Owner-reported complaints naming the tire or wheel system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC P235/70R16 DOT A308 46KW 311 NOTICED VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING, TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATING; INSTALLED SPARE. HAD VIBRATION AGAIN A MONTH LATER. BOTH TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. INSTALLED IN 2013; APPROX 20K MILES. REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES; HAVE OLD TIRES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN TIRES, SIZE: 235 R70/16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT, IT CAUSED HIM TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD . THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. UPDATED 03/03/15
MY CAR IS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS. OVERALL THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION. WHEN WASHING THE CAR THERE IS SOME CHROME PEELING FROM THE WHEEL AT THE HUB EXTENDING OUT TO THE LUG NUTS. I REMOVED THE WHEEL AFTER SOME EFFORT DUE TO THE CORROSION OF THE ALUMINUM. I CLEANED HE CORROSION FROM THE ALUMINUM AT THE HUB AND FOUND INTERNAL PITTING BETWEEN 1/8" AND 1/4" DEEP WHEN PROBING. I AM A ARCHITECT WITH A ENGINEERING BACKGROUND AND IN MY OPINION THE LOSS OF ALUMINUM STRUCTURE IS SIGNIFICANT AND THE WHEEL NO LONGER SAFE. THE OTHER WHEELS HAVE SOME CHROME PEELING AS WELL AND WILL ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE DEPTH OF THE PITTING OR REMOVED THE WHEELS. AS FORD HAS THE EXPLORER HAS HAD ISSUES WITH WHEEL FAILURE IN THE PAST AND THIS IS A ISSUE THAT WAS NOT OBSERVABLE WHEN I CHANGED THE BRAKES ABOUT A YEAR AGO TO VERY SIGNIFICANT NOW IT MAY BE WORTH LOOKING INTO. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE ALUMINUM IF YOU LIKE AND WILL RETAIN THE RIM WHEN I GET A NEW ONE. THE OTHER THREE WHEELS HAVE NOT BEEN REMOVED IF YOU WISH TO SEE THESE IN THE NEAR FUTURE UNDISTURBED PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT. THE THREADED PORTION OF THE AXLE IS CORRODED WITH NO THREADS VISIBLE AND 10% OF THE DIAMETER LOST. THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL BEHIND THE PLASTIC CAP WAS 20% FILLED WITH CORROSION RESIDUE WHEN I REMOVED IT. THE OTHER SIDE HAS NOT BEEN OPENED UP YET. I HAVE HAD OTHER CARS OVER THE YEARS INCLUDING FORDS AND NEVER HAVE SEEN AN ISSUE LIKE THIS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES ON HIS VEHICLE WERE SLICK. THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES, BUT CURRENTLY THE REAR TIRES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE LINE AND SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS BF GOODRICH TIRES, SIZE P245/65R17, RUGGED TRAIL T/A. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE KEEPS LOSING AIR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE STEM, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE TIRE IS FINE FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEN NEEDS TO BE INFLATED AGAIN. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,300.
I HAVE A SET OF WILD COUNTRY XTX TIRES THAT HAS SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURE DEFAULT. THEY ARE CHOPPING SOMETHING TERRIBLE. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK FOR 6 MONTHS AND I WENT INTO HAVE THEM ROTATED AND THEY WOULDN'T ROTATE THEM BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE TIRES LOOK. THE TIRE SIZE THAT I HAVE IS LT 235/70 R16 ..I DON'T KNOW IF U NEED ANYMORE INFO ON THEM. BUT THEY LOOK LIKE THEY COULD BE GETTING VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON. AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ELSE I COULD DO BOUT THIS PROBLEM . THEY DIDN'T LOOK THIS WAY WHEN I BOUGHT THE SUV. OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE HAD THE CAR COMPANY PUT NEW TIRES ON THE SUV WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I TRIED LOOKING UP THE COMPANY WHO MADE THE WILD COUNTRY TIRES BUT DIDN'T HAVE ANY LUCK. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD LET U KNOW BOUT IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE BECOMES LOUDER AS THE VEHICLE TRAVELS FASTER. THE WHINING APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,800. UPDATED 04/14/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BY FORD AT 55,000 MILES DUE TO A DEFECT. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE MAKES EXCESSIVE NOISE WHEN IN GEAR. UPDATED
WHILE PULLING OUT OF LOCAL WAL-MART PARKING LOT IN REVERSE AN EXPLOSION THAT ROCKED MY EXPLORER CROSS UTILITY VEHICLE CREATED SOME PANIC FOR MY WIFE AND MYSELF. UPON CHECKING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD EXPLODED FROM ONE SIDE OF THE RIM TO THE OTHER RENDERING THE TIRE TO BE COMPLETELY RUIN. THE RIM WAS INTACT. *TR
THE SHOCKS AND THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE BACK LEFT PASSENGER SIDE TIRES ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER ARE SHOT. MY EXPLORER HAS 87,000 MILES ON IT!!! *TR
THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED ON OUR 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AT FORD AND DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE EXPLORER. IT COST $2,000 TO FIX. OUR MECHANIC REFERRED US TO A TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE SPECIALIST WHO HAD SEEN MULTIPLE EXPLORERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. THE CONSEQUENCES OF A FAILURE IN THE TRANSFER CASE CAN BE A COMPLETE SHREDDING OF THE GEARS AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, WHICH COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HEARD A CLICKING SOUND DURING DECELERATION. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS A WORN OUT RANGE HUB IN THE TRANSFER CASE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD NEVER GET OUT OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE, WHICH BURNS MORE GAS AND ACTIVATES COMPONENTS THAT ARE UNNECESSARY DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 73,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF
MY MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN TIRE BLEW OUT AT THE SIDEWALL. IT WAS A CLEAR SUNNY DAY, 30 MPH, ON A SMOOTH HIGHWAY. I CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE REGULARLY SO I KNOW THE TIRE WAS PROPERLY INFLATED. I CONTACTED MICHELIN AND THEY REFERRED ME TO MELODY LAKES TIRE AND AUTO. MY WIFE CALLED AND THE RECEPTIONIST TOLD HER IT WOULDN'T DO ANY GOOD TO COME IN BUT SHE COULD. THE RECEPTIONIST TOLD MY WIFE THE PROBLEM WAS "HEAT INFRACTION?" AND IT WAS NOT COVERED. IT IS INCREDIBLE TO ME A RECEPTIONIST, OVER THE PHONE, CAN DIAGNOSE TIRE PROBLEMS. MICHELIN, NOR THE DEALER HAD ANY INTENTIONS TO DETERMINE WHY A BLOWOUT OCCURRED, LET ALONE TRY TO FIX IT. I WILL FORWARD THIS COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEM. I HAVE 4 MORE OF THOSE DEFECTIVE TIRES WHICH I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL BLOW!! UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER INSTALLING TWO NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SOUND WAS CAUSED BY THE DIFFERENCE IN TREAD BETWEEN THE NEW TIRES AND OLDER REAR TIRES, CAUSING THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND TRANSFER CASE TO FAIL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,000.*AK
I BOUGHT A 2003 FORD EXPLORER THE END OF APRIL 2006 AT TIME OF PURCHASE ABS LIGHT WAS ON- DEALER FIXED PROBLEM WITHIN FIRST 1 1/2 WEEKS OF PURCHASE AFTER ORDERING A PART. NOW 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE THE CHECK ENGINE AND O/D LIGHT COME ON UNEXPECTANTLY. WITHIN 1 WEEK OF LIGHTS COMING ON CAR STOPS ON ME UNEXPECTANTLY. WHEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR I AM TOLD I NEED A NEW ALTERNATOR AND A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AS THE SUV SLIPS OUT OF 2ND AND 5TH GEARS. I DIDN'T PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THINKING IT WAS STILL UNDER ORIGINAL WARRANTY AND JUST PURCHASED. I FELT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE OVERHAULED THE VEHICLE AND MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS WORKING UP TO PAR. I NOW HAVE A REPAIR BILL OF ALMOST $2000 AND DON'T FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
I WAS HAVING EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE AND CAR WAS NOT HANDLING PROPERLY DUE TO A BAD DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY. *JB
WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR BECAME LOUDER 41,000 MILE ON ODO DEALER ADVISED REAR WHEEL BEARINGS SEALS AND STRUT INSERTS, WE HAD THE REPAIRS MADE $1000.00 ONE YEAR LATER WE NOTICED MORE NOISE AND CHATTER WHEN TURNING,DEALER ADVISED REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS REBUILD, AND NEW CLUTCH PACKS. WE ARE HAVING THE REPAIRS MADE AT THIS TIME. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *JB
DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE ENTIRE SIDE OF THE TIRE CAME APART WHERE IT WAS GLUED. *AK
CLUTCH IN TRANSFER CASE DEFECTIVE. CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNEXPECTEDLY.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. WHEN I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE, I NOTICED THAT 3 OF THE 5 THREADED LUGS WERE BROKEN ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. I HAD TO BE TOWED ON A FLATBED TOWING VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY, HUB ASSEMBLY BRAKE SHIELD AND LUG NUTS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE WHEELS WERE ROTATED ON MARCH 11, 2005 BY A LOCAL FORD DEALER PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.*AK
THE VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THE RIGHT SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE SERIAL AND DOT NUMBER. *JB
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. CONSUMER CALLED FOR ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT OF MICHELIN TIRE. *AK
VARIOUS COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT.*MR CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT NOISE ON VEHICLE WAS COMING FROM REAR. REPAIRS AND/OR REPLACEMENTS WERE MADE ON: FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSIONS, TRANSFER CASE, AND SEALS IN THE REAR AXLE DUE TO LEAK. NOW, CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR A NEW AXLE ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO, A COOLING SYSTEM NOISE ON VEHICLE BUT DEALER COUDN'T FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING, THE DRIVER TO PULL OF THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
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
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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