11th Apr 2006, 22:59

Well, when we turned in the 2003 exploder (end of lease) the trans was slipping at only 30k miles. I'm 18 and I drove that thing every day floored it out of every stop light. Put it in reverse going 10mph or so, thought it was in (3) cause I was manually shifting it. Also floored it in Park and moved it to drive by mistake (loud BANG then skidding out like crazy, left huge black marks on the road for a long time). I think it was dead when we turned it in cause it wouldn't go out of 2nd.

12th Apr 2006, 15:27

How could you floor it in Park and put it in drive by mistake?? Don't mean to be rude, but people who abuse cars like that don't deserve to drive decent cars, they should have the old beaters.

16th Jul 2006, 11:57

How could you have gone from 3 to reverse without noticing NEUTRAL inbetween? I'm surprised that poor truck lasted as long as it did with you driving it. I'm 23 and by no account have a stellar driving record, but you're the kind of kid that gives all of the young people a label as "bad drivers".

You beat on an auto trans, you pay for it. End of story.

7th Oct 2008, 10:06

I bought a 2003 Explorer in January and now in Oct. at only 69,000 miles I am told I have to have my transmission rebuilt. I was ripped off and no one cares. I will never buy another Found On Road Dead car.

22nd Oct 2008, 12:34

I have a 2003 Ford Explorer. Listed below are the problems I've had with it, and am still having with it before 100k.

Had all services completed as scheduled.

Back hatch cracked.

Back hatch strut broke and glass fell on my head.

Driver's leather seat split.

Transfer case had to be replaced.

Torque converter is bad.

Electric window in the rear does not work.

Replaced all wheel bearings.

U joints replaced.

AC compressor makes a noise.

Cell phone charger plugs don't work.

Lower body molding came off.

Dark tinted plastic window trim separated and faded.

Door panel faded.

Brake disk out of round.

17th Jan 2009, 21:05

2003 Explorer XLT - 64,000 miles - No previous problems, but at such low mileage it is in for a $2400 transmission rebuild. Now I hear it is common for this year as too much aluminum was used when manufactured.