2003 Ford Explorer Other / unspecified Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25-35 MPH around a curb, the driver thought that the tire was flat. The contact pulled off the road and noticed that three of the wheel studs on the driver’s side rear wheel had sheared off. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and it was confirmed that the studs had sheared off and that there was also a fractured wheel stud on the passenger’s side rear wheel. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

NHTSA ID

11438348

Incident

Oct 25, 2021

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE LUG NUTS BECAME DETACHED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND INCLUDED ALL OF THE WHEELS. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE LUG NUTS ON ALL OF THE WHEELS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11005182

Incident

Jul 13, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

WE HAVE RECURRING WHEEL BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY ISSUE. THE TIMING I PUT ON THE FORM MAY BE OFF A BIT BUT NOT MUCH. ITS ALL LIKE A RECURRING FORD EXPLORER NIGHTMARE AT THIS POINT! WE HAVE REPLACED BEARINGS, HIB ASSEMBLY, TIE ROD, THEN REAR END WENT UP ( AND SHOULDN'T HAVE)/NOW AGAIN, ANOTHER BEARING AND WHEEL SENSOR. THE TRUCK CUTS OUT WHEN AT A SLOWER SPEED. I LOST STEERING A FEW MONTHS AGO WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN I TRY TO PUT IT IN GEAR, SOMETIMES IT WON'T MOVE.I HAVE CALLED FORD, NHTSB AND NO ONE IS WILLING TO MAKE FORD RECALL THESE ISSUES AND FORD WON'T DO THE RIGHT THING KNOWING IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF FORDS! PLEASE SOMEONE HELP! I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND A HEART ISSUE. I NEED A SAFE RELIABLE CAR AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER ONE. SOMEONE, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING HERE! I KNOW ITS AN OLDER MODEL AND I QUESTION IF THIS IS WHY THE RECALL ISN'T HAPPENING.IDK BUT THIS ISN'T RIGHT. THE TRUCK IS SITTING OUT FRONT NEEDING AN ADDITIONAL $700 OF WORK . AFTER REAR END, TIE ROD, BEARINGS, BRAKES IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE HAVE NO WAY TO FIX THIS LEMON. ALWAYS BEEN FORD BUT IF THEY OR A GOVERNING AGENCY DOESN'T HELP.. NEVER A FORD AGAIN. LOOK AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME THING!!!! SHAMEFUL.

NHTSA ID

10786962

Incident

May 1, 2015

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WHEELS SHOOK AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE LUG NUTS WERE TIGHTENED TWICE BY THE DEALER, BUT THE LUG NUTS ON THE REAR WHEELS WERE STILL LOOSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A REPAIR FOR THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ID

10695436

Incident

Jan 23, 2015

Mileage

129,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE LUG NUTS SHEARED OFF THE WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED TO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LUG NUT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

NHTSA ID

10695435

Incident

Mar 18, 2015

Mileage

159,000 mi

THE MECHANIC CALLED IT A REAR COMPLETE STRUT ASSEMBLY PART OF THE SPRING BACK BY THE BACK WHEEL ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS BROKEN OFF *TR

NHTSA ID

10671524

Incident

Jan 5, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE LUG NUTS SHEARED OFF THE WHEELS CAUSING THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA ID

10663533

Incident

Dec 7, 2014

Mileage

132,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A DRAGGING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE LUG NUTS WERE LOOSE AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE. THE FAILURE WAS PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE LUG NUTS HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE LUG NUTS CONTINUED TO SEPARATE FROM THE REAR WHEELS WHILE DRIVING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10582907

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS COMPLETING A RIGHT TURN AT 3 MPH WHEN THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF AND THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS MISSING A LUG NUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

NHTSA ID

10549832

Incident

Oct 27, 2013

Mileage

169,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FORCEFULLY DROP TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LUG NUTS HAD SHEARED OFF OF THE WHEELS, WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10512436

Incident

May 9, 2013

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT A LUG NUT WAS DETAHCED FROM THE WHEEL WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE LUG NUT WAS SHEERED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10477320

Incident

Nov 17, 2011

Mileage

102,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10471352

Incident

May 2, 2012

Mileage

96,000 mi

WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT ON FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AND BOTH THE REAR WHEELS. I JUST REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR WHEEL BEARINGS WHICH IS NOT CHEAP. I CANNOT BELIEVE FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM WITH ALOT OF EXPLORERS. I WOULD NOT EVERY BUY FORD AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471227

Incident

Aug 17, 2012

Mileage

131,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55-60 MPH WHEN THREE STUDS DETACHED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID

10457676

Incident

Mar 12, 2012

Mileage

55,000 mi

REAR OF VEHICLE EMITTED A THUMPING AND POPPING SOUND. FIRST THOUGHT THAT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN OR THAT REAR END HAD MALFUNCTIONED. AFTER REGAINING CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PULLING OFF TO SHOULDER ON THREE WHEELS AND A ROTOR, DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE HAD DISAPPEARED. ALL LUGS AND NUTS WERE GONE. WHEEL HAD DEPARTED FROM VEHICLE AND GONE IN AN UNKNOWN DIRECTION. ROTOR AND CALIPER WHERE STILL ATTACHED TO VEHICLE. POLICEMAN WAS LATER ABLE TO RETRIEVE WHEEL AND TIRE FROM SOME DISTANCE DOWN THE HIGHWAY BEHIND THE VEHICLE. RIM WAS SCORED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. I ASSUME THAT THE RIM HAD DROPPED DOWN ONTO EITHER THE LUGS OR ROTOR PRIOR TO FINDING ITS WAY OUT OF THE FENDER WELL. BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THERE ARE RECURRENT PROBLEMS HERE. HAD REAR BEARING REPLACED ON SAME WHEEL APPROXIMATELY 16 MONTHS PRIOR. SUGGESTED REPAIRS AROUND $400.00 TO START FOR THIS INCIDENT. THERE MAY BE GREATER DAMAGE AND COST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE RESTED AND DRAGGED UPON THE REAR SUSPENSION STRUT AND TORSION BAR PRIOR TO GET IT STOPPED AND PULLED OFF OF THE PAVEMENT ONTO THE GRASSY SHOULDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456452

Incident

Apr 22, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

FRONT WHEELS MADE LOUD HUMMING SOUNDS AND AT TIME FELT LIKE THEY WERE RUBBING. MECHANICS FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY'S WERE FAILING SIMULTANEOUSLY. THEY ALSO THINK THE REAR IS STARTING TO GO. THIS APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN AND/OR CRAFTMANSHIP BY MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441089

Incident

Feb 9, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

AT ABOUT 85K MILES, THE STUDS ON THE REAR TIRES OF MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER BEGAN BREAKING-OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND TWICE WHILE GETTING MY TIRES ROTATED. I HAVE PROBABLY REPLACED ALMOST 20 STUDS IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS DIAGNOSES FROM MECHANICS AND ALL HAVE BEEN WRONG. FINALLY, A SERVICE MANAGER AT QUIRK FORD IN QUINCY, MA ADMITTED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE, I HAVE ALREADY PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED - TO NO AVAIL. THE SERVICE MANAGER CONTACTED TECNICIALS AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL AND THEY RECOMMENDED SEVERAL THINGS. THE SERVICE DEPT AT QUIRK FORD HAD ALREADY DONE ALL OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PAST. THE CORPORATE LEVEL TECHNICIANS CLAIM THAT THEIR IS NOT HISTORY OF THIS IN OTHER VEHICLES, BUT A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE. THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM 2002-2004 EXPLORER OWNERS IDENTIFYING THE SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10419534

Incident

Aug 24, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10419427

Incident

Jun 25, 2011

Mileage

55 mi

THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR HUB BROKE WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM WHATSOEVER. IT DESTROYED THE KNUCKLE AND THE WHEEL NEARLY FELL OFF.

NHTSA ID

10400492

Incident

Apr 27, 2011

Mileage

97,525 mi

A 2003 FORD EXPLORER REAR WHEEL DRIVE WITH 82K MILES. THE WHEEL HUB BEARINGS HAVE FAILED ON BOTH REAR WHEELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10399747

Incident

May 6, 2011

Mileage

82,000 mi

MULTIPLE EPISODES OF LUGNUTS ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER TOP-OF-THE-LINE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT CHROME WHEELS LOOSENING OVER TIME. TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN SERIOUS VIBRATIONS HAVE OCCURRED. ON EACH OCCASION, LUGNUTS WERE LOOSE OR MISSING, WITH ONE OR MORE LUGS COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON THIS REPORTED OCCASION, LUGNUTS WERE VERY LOOSE ON ONE WHEEL. MOST LOGICAL EXPLANATION APPEARS TO BE THAT WHEEL MATERIAL IS NOT CAPABLE OF PERFORMING AS DESIGNED, AND THAT DELAMINATION/OXIDATION OF WHEEL SURFACES ARE PRIMARY CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395157

Incident

Mar 10, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE OTHER DAY, I WAS SITTING IN A LINE OF CARS WAITING FOR MY TURN TO GO THROUGH A 4-WAY STOP WHEN MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD PLENTY OF FUEL AND THE ELECTRICAL WORKED. THE ENGINE SIMPLY WOULDN'T TURN OVER. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. AFTER SOME INSPECTION, THE REPAIRMAN DETERMINED THAT I HAD BLOWN A FUSE. THE CAUSE WAS MY ABS SENSOR CONTINUALLY SENDING OUT AN PROBLEM SIGNAL. THE CAUSE OF THAT WAS MY WHEEL BEARINGS GOING BAD. FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT AT LEAST THREE OF MY WHEELS HAVE BAD BEARINGS. THE REPAIRS ARE INCREDIBLY COSTLY (WELL OVER $1,000). AND THE MECHANICAL FAILURE IS DANGEROUS, INCLUDING WHEEL SEPARATION, WHEEL SEIZING UP AND BRAKE FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE DAILY AND IF THE CAR HAD FAILED THERE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY BAD. WHILE WHEEL BEARINGS TO FAIL, THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS INCREDIBLY RARE TO SEE MULTIPLE BEARINGS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. WELL, EXCEPT FOR FORDS. HE SAID THE EXPLORER AND FOCUS (ESPECIALLY THE '02 & '03 MODELS) HAVE A REPUTATION FOR WEARING OUT. SOMETIMES, MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME WHEEL. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH PROVED HIM RIGHT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE '02 & '03 FORD EXPLORERS. I REALIZE WE'RE GOING ON 8 OR 9 YEARS SINCE THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED, BUT HOW COULD THE SAME ISSUE ON HUNDREDS OF CARS NOT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED YET? THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OBVIOUSLY NOT BE DUE TO USER ERROR OR POOR MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE. I IMPLORE YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER FOR THE SAKE OF THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STILL DRIVING THESE CARS EVERY DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373302

Incident

Dec 15, 2010

Mileage

105,000 mi

AT 110000 MILES WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND HEARD "BUMPING, RUMBLING SOUND", CAR WAS NOT HANDLING WELL, GOT OFF AT NEXT EXIT 1 MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN RIGHT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF VEHICLE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY NOTED THAT THE WHEEL STUDS WERE BAD AND THE WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD, REPLACED BOTH. AT 140000 MILES WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND HEARD SAME SOUND, STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND FOUND THAT LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS LOOSE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT THEY FOUND RUST ON THE ROTORS/LUGS/WHEEL, CLEANED IT AND RETORQUED WHEELS TO 130 FT LBS, STATED THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES!! AT 151000 HEARD SAME SOUND, I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE ROAD AT 30 MPH, STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS LOOSE AGAIN (TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED, SO THIS IS NOT THE SAME WHEEL AS PREVIOUSLY). DEALERSHIP AGAIN CLEANED THE ROTORS/LUGS/WHEEL AND RETORQUED WHEELS TO 125 FT LBS THIS TIME AND STATED THAT WITH SOME OF THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS THEY WERE ATTRIBUTING IT TO DELAMINATION OF A COATING ON THE ALUMINUM WHEELS, BUT THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF WHEEL. BY LUCK AND CAREFUL MONITORING WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THIS ISSUE - YET! A FRONT WHEEL FALLING OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD LIKELY BE DEADLY. THERE ARE REPEATED REPORTS ON THIS PROBLEM, IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENCE. THE ONLY TIME THE WHEEL STUDS WERE SHEARED AND BEARINGS WERE BAD IS WHEN I DID NOT CATCH IT IN TIME AND THE WHEEL ACTUALLY CAME OFF, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THE ISSUE IS THE SAME THOUGH, THE WHEEL FALLING OFF IS CAUSING THE STUDS TO SHEAR AND BEARINGS TO GO.

NHTSA ID

10367608

Incident

Oct 28, 2008

Mileage

110,933 mi

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361182

Incident

Oct 19, 2010

Mileage

89,000 mi

WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360218

Incident

Oct 11, 2010

Mileage

89,000 mi