2003 Ford Explorer Sport Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport, and owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 79,789 miles. Complaints peaked in 2013 with 10 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Was closing back hatch and glass window literally exploded! Vehicle was parked in my yard.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 31, 2020 · Unknown or other
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 17, 2019 · Unknown or other
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Ford Explorer (Explorer 2WD, Explorer 2WD FFV, Explorer 4WD, Explorer 4WD FFV, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 15–17 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 13–15 / 17–20 |
| Fuel | Gasoline or E85, Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4/4.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Explorer Sport model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Explorer Sport model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 5 |
| 1997 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 37 |
| 1998 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 121 |
| 1999 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 93 |
| 2000 Ford Explorer Sport | 1 | 71 |
| 2001 Ford Explorer Sport | 5 | 188 |
| 2002 Ford Explorer Sport | 3 | 133 |
| 2003 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 65 |
| 2004 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 18 |
| 2005 Ford Explorer Sport | 0 | 5 |
Checking a specific 2003 Ford Explorer Sport
How do I know if my 2003 Ford Explorer Sport has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.