2003 Ford Explorer Equipment Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,131 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 51,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the equipment of the 2003 Ford Explorer, 1% of the 1,131 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 51,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“O/d light spontaneously came on. Can not be turned off. Transmission takes off slow. First gear slams into second, with slow takeoff causes cars behind me to stop short because my takeoff is very slow.”
NHTSA complaint #10419427, filed 2011-08, 55 miles“The message center on 2003 Ford Explorer can't be seen in daylight causing a very dangerous situation while driving and trying to read the compass , mileage, miles /gal, any readout of the auto. Almost caused my wife and I to run off the road while trying to read the compass. Night reading is fine, but daylight is terrible.. This situation should be fixed by Ford before someone gets killed trying to read the message center in daylight.”
NHTSA complaint #10192169, filed 2007-05, 65,500 miles“We were involved in a motor vehicle accident on the below date. A person went through a red light and hit our 2003 Ford Explorer on the right rear wheel area at approx 40 MPH. There was over $ 6,000 in damage on our vehicle. When our vehicle was released to us from the body shop 6 weeks later, our heater, when turned on was making a loud banging sound. It sounded like something was knocked loose from the impact. It is now april 2007, and we have been trying to get our insurance company to fix this. …”
NHTSA complaint #10188937, filed 2007-04, 51,000 miles“I keep reading about 2 complaints that people need to know about and Ford should take action on; the first being the back tail gate... Ford do the right thing. The second has to do with the transmission, overdrive light, the parking brake and the cruise control. I use the cruise control when driving long distances and while on a few trips the overdrive light would come on for no reason, at least I thought, I then found out that I had an ABS problem and wheel bearings problems. All happening at the same time? As if that wasn't enough my transmission was dripping fluid on my new driveway! …”
NHTSA complaint #10349808, filed 2010-08, 72,450 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.”
NHTSA complaint #10029167, filed 2003-07, 12 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10156863Feb 7, 2019Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without…
- 10013078Oct 1, 2002High side pressure fluctuations on vehicles equipped with a fixed scroll a/c compressor.
Equipment: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 | 0% |
| 2020 | 3 | 0% |
| 2018 | 4 | 1% |
| 2017 | 3 | 0% |
| 2016 | 2 | 0% |
| 2015 | 2 | 0% |
| 2014 | 1 | 0% |
| 2013 | 4 | 0% |
| 2012 | 7 | 1% |
| 2011 | 6 | 1% |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 3 | 1% |
| 2006 | 11 | 2% |
| 2005 | 6 | 1% |
| 2004 | 14 | 1% |
| 2003 | 14 | 1% |
| 2002 | 60 | 2% |
| 2001 | 11 | 3% |
| 2000 | 14 | 1% |
| 1999 | 27 | 2% |
| 1998 | 37 | 2% |
| 1997 | 39 | 2% |
| 1996 | 16 | 1% |
| 1995 | 7 | 1% |
| 1994 | 32 | 3% |
| 1993 | 27 | 3% |
| 1992 | 23 | 4% |
| 1991 | 29 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2003 Ford Explorer
354 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
335 complaintsEngine cooling
69 complaintsSuspension
63 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
62 complaintsWheels
56 complaintsElectrical system
54 complaintsAir bags
50 complaintsOther or unknown
48 complaintsBrakes
45 complaintsVehicle speed control
37 complaintsSteering
27 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology