2003 Ford Explorer Body Problems
- 134
- 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 134 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- Hatchback/Liftgate · 5 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 48 |
| 100–150k mi | 29 |
| 30–60k mi | 25 |
| 150–400k mi | 8 |
| 1–30k mi | 8 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Body · Power Window Devices And Controls
2 complaints - back rear hatch panel under rear window has multiple cracks live in augusta ga and visit florida and this seems to be a common problem every make body like mine have this crack and some panel has even fallen off. This has to be a manufacturing problem for this large amount of suv's to have the same problem see more with problems than without. Also recently had problems with window intermittently not…
ODI 10608458
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear lift gate was fractured near the window. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they would look further into the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
ODI 10486257
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the tailgate was cracked. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was told the lift gate was not under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 110,000. *tr
ODI 10509441
Body
A CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH NEXT TO FORD EMBLEM. *TR
ODI 10504756
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the lift gate was cracked. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The failure mileage was 96,000.
ODI 10479646
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the lift gate window detached from the hinges and crack the door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the hinges needed to be replaced. The dealer also stated that the vehicle was under recall nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments). The vehicle was repaired but…
ODI 10481091
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle it was found that the hinge for the liftgate was broken. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic and was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted who informed him that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments). The failure and…
ODI 10479376
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the hinges on the back lift gate fractured and allowed the glass to become disengaged. The vehicle could not be driven. The dealer was notified and informed the contact that there were no recalls on his vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who stated that the vehicle had been repaired under the recall nhtsa campaign id number:…
ODI 10473941
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated the hinges for the rear lift gate fractured. The contact mentioned that the glass fell down into the door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and had the hinges were replaced. The manufacturer was contacted who stated that there was a recall for the failure under nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and…
ODI 10469499
Body · Glass, Side/Rear
Rear window hinges broke for the second time. They were fixed once with recall and are now broke again. Also the back lift gate panel has cracked. *tr
ODI 10466819
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear lift gate detached from the hinges of the vehicle. The dealer was notified and stated there was a recall but the contact's vin was not included in the recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number: 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments). The manufacturer was notified and offered no assistance. The vehicle…
ODI 10460694
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt. The contact stated that a crack was found in the rear door panel. The crack was noticed while the vehicle was parked in the contact's garage. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 125,000.
ODI 10460655
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that while parked, he noticed a fracture on the rear lift gate panel. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000. *tr updated 5/24/13 *cn updated 06/12/2013 *js
ODI 10505981
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that there was a fracture in the rear lift gate hinge, making it impossible to connect the rear tailgate door to the vehicle. The dealer and manufacturer were notified, but the nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments), did not include the vin. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current…
ODI 10451919
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. While examining the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear glass hatch housing was cracked in half. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the rear hatch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. The current and the failure mileages were 120,000.
ODI 10451287
Body
Back glass hatch has a hairline crack to the left side of the ford embelm. Just suddenly apperared, after no impact. *tr
ODI 10448094
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the glass on the rear hatch bottom molding was cracked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not repaired. There were no recalls for the failure. The manufacturer was notified who offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 180,000 and the current mileage was 186,000.
ODI 10451810
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the rear tail gate door developed a cracked. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since there were no recalls related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 112,000.
ODI 10449996
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explored. The contact stated that the rear lift gate glass shield cracked and shattered. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor was it repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 166,079.
ODI 10438068
Body
There has been no accident. Under normal wear and tear of car went to open hatchback glass one day to load groceries and dropped low on my head because hinge holding the glass door came loose. Had to ease it back up in place , have not been able to open glass door since for fear of it falling and breaking to pieces. The second complaint is the hatchback door is cracked under the ford emblem and to the side . I have…
ODI 10519697
Body · Hatchback/Liftgate
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. While parked, the contact noticed that the panel below the rear window hatch was cracked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technician stated that the rear panel would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000. Updated 03/21/12*bf the consumer stated the rear panel connected to the back rear…
ODI 10450660
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle had developed a crack on the tailgate of the vehicle under the rear window. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who stated there had not been enough complaints to issue a recall and referred her to nhtsa. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 80,000.
ODI 10481127
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer. The contact stated the rear liftgate glass bolt brackets detached from the hinges, causing the glass to detach. There was a recall associated with the defect under nhtsa campaign id number 04v442000 (structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments) but the vehicle was ineligible for the recall repair due to the build date. The vehicle had not been repaired. The…
ODI 10430225
Body
I noticed a crack on the rear hatch trim panel under the window out of nowhere. Also, the paint on my hood and quarter panels has been bubbling and peeling off in huge chunks. It would seem they should do a recall on these issues since there are so many complaints. *tt
ODI 10445964
Body · Hatchback/Liftgate
I have a 2003 ford explorer, ran to the store last night to buy groceries. Loaded things into my truck, closed the door and things were fine. Arrived home to remove the groceries and there was a 6 inch long crack on the rear hatch of my truck right beside the ford logo and rear windshield wiper. I take pride in my vehicle and keep it clean and the outside body is perfect; until this happened. I am disappointed that…
ODI 10425551