THE TRANSMISSION. THEY REPLACED PARTS IN THE REAR END OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE CUT OFF WHILE RUNNING, WHEN I TURNED ON HIGH BEAMS. ENGINE RPMS AND ENGINE ACCELERATED, WHEN I TURNED ON HIGH BEAMS LOSS CONTROL OF ACCELERATION, WHEN FOG LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON. MESSAGE CENTER FLASHED "CHECK TRANSMISSION", O/D OFF (OVERDRIVE OFF) FLASHED, WHEN FOG LIGHT WERE TURNED ON. *NM

DEAR NHTSA: IN OCTOBER 2003 I PURCHASED THE NBX - V8 VERSION OF THE FORD EXPLORER WITH AN UPGRADED TOW PACKAGE FOR MY WIFE. SHE NEVER USES THE TOW PACKAGE AND I, VERY OCCASIONALLY PULL A 300LB UTILITY TRAILER. I GET THE OIL CHANGED RELIGIOUSLY AND RECENTLY HAD THE 30,000 MILE 4WD LUBRICATION PACKAGE FROM GOODYEAR FOR APPROX. $500. AT 34,000MI MY WIFE BEGAN TO NOTICE A NON-DESCRIPT NOISE IN THE REAR END, A RUMBLE AT SLOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING. SHE CARRIES THINGS IN THE BACK AND THOUGHT THEY WERE ROLLING AROUND. I DROVE THE CAR AT 36,600 MI AND ALSO NOTICED THE NOISE BUT WE HAD A LOW REAR TIRE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRE PRESSURE. THE TIRE ACTUALLY PICKED UP A NAIL AND WENT FLAT AND I BROUGHT THE TIRE TO GOODYEAR FOR REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR THE REAR END NOISE PERSISTED ONLY AT LOW SPEEDS...

TRANSMISSION CLUNKING FROM REVERSE TO FORWARD OR FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE. WHIRLING SOUND, 55-65 MPH, REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION ENGAGING PROPERLY AND THE TRANSMISSION MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS HOT OR COLD. THE TRANSMISSION DID THIS INTERMITENTLY FOR A WEEK OR SO UNTIL I TOOK IT INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I DROVE IT FOR ANOTHER WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH IN MID-ACCELERATION AT ANY SPEED AND WOULD LUNGE WHEN COMING TO A STOP LEAVING ME NEVER KNOWING WHEN I MIGHT STOP ON THE FREEWAY OR RUN INTO THE BACK OF SOMEBODY. THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS THE CLUTCH PACK THAT FAILED AND THE REPAIR COST ME $1,131.00. THE REPAIR CONSISTED OF REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION, OPENING IT UP AND REPLACING THE PARTS AND THEN RE-INSTALLING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE READ...

WE HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER-WHEN YOU SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE-LIKE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND THEN PUTTING INTO DRIVE VEHICLE DOESNT MOVE FOR A WHILE-IF YOU TRY TO GIVE IT GAS ENGINE REVS UP AND THEN SLAMS INTO DRIVE--IN THE MEANTIME YOU ARE WONDERING IF THE CAR COMING AROUND THE CORNER IS GOING TO REAR END YOU AND CAUSE INJURY TO YOUR FAMILY AND DAMAGE TO YOUR VEHICLE--BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES-PUT SEVERAL PARTS IN TRANS STILL THE SAME. *AK

2003 FORD EXPLORER----5 SECOND LAG, DELAYED ENGAGEMENT, HARSH JERKING MOVEMENT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE TO REVERSE, AND A BANG CAN ALSO BE HEARD. SHUDDERING IS ALSO PREVALENT. POWER TRAIN MODULE WAS REFLASHED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. LAG CONDITION STILL IS PRESENT SOMETIMES. FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON APRIL 21, 2003, LATEST INCIDENT WAS IN MAY 2004.*AK

2003 EXPLORER'S TRANSMISSION MADE A LOUD "POP" OR "WHUMP" SOUND WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20-24 MPH. IT WAS INFREQUENT BUT ALARMING. *BF THE NOISE SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS. *NM *TC *JB

PURCHASED A 2003 FORD EXPLORER 4X4 JANUARY 2004, AROUND 10K MILES NOTICED A SHUDDER/SLIPPING IN TRANSMISSION UNDER HARD EXCELLERATION. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO PULLIAM FORD IN COLA. SC TO HAVE TRANSMISSION AND WHINING REAR END REPAIRED. WHEN I CALLED THE SERVICE WRITER, HE INFORMED ME THAT THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE TRANSMISSION VIBRATION, AND THAT THE WHINE WAS NO LOUDER THAN OTHER EXPLORERS, EVEN THOUGH THEY DID ACKNOWLEGE THAT THE EXPLORER DID HAVE A REAR END PROBLEM. I AM NOT SATISFIED AND WOULD LIKE TO GET MY 32K WORTH OUT OF THIS VEHICLE, NOT A EXCUSE FOR A POOR PRODUCT AND POOR SERVICE. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND SEAT RECLINER HANDLE.*MR DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB

2003 FORD EXPLORER- 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY DISENGAGES. REPRODUCED BY FIRST ACCELERATING FROM 1ST OR 2ND GEAR AND BACK OFF GAS JUST BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES AND ENGINE REVS UP. MUST EITHER REV ENGINE UP OVER 4K OR BACKOFF GAS ALTOGETHER TO RECOVER. FORD IS NON-RESPONSIVE TO INQUIRES. PROBLEM WEBSITES ARE FULL OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. *LA

WHILE ON ANY TYPE OF INCLINE OUR FORD EXPLORER XLT ROLLS BACK WHILE IN DRIVE. AFTER TELEPHONING FORD MOTOR COMPANY, I WAS TOLD BY ANN TO TAKE THE ISSUE UP WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. SHE SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE ISSUE OF THE ROLLBACK WHILE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE ON AN INCLINE. WHEN WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED IT, THEY SAID THEY WOULD WORK WITH US AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY. IN EARLY DECEMBER AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE 8 CYLINDER VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED HAS A DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION THAN THE 6 CYLINDER. WHILE THE 6 CYLINDER EXPLORERE DOES NOT ROLL BACK ON AN INCLINE WHILE IN DRIVE, THE 8 CYLINDER MODEL DOES. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS SIMPLY THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION IS DESIGNED AND THAT...

BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN TO THE FLOOR INTERMITTENTLY.THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETTY ISSUE.THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM YET.TOOK IN THE SHOP FOR MORE THAN 3 TIMES.ALSO THE OIL LEAK FROM THE REAR MAIN SEAL,HARSHE SHIFT IN TRANSMISSION ,POWER STEERING PUMP FAILURE,OIL PAN GASKET LEAK ,MASTER CYLINDER LEAK ,COIL (SPARK PLUG) FAILURE.*AK

TRANSMISSION BEGAN LOCKING UP WHEN VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE TO BACK-UP. *NM

2003 EXPLORER XLT, 2WD: LOUD NOISE COMING FROM DRIVELINE FROM 30 THROUGH 70 MPH. DEALER CHANGED DIFFERENTIAL GEAR SET--NO FIX. THEN CHANGED THE DRIVESHAFT--NO FIX. I NOW HAVE 26,000 MILES ON IT AND THE NOISE IS SO LOUD IT IS DISTRACTING. FORD SAYS THEY HAVE NO FIX (TRANSMISSION? AXLES? ANOTHER BAD RING AND PINION SET?). DEALER SAYS ONE OF THEIR STAFF HAS A 2003 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM....STILL NO FIX.*AK

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER 2WD XLT STARTED MAKING WHINNING NOISES WHEN PLACED INTO GEAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NINE TIMES WITH OVER $1200 WORTH OF WORK. REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY FAITH IN THE TECHNICIANS OR SERVICE MANAGER. GOING THROUGH ARBITRATION NOW TO HAVE THE LEMON REPURCHASED BY FORD.*AK

ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED THEN WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE AUTO WON'T SHIFT INTO REVERSE. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENS. UPON INCREASING THE RPM BY 50-100 THE CAR SLAMS INTO REVERSE AND LUNGES 2-3 FEET. *JB

WHEN DIRVING VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS REAR ENDED YOU, AS THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME THREE OR FOUR TIMES AND IS MORE FREQUENT WITH MY WIFE AS IT IS HER VEHICLE. TODAY MY WIFE WAS BACKING UP AND IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE RAN INTO THE FRONT OF HER AS THE VEHICLE LURCHED BACKWARD. SHE SAID IT REALLY BOUNCED HER HEAD. TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED IN REVERSE. THIS IS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER, V-8 XLT 2WD. I HAVE SOME TIME OFF LATER THIS MONTH AND WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER.*AK

NEW 2003 FORD EXPLORER 2WD 4.0 6CYL PROB BEGAN AT 500-700 MILES. EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND WHINING NOISE AT SPEEDS FROM 40-70 MPH. VEHICLE APPEARS TO STRUGGLE WHEN ACCELERATING, AND CRUISING SPEEDS. DEALER UNRESPONSIVE AFTER LEARNING THAT FORD ENGINEERS ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM AND HAVE NO CURRENT FIX. DEALER UNWILLING TO EXPLORE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, OR REFUND. FORD FEILD SERVICES ENGINEER ADMITTED TO ME THAT APPROXIMATELY 50% OF NEW EXPLORERS HAVE THIS FAULTY "RING & PINION GEAR" AND THAT VENDORS ARE WORKING TO CERTIFY REPLACEMENT PARTS.

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AS IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING PRESSED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART IT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK THE TRANSMISSION. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *NLM

TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LIGHT ON. TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING SHIFTING. DEALER INITIALLY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL FORD ENGINEERING GIVES THEM THE FIX. SECOND VISIT TO DEALERSHIP THEY REBUILT TRANSMISSION TWO DAYS LATER TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AGAIN. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING A LOUD CLINKING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM SQUEELING NOISE FROM MOTOR. TRANSMISSION LURCHED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE HAD TO BE FLUSHED. REPLACE STEERING SHAFT FOR CLINKING NOISE. CLOCKSPRING REPLACED.