2003 Ford EXPLORER SPORT TRAC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
78 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
58,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 78 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 21.8% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 10.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 6.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
Electrical System: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Suspension: 5; Power Train: 4; Steering: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Air Bags: 3; Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 9
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 26 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
2003: 13; 2004: 11; 2005: 6; 2006: 7; 2007: 6; 2008: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 5; 2012: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 10; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2021: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10021546 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPELLED GASOLINE EVERYTIME THE CONSUMER WAS REFUELING THE TANK AND THE GAS PUMP AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF, AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO. THE PROCESS OF FILLING THE TANK INCREASED FIVE FOLD, TAKING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MINUTES, BECAUSE THE PUMP REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF AND EXPELLED GAS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THERE WAS NO CURRENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NEEDED ADJUSTING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *MR *SCC *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021546 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023106 · 2003-06-15 (June 15, 2003)
JUNE 2, 2003 6:40 PM PICKED UP THE BRAND NEW EXPLORER SPORT TRAC FROM TREADWELL FORD AND DROVE HOME TO WEST MOBILE. JUNE 3, 2003 7:20 AM DROVE THE NEARLY 30 MILE COMMUTE TO WORK IN NORTH MOBILE COUNTY. UPON PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT SMELLED HOT, WITH A NEARLY BURNT ELECTRICAL SMELL. JUNE 3, 2003 ~8:40 PM LEFT WORK AFTER LONG DAY. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES, WHEN RADIO CONSOLE WENT BLACK. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ENTIRE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTING, HEADLIGHTS, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED TO ACT ERRATICALLY. PULLED INTO BP GAS STATION, AND V…
Owner-reported narrative. 54 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030873 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE MAKING SHARP, SLOW RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS. DEALER NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, SAYS ALL SPORT TRACKS DO THAT, HOWEVER WHEN I BOUGHT IT, IT DIDN'T. I DROVE ANOTHER NEW ONE FROM THE DEALER WHILE MINE WAS IN SERVICE...AND THE STEERING WAS FINE. ALSO, THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS OUT AND BEING REPLACED AND I'VE ONLY MADE ONE PAYMENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038709 · 2003-09-11 (September 11, 2003)
STEERING WHEEL BINDS WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE. THIS BINDING DOES NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE TURNED.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038709 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067860 · 2004-04-26 (April 26, 2004)
2003 FORD SPORT TRAC SAFETY PARKING BRAKE RELEASE MALFUNCTIONED. FIVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER PULLED GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE. CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO LAKE AND SUBMERGED. I WAS ABLE TO GET HER OUT BEFOR IT SANK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 15,038 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086570 · 2004-08-10 (August 10, 2004)
THIS FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRACK WAS BOUGHT NEW. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A FORD EXPLORER. THE REASON I TRADED WAS BECAUSE OF THE ROLL OVER RATE. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE GAVE ME A RUN DOWN ON THE NEWLY DESIGNED EXPLORER TELLIN ME THAT THE NEW DESIGN HAD CORRECTED THE ROLL OVER PROBLEM IN WHICK FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS HAD SEVERAL LAW SUITS. I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDEN WE ARE RAISING AND I MOST CURTAINLY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AFTER READING THE ARTICLES ON THIS SITE AND THE ARTICLE IN THE FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM. I HAVE HAD THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082296 · 2004-07-20 (July 20, 2004)
VEHICLE WILL STALL AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT AND THE ENGINE HAS NOT REACH NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, FUEL TANK FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PROCEEDING UP AN INCLINE. WHEN VEHICLE STALLS YOU CAN START THE VEHICLE AND PROCEED. AFTER REACHING NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR THE VEHICLE HAVE TRAVEL FORTY TO EIGHTY MILES ON THE TANK OF GAS IT WILL NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM UNTIL YOU REFILL THE TANK AGAIN. IF THE TANK IS KEPT FULL OR NO MORE THAN ONE OR TWO GALLONS ARE USED UP. IT WILL NOT STALL. I HAVE HAD IT BACK FOR REPAIR FIVE OR SIX TIMES BUT NO L…
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093239 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY VEHICLE DECELERATED 5 MPH BEFORE REGULATING SPEED. AFTER EXITING FREEWAY, VEHICLE DIED AT STOP LIGHT. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THE INERTIA SWITCH, LOCATED UNDER KICK PLATE ON PASSENGER SIDE, WAS DAMAGED AND THUS CUT OFF THE FUEL PUMP. ONCE FIXED, VEHICLE RAN FINE. THIS IS A SAFETY DEVICE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT IS LOCATED IN A VERY BAD LOCATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037170 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
I PURCHASED MY 2003 SPORTRACK IN DECEMBER OF 2002 FROM SUNRISE FORD. I DROVE MY SUV HOME, PARKED IT AND WENT INSIDE FOR LESS THAN 20 MINUTES. WHEN I CAME OUT TO DRIVE DRIVE MY GUESTS AROUND THE BLOCK, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I CALLED SUNRISE FORD AND SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY SENT THE SALES PERSON TO MY PLACE RATHER THAN A MECHANIC. HE BASICALLY BELITTLED ME INFRONT OF MY GUESTS BY TELLING ME I DID SOMETHING TO MY CAR. IT WAS EMBARASSING ENOUGH THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START NOW I HAD TO DEAL WITH THE SALES PERSON, WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160997 · 2006-06-28 (June 28, 2006)
ANTS HAVE EATEN INTO THE COMPUTER ON MY 1994 FORD EXPLORER LAST YEAR . THIS YEAR EVEN THOUGH I PUT OUT POISON ON THE GROUND AND SPRAYED THE MOTOR AND INSIDE OF BOTH VEHICLES THEY GOT INTO THE DASH OF MY 03 AND STARTED EATING THE (LOOMS) WHAT EVER THAT IS AND THE WIRING TO MY AIR BAGS. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND WHAT DID THEY DO TO STOP IT? WHAT ARE THEY MAKING THE WIRING OUT OF. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10160997 at NHTSA ↗