2003 Ford Explorer Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WITHIN A MONTH OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED SERVICING, INCLUDING THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HAD NOT ISSUED ANY BRAKE SYSTEM RECALLS; HOWEVER, THERE WERE TEN TSBS FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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 PROBLEM STARTS AFTER ABOUT 5 OR 10 MINUTES OF RUN TIME THEN CLEARS UP NOT RETURNING UNTIL NEXT RUN OR SOME TIME LATER...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A JERKING MOTION AND THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS, ABS SENSORS, AND ABS PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 163,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE REAR AIR CONDITIONER LINE RUBBED AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE CAUSING BRAKE LINE FAILURE. THE RUPTURE OCCURRED DURING AN ATTEMPT TO SUDDENLY STOP. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF RUST EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE BRAKE LINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 156,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ODDLY ENOUGH, THE MECHANIC SPECIFICALLY NOTED THAT RUST WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THIS CASE AS IS COMMON ON MANY NEWER VEHICLES. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 3/7/2006. NO COLLISION WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT THEN BEGAN TO RAPIDLY PUMP THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED AN INJURED KNEE DUE TO THE PRESSURE SHE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE PISTONS HAD SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

93,000 MILES AND ABS LIGHT AND LOUD GRINDING NOISE (IN ADDITION TO APPLIQUE CRACK IN REAR). NEED TO REPLACE BOTH REAR HUB BEARINGS, BRAKE PAD ROTORS, AND PARKING BRAKE SHOES. SEARCH THE WEB ON THESE PROBLEMS, AND OVER 3 HUNDRED COMPLAINTS SEEN ON JUST ONE SITE FOR 2003 EXPLORERS ALONE. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. HAS 142,000 MILES. HAD TIRE ROTATION AT 137,000 MILES IN JAN 2010. ON 3/6, WE DROVE 120 MI FROM HOME TO BALTIMORE, PARKED IN PARKING LOT FOR 6 HOURS. DROVE 50 MI TO TYSON'S CORNER VA, PARKED IN HOTEL PARKING LOT. ON 3/7, WE DROVE 15MI TO DAUGHTER'S HOME IN ARLINGTON. LEFT CAR THERE FOR 7 HOURS. DROVE BACK HOME ALONG ROUTES 66, 495 AND THEN 95. WENT ABOUT 60 MI WHEN I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING A BIT. KEPT DRIVING FOR MAYBE 5 MI BEFORE I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE FRONT END NEAR THE WHEELS. DECIDED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND GET TO A SERVICE STATION TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE. CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE AND BEGAN TO BACK OUT WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. THERE WAS ONLY 1 LUG STUD REMAINING THAT WAS BROKEN OFF ABOUT 1/2 " ABOVE THE BRAKE DRUM. THE OTHER 4 LUG STUDS WERE MISSING, AND SEEMED TO BE SHEERED OFF ABOUT 1/2" BELOW THE DRUM. THANKFULLY, THE WHEEL DID NOT FALL OFF ON ROUTE 95, ELSE WE AND, MOST LIKELY OTHERS, WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY BODY SHOP, ALSO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND HAD THE TIRE ROTATION DONE. LOOKING AT SOME FORUMS, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST/ONLY TIME THAT A FORD EXPLORER HAS LOST A TIRE BY BROKEN LUG STUDS DISAPPEARING. I WILL GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND THEN WILL SELL THE VEHICLE. I WILL ALSO HAVE THE OTHER LUG POSTS INSPECTED, BUT WHO KNOWS IF ANYONE WILL SEE ANYTHING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IF NONE HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE. THANK YOU. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH FIRST, THEN TO 80 MPH. I TRIED APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT IT DID NOT SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AT ALL. TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, I FORCED THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INTO PARKING. THIS MOMENTARILY SLOWED DOWN THE VEHICLE, AND I TRIED TO MOVE IT INTO THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF THE FREEWAY. THEN SUDDENLY IT STARTED DRIVING IN REVERSE AT A VERY HIGH SPEED, CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH AN ONCOMING TRUCK ON THE FREEWAY. UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND FEARING FOR MY LIFE, I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY, WHICH BROUGHT THE CAR TO A HALT. THE HIGH PATROL ARRIVED WITHIN ONLY A COUPLE OF MINUTES. WHEN ONE OF THE OFFICERS TURNED ON THE CAR SO AS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. HE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND DIRECTED EVERYONE TO STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR, CAUTIONING THAT THE CAR WAS DANGEROUS. TWO OFFICERS DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND SAID THAT THERE APPEARED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR. THEY THEN PUSHED THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT GET HURT. BUT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT BODY DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND TO THE OTHER TRUCK WITH WHICH I COLLIDED. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER OF THAT TRUCK DROVE OFF, THUS I WAS UNABLE TO GET HIS INFORMATION. I HAD THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TOWED TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD FORD DEALERSHIP, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEFECTIVE. WHEN I ADVISED THEM THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD FAILED, I WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WORKS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BREAKS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY, DRIVING IN REVERSE, AND IT COULD HAVE INJURED MANY PEOPLE AND CAUSED A LOT MORE DAMAGE. FORD REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE BODY REPAIR, AND IS CHARGING ME NEARLY $1,000 TO REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THE LETTER THAT I SENT TO FORD. *TR

BRAKE PADS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED WHEN INSPECTING PADS, FRONT EDGE OF ROTORS HAVE COMPLETELY RUSTED. PADS WERE IN GOOD SHAPE THICKNESS WISE IN SOME AREAS AND ROTTED IN OTHER AREAS. PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED NOW 5 MONTHS LATER IT'S STARTING AGAIN. PARKING BRAKE PADS DELAMINATED AGAIN. ABS LIGHT CAME ON DURING TRIP FOR NO REASON? *TR

BRAKE ROTORS CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THE FRONT SURFACE WAS FLAKING OFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TWO REAR ROTORS RUSTED TWO INCHES FROM THE TOP. THE REAR ROTORS, REAR BRAKES, AND PARKING BRAKE DISINTEGRATED DUE TO THE CORROSION FROM THE ROTORS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE CORROSION; HOWEVER, ALL THE COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000. UPDATED 03/14/08. *LJ

BRAKE & ACCELERATOR PEDALS TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. MANY TIMES APPLYING BRAKES WILL HIT ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME AND THE ACCELERATOR WINS. PRIMARILY GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO REVERSE, BUT HAS ALSO HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC. (V8 2003 FORD EXPLORER) . *NM

I PURCHASED A 2003 EXPLORER IN AUGUST 2006; MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. BY OCTOBER THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. A FEW WEEKS LATER, I WAS BACK BECAUSE MY CAR WAS JERKING. NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THE STARTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS WOULD THE RECENTLY INSTALLED ALTERNATOR. I RETURNED LESS THAN A MONTH LATER WITH THE SAME JERKING ISSUE, ONLY THIS TIME I NOTIFIED THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE O/D LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON. FURTHERMORE, MY CAR HAD ACTUALLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. AGAIN, NOTHING WAS FOUND. BY EARLY DECEMBER, I WAS BACK. MY CAR HAD STALLED ON A FEW MORE OCCASIONS AND WOULD NOT "PICK UP". THAT IS, EVEN THOUGH THE RPM'S WOULD REACH ANYWHERE FROM 2500 - 4000, MY CAR COULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 25 - 30 MPH. SEVERAL DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED WORK. I GOT MY CAR BACK A FEW DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND DECIDED LAST MINUTE TO HEAD TO THE MOUNTAINS. AS SOON AS I REACH A SLIGHT ELEVATION, THE CAR CEASED TO ACCELERATE AND WHAT'S MORE, A THICK HEAVY CLOUD OF BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE REAR AND PERSISTED FOR AT LEAST TWO MILES. I HEADED BACK DOWN THE MOUNTAIN FOR HOME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND THEY KEPT IT FOR AT LEAST A WEEK AND A HALF TO REPAIR THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND OTHER TRANSMISSION RELATED ISSUE. IN EARLY FALL 2007, I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR SOME STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IT ENDED UP COSTING $2500.00 TO REPAIR. I RETURNED IN NOVEMBER FOR MORE WORK, THIS TIME FOR THE SAME TORQUE CONVERTER AND SOLENOID ISSUE AS A YEAR AGO. DURING THIS TWO YEAR PERIOD, MY VEHICLE WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP IS ANYWHERE FROM $5000 - $9000, OF WHICH I PAID AT LEAST $2500 OUT OF POCKET. MY WARRANTY HAS SINCE EXPIRED AND I AM WORRIED THAT THESE SAME ISSUES WILL RECUR, AS I HAVE READ THEY HAVE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL ISSUED. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DURING HEAVY BRAKING, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES VIBRATED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ABS SENSOR 7 TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.

4 ITEMS 1 - HAVE OWNED THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER FOR 7 MONTHS. WHILE TEST DRIVING, I NOTICED A HUM NOISE COMING FROM REAR TIRES. WAS TOLD IT WAS TREAD NOISE. WE TOOK IT FOR OIL CHANGE AT VERY WELL RESPECTED NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE SHOP. I WAS INFORMED I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY THAT IS WAS CRITICALLY BROKEN. WAITING TO CONTACT LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR RESOLUTION BASED ON TSB RESEARCH I HAVE DONE. 2 - WHINING NOISE FROM AIR CONDITIONER WHEN ACCELERATING. DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. SAW THIS ALSO ON TSB. CONTACTING LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. 3 - ABS LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON. DON'T KNOW WHY AND NO PATTERN TO WHEN. CONTACTING LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. 4 - CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND, USING CRUISE CONTROL. STOPPED QUICKLY FOR A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I STARTED GOING AGAIN, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T WORK AND HASN'T WORKED SINCE THEN. I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE BRAKES. I NOTICED FORD RECALLED SOME CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISMS IN OTHER VEHICLES BUT NOT IN THE 2003 EXPLORER. *JB

ABS SPEED SENSOR FAILURE AT 63,000 MILES. THIS ALSO HAPPENED ON MY SON'S 2003 EXPLORER AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

BECAUSE THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON DURING LONG DRIVES AND REMAINS ON UNTIL WE STOP THE VEHICLE, OUR EXPLORER HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ON 3 TIMES IN 3 STATES. WE''VE BEEN TOLD THAT WE SHOULDN''T WORRY IF THE LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER STOPPING. A ''GRINDING'' NOISE CHECKED IN COLORADO FOR 3 DAYS LAST YEAR WASN''T A PROBLEM UNTIL OUR REAR DIFFERENTIAL SUDDENLY WENT "OUT," IN OHIO. IN ILLINOIS, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE WENT TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIP, AND SINCE IT DIDN''T REMAIN LIT, WE WERE TOLD TO GET IT REPAIRED IN IOWA, SINCE IT WASN'T "MAJOR." THE ABS REAR SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT EXPLORERS WITH DIFFERENTIAL REPLACEMENT WERE HAVING SENSOR PROBLEMS. WHEN THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED IN OHIO, THE SERVICE REP MENTIONED A "KIT" TO REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL. BOTH GARAGES SEEMED CONVERSANT WITH THE ABS SENSOR AND DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEMS. THE SUV HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT FORD DEALERSHIPS TO ENSURE SYSTEMS SERVICED BY MECHANICS AND TECHNICIANS WELL VERSED IN FORD PRODUCTS. THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT PROBLEM RECURRED IN MAY AFTER A 200 MILE ROAD TRIP, GOING OFF AFTER WE STOPPED. MY BRAKES FAILED WHEN I TRIED TO STOP WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH,ABOUT 550+ MILES INTO AN EXTENDED ROAD TRIP. NO CITATION WAS ISSUED AS THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SAID THERE WERE NO SKID MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT TO INDICATE THAT I HAD "JAMMED" ON THE BRAKES. I HAD PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND HAD NO BRAKES WHEN I HIT THE BACK OF A PENSKE MOVING TRUCK. THE ABS BRAKES AND "AUXILIARY" BRAKES FAILED ON THE VEHICLE, WITH OVER $11,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, EVEN AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN OF PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS. THE AIR BAG DIDN''T DEPLOY. I REPORTED THIS TO FORD'S CUSTOMER CARE CENTER ON 7/18/2005, GOT A REFERENCE NUMBER, AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HEAR FROM THE CONSUMER ADVISORY GROUP WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS, HAVEN''T HEARD FROM THEM, YET.

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT, A FEW MONTHS AGO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AND THE 4X4 WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT AND TOLD US THEY REPLACED A SPEED SENSOR, THEY ALSO FOUND 2 REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKS AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THOSE, THEN IN OCTOBER OF '05 I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WAS JERKING BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH AND UPON ACCELERATION ON HILLS NOT MENTION THAT I COULD HEAR SOMETHING HAPPENING UNDERNEATH MY VEHICLE, THEY PUT IT UP ON THE RACK AND CAME BACK OUT AND SAID THE CLUTCH IN THE REAR END WAS SCORCHED AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE WHOLE REAR END REPLACE, SO I DID BUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT BACK HOME AFTER THE REPAIR IT STARTED JERKING AGAIN, AND AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF WORRY AND WONDER ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IS BAD, MY EXPLORER IS TRYING TO ENGAGE ITSELF IN 4X4, SO NOW I AM HAVING THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED! MY EXPLORER HAS 41,000 ON IT RIGHT NOW AND FORD HAS NOT BEEN MUCH OF A HELP, I HAVE TO PAY $1500 FOR THE TRANSFER CASE, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT, I WILL BUY A FOREIGN CAR. FORD REALLY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THESE VEHICLES AND I WILL DO ANYTHING I CAN TO PROMOTE THAT. *NM

I WAS DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHEN A COLLISION OCCURED IN THE LANES NEXT TO ME AND THE VEHICLES SWERVED INTO MY LANE. I SLAMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE ABS SYSTEM STARTED WORKING, THEN FAILED. THE BACK WHEELS LOCKED UP AND I FISH-TAILED, ENDING UP IN THE DIRT CENTER MEDIAN. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DASH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE REAR ABS SENSOR FAILED (OPEN CIRCUT).