NHTSA Data Explorer

Ford Explorer Sport

Data refreshed June 26, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Ford Explorer Sport.

Complaints

735

Active records

Recalls

7

Active records

TSBs

181

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

9

Injuries

77

Crashes

56

Fires

53

Top reported issues — Ford Explorer Sport

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

13,882

Operating state

9,063

Reporting mechanism

4,145

Steering behavior

3,553

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

3,518

Noise

3,029

Driver assistance issue

2,426

Smell

2,049

Engine behavior

1,885

Vibration/harshness

1,823

Performance issue

1,756

Safety restraint issue

1,717

Fluid issue

1,672

Thermal issue

1,638

Braking behavior

1,552

Access/entry issue

1,204

Safety restraint behavior

906

Ride/handling behavior

643

Lighting behavior

586

Electrical issue

523

Wiper/washer behavior

469

HVAC behavior

444

Infotainment behavior

381

Starting behavior

358

Powering on/off behavior

267

Recent change

258

Communication/network issue

21

Electrified system issue

2

Charging behavior

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Filed Jul 24, 2025


Suspenion and or traction was and the electrical system didnt work good

2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Filed Dec 31, 2020


WAS CLOSING BACK HATCH AND GLASS WINDOW LITERALLY EXPLODED! VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY YARD.

2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Filed Dec 17, 2019


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 NOT SHIFT AT ALL. WHEN WE TURNED THE CAR ON IT WOULD REV UP TO 5 BUT ONLY GO 2 MILES AN HOUR.

2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Filed Jul 8, 2019


TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING WITH THE SEAT BELT NOISE. CHANGED THE LIGHT BULB FROM THE DASH BOARD AND NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON BUT WILL NOT CONNECT WITH MILEAGE.

2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Filed Oct 28, 2018


BODY MOUNTS DETERIORATED CRUMPLED.BODY DOWN ON FRAME CAUSING IRREGULAR RIDE CONTROL

1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Filed Sep 12, 2018


WENT TO APPLY BREAK PRESSURE DUE TO ANOTHER CAR RUNNING STOP SIGN IN PARKING LOT. WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. LOST BREAK PRESSURE AND COULD BARELY STOP. CHECKED BREAK FLUID WHICH WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. NO BREAK LIGHT NOTICE PRIOR TO INCIDENT INDICATING LOW BREAK FLUID. ASKED FORD DEALERSHIP IF MY CAR WAS SERVICED DUE TO A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS DEFECT. WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL POSSIBLE DUE TO BEING MANUFACTURE AT A DIFFERENT PLANT AND IT INVOLVED REAR BREAKS.

2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Filed Jan 30, 2018


PANT IS FLANKING OFF ROOF

2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Filed Jan 20, 2018


CAR HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND WILL STALL AND BOTH HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS, OR WHEN IDLING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND POWER ASSIST FAILS, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER OR TO BRAKE POSING A SERIOUS RISK TO SAFETY. THIS FIRST STARTING HAPPENING ABOUT ONCE A WEEK LAST NOVEMBER, AND NOW IT'S PRETTY OFTEN. STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR, EXCEPT TO TEST DRIVE AS WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. WE THINK IT'S EITHER THE FUEL OR VACUUM SYSTEM AND ARE CONTINUING TO NARROW DOWN THE…

2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Filed Nov 13, 2017


REAR WINDOW HINGES FAILED ON ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE REQUIRING BOTH HINGES THAT HOLDS THE REAR WINDOW GLASS IN PLACE TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPAIR HINGES BUT THE REAR WINDOW IS NOW UNABLE TO BE OPENED DUE TO LATCH BEING DAMAGED BY HINGES AND DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE LATCH THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE REAR WINDOW. THEY REFERRED ME TO A GLASS REPAIR SHOP TO DO THE REPAIR.

2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Filed Oct 12, 2017


I WENT TO OPEN MY BACK WINDOW AND IT BROKE I HAVE HAD MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH MY SUV I WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated June 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.