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2003 Ford Explorer Sport Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 65 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport, most often about the body and structure (39% of complaints, typically around 104,500 miles). It is 4th of 6 Explorer Sport model years by number of complaints.
Most common 2003 Ford Explorer Sport problems
Body and structure
25 complaints · 39%Half of these problems showed up before 104,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Severe clanking/banging noise in passenger rear. Replaced shocks. Noise worsened. Researched and found numerous complaints regarding body mounts with Ford Explorer Sport vehicles. Upon investigation - reaching up under vehicle found no "body insulator left on passenger side rear and on driver rear the insulator…
Was driving the vehicle when I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I pulled over as quick as possible into a strip mall parking lot. Before I got out flames were coming out of the engine compartment. I ran into a store and got a fire extinguisher to try and put out the fire. I failed, as the whole front of…
Visibility and wipers
17 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: glass, side/rear, rearview mirrors/devices, defroster/defogger/hvac system, sun/moon roof assembly.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer Sport. The contact stated that the lift gate glass detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 04v442000 (structure) due to the vehicle being a two door and not a four door. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not…
Left rear liftgate hinge failed/broke; liftgate glass almost fell off completely (but was still partially attached via right hinge). This happened when vehicle was parked. No obvious signs of "wear and tear"; liftgate hinge had been used normally for several years. Many other NHTSA reports list this defect…
Engine
5 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 5,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
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.
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.
Suspension
5 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Severe clanking/banging noise in passenger rear. Replaced shocks. Noise worsened. Researched and found numerous complaints regarding body mounts with Ford Explorer Sport vehicles. Upon investigation - reaching up under vehicle found no "body insulator left on passenger side rear and on driver rear the insulator…
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…
Speed control
4 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: cruise control, cables.
While trying to use the cruise control it will sometimes work and other times will not work. When it doesn't work the green indicator light just flashes when pushing the set button. Also the area around the buttons gets very warm. It seems that it works less in warm weather then in cool. Updated 11/07/07
While moving in traffic on highway about 45 MPH. Gas accelerator padal went all the way down to floor on 2003 Ford Explorer Sport and never returned to the up position. Throttle cable for cable end broke off at throttle body for gas accelerator padal.
Transmission
4 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
2003 Ford explorer eddie bauer AWD 4dr VIN [] 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…
Vibration in front end of 2003 Ford Explorer Sport determined to be associated with the front wheel drive. Resolution has not occurred to date. Balanced all drive lines but still vibrates. Vibration stops when front drive line is disconnected. Next approach is to continue through rest of drive train.
Wheels and tires
4 complaints · 6%2003 Ford explorer xls 4x4, front and rear hub bearings going out on a vehicle especially the front hub bearings. The left front hub bearing went bad and luckily we was not going down the highway at 55 MPH or higher, we was only going about 25-30 MPH. The left front hub bearing froze up and we did a "u" turn and no…
Was driving the vehicle when I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I pulled over as quick as possible into a strip mall parking lot. Before I got out flames were coming out of the engine compartment. I ran into a store and got a fire extinguisher to try and put out the fire. I failed, as the whole front of…
Other or unspecified
4 complaints · 6%Severe clanking/banging noise in passenger rear. Replaced shocks. Noise worsened. Researched and found numerous complaints regarding body mounts with Ford Explorer Sport vehicles. Upon investigation - reaching up under vehicle found no "body insulator left on passenger side rear and on driver rear the insulator…
Rear liftgate window on my 2003 Ford Explorer Sport exploded into a million pieces. The vehicle was parked in my driveway and I went to open the door and it just exploded.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Ford Explorer Sport recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Vehicle rollaway allegations
Summary
In response to an information request (ir) letter sent by the office of defects investigation (odi), ford stated consumer reports of higher than expected efforts when shifting into and out of park could be a result of a groove being worn into the swing arm ramp of the steering column. The swing arm is a component bolted to the steering column that assists in shifting through the transmission gears.an engineering evaluation conducted by ford of returned steering columns found the groove could be created over time if consumer shift more quickly from the drive or reverse to park than the brake shift interlock (bsi) solenoid pin retracts after the brake pedal is applied. In november of 2004, for
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Summary
On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehi
Questions about the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (25 complaints, typically around 104,500 miles); visibility and wipers (17 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); engine (5 complaints, typically around 5,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Ford Explorer Sport?
- It is 4th of 6 Explorer Sport model years by number of complaints, with 65 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.