Vehicle Data Hub

2003 Ford Explorer engine problems

86 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2003 Ford Explorer, which is 6% of all its NHTSA complaints.

At a glance

Complaints
86 6% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
65,000 miles 71 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
4 and 4
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2003 Ford Explorer Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 65,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 14 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 7 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 10 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 7 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 9 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 8 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 3 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 7 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 4 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 1 complaints 200k+ miles: 1 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 65,000 miles
Based on 71 complaints that include mileage. 44% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles14
20k to 40k miles7
40k to 60k miles10
60k to 80k miles7
80k to 100k miles9
100k to 120k miles8
120k to 140k miles3
140k to 160k miles7
160k to 180k miles4
180k to 200k miles1
200k+ miles1

What the data shows

Of the 71 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 65,000 miles, and 44% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 4 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle experienced a problem with hesitation when the speed was kept constant. The dealership replaced the mass air flow sensor. The hesitation problem continued, the vehicle was returned to the dealership which was unable to duplicate the problem. While backing into the driveway the vehicle suddenly accelerated. Although the brakes were applied the vehicle did not stop. The vehicle hit the contact's home resulting in a neck sprain injury.

Reported at 55,000 miles, January 2006 CrashInjury

The vehicle jerked while being driven. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer 4-5 times. Each time the technician stated the problem was repaired but each time the jerking problem returned. The consumer does not believe that the technician can repair the problem. The vehicle would oscillate intermittently while pulling in and out of a driveway or parking. The wheel jerked violently. The consumer lost control of the vehicle and the engine would stall when the steering oscillated.

Reported at 5,000 miles, February 2004

Other problems reported for the 2003 Ford Explorer

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Ford models