U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,131 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

73,350 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 916 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 141 of 1,131 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	238	21.0%
Braking behavior	108	9.5%
Steering behavior	52	4.6%
Engine operation	43	3.8%
Electrical and battery issues	22	1.9%
Fuel system concerns	6	0.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

141

Structure:Body

135

Power Train

110

Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate

Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments

Structure

Electrical System

Unknown Or Other

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	141
Structure:Body	135
Power Train	110
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate	90
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments	55
Structure	44
Electrical System	43
Unknown Or Other	43

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 141; Structure:Body: 135; Power Train: 110; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate: 90; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments: 55; Structure: 44; Electrical System: 43; Unknown Or Other: 43

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

142

25,000 to 49,999

140

50,000 to 74,999

188

75,000 to 99,999

170

100,000 to 149,999

192

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 142; 25,000 to 49,999: 140; 50,000 to 74,999: 188; 75,000 to 99,999: 170; 100,000 to 149,999: 192; 150,000 and above: 84

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (192). 215 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2002

2003

2004

107

2005

2006

2007

2008

130

2009

2010

103

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2021

2022

2025

2002: 1; 2003: 63; 2004: 107; 2005: 74; 2006: 81; 2007: 99; 2008: 130; 2009: 92; 2010: 103; 2011: 97; 2012: 68; 2013: 54; 2014: 66; 2015: 41; 2016: 20; 2017: 16; 2018: 10; 2019: 4; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 238 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 108 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 52 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10003977 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 437 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003977 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023004 · 2003-06-13 (June 13, 2003)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023004 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10009919 · 2003-03-21 (March 21, 2003)

THE BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET INTERFERED AND RESTRICTED THE PROPER APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES. *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009919 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10029166 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)

ON MY NEW FORD EXPLORER WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH WHOLE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO SHAKES VIOLENTLY, AND THE VEHICLE LOSES CONTROL.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029166 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018188 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONSUMER LOOKED OUT OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THE TIRE WAS ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018188 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021404 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021404 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10036681 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)

REAR GLASS OPENED WHILE DRIVING. LOUD WHISTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER DASH/ENGINE. NO POWER. STALLS ON TAKE OFF. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036681 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10009328 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)

THE IGNITION, SEATS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES DID NOT WORK, DUE TO A FAULTY SENSOR MODULE, DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009328 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10099053 · 2004-11-22 (November 22, 2004)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099053 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10043243 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)

DAMAGE TO GAS TANK. AFTER LEAVING MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER OVERNIGHT WITH A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO DUPLICATE A STALLING PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND FOR HAVE A DAMAGED GAS TANK. IT WASN'T FULLY IDENTIFIED UNTIL A CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP FROM DALLAS, TEXAS TO MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. THE GAS TANK WAS REPLACED IN MILWAUKEE. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043243 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10083297 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *LA THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT HAD COME ON ALONG WITH THE RPM'S GOING UP. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VALVE BOOT AND THE SOLENOID WAS REPLACED. SOON AFTER, THE VEHICLE DIED AGAIN TWICE AFTER TWO REPAIR ATTEMPTS. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083297 at NHTSA ↗