2003 Ford Explorer Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND CLUNKS, IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE ESTIMATE REPAIR IS AROUND $ 3,400. WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN.

TRUCK WAS RUNNING FINE. THEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR WHILE I WAS COMING OFF OF OR ONTO EXIT RAMPS. SEEMED LIKE AS THE ENGINE DECELERATED IT WOULD SLIP INTO NEUTRAL. SOMETIMES IT WOULD EVENTUALLY FIND THE GEAR AND SOMETIMES I HAD TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, WHICH WAS REALLY SCARY SINCE I WAS IN TRAFFIC WHEN THIS HAPPENED. A SHORT TIME LATE (A MATTER OF WEEKS). I NOTICED IT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR WHEN THE TRUCK WAS COLD (AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. THIS HAS RAPIDLY PROGRESSED INTO ALMOST COMPLETE FAILURE. I CAN STILL GET THE TRUCK TO MOVE IF I SHIFT MANUALLY INTO L1 OR L2 BUT D DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. ADDITIONALLY I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES MY O/D LIGHT WOULD BE BLINKING AND SOMETIME O/D WOULD GO COMPLETELY OFF AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR. I FOUND IF I STOPPED, TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND RESTARTED IT WOULD OFTEN FIX THE ISSUE. THIS IS NOT LONGER TRUE. I WILL BE TAKING THE TRUCK TO MY MECHANIC ON MONDAY. I LOOKED UP THE ISSUE AND SEE THAT THIS IS COMMON COMPLAINT WITH MANY EARLY 2000 FORD VEHICLES. SHAME THE COMPANY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT'S FAILURE AND STAND UP AND FIX IT. I DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS ISSUE BUT I COULD SEE IF THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AS SOMEONE WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC OR IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC THAT THIS COULD DEFINITELY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THIS EVENING THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN STEADILY BLINKING AND THE TRANSMISSION TOOK WAY TOO LONG TO SHIFT (RPM ALMOST RED LINE) AND WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND FIRST NOTICED THE TRUCK NOT SHIFTING AND WITHIN 3 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. IF YOU TURN THE TRUCK OFF THEN BACK ON THE O/D OFF LIGHT TURNS OFF BUT THE TRUCK STILL WON'T SHIFT CORRECTLY AND THE LIGHT STARTS TO BLINK AGAIN. MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 133,000 MILES. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF 2003 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM.

BEING THAT I AM DISABLED, I'M AFFRAID THAT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY GOES COMPLETELY OUT, I'LL BE STRANED SOMEWHERE OR THE SUV WILL CAUSE A WRECK AND HURT/KILL ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS EXPLORER THAT A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT OUT. I CAN NOT AFFORED THE REPAIR COST OR THE COST OF ANOTHER SUV/CAR, PLEASE HELP!

THE O/D OFF LIGHT & CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHTS WENT ON, THEN VEHICLE WOULDN'T SHIFT PROPERLY AND BECAME INOPERABLE.

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLS IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION STALLS, SLIPS AND DELAYS WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. AS I SEARCHED FOR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION I FOUND 100'S OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MATTER. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND, THE TRANSMISSION IS A DESIGN FLAW

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THESE VEHICLES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR. WHEN IT SHIFTED, AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

FOR YEARS FORD HAS HAD A POORLY DESIGNED HYDRAULIC MANUAL CLUTCH SYSTEM . OFTEN IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT AT RED LIGHT OR WHILE DRIVING AND HAD MANY NEAR REAR END COLLISIONS DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE SHIFTING AND MAINTAINING SPEED. FOR OVER A DECADE THE POORLY DESIGNED SYSTEM GETS AIR BOUND RENDERING THE CLUTCH USELESS . THIS IS CAUSED BECAUSE THE HYDRAULIC LINE HAS LOW AND HIGH SPOTS AND AIR BECOMES TRAPPED IN THE HIGH SPOTS AND RESULTS IN LOSS OF CLUTCH OPERATION . THE ENTIRE SYSTEM MUST BE REMOVED AND ELONGATED TO ALLOW AIR TO BE RELEASED FROM SYSTEM . NO BLEEDER VALVE AT MASTER CYLINDER FOR ONE THING . THERE IS A BLEEDER VALVE AT THE SLAVE CYLINDER BUT BECAUSE THE LINE HAS MANY TWIST AND TURNS WITH HIGH SPOTS BLEEDING DOES NOT ELIMINATE AIR TRAPPED IN HIGH SPOTS . THIS IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM AND A DANGEROUS ONE . FORD COULD CARE LESS . ITS ABOUT TIME FORD ANSWERS AND MODIFIES THIS FAULT . YOU NEED ONLY GO ONLINE AND ENTER FORD RANGER HARD SHIFTING PROBLEMS AND YOU WILL SEE IT IS COMMON PLACE PROBLEM . OF COURSE AFTER THE 36 K WARRANTY THIS BECOMES A COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD TURNS THERE CHEEK . I CANT TELL YOU HOW FRUSTRATING TO BE AT A RED LIGHT AND UNABLE TO SHIFT ALONG WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH CARS RUNNING UP YOUR REAR . PLEASE ADDRESS THIS BEFORE LIFE IS LOST . THANK YOU . I URGE ALL RANGER OWNERS TO GET ON BOARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED WHILE IN THIRD GEAR. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING UP HILLS, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE OVERDRIVE AND CHECK ENGINE SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND WHEN I SHIFTED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO REVERSE SO HARD THAT IT HIT THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED BEHIND ME. *TR

MY FORD SPORT TRAC HAS FAILED TO LOCK WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS PUT INTO THE PARK POSITION. WHEN YOU START TO GET OUT THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL AND YOU WILL HEAR A CLICKING NOISE IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS DONE THIS FOR SOME TIME AND I HAD IT FIXED ONCE BUT IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

TRANSMISSION OD LIGHT FLASHING, SLAMMING INTO GEAR WHILE SHIFTING. WE HAD THE PAN DROPPED AND FOUND PIECES OF THE GEARS INSIDE... NEED A TOTAL REBUILD OR NEW TRANSMISSION. AFTER READING ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL I BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO MAKE SOME KIND OF RECALL.... *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND THE OVER DRIVE WARNING SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OVERDRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE OVERDRIVE WARNING INDICATOR WAS FLASHING. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE OVERHAULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,300. UPDATED 9/12/14*CN UPDATED 09/23/14

THE VEHICLE IS A CLOSED TRANSMISSION ..CONSUMER HAS NO WAY OF CHECKING OR MAINTAINING LEVEL..OR CHECKING THE COLOR OR IF CLUTCH SHARDS ARE PRESENT...CONSUMER HAS TO PAY $115 TO EVEN HAVE TRANSMISSION LEVEL CHECKED...CONSUMER CANNOT PERFORM PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ON THEIR VEHICLE...THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORD OWNERS THAT FORD IS NOT WILLING TO ADDRESS. *TR

O/D OFF DASH LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. ADVISED TO REPORT THIS KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003 FORD EXPLORER MODELS. *TR

I HAVE HAD TO HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES SO FAR ON THIS VEHICLE. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE AND TALKING TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOPS IN THE AREA, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM (AT LEAST FOR THE FORD OWNER) WITH THIS YEAR OF THE FORD TRANSMISSION. ONE ESTIMATE IS THEY SEE THIS YEAR AT LEAST 4-5 TIMES IN A TWO WEEK SPAN. THE ENTIRE 2003 FORD TRANSMISSION SEEMS FAULTY AND COSTING CUSTOMERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. FORD HAS BEEN ASKED TO INVESTIGATE THEIR TRANSMISSION FOR THIS YEAR WITH NO RESOLVE (AT LEAST NOT TO THE PUBLIC). IF A TRANSMISSION FAILS ON AN UPHILL AND THE OWNER DOES NOT CATCH ON FAST THEY MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

FORD EXPLORER 2003 34.656 MILES GARAGE KEPT O/D LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AT 25MILES HR. TRANSMISSION SERVO PORTS NEED TO BE BORED & SLEEVED. HYDRAULIC PRESSURE LOW AT SERVO PORTS. UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 45000 MILES. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. COST $3200. OUT OF WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS 11 YEARS OLD IT HAS NOT MUCH MILEAGE. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 45000 MILES. *TR

I HAVE KEPT UP WITH FORD'S SUGGESTED SERVICING INTERVAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS HALFWAY THROUGH AN EXTENDED DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE READING ON MY SCANGAUGE II WAS IN EXCESS OF 235 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE O/D OFF LIGHT COMES ON AND THE DASHBOARD CONTAINED ERROR MESSAGE OVERHEATING TRANSMISSION. I PULLED OVER TO A GAS STATION AND SAW THAT THERE WAS NO TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE THAT WAS READILY APPARENT. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICED AND THE OVERHEATING ISSUES SEEM TO HAVE REDUCED, BUT SEVERAL TECHS AT VARIOUS TRANSMISSION SHOPS NOW SEE ERROR CODES P0732 AND P0755. I NOW NOTICE GEARS 1 AND 2 ARE SEVERELY SLIPPING, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A TOTAL REPLACEMENT COSTING OVER $3,000. I DO NOT HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY JUST LYING AROUND, AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 100,000 MILES SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE AMONG 2002-2004 FORD EXPLORERS/MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS/LINCOLN AVIATORS. WHY IN OVER 10 YEARS THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR WARRANTY I DO NOT KNOW, BUT IT SPEAKS OF GREAT IRRESPONSIBILITY AND DISTRESS IN FORD'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. IF FORD DOES NOT ISSUE ANY TYPE OF RECALL OR WARRANTY FOR FAILURES OF THIS NATURE, I WILL CEASE TO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS. *TR

O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN THE EARLY GEARS. *JS