The Explorer is Ford's midsize SUV. Debuting in 1990 for the 1991 model year, it has been the best-selling SUV in the United States. The 2003 Ford Explorer is part of the vehicle's third generation, and it is available in dozens of trims and packages.
On some vehicles with 4.6-liter engines, there may be a ticking noise. This can be traced to faulty valve guides. Such a problem would require replacement of the cylinder heads.
Some 2003 Explorers may have oil leaks from the right side axle. This may be caused by the seal coming loose and spinning in the housing. A complete axle assembly replacement will be required to fix the problem.
On some 2003 Explorers, the liftgate glass strut may become disengaged. In other cases, the hinge may fracture. This allows the glass to fall and possibly break. Dealers can have the liftgate glass strut brackets and/or glass hinges replaced, depending on the model year. Explorers from 2003 would only need the hinges replaced (For 2002s, it would be both struts and hinges).
An occasional problem with 2003 vehicles is with the failure of the four-wheel drive system and transmission. As a result, the four-wheel drive will fail to operate and the transmission would not shift properly. Cost of repairs will vary since the failures are not specific to any part.
A few 2003 Explorers may have the differential speed sensor and its related wiring fail. This can adversely affect the four-wheel drive, the transmission and the ABS brakes. The differential speed sensor and the wiring would need to be replaced to have all aforementioned components get back to proper operation.
