2003 Ford Explorer window and wiper problems

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE REAR WINDOW, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGES WERE CRACKING AND WERE TILTED ON ONE SIDE. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIAN, STATED THAT THE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED FORT MILL FORD AT (866) 680-5276 (LOCATED AT 801 GOLD HILL RD, FORT MILL, SC 29708) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

NHTSA complaint #11101848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR HATCH DOOR AND THE REAR HATCH WINDOW BECAME UNSECURED AND OPENED DUE TO A CRACK NEAR THE REAR WINDOW WIPER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #10908857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HINGES ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD WERE LOOSE AND THE REAR WINDOW WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10870292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

ADJUSTED HVAC TEMPERATURE FROM COLD TO HOT. APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS LATER, A LOUD AND REPETITIVE POPPING SOUND CAME FROM THE DEFROSTER VENTS. I WAS STARTLED AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR (ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY) TO INVESTIGATE. THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS FAILING. THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE A LOSS OF CLIMATE CONTROL IN THE CABIN. IT CAN GET STUCK ON HOT OR COLD OR ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN. IF IT GETS STUCK IN THE COLD SETTING, THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY. IF IT GETS STUCK ON THE HOT SETTING, HEAT-SENSITIVE PASSENGERS MAY BE INJURED BY HEATSTROKE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS SINCE AIR WILL ALWAYS FLOW THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.

NHTSA complaint #10762850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GLASS AND THE WINDOW ON THE REAR LIFTGATE PANEL CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED IT THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE MATERIAL WAS NOT MADE TO EXPAND OR CONTRACT BASED ON THE WEATHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10717309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED AND I HAVE A CCTV VIDEO SHOWING IT WAS NOT SMASHED OUT. AFTER READING THAT THERE HAD BEEN A PREVIOUS RECALL ISSUED IN 2004, I CONTACTED FORD TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE RECALL STATUS. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BROUGHT IT IN FOR THIS RECALL. AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS TO PREVENT THE REAR WINDOW EXPLOSION, IT STILL EXPLODED LATER ON.

NHTSA complaint #10671095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE PUSHING WATER INTO THE FUSE BOX WHEN IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10618759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

WHEN CLOSING THE GLASS TAILGATE THE RIGHT HINGE THAT ATTACHES THE GLASS TO THE TAILGATE BROKE CAUSING THE GLASS TO DETACH FROM THE CAR AND FALL HITTING ME IN THE LEFT ARM UPDATED 09/16/14*LJ UPDATED 3/18/2015

NHTSA complaint #10608933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY: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 GOING DOWN AND BACK UP AFTER ICE STORM IN AUGUSTA THIS YEAR ALL FOUR WINDOWS STOPPED GOING UP AND DOWN. THIS ALSO SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND BODY STYLE OF FORD EXPLORERS. OWNED A 1993 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER HAD APPROX. 300,000 MILES ON IT BEFORE I GOT RID OF IT AND THE MOST HAPPENED TO THIS CAR WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND REAR BRAKE LEAK WHICH WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PROBLEM I HAD. WISH I STILL HAD THE 1993 EXPLORER BECAUSE MY 2003 MAKES ME HESITANT ABOUT PURCHASING ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER NO MATTER HOW MUCH I LIKE THEM THIS ONE WILL MAKE TURN TO ANOTHER MAKE OF CAR. ONCE A LOYAL FORD OWNER NOT SO SURE NOW. YOU WOULD THINK THAT FORD WILL BE AS LOYAL TO US AS WE ARE OF THEM, IT IS THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FRUSTRATED AND NOT WANTING TO PURCHASE ANOTHER. IF YOU CAN'T DEPEND ON THE SMALLER THINGS HOW CAN WE DEPEND ON THEM WITH THE LARGER THINGS. ONCE A LOYAL FORD OWNER.

NHTSA complaint #10608458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE REAR LIFT GATE SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED, LEAVING GLASS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA complaint #10583958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A DEFECT IN THE TAILGATE PANEL ON THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER. IT IS CRACKED AND AS A RESULT WATER GETS INTO THE INSIDE OF THE PANEL AND LEAKS INTO THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT OF THE BITTER COLD DAYS HERE IN THE NORTHEAST OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO, ICE FORMS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES WITH VISIBILITY WHICH IS DANGEROUS. IT ALSO SHORTED OUT THE REAR WIPER MOTOR AS WELL. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT EFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE.

NHTSA complaint #10559451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

BACK GLASS ON LIFT GATE EXPLODED. GLASS WENT EVERY WHERE. NO ONE WAS IN THE THANK GOODNESS.VEHICLE WAS JUST SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. IT JUST EXPLODED AND SHATTERED. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE GLASS. THE ONLY THING THERE WAS A CRACK ON LOWER PANEL THAT HAD BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10519655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER AND DEFROSTER WOULD NOT OPERATE WHEN ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THAT BOTH THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER SWITCH AND THE BLOWER MOTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE 130,000.

NHTSA complaint #10519425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 -10 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE HATCH BACK WINDOW DETACHED AND FELL FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE HINGES TO THE REAR WINDOW WERE SEVERELY RUSTED, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO DETACH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED STATE INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.

NHTSA complaint #10490344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

ALL 4 OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACES IN A MATTER OF 5 MONTHS THE REAR WINDOW HAS A CRACK IN THE FIBERGLASS COVERING RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE SAID NOT COVERED NOT A HEALTH RISK BUT THE MOLDING IS STILL CRACKED FROM THE BOTTOM OF WINDOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MOLDING PIECE BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL U GET BACK IN AND TAP THE BRAKES THEN THE LIGHT SHUTS OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10471352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY: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.

NHTSA complaint #10466819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THERE WAS A CRACK LOCATED ON THE PANEL OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

NHTSA complaint #10457236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07E104000 (VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE REMEDY WAS INSUFFICIENT, AS A RESULT TO THE REAR LIFTGATE HINGE FAILING TO SECURE THE WINDOW GLASS PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA complaint #10448609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER WHICH INCLUDE THE ELECTRONIC MOTHER BOARD HAVING BEEN REPLACED TWICE (UNDER WARRANTY), CRACKED LIFTGAGE (NOT UNDER WARRANTY COST $300), TRANSMISSION REBUILD APPROX 90,000 ($3000), DOME LIGHTS DO NOT TURN OFF, DOOR AJAR LIGHTS, ELECTRIC REAR WINDOWS DO NOT OPEN, O/D LIGHT FLASHES AND NOW THE FINAL PROBLEM AFTER HAVING REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION IN JULY 2011 IS A DRIVE TRAIN OR DRIVE LINE ISSUE. AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AFTER DROPPING FROM A HIGHER SPEED, A THUMPING HAPPENS. DIAGNOSIS FOR THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN 3 DAYS STILL WITH NO FINAL DETERMINATION.

NHTSA complaint #10448566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR NOT WORKING. NOT ABLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS EASILY.

NHTSA complaint #10398955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW PANEL WAS FRACTURED NEAR THE BOTTOM. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WINDOW WOULD FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE AND BREAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO A RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA complaint #10381131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #10368491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER FUNCTIONED BUT THE HEAT DID NOT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO LEAKS IN THE HEATING COIL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE REACTOR COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 133,700.

NHTSA complaint #10367063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK IN THE PANEL ATTACHED TO THE GLASS OF THE REAR LIFTGAGE. THE CRACK WAS SMALL AT FIRST BUT BECAME LARGER OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED FOR THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THE HEATED STOPPED BLOWING HEAT AND WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.

NHTSA complaint #10359562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR STARTS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AND THEN THE HEATER STARTS PUTTING OUT COLD AIR. THE FRONT WINDOW DOESN'T DEFROST. NO HEAT IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE CAN REACH 0 DEGREES. THE AVERAGE COST TO REPAIR THE PART IS $734.

NHTSA complaint #10301724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE REAR WINDSHIELD HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO FAIL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY DID NOT PERFORM AN INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, AND IF HER MODEL TYPE WAS RECALLED, SHE COULD INQUIRE ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

NHTSA complaint #10291940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER AT 70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE OF THE FREEWAY AND DECIDED TO PULL THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR DOWN TO CUT DOWN ON THE SUN'S GLARE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE PLASTIC MOUNT THAT HOLDS THE VISOR METAL STEM IN PLACE SHATTERED AND THE VISOR CAME LOOSE DANGLING IN FRONT OF MY FACE BY AN ELECTRICAL CABLE. THE VISOR WAS SEVERELY OBSTRUCTING MY VISION SO I HAD TO QUICKLY GRAB THE IT AND HOLD IT OUT OF THE WAY WITH MY LEFT HAND WHILE STEERING WITH MY RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE ACROSS 4 LANES OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC UNTIL I COULD STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY SHOULDER. THE ELECTRICAL CABLE DOES NOT HAVE A CONNECTOR SO IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DISCONNECT IT FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, I HAD TO DRIVE THE NEXT 20 MILES USING MY LEFT HAD TO HOLD THE VISOR UP WITH MY LEFT HAND WHILE DRIVING WITH MY RIGHT UNTIL I COULD REACH HOME.

NHTSA complaint #10285545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

3 LARGE CRACKS IN PLASTIC TRIM BELOW GLASS ON REAR LIFT GATE "APPEARED" AFTER A COLD/ICY DAY.

NHTSA complaint #10257144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.