Ford EXPLORER SPORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
735 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
75,315 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 482 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 55 of 735 complaints (7.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 69 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 66 | 9.0% |
| Steering behavior | 54 | 7.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 38 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 24 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 0.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 55 |
| Structure:Body | 41 |
| Electrical System | 40 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 37 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 |
| Tires | 31 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 30 |
| Seats | 28 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 55; Structure:Body: 41; Electrical System: 40; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 37; Vehicle Speed Control: 33; Tires: 31; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 30; Seats: 28
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 52 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 73 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 111 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 89 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 113 |
| 150,000 and above | 44 |
Under 25,000: 52; 25,000 to 49,999: 73; 50,000 to 74,999: 111; 75,000 to 99,999: 89; 100,000 to 149,999: 113; 150,000 and above: 44
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (113). 253 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 21 |
| 2002 | 47 |
| 2003 | 93 |
| 2004 | 79 |
| 2005 | 94 |
| 2006 | 45 |
| 2007 | 74 |
| 2008 | 49 |
| 2009 | 36 |
| 2010 | 59 |
| 2011 | 25 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 25 |
| 2014 | 23 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2000: 8; 2001: 21; 2002: 47; 2003: 93; 2004: 79; 2005: 94; 2006: 45; 2007: 74; 2008: 49; 2009: 36; 2010: 59; 2011: 25; 2012: 21; 2013: 25; 2014: 23; 2015: 12; 2016: 8; 2017: 8; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 69 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 66 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 54 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 10002592 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND OPTION WAS TURNED ON. WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A NOISE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING AND TRANSMISSION STARTED CLUNKING ALMOST CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050036 · 2003-12-04 (December 4, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY AND ENGAGE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. DEALER HAS INSPECTED BUT WASN'T ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218120 · 2008-02-15 (February 15, 2008)
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED THE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE THEY ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 02/13/2008, AND THE VEHICLE OWNER WAS TOLD THAT THE COST OF THE VEHICLE REPAIR WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL 94V169001 - PARKING BRAKE CONVENTIONAL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,700, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 03-11-08 *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058349 · 2004-02-17 (February 17, 2004)
ON FEBRUARY 16, 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM I WAS PULLING MY WIFE'S 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT INTO A DIAGONAL PARKING STALL. I HAD ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ROAR AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AGAINST MY BRAKING. I PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD UNTIL IT STRUCK A CAR OPPOSITE MY PARKING STALL. I PUSHED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I CHECKED MY RIGHT FOOT POSITION AND CONFIRMED THAT I WAS ONLY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I RELEASE…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052536 · 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)
TO BEST DESCRIBE MY PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAMSHAFT BROKE OFF RIGHT AT TIMING PULLEY.THIS BREAK CAUSE THE SERPENTINE BELT TO WRAP AROUND ALL THE OTHER COMPONENTS. I WAS TRAVELING ALONG THE EXPRESS WAY AT 65 MPH, WHEN I LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND A LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL I REGAIN CONTROL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021354 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)
SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND PARK LIGHTS TURNED ON ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS IN THE "OFF" POSITION. ALSO MOVING THE MULTIFUNCTION LEVER TO MAKE A LEFT TURN SIGNAL ,THE INSTUMENT PANEL SHOWED THAT THE LEFT SIGNAL LIGHT WAS STUCK "ON" AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK AT THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE TRUCK. HOWEVER, THE RIGHT SIGNAL HAS NEVER MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS VERY TROUBLING. THIS EVENT OCURRED TWICE WITHIN A WEEK. DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO RELAYS(I PAID FOR), ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF THIS IS THE FIX.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 114,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021354 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188749 · 2007-04-24 (April 24, 2007)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN FOUR DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE AS ELECTRICAL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 125,000. PICTURES AND FIRE REPORT WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164469 · 2006-08-04 (August 4, 2006)
I OWNED A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. ON JULY 29, 2005 MY TRUCK WAS IN MY YARD AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS NOT HOME AT THE TIME. MY INSURANCE PAID A PORTION OF THE LOAN I STILL HAD ON THE VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR HAS NOT RECALLED 1997 EXPLORERS BUT HAVE 1998. THE FIRE REPORT ISSUED CLAIMS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. MY VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266570 · 2009-04-24 (April 24, 2009)
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING IN THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN SAW A BIT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND A PERSON CAME UP TO THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HER TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. ANOTHER PERSON APPROACHED THE SCENE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT BY THIS TIME THE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THEY USED UP THE ENTIRE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT COULD NOT PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE TIRES EXPLODED …
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296772 · 2009-12-23 (December 23, 2009)
LARGE FUEL LEAK FROM BRAIDED STEEL FUEL LINES WHERE THEY WERE RUBBING AGAINST THEIR BRACE ON THE TOP FRONT OF ENGINE. THEY WERE CUT, WITH A SPLICE PUT IN, AND THE BRACE REMOVED, RATHER THAN A REPLACEMENT. THE REASON BEING THE REPLACEMENT PART COST OF $600. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296772 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
1993: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 1; 2001: 5; 2002: 3; 2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 0