Body & structure
Filed Aug 1, 2022
There is a crack down the middle section of the liftgate for quite some time. The liftgate has been unlocking and opening automatically by itself. On only rare occasions has the liftgate opened all the way while driving. On the morning of 7/28/2022 while the vehicle was parked in my driveway the liftgate was discovered to have again unlocked by itself and opened slightly and now with one of the two hinges holding the glass sheared leaving the liftgate glass hanging by only one hinge. With the glass now hanging without having both hinge supports functioning and the inability to close and lock the liftgate, 1) the glass could fall out while driving and 2) with the liftgate unable to now close and lock, contents of the back storage area could fall out of the vehicle while driving. On 8/1/2022 the vehicle was inspected by the foreman of the Service Dept. at Healy Ford, Goshen, N.Y. I was told to take it to a body shop for realignment repair. Apparently a recall on 9/13/2022 # 04V442000 did not include my Vin. However, In driving around I do see many 2003 explorers with the identical crack on the liftgate.
- NHTSA ID
- 11476879
- Incident
- Jul 28, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Aug 2, 2018
REAR WINDOW LOWER PANEL PLASTIC CRACKING UP, REPLACED THREE TIMES, STILL CRACKING DUE TO NO SUPPORT AND BENDING TOO MUCH, I CALLED FORD DOES NOT CARE IF CONTINUES CRACKING UP, IT LOOKS UGLY ALSO PANELS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT TO OTHER CARS GETTING INTO THEIR WINDSHIELDS LOOSE PARTS. THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND NOT FIXING IT.
- NHTSA ID
- 11115329
- Incident
- Jan 3, 2018
- Mileage
- 120,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jun 14, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE REAR WINDOW, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGES WERE CRACKING AND WERE TILTED ON ONE SIDE. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN, STATED THAT THE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED FORT MILL FORD AT (866) 680-5276 (LOCATED AT 801 GOLD HILL RD, FORT MILL, SC 29708) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11101848
- Incident
- Jun 2, 2018
- Mileage
- 133,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 10, 2017
AWOKE THE MORNING OF MAY 10, 2017 TO FIND THE ENTIRE BACK LIFTGATE AND WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARDS AND INWARDS OF OUR FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF OUR HOME, WE ARE RURAL, SO NO EVIDENCE OF SOMEONE PURPOSELY BREAKING IT. OUR SHERIFF IN CASCADE COUNTY, MONTANA, STATED IT APPEARS TO BE SOMETHING INTERNAL PROBABLY THE LIFT STRUTS EXPLODING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM AS STATED ON MANY ONLINE SITES, AND MANY FORD EXPLORERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS PARTICLAR MODEL VIN NUMBER DID NOT SHOW UP AS RECALLED, ALTHOUGH WE SIT HERE LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM. WE WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE LOOKING INTO THIS, AS IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE AND PROVE TO BE VERY DANGEROUS IF THIS VEHICLE WERE BEING DRIVEN WHEN THIS EXPLOSION OCCURED. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS ASAP.
- NHTSA ID
- 10984673
- Incident
- May 10, 2017
- Mileage
- 118,018 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 8, 2017
THE BACK LIFT GATE HAS A CRACK. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON PRACTICALLY EVERY OTHER EXPLOER OF THIS YEAR. I CONTACTED FORD SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THEY SAID SINCE IT WAS A DEFECT THAT WAS NOT A DANGER THEY WOULD NOT RECALL OR REPAIR IT.
- NHTSA ID
- 10984158
- Incident
- Dec 27, 2012
- Mileage
- 70,000 mi
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Feb 13, 2017
CHAT CONVERSATION START 5:57PM GREETINGS, I SAW YOU COMMENTARY ABOUT THE FORD EXPLORER EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN, WELL I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I AM A MECHANIC I FIGURED MAY BE THE FILTER WAS CLOGGED WELL IT WAS NO FILTER, WHAT I FOUND THE VENT DOOR FELL OFF FROM THE PLACE WHERE IT SUPPOSE TO OPEN AND CLOSE LAYING DOWN ON THE FAN, SO I REINSTALLED BACK AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED, IT IS A POOR DESIGN FROM THE FORD COMPANY. I WAS LOOSING HEAT DURING WINTER AND NOT BE COOL AT THE SUMMER LOOSING THE THRU VENT OUT PLACE. FORD NEEDS TO FIX ALL THIS PROBLEMS ALONG WITH SEAT BELTS, REAR WINDOW QUARTER PANEL CRACKED NO ONE IS GETTING FORD TO DO RECALLS ON THIS ITEMS VERY POOR CONSTRUCTION.
- NHTSA ID
- 10954361
- Incident
- Feb 18, 2003
- Mileage
- 250,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 8, 2017
THE REAR PANEL OF MY 2003 EXPLORER CRACKED TODAY FOR NO REASON. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I "GOOGLED" THE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD ONCE ADDRESSED.
- NHTSA ID
- 10943689
- Incident
- Jan 8, 2017
- Mileage
- 109,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Sep 23, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR HATCH DOOR AND THE REAR HATCH WINDOW BECAME UNSECURED AND OPENED DUE TO A CRACK NEAR THE REAR WINDOW WIPER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10908857
- Incident
- Sep 1, 2009
- Mileage
- 40,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 25, 2016
THE REAR LIFT-GATE HAS A CRACKED PANEL.
- NHTSA ID
- 10888102
- Incident
- Jun 22, 2016
- Mileage
- 106,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 13, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGE FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE LIFT GATE TO REMAIN UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10864740
- Incident
- Apr 13, 2016
- Mileage
- 133,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 14, 2016
I HAVE OWNED THIS 2003 FORD EXPLORER SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW IN 2003. IT CURRENTLY HAS 70,009 MILES AND HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE AND NOT DRIVEN OFTEN OVER 13 YEARS. WITHIN TWO YEARS OF PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIFT GATE UNDER THE GLASS. I TALKED TO TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS THAT ADVISED IT WAS NOT A DEFECT BUT MY FAULT FOR GLIDING THE GLASS TO HARSHLY. I HAD NOT USED THE GLASS OFTEN AND HAD NEVER SLAMMED IT.M SINCE THAT TIME I'VE SEEN HUNDREDS OF FORD EXPLORERS FROM THE EARLY TO MID 2000S WITH THE SAME CRACK IN THE SAME LOCATION. TODAY I WAS BEHIND FOUR DIFFERENT EXPLORERS FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD AND ALL HAD THE SAME CRACK. I CHECKED ONLINE AND REALIZED THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT WITH SOME DRIVERS STATING THE BACK GLASS BURSTS WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT WITH SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT FORD HAS NOT OWNED UP TO THE DEFECT AND REPAIRED IT. ALL ONE NEEDS TO DO IS SEARCH THROUGH ONLINE IMAGES TO SEE IT US A HUGE PROBLEM AND A DEFINITE MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WITH THE BACK GLASS BLOWING OUT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.
- NHTSA ID
- 10855549
- Incident
- Apr 1, 2006
- Mileage
- 30,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Feb 24, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH CAUSED THE DOME LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10838068
- Incident
- Feb 23, 2016
- Mileage
- 188,000 mi
Body & structureDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 18, 2015
1. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT LET YOU ACCELARATE. PRESSURE BUILDS UP WHILE YOU ARE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT DOESN'T INCREASE YOUR SPEED UNTIL 10 SECONDS OR SO OF PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, AND THAN IT EXPLODES AND YOU ARE THRUST BACK WITH THE ACCELERATION. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES OR ARE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. LACK OF ACCELERATION HAS ALMOST GOT US INTO A FEW ACCIDENTS. 2. SENSORS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING, CONSTANTLY TELLING ME THAT THE DOORS ARE OPEN. I DON'T KNOW WHEN A DOOR IS ACTUALLY OPEN OR NOT. 3. THE REAR HATCH IS CRACKED AND I'M AFRAID IT DOESN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH STABLE PRORECTECTION FOR THE REAR GLASS TO BE HELD IN PLACE PROPERPLY.
- NHTSA ID
- 10794609
- Incident
- Nov 1, 2013
Body & structure
Filed Sep 15, 2015
THE BRACKETS CONNECTED TO THE LIFTGATE RELEASED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED AND BLEW THE BACK LIFTGATE PANEL OUT ALONG WITH SHATTERING THE GLASS.
- NHTSA ID
- 10763918
- Incident
- Aug 23, 2015
- Mileage
- 120,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 8, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ACCESSING THE POWER LIFTGATE, THE HINGES FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE DOOR TO ABRUPTLY CLOSE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE LIFTGATE WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED AND PLACED IN THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10762037
- Incident
- Sep 6, 2015
- Mileage
- 87,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 22, 2015
I USED MY KEY REMOTE AND POPPED OPEN THE BACK HATCH AND WHILE THE HATCH WAS UP THE HINGE SNAPPED DROPPING THE HATCH ON MY HEAD NEARLY KNOCKING ME OUT COLD.
- NHTSA ID
- 10726489
- Incident
- Feb 20, 2013
- Mileage
- 134,986 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 30, 2015
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CLOSING THAT THE LIFTGATE BOTH HINGES FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE BOTH HINGES AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. IN 2005, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER,THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. JS
- NHTSA ID
- 10722402
- Incident
- May 28, 2015
- Mileage
- 165,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 16, 2015
I NOTICED THAT THE PAINT WAS PEELING OFF IN SEVERAL PLACES ON THE VEHICLE. SIX MONTHS LATER MORE PAINT HAS DISAPPEARED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10694602
- Incident
- Nov 18, 2014
- Mileage
- 120,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 9, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH WAS OPEN AND THE HINGES THAT OPENED THE GLASS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,500.
- NHTSA ID
- 10682118
- Incident
- Feb 9, 2015
- Mileage
- 175,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 21, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE GLASS STRUT BRACKETS AND GLASS HINGES WERE FRACTURED AND TILTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10676919
- Incident
- Jan 15, 2015
- Mileage
- 100,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 15, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE FIBERGLASS WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- NHTSA ID
- 10672725
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2007
Body & structure
Filed Sep 18, 2014
NOTICED UPPER PART OF REAR TAILGATE UNDER GLASS NEXT TO FORD EMBLEM IS CRACKED FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10637242
- Incident
- Apr 15, 2014
- Mileage
- 83,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 18, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PANEL OF THE LIFTGATE WAS CRACKED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT'S FINGERS TO BECOME PINCHED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE LIFTGATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HINGES FRACTURED ON THE LIFTGATE. THE HINGES WERE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10637205
- Incident
- Aug 10, 2014
- Mileage
- 165,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 16, 2014
A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 2003 FORD EXPLORERS FOR THE HINGES ON THE BACK WINDOW TAILGATE. THE RIGHT SIDE HINGE ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER BROKE, I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO CATCH THE GLASS BEFORE IT SNAPPED THE OTHER HINGE. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD AFTER SEEING THE RECALL NOTICE ONLINE, I WAS TOLD MY FORD WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE ALSO CHECKED ON THE NHTSA SITE AND IT WAS NOT LISTED THERE EITHER. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF EXPLORERS OF THE SAME YEAR ARE RECALLED AND MY HINGE BROKE, I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH A LARGER RANGE OF EXPLORERS THAN LISTED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10633706
- Incident
- Sep 15, 2014
- Mileage
- 133,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 15, 2014
THE BACK PANEL ON THE HATCH IS CRACKED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10633255
- Incident
- Nov 20, 2013
- Mileage
- 94,000 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.