2003 Ford EXPLORER SPORT: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10022060 · 2003-06-02 (June 2, 2003)
REAR VIEW MIRROR GIVES A FALSE IMAGE, WHEN THERE ARE NO CARS BEHIND VEHICLE DRIVER CAN OT SEE IN REARVIEW WINDOW. BUT IF CARS ARE BEHIND DRIVER CAN SEE. CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT, DRIVER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022060 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 10062074 · 2004-03-13 (March 13, 2004)
THIS VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN STOPPING. WHEN TRYING TO GET GOING AGAIN IT DOESN'T THROTTLE PROPERLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,251 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062075 · 2004-03-13 (March 13, 2004)
THE SUV TAKES TWO TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE UP. THE KEY AND IGINITION ARE NOT MATCHING UP WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER BUT THEY WON'T FIX IT SAYING THEY HAVE TO SEE IT FIRST.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,251 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062076 · 2004-03-13 (March 13, 2004)
AFTER DRIVING THE TRUCK FOR A LONG AMOUNT OF TIME SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,251 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062076 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.