VehicleVerdict

2003 Ford Explorer transmission problems

The 2003 Ford Explorer has 357 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 26% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

357

Transmission complaints

26%

Share of year

9

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Explorer transmission complaints by model year1,584 complaints1990: 2 complaints1991: 75 complaints1992: 91 complaints1993: 78 complaints1994: 91 complaints1995: 130 complaints1996: 134 complaints1997: 119 complaints1998: 108 complaints1999: 120 complaints2000: 143 complaints2001: 44 complaints2002: 1,584 complaints2003: 357 complaints2004: 473 complaints2005: 100 complaints2006: 301 complaints2007: 58 complaints2008: 35 complaints2009: 3 complaints2010: 29 complaints2011: 64 complaints2012: 56 complaints2013: 119 complaints2014: 79 complaints2015: 83 complaints2016: 214 complaints2017: 123 complaints2018: 45 complaints2019: 35 complaints2020: 446 complaints2021: 106 complaints2022: 59 complaints2023: 11 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 15 complaints2026: 2 complaints
Explorer transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“I WAS BACKING UP TO THE GARAGE TO UNLOAD THE STUFF IN THE BACK AND THE CAR MADE A LOUD WHINNING NOISE AND TOOK OFF FAST..I COULDN'T STOP THE TRUCK.. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · October 13, 2012 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2003 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA has 357 complaints about the 2003 Ford Explorer transmission — 26% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.