Used 2003 Ford Explorer Consumer Reviews
Used Explorer for sale
No more Fords for me
S, 01/05/2009
2003 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
For a 5 year old vehicle I have had too many problems to count- my most recent the AC- I have had 2 different leak check and they can't find a leak- they don't have any idea of what the problem is and when my warranty expires I will have to pay out of my pocket several thousand dollars before I can have it fixed- great SUV- will never purchase Ford again
Avg. at Best
Bradley J., 07/03/2003
2003 Ford Explorer XLT Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This vehicle is average at best. I was much happier with my 2001 Expedition. Fit and Finish are marginal. I've had it back to the dealer several times to fix outside trim and interior flaws. Mileage is poor(14-15 Mpg avg.)and the transmission shifts very rough. It clunks when shifting into "D" Drive and between 2nd and 3rd gear. Dealer says this is normal, but I don't buy it. It seems like other consumers are experiencing the same symptoms. After this SUV I will go back to Japanese Mfg. for good. They are consistantly better quality, perform better, and hold their value much better. Sorry Ford.
2003 Ford Explorer for sale near you
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- Eddie Bauer 4dr SUVMSRP: $4,900123 mi away
- Limited 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,499155 mi away
- Eddie Bauer 4dr SUVMSRP: $2,999197 mi away
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After 14 years, I still have "Old Faithful!"
Kim Miller, 10/16/2017
updated 10/23/2018
2003 Ford Explorer XLT Rwd 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this vehicle in April 2003, and although I have since bought another car for commuting to work, my Explorer XLT has never let me down after 120,000 miles of towing boats, campers, taking me on numerous trips to and from the mountains, and everyday usage. Not only does the engine still run well (my only complaint is a slight hum from the back end when accelerating), but the body and trim have held up remarkably well. Planning to keep "Old Faithful" for another 14 years! Update: "Old Faithful" is still going strong, and it is now my go-to vehicle for towing my T@G XL teardrop camper.
- Safety
- Performance
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Explorer XLT 4x4 4.0L with 3rd rear seat
MProaddog, 07/25/2003
2003 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
We've had our Explorer for about 6 months now and we love it. We needed something to fit our 4 kids comfortably and four wheel drive for the snowy months to get to work. It has great power for a V6, but I feel a 7 passenger vehicle that is 4x4 should have at least 5.0L; maybe I'm just old- school.
Where Did Quality Go
Tom Tinsley, 10/06/2008
2003 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer 4WD 4dr SUV (4.0L 6cyl 5A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I can only evaluate the 2003 Explorer by comparing it to my previous 1994 Explorer. In short, the 1994 Explorer was a quality vehicle. No major problems were experienced during the 9 years (108,000 mi) I owned it. On the other hand the 2003 Explorer has been a maintenance nightmare! The following items were replaced: light switch, back window motor, universal joints, then complete drive shaft, front wheel bearings, emergency brake parts. The rear end was replaced twice and then TSB 05-23-3 was installed all with the same results-- the rear end whine always returned after a few thousand miles. Where did Ford's quality workmanship go? The 2003 Ford Explorer is a substandard vehicle!