Ford Explorer Sport years to avoid
The Ford Explorer Sport years to avoid are 2001, 2002, 1998 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 2005 is the cleanest year on record.
939
Total complaints
7
Recall campaigns
1993–2005
Years covered
3
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
Explorer Sport years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | High complaint rate | 243 | |
| 2002 | High complaint rate | 160 | |
| 1998 | High complaint rate | 145 |
Every Explorer Sport year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 85 | 1 | |
| 2002avoid | 160 | 5 | |
| 2001avoid | 243 | 7 | |
| 2000 | 102 | 1 | |
| 1999 | 127 | 0 | |
| 1998avoid | 145 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 44 | 0 | |
| 1993 | 5 | 0 |
Common questions
What are the worst Ford Explorer Sport years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Explorer Sport years to avoid are 2001, 2002, 1998. The cleanest year on record is 2005.
What is the best year for the Ford Explorer Sport?
By complaint volume, 2005 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Explorer Sport years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Ford Explorer Sport have?
Across all model years, the Explorer Sport has 7 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 939 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.