2003 FORD EXPLORER Structure Problems

THE BACK PANEL ON THE HATCH IS CRACKED. *TR

I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A DEFECT IN THE TAILGATE PANEL ON THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER. IT IS CRACKED AND AS A RESULT WATER GETS INTO THE INSIDE OF THE PANEL AND LEAKS INTO THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF THE BITTER COLD DAYS HERE IN THE NORTHEAST OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO, ICE FORMS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES WITH VISIBILITY WHICH IS DANGEROUS. IT ALSO SHORTED OUT THE REAR WIPER MOTOR AS WELL. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT EFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFT GATE GLASS HINGE CORRODED AND FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH OF THE HINGES WERE CORRODED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE LIFT GATE WAS FRACTURED NEAR THE MANUFACTURING EMBLEM. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. *TR

ALL 4 OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACES IN A MATTER OF 5 MONTHS THE REAR WINDOW HAS A CRACK IN THE FIBERGLASS COVERING RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE SAID NOT COVERED NOT A HEALTH RISK BUT THE MOLDING IS STILL CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF WINDOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MOLDING PIECE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL U GET BACK IN AND TAP THE BRAKES THEN THE LIGHT SHUTS OFF. *TR

RCALL WORK WAS DONE ( FORD # 04S045 ) SINCE THAT TIME THE PLASTIC TRIM PIECE ATTACHED TO THE TAILGATE WINDOW CRACKED WHICH HAS ALLOWED WATER TO RUST OUT THE MOUNTING BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE LATCH AND WIPER ASSEMBLY. THE RESULT IS THAT THE WIDOW NO LONGER CLOSES SECURELY AND THE WINDOW LATCH IN-OPERABLE. HAS THIS BEEN ADDRESSED IN AND OTHER RECALLS? I HAVE OBSERVED THAT 9 OF 10 EXPLORERS/MOUNTAINEERS ALSO HAVE CRACKED TRIM PIECES. AS A RESULT OF THE RUSTING BRACKET I FEEL THAT THE WINDOW COULD SUDDENLY OPEN AND/OR SHATTER. REPAIRS SEEM IMPOSSIBLE ALSO DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SHATTERING THE WINDOW CAUSING INJURY.

MY SON WENT TO LEAVE IN EXPLORER. NOTICED HATCH HAD POPPED OPEN (HAS BEEN DOING THIS) AND WHEN HE CLOSED THE TWO INCH OPENING THE GLASS EXPLODED ON HIM AND ALL OVER DRIVEWAY. GLASS PIECE IN EYE WHICH IS OK AND SCRAPES ON ARMS AND FOOT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE AND WANT ANSWERS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. *TR

MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER WHICH INCLUDE THE ELECTRONIC MOTHER BOARD HAVING BEEN REPLACED TWICE (UNDER WARRANTY), CRACKED LIFTGAGE (NOT UNDER WARRANTY COST $300), TRANSMISSION REBUILD APPROX 90,000 ($3000), DOME LIGHTS DO NOT TURN OFF, DOOR AJAR LIGHTS, ELECTRIC REAR WINDOWS DO NOT OPEN, O/D LIGHT FLASHES AND NOW THE FINAL PROBLEM AFTER HAVING REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION IN JULY 2011 IS A DRIVE TRAIN OR DRIVE LINE ISSUE. AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AFTER DROPPING FROM A HIGHER SPEED, A THUMPING HAPPENS. DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN 3 DAYS STILL WITH NO FINAL DETERMINATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE REAR LIFT GATE WAS OPEN THE HINGE FAILED CAUSING THE GATE TO FALL ON THE CONTACTS HEAD. THE DEALER WAS STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL NUMBER: 04V442000: STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

I BOUGHT 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN 2008, USED, AND IN 2011 I OPENED MY BACK GLASS AND THE HINGE SNAPPED ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THE GLASS STARTED FALLING, AND THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED THE GLASS FROM BREAKING WAS THE RIGHT SIDE HINGE HELD. I CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND THEY SAID THAT I COULD TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND HAVE IT INSPECTED, BUT THERE WAS NO SAFTEY RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND IN 2004 THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER WAS RECALLED FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. *KB

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED BLEW A SPARK PLUG RIGHT OUT OF THE ENGINE. VERY SCARY & VERY LOUD WHILE GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE. I THOUGHT FOR SURE THE ENGINE BLEW. *TR

PAINT ON HOOD BUBBLING WITH CORROSION UNDER HOOD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRACK HAD DEVELOPED ON THE LIFTGATE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

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. *TR

THE BACK HATCH CRACKED ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HEAR THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SUV. *TR

THE FORD EXPLORER'S MOST FREQUENT PROBLEM - IS IT CRACKS IN THE PLASTIC PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THIS OCCURS ON EXPLORERS FROM MODEL YEARS 2002, 2003 & 2004. WITH MOST AFFECTED EXPLORERS NOW PAST THE STANDARD WARRANTY PERIOD, MOST OWNERS WILL END UP HAVING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. BECAUSE THE CRACKED PANEL IS NOT A SAFETY DEFECT, THERE IS VERY LITTLE CHANCE OF A RECALL. FOR A SHORT TIME IN LATE 2006, FORD STARTED A "SPECIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM" FOR OUT-OF-WARRANTY EXPLORERS, WHERE FORD PAID FOR ALL BUT $100 OF THE ~$450 REPAIR COST. HOWEVER SINCE JANUARY 2007, PEOPLE CALLING FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE BEGAN TO REPORT BACK THAT APPARENTLY FORD HAS ENDED THE BRIEF ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE TAILGATE HATCH IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RENT A TRAILER FROM U-HAUL, THE COMPANY WOULD NOT RENT TO ANYONE WITH A FORD EXPLORER WHICH SHE BELIEVED TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000-

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS BUCKLING AND CHIPPING IN LARGE AREAS. THE FAILURE BEGAN AT SPREAD TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 82,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE BACK HATCH BELOW THE WINDOW IS CRACKED. I'VE SEEN MANY WITH THE SAME DEFECT IN PARKING LOTS. ONE WOMAN I SPOKE WITH SAID HERS FLEW OFF INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF A MINIVAN & CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I E-MAILED FORD MOTOR CO. THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WITH SO MANY VEHICLES SO EASILY FOUND IN PARKING LOTS WITH THE SAME DEFECT IS CONCERNING ME. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THIS FIXED RIGHT NOW WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST? *TR

THE PLASTIC APPLIQUE BELOW THE REAR WINDOW OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. IT CRACKED WHEN THE REAR DEFROSTER CIRCUIT WAS ACTIVATED. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, POSSIBLY AFFECTING 10-20% OF VEHICLES MANUFACTURED. IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN PROBLEM. FORD, IN IT'S INFINITE WISDOM, GLUED THE LARGISH PLASTIC TRIM PIECE DIRECTLY TO THE REAR GLASS. IN COLD WEATHER, WHEN THE DRIVER ACTIVATES THE REAR DEFROSTER, THE GLASS EXPANDS AND THE PLASTIC TRIM PIECE, STILL EXPOSED TO THE COLD DOES NOT. THIS UNEQUAL THERMAL EXPANSION RESULTS IN THE PLASTIC APPLIQUE PIECE CRACKING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN EASILY FORESEEN BY DESIGN ENGINEERS. IN TALKING WITH LOCAL FORD BODY REPAIR SHOPS, THE STAFF ADMITTED THAT THE ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD. THE REPAIR COSTS ABOUT $500. *TR

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS PEELING PAINT ON ITS HOOD .THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD COMPLAINT. *TR

HORIZONTAL CRACK IN LIFT GATE RUNNING FROM TOP OF PIECE (BOTTOM OF WINDOW) TO BOTTOM OF PIECE. *TR

THE PANEL BELOW THE GLASS ON THE REAR HATCH OF MY WIFE'S 2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED FORNO APPARENT REASON. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT WILL COST $800 DOLLARS TO REPAIR PLUS A BODY SHOP EXPENSE (PAINT). I'VE NOTICED ON MANY FORUMS ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD ADDRESS IT! *TR

REAR HATCH BELOW WINDOW HAS CRACKED FROM TOP OF PANEL TO BOTTOM THIS MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO COLD WEATHER BUT I'M READING ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THESE CRACKS HAPPENING IN ALL PROVINCES AND STATES. WHEN IS FORD GOING TO ACCEPT THE FACT THIS IS A DEFECT AND MAKE A RECALL? *TR

A CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH NEAR THE FORD EMBLEM ON 2003-2005 FORD EXPLORERS. FORD HAS A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) ON THIS ISSUE SO THEY KNOW IT EXISTS AND YET THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE IS JUST ONE OF A FEW OUT THERE REGARDING THIS MATTER... HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2003/BODY_PAINT/CRACKED_PANEL_BELOW_THE_REAR_WINDOW.SHTML. *TR

AFTER ONLY 24,000 MILES, OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAS EXPERIENCED TWO PROBLEMS WITH FIBERGLASS & ALUMINUM BODY PARTS. BELOW THE REAR WINDOW A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE FIBERGLASS AFTER CLOSING THE WINDOW DURING COLD WEATHER. AFTER TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL, I BECAME AWARE OF THE FACT THAT BODY SHOP OWNERS ARE INFORMING THEM THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT IN THAT MODEL. SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND THE OWNER SHOULD HAVE THEIR VEHICLES REPAIRED BY FORD. MY DEALER HAS SAID FORD HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. WHY HAS THIS NOT HAPPENED? IN ADDITION, THE ALUMINUM HOOD IS NOW SHOWING BUBBLING UNDER THE PAINT, AND THE PAINT IS BEGINNING TO PEEL OFF THE HOOD. IT IS APPARENT FORD HAS EITHER HAD SOME DEFECTIVE PAINT DELIVERED TO THEIR PLANTS, OR THEIR IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT ALONG WITH A...

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC TRIM BETWEEN THE REAR WINDOW AND THE FORD LOGO WAS CRACKED. I HAVE SINCE NOTICED IT ON A MAJORITY OF 2002 - 2004 EXPLORERS. I HAVE ALSO FOUND NUMEROUS ONLINE POSTS AND OTHER WEBSITES DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS AND A REFUSAL BY FORD TO REMEDIATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE PAINT HAS BLISTERED AND IS ACTIVELY PEELING OFF OF A SUBSTANTIAL AREA OF THE HOOD OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER. ACCORDING TO LEMONLAW.COM, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN INDICATING A MAJOR PAINT DEFECT IN MANY 2000-2005 FORD, LINCOLN, AND MERCURY CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUV'S THAT USE ALUMINUM BODY PARTS. THE BULLETIN FURTHER STATES THAT, "SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT BUBBLING OR BLISTERING UNDER THE PAINT ON ALUMINUM BODY PARTS". I AM NOT A LAWYER, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WARRANTY OR NOT, THIS IS A CLEAR BREACH OF ALL EXPRESSED AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BODY PARTS AND/OR PAINT WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE START SINCE THE BULLETIN STATES THAT FORD RESEARCH ADMITTED THAT THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM IRON CONTAMINATION WITHIN THE ALUMINUM BODY PART PRIOR TO BEING PAINTED. I REGISTERED MY COMPLAINTS WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AND WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY, ASKING FOR...

FACTORY PAINT BLISTERING ON HOOD. VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 44,000 MILES. THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON A LONG LIST OF INTERNET SITES. FORD IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY THIS IS AFFECTING 2000-2005 VEHICLES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT PRESSED THE BUTTON ON HER KEY FOB TO OPEN THE GLASS ON THE REAR HATCH. AS A RESULT, ONE OF THE TWO HINGES FRACTURED AS THE WINDOW WAS OPENING. SHE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE GLASS, BUT APPARENTLY IT WAS MISALIGNED. DUE TO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE, THE GLASS SHATTERED AND DEBRIS FELL ONTO THE CONTACT AND THE GROUND. SHE CALLED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE COVERAGE DATE FOR THE RECALL EXPIRED. THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO PERSONALLY PETITION TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER ON HER BEHALF. AS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN...

FACTORY REAREND WAS REPLACED IN MY 03 FORD EXPLORER. SINCE THEN THE PROBLEM OF GRADUAL REAREND DETERIORATION HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. IF THE REAREND FAILS CATASTROPHICALLY THEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. FORD MOTORS DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN, BUT IT DEFINITELY IS. FORD SHOULD RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH THE DEFECTIVE REARENDS AND FIX THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE HAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS AND, WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE IT, THE LIFTGATE WOULD NOT SHUT CORRECTLY. THE HINGE SPLIT INTO TWO PIECES. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IF HE ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE REAR LIFTGATE, THE GLASS WILL SHATTER. HE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

CRACK IN PANEL ON REAR HATCH I SEE SAME CRACK IN SAME SPORT ON ALL SAME VEHICLES. *TR

REAR DOOR CRACK IN THE MIDDLE ON FORD EXPLORER, BELOW THE WINDOW, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE MATERIAL THE FRAME IS MADE OF IS JUST PLASTIC. I KEEP SEEING PEOPLE IN MY TOWN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WONDER IF THERE IS A FORMAL COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS DEFECT. I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT NO ONE HAS COMPLAINED. THIS IS NOT JUST A COSMETIC PROBLEM, BUT A SAFETY PROBLEM. SOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING THE DOOR WINDOW GETS OPEN. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME AND OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO OWN A FORD EXPLORER AND WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

THE PANEL JUST BELOW MY BACK WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK IN IT WHICH HAS OCCURRED FOR NO REASON AT ALL. AFTER SPEAKING WITH SOME AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT ABOUT 99% OF THESE HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME ALMOST $400 TO DO SO. I CALLED FORD AND THEY ONCE AGAIN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. AT THAT TIME I ASK TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR AND WHEN SPEAKING WITH HER I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. (WHICH I FIND HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE 3 DEALERS HAVE NOW TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM.) MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS IF I DO NOT FIX THIS RIGHT AWAY THAT I WILL LOSE THIS PIECE AND IT WILL...

I PURCHASE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER IN THE SAME YEAR. LAST YEAR MY WIFE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE LIFTGATE DIRECTLY BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE CRACK WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG AND NARROW IN WIDTH. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERS BODY SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER " THAT I SEE THIS ALL THE TIME IN ALL OF FORDS SUV'S INCLUDING THE LINCOLN AND MERCURY MODELS. IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY AND ONE THAT FORD WILL NOT RECALL". HE GAVE ME A ESTIMATE OF $350 AND ADVISED THAT I GO TO THE DEALER AND TALK TO SOMEONE THERE. I DID SO AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE WERE 2 REASONS WHY THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR FOR ME. THE 1ST IS THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE 2ND WAS THAT I DID NOT BUY THE CAR...

I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT, AND YESTERDAY I NOTICED THAT THE BACK PANEL BELOW THE BACK GLASS, HAS A 1/4 CRACK ALL THE WAY DOWN IT! IT IS LOCATED A INCH OR TWO RIGHT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN FOR AN ESTIMATE, SINCE I HAVE 59,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. WELL, ON THE FORD WEBSITE UNDER MY WARRANTY INFORMATION IT STATES THAT CORROSION AND DEFECTIVE PARTS ARE COVERED FOR 5 YEARS REGARDLESS OF MILES DRIVEN. WELL WHAT DOES THIS FALL UNDER? I HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, THAT I AM NOT GOING TO PUT MORE MONEY IN IT FOR THIS. FORD NEEDS TO COVER IT, OR START SOME TYPE OF INVESTIGATION FOR A RECALL. *JB

THE REAR PANEL BELOW MY WINDOW ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I WENT SNOW SKING AND AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS SCENARIO IS COMMON. THE PANEL GETS MOISTURE BEHIND IT AND FREEZES, THEN CRACKS. I HAVE A FORD MANUFACTURER WARRANTY, AND I AM STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, AND CONTACTED THE LOCAL MEDIA, WHO SUGGESTED YOUR WEBSITE. NO ONE IS WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND ONE DAY IT WILL FALL OFF WHILE I AM IN TRAFFIC. CURRENTLY I HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. I ADVISED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE THAT I WOULD NEVER FIX THE PROBLEM. I WOULD KEEP IT THERE AS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE. CHECK OUT THE INTERNET (AUTOBEEF.COM) LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE....

MOLDED RUNNING BOARD BROKEN UNDER NORMAL USE, ONE DEALER ACCUSED ME OF HAVING A CHILD JUMP ON THE RUNNING BOARD - REASON UNKNOWN. ANOTHER DEALER TOOK PHOTOS AND SENT TO DETROIT, WARRANTY REPAIR REFUSED? *JB

WHILE AT A STOP, THE FRAME SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED THE REAR HATCH BACK WINDOW TO SHATTER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOTIFIED. BACK PORTION OF THE DOOR SEPARATED WHEN THE WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. *TC

THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW AND THERE WAS RUSTING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD, THE POWER DOORS AND THE SEATS WERE NOT WORKING , THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AS WELL. *JB FIVE WINDSHIELDS HAD BEEN REPLACED DUE TO CONSTANT LEAKING INCLUDING THE MOON ROOF AND THE HEADLINER. THE POWER DOORS DID NOT WORK. WHEN IT WOULD RAIN, MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WOULD BE PRESENT. *SC

THE WINDSHIELD, MOON ROOF AND HEADLINER WERE LEAKING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. THE OWNER HAS BEEN CORRESPONDING WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. OWNER IS ASKING FOR A NEW VEHICLE. *JB *SC

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT OCCURED ON OCT. 14, 2003. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN I WAS BROADSIDED BY A TOYOTA CAMRY GOING ABOUT 20 -30 MILES AN HOUR. MY EXPLORER TIPPED ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE. I WAS TERRIFIED IT WOULD ROLL-OVER (UPSIDE-DOWN) I HAD NO IDEA HOW EASY IT WAS TO TIP MY VEHICLE OVER. DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA CONCERNING FORD EXPLORERS? DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT I CAN DO? I'M NEVER GETTING INTO THAT VEHICLE AGAIN BUT I OWE $22,000. NOW TRADE IN VALUE IS MAYBE $16,000. THE CAR IS STILL BEING REPAIRED AND WILL BE COVERED BY THE OTHER DRIVER'S INSURANCE.

WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB