Most common 2003 Ford Explorer Sport problems
Share of the 65 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Explorer Sport complaints by model year
Best Explorer Sport years: 2005, 2004, 1997. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002, 1998, 1999. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport:
Vehicle rollaway allegations
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.
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
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…
What 2003 Ford Explorer Sport owners say
Body & structure all 25 →
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 the Explorer was in flames as well as the interior. The vehicle is a total loss. The fire department put it out. I had the vehicle for 7 weeks. The used dealer will not take any responsibility. Should they? I purchased the vehicle on mar. 3,2014 at oc auto expo in westminster, ca.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer Sport. While driving approximately 25 MPH, a noise emerged from the rear hatch window. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and noticed that the piece that held the window in place was fractured. The vehicle was repaired for the same failure in March of 2015. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 159,149.
Windows, wipers & sunroof
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer Sport. While driving approximately 25 MPH, a noise emerged from the rear hatch window. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and noticed that the piece that held the window in place was fractured. The vehicle was repaired for the same failure in March of 2015. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 159,149.
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.
Engine & cooling
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 the Explorer was in flames as well as the interior. The vehicle is a total loss. The fire department put it out. I had the vehicle for 7 weeks. The used dealer will not take any responsibility. Should they? I purchased the vehicle on mar. 3,2014 at oc auto expo in westminster, ca.
In February of 2006, I took my 2003 Ford Explorer in to have it fixed. At the time, my vehicle only had app. 36,300 miles on it. I had to have all the spark plugs replaced because they had gone bad. I was told the spark plugs should have lasted for 90,000 to 100,000 miles. In April of 2007, with app. 43,000 miles on the vehicle, the check engine light came on. I took it in for repair and was told the spark plug wires were arcing and were burned. I was told that the wires were routed badly and that they lay against hot areas of the car. I now have to replace all the wires. The garage has called all the dealers and distributors in my area for the wires and was told that they can't get the wires, that they seem to have been pulled off of the shelf. If the wires are routed badly and lay against hot things, I would think eventually that would start a fire. …
2003 Ford Explorer Sport engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport a good car?
Based on 65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Explorer Sport rates better than average: 45% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Explorer Sport at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport?
The body & structure — 25 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (16) and engine & cooling (5).
How many recalls does the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Explorer Sport?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2004 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2002, 1998 and 1999. See the full Ford Explorer Sport years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Ford Explorer Sport problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 35% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.