2003 Ford Explorer Visibility

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.

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. *TR

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.

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.

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. *TR

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.

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.

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.

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

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER REACHES EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES. IN MILD WEATHER ON A SUNNY DAY THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDSHIELD CAN BECOME SO HOT IT CAN EASILY MELT ITEMS PLACED AGAINST IT. ADDITIONALLY, IT APPEARS THIS IS THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT A SLOW SPEED THE BACK WINDOW ON MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT SHATTERED. THE GLASS WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND NUMEROUS PIECES ENDED UP INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO OBJECT FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS INCIDENT. THE LIFT GATE HAD NOT BEEN OPENED PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. I BELIEVE IT WAS CAUSED BY THE HINGES AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY WERE DESIGNED TO ATTACH TO THE GLASS THAT TRIGGERED THIS EXPLOSION OF THE REAR WINDOW.

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED THE REAR WINDOW WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT DOES NOT SHATTER ON ITS OWN. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

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. *TR

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.

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.

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. *TR

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

WHILE OUT OF TOWN, VACATIONING AND TOURING FOR FALL COLORS, I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM AFTER A SHORT COFFEE STOP. WHEN I STARTED MY EXPLORER I NOTICE I HAD NO HEAT, FANS, DEFROSTER OR POWER TO THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. THINKING I HAD BLOWN A FUSE, I OPENED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND CHECKED THE FUSE DIAGRAM PAGES FOR THE SYSTEM THAT WAS NOT WORKING. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES INDICATED BUT, I FOUND NONE OF THEM HAD BLOWN. AFTER DETOURING AND HEADING FOR THE LOCAL SMALL TOWN, I PURCHASED AN EMERGENCY FUSE REPLACEMENT AND TESTER KIT AS IT WAS NOW GETTING DARK, TRYING TO CONTINUE RE-CHECKING ANY FUSES (WHILE IN THE CONFINED AND MOST AWKWARD PLACE TO INSTALL A FUSE CONTROL PANEL UNDER THE DASH BOARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE) WAS GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT TILL DAYLIGHT. ON MY RETURN TO MY CAMPSITE I CHANGE THE HEAD LIGHTING FROM AUTO TO MANUAL AND PULLED OUT ON THE KNOB TO TURN ON THE FOG LIGHT SYSTEM. AS I DID THIS ALL POWER TO MY CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM RETURNED AND WAS WORKING NORMAL AGAIN. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM AS THE NEXT MORNING I WOKE UP TO FROST AND 0` TEMPERATURE AND OVERCAST FOR THE DAY. *TR

2003 FORD EXPLORER - 65K MILES - BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR 7.6HP FAILED CAUSING A/C TO REMAIN IN ON POSITION WITH NO HEAT OR DEFROSTER. *TR

MY BACK REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE I WAS AT WORK. IT HAPPEN AT 400AM SO IT WAS NOT HOT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR WINDOW, IT COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,843.

I HAVE A FORD EXPLORER AND THE BACK GLASS FELL AND IT HANGING OFF. WHY BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST YEAR THE PROBLEM WASN'T FIXED. *TR

TL* -THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER WITH AN ODOMETER READING 58000 MILES AND THE FRONT DEFROSTER DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH HE HEARD SOUND COMING FROM DASHBOARD, THEN THE DEFROSTER FAILED TO BLOW HOT AIR. PRESENTLY, ONLY COLD AIR BLEW OUT FROM THE DEFROST. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. ALSO, HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY TOLD HIM TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL AT THIS TIME.*AK UPDATED *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE REAR WINDOW CRACKED NEAR THE LOCATION OF THE FORD EMBLEM. THE NHTSA WEBSITE LIST SEVERAL RELATED COMPLAINTS. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,890. *AK