2003 Ford Explorer Axle Assembly Problems
- 24
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
What owners report
- rear axle · 17 records
- coming rear · 4 records
- ring pinion · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 7 |
| 30–60k mi | 4 |
| 60–100k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Axle Assembly
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the seals on 3 axles were leaking and needed to be repaired; therefore, the right front axle and both rear axles were repaired. The axles were improperly installed and were repaired again four weeks later. The manufacturer stated that they were unable to provide any assistance regarding the repairs. The contact is aware of the safety risk since the…
ODI 10286004
Axle Assembly · Rear
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact heard a loud whining sound coming from the rear of the vehicle while accelerating and decelerating. The service manager stated that he could not find anything in his computer that was related to the failure. There are currently ten nhtsa service bulletins related to the failure. The current mileage was 76,000 and failure mileage was 55,000. Update 09/10/08 *cw…
ODI 10233536
Axle Assembly
Noise at rear end of vehicle. Diagnosis rear axle and rear end. Replace rear axle and rear end kit (rebuild). The noise was noticeable for sometime and became worse. I have reviewed numerous similar complaints and this appears to be an issue that the manufacturer should address. There were service bulletins that referenced improper fluid use by manufacturer. *jb
ODI 10184425
Axle Assembly · Spindle
My 2003 ford explorer was serviced at dick edwards ford in junction city , ks to replace a left hand rear axle shaft seal on the 12th of febuary 2007. Vehicle was picked up at the dealership by my wife. On the 13th of febuary she was driving home from work (about 3-5 miles) she called me on her cell phone and said she could hear noises, smelled something burning and the rear of the car was moving around and the…
ODI 10182599
Axle Assembly
Rear pinion gear on 2003 ford explorer causes high pitched whining sound, and is well known to ford dealerships in the area. The stated cost to repair (replace pinion ring, pinion gear, seals) is in excess of $1,100. *tr
ODI 10189147
Axle Assembly
Rear axle was making a loud noise, was told that it was due to the seal was broken and needed to be replaced. This was replaced and the noise still continues. Other consumers have had this same problem and nothing has ever happened with this issue. It cost a lot of money to have the axle worked on and it is still not fixed! *jb
ODI 10189810
Axle Assembly
2003 ford explorer rear axle failure at 66,266 miles. Rear end was grinding when taking off from a stop and during a left turn. Dealer had to replace complete interior parts of the axle assembly. Replaced ring and pinion gears, replaced bearings due to pitting, replaced differential clutch pack. *jb
ODI 10162412
Axle Assembly · Differential Unit
Rear axle noise, replaced at a price of 1200 dollars. *jb
ODI 10154666
Axle Assembly · Suspension
Have had mechanical problems with my 2003 ford explorer which should not have occurred with the least amount of miles on it. Have had rear brake sensor replaced 2 times under warranty, front axle seal replaced under warranty and rear axle bearing replaced with 44000 miles and now the rear axle seal is leaking on the right side. The mechanic who does my repairs stated the axle seals are on backorder due to the amount…
ODI 10151515
Axle Assembly
Repeated failure of rear axle, drive train noise from rear of vehicle between45-65mph.
ODI 10140779
Axle Assembly
I have had numerous mechanical failures with my 2003 ford explorere. The front wheel brearings and front axle bearing have failed. The rear axle has been rebuild twice and replaced once. Another rebuild is needed. Total mileage is 49,000 miles.
ODI 10129923
Axle Assembly
Vehicle purchased in 2003 after 1 year roaring noise began in rear axle. Vehicle taken to dealer and differential carrier assembly replaced. Vehicle now having the same problem with differential assembly. (roaring noise) *tr
ODI 10210137
Automatic Transmission · Axle Assembly
Purchased a 2003 ford explorer 4x4 january 2004, around 10k miles noticed a shudder/slipping in transmission under hard excelleration. I brought vehicle to pulliam ford in cola. Sc to have transmission and whining rear end repaired. When i called the service writer, he informed me that the technician said that they could not duplicate the transmission vibration, and that the whine was no louder than other explorers,…
ODI 10086976
Axle Assembly · Driveshaft
While driving consumer heard a loud noise coming from the rear axle/driveshaft. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
ODI 10089396
Axle Assembly
I purchased a new 2003 ford explorer xlt 2wd in september 1, 2003. With 20,000 miles on the vehicle i noticed a whine from the rear end that was audible from 45 mph to 65 mph. The noise would stop when i let off on the gas and would resume when the gas was reapplied indicating a bearing failure. I took the vehicle to leith ford of wendell, nc, where i purchased the vehicle. They replaced the rear axle assembly under…
ODI 10140383
Axle Assembly · Cooling System · Front · Rear · Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
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.…
ODI 10082052
Axle Assembly
My wife and i bought a new 2003 eddie bauer explorer vin [xxx] with 1 mile registered on it. We purchased it 9/15/03, since day one the vehicle has had a whine in the rear, a vibration at 55 mph. Complaints to ford as well as to the len stoler dealership,[redacted], owings mills, md 21117 phone [redacted] has brought nothing but frustration. The vehicle can't be fixed is what we are told! But after 5 visits, it is…
ODI 10049223
Axle Assembly
Soon after purchase the explorer (2wd) developed an axle whine from 55-70 mph on acceleration. It's quiet on coast. The local dealer found a tsb (#16898). They replaced the driveshaft as specified. The only change was the range of the whine, now 58-63mph. Back to dealer on 1/8/04. They said a fix was in the works, call back in 3 months. Called today (4.21), no fix and no date. Ps: sure sounds like a bad ring/pinion…
ODI 10067596
Axle Assembly
About a month after we purchased our 2003 ford explorer xlt, we noticed a whining noise from the rear of the vehicle. We notified the dealership and they refused to work on it. They said ford is investigating the noise and could give no time frame on when if would be fixed. Asked us to just be patient.. This is totally unacceptable, and the way customer relations has been dealing with us, ford should be embarrassed.…
ODI 10056360
Axle Assembly · Differential Unit · Driveshaft
Excessive whining noise coming from the rear differential/drive axles/driveshaft area of the vehicle at speeds between 50 and 60 m.p.h. *la
ODI 10043149
Axle Assembly
Purchase vehicle on july 30, 2003. Rear axle whine during speeds between 45 - 60 during acceleration/ decelleration diagnosed on 13 october 2003. Advised that engineers were working on a fix and no service was to be performed. Very displeased at the attitude of ford customer service representatives and the lack of service received with ford vehicle. Filed complaint with settlement dispute board and with better…
ODI 10064124
Axle Assembly · Driveshaft
I bought a 2003 ford explorer 4wd, v8 - sept. 22, 2003. About 3.5 weeks later it began to shake and made a loud noise. I haven't gotten 1100 mile on it before it began its downward spiral. I took it into be repaired on 10/13/03 regarding the whining but i forgot to mention the vibration-- it only happen on 2 occasion thus far. But the whining is constant - around 50 mile and above. I was by the service person the…
ODI 10043111
Automatic Transmission · Axle Assembly
New 2003 ford explorer 2wd 4.0 6cyl prob began at 500-700 miles. Excessive vibration and whining noise at speeds from 40-70 mph. Vehicle appears to struggle when accelerating, and cruising speeds. Dealer unresponsive after learning that ford engineers acknowledge problem and have no current fix. Dealer unwilling to explore a replacement vehicle, or refund. Ford feild services engineer admitted to me that…
ODI 10047624
Axle Assembly
The consumer stated the vehicle vibrated excessively in the rear end. Dealer acknowledged manufacturer's tsb on issue advised problem caused by rear axle.*ak *ph *ph
ODI 10032202