2003 Ford Explorer power train problems
335 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the power train on the 2003 Ford Explorer — 30% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Shift lever broke off inside steering column of my wife's explorer when changing from park to drive to exit from a boat launch ramp with no boat on the trailer. Vehicle was towed on a flatbed wrecker to my garage. Broken element ( see photos) was not replaceable by itself. Steering column had to be…”
filed Sep 5, 2017
“Transmission shifts hard and clunks, is not safe to drive. The estimate repair is around $ 3,400. Will never buy a ford again.”
filed May 9, 2017
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
Ford: some vehicles may exhibit oil separation from the internal lube found in the unitized cartridge seal. Oil separation appears to be and is often misdiagnosed, as an axle lube leak. *pe
TSB-08-19-3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2009Limited slip axle chatter, shudder, binding sensation, or vibration during low speed turning maneuvers. *tt
06216 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 1, 2006
Power Train problems in other Explorer years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 3 | 9% |
| 2025 Explorer | 15 | 15% |
| 2024 Explorer | 1 | 5% |
| 2023 Explorer | 12 | 11% |
| 2022 Explorer | 60 | 23% |
| 2021 Explorer | 120 | 28% |
| 2020 Explorer | 484 | 40% |
| 2019 Explorer | 35 | 12% |
| 2018 Explorer | 49 | 7% |
| 2017 Explorer | 123 | 7% |
| 2016 Explorer | 214 | 9% |
| 2015 Explorer | 84 | 5% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2003 Ford Explorer
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.