2003 Ford EXPLORER SPORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
82,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 65 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 7.7% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 13 |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments | 8 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 7 |
| Structure | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Visibility | 4 |
| Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
Structure:Body: 13; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments: 8; Visibility/Wiper: 7; Structure: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Visibility: 4; Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear: 3; Air Bags: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 20 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 20; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 5 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 | 4 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2003: 4; 2004: 7; 2005: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2010: 8; 2011: 1; 2013: 10; 2014: 7; 2015: 3; 2016: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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 10046048 · 2003-10-30 (October 30, 2003)
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. SOMETIMES THIS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN WET WEATHER. DRIVER WOULD LET VEHICLE SIT FOR TEN MINUTES THEN IT WOULD RESTART. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051453 · 2003-12-31 (December 31, 2003)
THIS VEHICLE STALLS WHEN IDLING AT A RED LIGHT OR AT STANDSTILL. THIS VEHICLE ALSO DOESN'T ALWAYS START AT FIRST TRY. THERE IS ALSO EITHER A BAD CLUSTER OR LOSE WIRES TO THE DASH CLUSTER.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,251 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051453 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206174 · 2007-10-18 (October 18, 2007)
WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING WEST ON ROUTE 64 IN THE LEFT HAND LANE NEAR ROCKY MOUNT, NC AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE AND THEN THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT CAUSING MY SON TO RUN A MOTORCYCLIST OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID BEING HIT. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SHOP AND THE DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206174 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218084 · 2008-02-14 (February 14, 2008)
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A FORD EXPLORE SPORT 2003 NEW FROM THE DEALER; ON SEVERAL OCCASION WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM.THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD AFTER APPLYING BRAKES. THE FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER AND IT STILL TODAY IT CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THINGS SURGE FORWARD AFTER TWO VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE RESPONSE WAS WE CAN'T FIND IT AND SENT US ON OUR WAY. NOW THE WARRANT IS GONE AND WE ARE STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT MAY OR MAYNOT STOP IN TRAFFIC WHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,062 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018784 · 2003-05-16 (May 16, 2003)
I JUST BOUGHT A FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2 DOOR TO TOW MY BOAT. THE SPECS FOR TOWING PROVIDED BY FORD ARE 5100 LBS. MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT, 350 LBS. MAX TONGUE WEIGHT. MY BOAT & TRAILER IS 3200 LBS AND TONGUE WEIGHT 280 LBS., WELL WITHIN SPECS. MY FIRST TRIP TRAILERING 20 MILES TO THE LAKE THE VEHICLE THEN TRAILER SWERVED, SINCE THE WEIGHT PUSHES THE REAR DOWN & FRONT END UP SO THAT LITTLE WEIGHT REMAINS ON THE FRONT TO CONTROL STEERING. THE FORD ENGINEER CONSULTED SAID "IF HE BOUGHT THE EXPLORER TO TRAILER WHY DIDN'T HE BUY THE 4 DOOR" (IMPLYING I…
Owner-reported narrative. 550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057778 · 2004-02-09 (February 9, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF VIBRATION PROBLEM. . STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP, WHO ROTATED THE TIRES. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10496184 · 2013-02-02 (February 2, 2013)
AS I WAS DRIVING THE SUN VISOR DROPPED, AND STARTED TO DANGLE AND SWING TOWARDS MY FACE. IT STARTLED ME AND I SWERVED THE CAR A LITTLE, TRIED TO DODGE THE VISOR FROM HITTING ME IN THE FACE/HEAD, AND THEN PULLED INTO A PARKING AREA. I NOTICED THE SUN VISOR HINGE HAD CRACKED AND THE WIRING CAME LOOSE. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER QUICK LANE AND THEY STATED IT WOULD COST ME BETWEEN $120-$250 DEPENDING ON THE COLOR AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REWIRED DURING INSTALLATION. THIS COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY, AND THERE IS NO REASON TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134296 · 2005-08-26 (August 26, 2005)
2003 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER AWD 4DR VIN [XXX] UNDER WARRANTY - 33125 MILES WHEN IN REVERSE EXPERIENCE BANGS/JERKS - DEALER STATED IT WAS TRANSMISSION SHIFT SOLENOID PACK AND REPLACED 6/05 - CONTINUED TO BANG/JERK INTO REVERSE UNTIL APPROX 1 MONTH LATER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHETHER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, ALONG WITH LOUD WHINING NOISES - DEALER COULD NOT LOOK AT VEHICLE FOR ONE WEEK AT WHICH TIME FLAT BEDDED AT OWNERS COST AS NOW AT 37,000 MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY OF COURSE) FORD INSPECTED TRANSMISSION AND HAS DENIED REPAIR/REPLACEMENT UNDER WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289611 · 2019-12-17 (December 17, 2019)
THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT I CANT PUT IT IN GEAR AND ME AND MY HUSBAND WERE ALMOST KILLED BUT WERE ABLE TO PUT IT IN 2ND GEAR TO ROLL IT TO THE SHOP. THE 4WHEEL DRIVE GOT STUCK IN 4 WHEEL LOW AND WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. WHEN WE TURNED THE CAR ON IT WOULD REV UP TO 5 BUT ONLY GO 2 MILES AN HOUR.
Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289611 at NHTSA ↗