2003 Ford Explorer Engine Problems
- 21
- 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.
Among these 21 stored complaint records:
- 1 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- independent mechanic · 5 records
- timing chain · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 150–400k mi | 8 |
| 100–150k mi | 7 |
| 60–100k mi | 4 |
| 30–60k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine
Engine stops while driving (stalls in motion while turning on street and highway) restarts without problem, has happened twice now 30 days apart.
ODI 11145326
Engine
Exhast manafold has crack in it and screws came lose and fell out wihich created fumes in car.
ODI 11091125
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. While driving 65 mph, the temperature gauge increased to high and the vehicle caught fire under the hood without warning. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries due to the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure…
Fire reported
ODI 11057370
Engine
While driving this vehicle, the spark plugs have blown out of the engine six times requiring six different tows home. The vehicle is unreliable for me (disabled, single mom) who has to take my daughter and i to doctors appointments. I feel unsafe and it is not safe for my daughter, but i can't afford to trade or get another vehicle. I think ford should come good for this defect. *tr
ODI 10934780
Engine · Service Brakes
2003 ford explorer, while driving through town i started to slow down for a group of kids waiting to use a cross walk when the explorer shut down & lost all power to control brakes and steering almost hitting the kids.. I have taken to a shop & was told they could not duplicate the issues i have been having for 5 years. The reason i am now reporting this is because the close call i just had with the cross walk. This…
ODI 10875755
Engine
As i have been driving like i normally do the o/d light came on blinking. Then i pressed the button for it nothing happened. I continued with my daily routine and the light came on and off. And continued to blink. Then all of the sudden i would step on the gas but it would not give me anymore than 15mph. When i came to a traffic light my car did not want to go anymore so i had to pull over on the side of the road.…
ODI 10694006
Engine
Second owner of this vehicle and had for almost a year. Driving son to school and suddenly heard a loud rattling noise under hood. Took directly to mechanic and found out timing chain was going. Mechanic said he had seen this problem a lot in this model and around the same mileage. *js
ODI 10690610
Engine
Vehicle died upon turning once again. This is becoming more frequent, as it has happened twice now in the last week. Seems to occur after highway speed, then slowing for a turn (tipically a right hand turn). I consider myself quite mechanically inclined and i am baffled. I also own an obdii scanner and no codes come up!! This is the second time i have filed a complaint, and would like some answers. Very dangerous…
ODI 10669988
Engine · Steering
My vehicle suddenly without warning will stall and i lose all power. No power steering. I am able to put the vehicle in neutral and can turn the vehicle back on. The mechanic can not find any codes etc on why this is happening. Apparently this is a common thing. *tr
ODI 10622522
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
The transmission light, 4'4 and the od light came on. It does shift gear from 1 to 2 until 3000 rpm. *tr
ODI 10614702
Engine · Power Train
My son purchased this explorer brand new and i bought it from him four years ago and i love this as it is the best design in the suv's, and i can not afford a new vehicle as i am no young gal any more. We have maintained it faithfully and have had no serious problems with it and is at 145000. I was driving to work going 55 mph and the o/d light comes on and i push the button and it would not go off. I pulled over…
ODI 10605052
Engine
The car was idling rough and the "service engine" light kept coming on, even after i had the auto repair shop (pep boys) check and fix things. They advised me to go to the ford dealer, and said it may be the timing chain. Future ford ran diagnostic, said it may be timing chain but have to open engine to verify. Estimate for repairs $1500 to open engine and $2500 to fix). Did not have work done yet. The engine has a…
ODI 10616288
Engine
Submission from constituent re a filed complaint with ford motor company and would like to be reimburse for all the cost by ford. *smd the consumer stated when he attempted to start the vehicle, it would not crank. He replaced the battery, but the vehicle still would not start. The vehicle was towed to a local garage. The next day, the consumer was informed, the engine had seized. There was no warning from the dash…
ODI 10586962
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
I have been having issues with the cruise control on my explorer. It works fine for several months and then occasionally it will not engage. Most times if it will not engage, the dashboard light does not show up, but since last week the light has come on, but the cruise control has not engaged. Since this has been an ongoing issue and seems to resolve on its own, i continue to try it occasionally. I tried to set it…
ODI 10542922
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic who stated that the engine oil pump and the timing belt had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure was reported to the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 60,000. The current mileage was 61,000.
ODI 10520944
Engine · Power Train
While driving my vehicle on sunday, while driving my vehicle stalled in the road. The truck felt as if it was trying to pull a hill. This was very scarey for me and my children because if someone was coming behind us or if i was turning into the flow of traffic this could have been a terrible accident. Afterwards the vehicle couldn't go over 30 mph without shifting out. This is very dangerous and ford should recall…
ODI 10511186
Engine · Power Train
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. While driving on an incline at an unknown speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and the overdrive warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic where it was diagnosed…
ODI 10820980
Engine · Power Train
I was backing up to the garage to unload the stuff in the back and the car made a loud whinning noise and took off fast..i couldn't stop the truck.. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10480705
Engine
My truck just went out of warranty by 5,000 miles and i was driving and hit a bump and my #3 spark plug blew out of the engine. Scared me to death because it sounded like a gun. I had just turned off a red light so i had no speed at all. $500 to put a helio coil in it. Then i hit 170,000 and another one blew out while my family and i were in the mountains and we had to limp home. Told by the mechanic the truck could…
ODI 10631395
Engine
Engine stalls out when braking or turning. This is an issue that occurs at random with no warning. This has continued to occur multiple times over the last four years, and leaves myself and family in a, powerless, defenseless, potentially fatal, situation. *tr
ODI 10655175
Engine · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph the check engine warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brackets that hold the timing chain fractured. As a result, the brackets and valve cover needed to be replaced. Also, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds she could hear a grinding noise. The…
ODI 10471869