2003 Ford Explorer Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 63 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the 2003 Ford Explorer, 6% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 72,203 miles. The words owners use most often: “wheel bearing” (24% of reports).
- 63suspension complaints
- 72,203median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $970typical repair cost reported by owners
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Wheel bearing: mentioned in 15 of 63 complaints (24%)
- Noise front: mentioned in 6 of 63 complaints (10%)
- Rear coil: mentioned in 5 of 63 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical suspension repair on the 2003 Ford Explorer at $970, and half of them between $750 and $1,900.
Based on 7 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2010), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 52 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 63 complaints, 2 mention a crash.
Ford Explorer suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Explorer | 3 | 3% | 2,289 |
| 2024 Explorer | 3 | 14% | 7,352 |
| 2023 Explorer | 14 | 13% | 3,000 |
| 2022 Explorer | 13 | 5% | — |
| 2021 Explorer | 15 | 3% | 6,010 |
| 2020 Explorer | 35 | 3% | 43,000 |
| 2019 Explorer | 11 | 4% | 88,086 |
| 2018 Explorer | 23 | 3% | 62,500 |
| 2017 Explorer | 57 | 3% | 43,500 |
| 2016 Explorer | 73 | 3% | 67,000 |
| 2015 Explorer | 83 | 5% | 76,000 |
| 2014 Explorer | 103 | 6% | 82,500 |
| 2013 Explorer | 79 | 4% | 96,500 |
| 2012 Explorer | 22 | 3% | 135,500 |
| 2011 Explorer | 24 | 2% | 125,525 |
| 2010 Explorer | 4 | 3% | 35,000 |
| 2009 Explorer | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2008 Explorer | 3 | 2% | 76,000 |
| 2007 Explorer | 6 | 3% | 52,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 5 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2005 Explorer | 15 | 3% | 62,376 |
| 2004 Explorer | 37 | 3% | 65,950 |
| 2003 Explorer | 63 | 6% | 72,203 |
| 2002 Explorer | 422 | 13% | 80,000 |
| 2001 Explorer | 43 | 11% | 92,000 |
| 2000 Explorer | 62 | 7% | 57,000 |
| 1999 Explorer | 65 | 5% | 113,850 |
| 1998 Explorer | 111 | 6% | 90,000 |
| 1997 Explorer | 105 | 6% | 117,500 |
| 1996 Explorer | 97 | 7% | 140,000 |
| 1995 Explorer | 93 | 11% | 127,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists suspension for the 2003 Ford Explorer. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DETACHED DUE TO THE CONTROL ARM BEING CORRODED. THE CONTACT CALLED ELDER FORD (777 JOHN R RD, TROY, MI 48083, [redacted]) AND WAS ADVISED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN…
2003 ford explorer. Consumer writes in regard to malfunction to company's rear wheel bearing. *as *tr
We have recurring wheel bearing and hub assembly issue. The timing i put on the form may be off a bit but not much. Its all like a recurring ford explorer nightmare at this point! We have replaced bearings, hib assembly, tie rod, then rear end went up ( and shouldn't have)/now again, another…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Ford Explorers have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 63 owner complaints about suspension for the 2003 Ford Explorer (6% of the 1,131 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Ford Explorer suspension?
No recall currently lists suspension for this vehicle.
At what mileage do suspension problems start?
The median reported mileage is 72,203 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix suspension problems on the 2003 Ford Explorer?
Owners report a typical cost of $970 (half paid between $750 and $1,900), from 7 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the 2003 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “wheel bearing”, in 15 of 63 complaints, followed by “noise front” (6).
Other 2003 Ford Explorer problems
See all 2003 Ford Explorer problems or suspension problems across all Explorer years.