2003 Ford Explorer Sport problems
Owners have filed 85 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport. Body & structure is the most reported problem area, at 33% of complaints. After that come wipers, windshield & visibility (20%) and engine (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 85 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Body & structure 33% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 5 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 99,000 miles 77 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 11 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 7 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 9 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 8 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 14 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 14 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 6 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 77 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 99,000 miles. For body & structure specifically, the median reported mileage is about 102,000 miles (24 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 5 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 7 model years of the Ford Explorer Sport with enough data (25 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving at 40 MPH consumer's vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Consumer sustained minor injuries. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
I was driving at approx 55MPH and the steering column locked up and I was unable to control the vehicle, it automiatcally pulled to the left and causing my vechicle to roll several times. (3-5 times) vehicle is now totalled. I received medical attention at the scene and I'm under observation for the next 48 hours. I'm highly concerned due to the level of other vehicles that are my same make and model that have had this same issue. Please advise asap. Thank you in advance for your help.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer xlt sport. While closing the liftgate the rear window shattered. There was no prior damage to the window. The failure resulted in a few cuts on the contact's hands. The current and failure mileages were 38,254. Update 05/21/07.
I had just put a bag of groceries in the back, was closing the rear glass hatch when it exploded about 1/3 of the way down. Very loud noise, and tiny glass pieces shattered across 3 parking spots, into and all around our vehicle, including the groceries which I discarded. This car is not included in the recall.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer sport. While driving 50 MPH, a loud noise was heard when the sun roof exploded without warning. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The VIN was not available.