2003 Ford Explorer Engine

Hello my name is [XXX] just writing you cause my neighbors have program my vehicle meaning they hack my 2003 explore pretty much they want to take over my driving they trying to dominate me in this matter when in reality is not going to be possible that's why I come to your people's corporate plus they have invade my family privacy they have a gang organization watching me every where I go had few confrontation they just want me to confront them so they could put me in jail this is not going to happen i apologize for the inconvenience I told police regards this matter they didn't do nothing about it . INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

ENGINE STOPS WHILE DRIVING (STALLS IN MOTION WHILE TURNING ON STREET AND HIGHWAY) RESTARTS WITHOUT PROBLEM, HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW 30 DAYS APART.

EXHAST MANAFOLD HAS CRACK IN IT AND SCREWS CAME LOSE AND FELL OUT WIHICH CREATED FUMES IN CAR.

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 MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

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

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. IT DIDN'T WANT TO CONTINUE GOING. THEN AFTER THE THIRD TRY IT GAVE ME MORE GAS TO DRIVE NORMAL NOT EVEN A MINUTE AFTER IT DID IT AGAIN. I WAS AFRAID YO GET HIT BY TRAFFIC AND SINCE I HAD MY THREE TODDLERS I WAS SCARED. I PULLED INTO A SHOPPING CENTER AND CALLED MY DAD. AND ALSO A MECHANIC. IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN THAT VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL ITS NEEDS. I CANNOT AFFORD IT AND ITS UPSETTING SEEING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM ABOUT IT KNOWING I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

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 ISSUE IN MY OPINION!! I WILL ALSO BE POSTING THIS ON OTHER WEBSITES TO RAISE AWARENESS, AND HOPEFULLY GET SOME RESULTS!! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

TOOK VEHICLE IN FLUID CHANGES, COMPLETE CHECK, AND TO INVESTIGATE A LEAK UNDER VEHICLE. AFTER "COMPLETE" CHECK SAID THEY FOUND BAD SERPENTINE BELT, AIR FILTER AND BUT NOTHING VALVE COVER GASKETS AS CAUSE OF LEAK. COST TO REPAIR GASKETS OVER $1000. WHILE DOING REPAIR THEY CALLED AGAIN AND SAID THEY FOUND THAT THE REAR TIMING CARTRIDGE WAS BROKEN AND PIECES OF IT MISSING. TOLD ME THAT BOLT WAS WORE HALF WAY THROUGH AS TIMING CHAINING WAS RUBBING IT. SAID IF IT BREAKS BEFORE REPAIR ENGINE WILL "BLOW" AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. TOLD ME IT WOULD COSTS OVER $2,500 TO REPLACE THIS CARTRIDGE. TOTAL COST WAS NOW OVER $4,000. I ASKED WHY PART WAS BAD WHEN ENGINE ONLY HAD 84,000 MILES AND WHY THIS WASN'T FOUND WITH THE "COMPLETE" CHECK. MECHANIC STATED ONLY SAW IT BECAUSE HE HAD THINGS APART TO FIX VALVE COVER GASKETS. TOLD ME IT WAS A PLASTIC PART AND EVEN WITH LOW MILEAGE THE PLASTIC DETERIORATES WITH TIME. SAID PART ONLY DESIGNED TO LAST 100,000 MILES. IF I AM TO BELIEVE THIS FORD MECHANIC, FORD USES A PLASTIC PART IN A CRUCIAL PART OF THE ENGINE (TIMING) AND IF THAT PART FAILS THE ENGINE WILL "BLOW". AND THEY CANNOT KNOW THE PART IS BAD UNLESS THEY HAVE THE ENGINE APART FOR OTHER MAJOR REPAIRS. SO IF THE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE NOT LEAKING THE ISSUE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDETECTED BY THE FORD MAINTENANCE "COMPLETE" CHECK UP. IN ADDITION FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A WARNING THAT THIS ENGINE WILL POSSIBLY "BLOW" AFTER ONLY 100,000 MILES IF THIS PART NOT REPLACED BY A $2,500.00 - $3,000.00 REPAIR. FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. THEY DESIGN A VEHICLE THIS WAY WITH NO WARNING TO THE BUYERS/OWNERS. IF I AM TO BELIEVE THE FORD MECHANIC THERE IS NO WAY TO REALLY KNOW YOU MAY HAVE A PROBLEM. HOW ARE WE TO PROTECT OURSELVES? MY FRIEND SHOWED ME THIS SITE AND DID SOME SEARCHING ON OTHER BLOGS/SITES DEALING WITH VEHICLE ISSUES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CASES OF THIS UNACCEPTABLE ISSUE. *TR

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

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

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 LOUD RATTLING SOUND THAT STARTED SUDDENLY AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE, AND INCREASES UPON ACCELERATION. THERE IS AN OILY SMELL. AT STOP LIGHT WHEN IDLING, THE IDLE IS SLOW AND A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND - IDLE SOUNDS LIKE CAR IS ABOUT TO SHUT OFF. THE NORMAL IDLE SOUND FOR THE CAR IS SMOOTH AND LIKE A SOFT HUM. CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, AS THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE THAT ARE LISTED ON THE FORD WEBSITE ABOUT SEVERAL YEARS OF THE FORD EXPLORER. MILEAGE NOW IS 150,000 MILES. FORD SAID THERE IS NO RECALL, BUT KEEP RECEIPTS FOR WORK DONE IN CASE OF ONE IN THE FUTURE.

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 HAVE STARTED FIRE. I HAD EVERY SINGLE SERVICE BY FORD UNTIL THE FIRST ONE BLEW. NEVER EVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING UNTIL I SEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET. WHAT IF I HAD MY HOOD OPEN CHANGING THE AIR FILTER AND OR OTHER PART AND ONE OF THEM HAD BLOWN? COULD KILL ANYONE. HOW IS THAT SAFE. AND THE FACT THAT YOUR IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE WITH NO CELL COVERAGE AND YOU HAVE TO DRIVE A TICKING TIME BOMB. PLEASE HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR DESIGN FLAW. I TAKE CARE OF MY FORD EXPLORER, AFTER ALL IT COST 36K NEW AND I WANT TO GET MY MONEY OUT OF IT. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT TO LAST WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT SUV WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SPARK PLUG ISSUE. THE ONLY REASON I STILL HAVE IT IS BECAUSE I LOVE IT. (LAST NUMBER ON VIN IS 5 BUT IT WOULDN'T LET ME ENTER IT.) *TR

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 INDICATORS, NO ENGINE SOUNDS, AND THE OIL WAS AT THE PROPER LEVEL. IT COST $3,669.98 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *JB

MY ENGINE WENT OUT AFTER ONLY 140000 MILES ON IT WITH NO WARNING. I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT OWN A 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND THERE ENGINE WENT OUT AFTER ONLY WITH 100000 MILES ON IT. IT COST ME OVER 3200.00 FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED. *TR

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.

TRANSMISSION LIGHT FLASHING AND I AM TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THIS TRANNY SHOULD BE MORE DURABLE, FORD IS BETTER THAN ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. *TR

FAULTY CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING A THROWN SPARK PLUG, AND A BROKEN COIL PACK. *TR

RATTLING NOISE IN 4.0 LITER-SOHC 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. DEALER REPLACED REAR TENSIONER. NOISE REMAINED. DIAGNOSIS SAID ENGINE NOISE IS COMING FROM REAR CASSETTE AND POSSIBLY FRONT ONE. ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND TAKEN APART TO REPLACE TIMING CHAIN CASSETTES FOR @ $4K. THE CAR ONLY HAS 53,070 MILES ON IT. ONLINE SEARCH VERIFIES AN OBVIOUS ISSUE PATTERN AND COMPLAINTS TO AN INFERIOR QUALITY CASSETTE MATERIAL REQUIRING LABOR INTENSIVE ENGINE REMOVAL REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE STARTED HER VEHICLE IT WAS IDLING IT WAS VERY ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO ADVISED HER TO NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.

ENGINE & MULTIPLE PARTS IN 2003 FORD ARE NOT 2003, THEY ARE 2001 & 2002. 2002 ENGINE AND EARLIER HAD A TSB FOR THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES & OILING. EVEN THOUGH TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THAT COMPLAINT, MINE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 2003, NOT AFFECTED BY THOSE PROBLEMS, SO SERVICE DID NOT REPAIR FOR TSB. LATER ON TIMING JUMPED BECAUSE GUIDES NOT REPLACED, BENT VALVE AND RUINED THE ENGINE TO TUNE OF $5,000, PLUS PARTS SPENT TO GET TO THAT POINT & RENTAL CARS. SHOULD BE NOTED THE FIRST REPLACEMENT MOTOR INSTALLED BY FORD RAN ONLY 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT BLEW FROM TIMING CHAIN DEFECT/POOR MANUFACTURING. HISTORY: BEFORE END OF 75,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY I TOOK THE SPORT TRAC INTO THE DEALER TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE LITTLE COMPLAINTS. ONE COMPLAINT WAS SLIGHT RATTLE TYPE OF SOUND WHEN THE CAR WAS COLD/COLD MORNING. DEALER SUGGESTED AN ENGINE FLUSH & TO SWITCH TO FULL SYNTHETIC OIL. THAT DID HELP FOR SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES. ENGINE RATTLE CAME BACK, ONLY VERY OCCASIONAL BUT WORSE SOUND THAN BEFORE ON REAL COLD MORNINGS. WAS COASTING TOWARD RED LIGHT, LIGHT CHANGED & I GAVE IT GAS, ENGINE STARTED MISSING SEVERELY AS I TOOK OFF W/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. LIMPED THE CAR HOME. PUT CODE READER ON & STARTED REPLACING PARTS CALLED FOR, MOSTLY TUNE UP, THEN EGR COMPONENTS, ETC., NEW CODE THROWN AFTER EVERY REPAIR. SMOG PARTS FOR 2003 DID NOT FIT, I HAD TO TAKE THE PARTS BACK & EXCHANGE THEM FOR 2001. WHEN ENGINE WAS CHANGED SERVICE REP TOLD ME ENGINE IN CAR WAS 2002, EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT HOUSING BECAUSE ROUTING WAS DIFFERENT, ANGLE INCORRECT, NOT 2003, I TOOK PICTURES OF BLOCK & #'S, NOT A 2003, IT IS 2002 (PICTURES SHOW MY ENGINE, NO DIRT ACCUMULATION AT ALL). CARB STATES I CANNOT INSTALL AN ENGINE OLDER THAN THE CHASSIS INTO THE CAR, MOST ESPECIALLY OLDER SMOG COMPONENTS. CAN FORD? CAN FORD SELL A CAR AS NEW, SPECIFIC MODEL YEAR, BUT USE LEFTOVER PARTS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS & STILL CALL IT A NEW CAR? ISN'T THIS FRAUD? HOW CAN VEHICLE BE REPAIRED, TSBS FOLLOWED, ETC.? *TR

TIMING CHAIN BROKE, WITH NO WARNING, BENT ALL THE VALVES AND WASN'T EVEN DRIVING IT. HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY WITH CAR IDLING VERY ROUGH. PULLED BACK IN DRIVEWAY AND OIL WAS POURING OUT UNDERNEATH, DUE TO CHAIN HAD BUSTED THE VALVE COVER. WELL HAD TO PULL THE MOTOR, REPLACED GUIDES, CASSETTES, AND TENSIONERS, WITH 2000.00 JUST IN PARTS ALONE. HAD CAR BACK FROM MECHANIC NOT EVEN 3 WEEKS AND ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AS IF A ROD WAS KNOCKING. WENT BACK TO MECHANIC AND TENSIONERS WERE THE CAUSE OF TIMING-CHAIN "CLANK". APPARENTLY THEY (FORD) DESIGNED THESE TENSIONERS WITH "PLASTIC" GUIDES WHICH SHRED OFF INTO THE HYDRAULIC TENSIONER PICK UP TUBE THEREFORE CLOGGING UP THE HOLE FOR OIL TO GET TO CHAIN AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNLESS YOU GET UPDATED TENSIONERS DIRECTLY FROM FORD AT 100.00 EACH. THERE ARE 3 TIMING CHAINS AND MULTIPLE TENSIONERS AS WELL, WHICH CONTINUE TO GO OUT AFTER 30,000 MILES AND NEED REPLACING, WHICH MOST CAN BE REPLACED WITH MOTOR IN BUT SOME CANT THEREFORE I HAVE HAD MOTOR OUT TWICE NOW, AT 2500.00 EACH TIME. THERE WAS AN ONP TO OWNERS BUT FORD WOULD ONLY COVER COST UP TO 100,000 MILES AND ONLY IF OWNERS COMPLAINED!! OTHERWISE THEY WOULD NOT FIX!!! WELL THIS IS A BAD DESIGN ON FORDS PART WITH PLASTIC TENSIONERS TO GUIDE YOUR TIMING CHAIN!!! NOW THEY HAVE UPDATED WITH A TOUGHER NYLON "PLASTIC". BUT HAVE NOT RECALLED THE OLD ONES SO UNLESS YOU ORDER DEALER PARTS YOU RECEIVE THE OLD PARTS WHICH ARE NO GOOD AND WILL END UP MAKING YOU SPEND MORE MONEY AND FOR THE LAST 12MONTHS, I HAVE HAD MY CAR 3 WEEKS DUE TO CANT AFFORD THE ENORMOUS REPAIR BILL, WHICH FORD KNEW ABOUT ALL ALONG, BUT FAILED TO RECALL PLASTIC PARTS UNLESS SOMEONE COMPLAINED. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE THE 1996-2006 YEAR MODEL EXPLORES WITH 4.0 SOHC V-6 MOTORS. SOMETHING DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE DONE!!! *TR

TOOK EXPLORER TO DEALERSHIP TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED AND GOT A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE AND STRIPPED THE THREADS IN THE HEAD BUT NOT ON THE SPARK PLUG. *TR

CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE IN REVERSE AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO NO AVAIL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS THE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO PICK UP SPEED. ALL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER YET THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES IN THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,900.