VehicleVerdict

2003 Ford Explorer Sport body & structure problems

The 2003 Ford Explorer Sport has 28 body & structure complaints filed with NHTSA — 33% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

28

Body & Structure complaints

33%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Body & Structure complaints by year

Explorer Sport body & structure complaints by model year31 complaints1998: 5 complaints1999: 7 complaints2000: 3 complaints2001: 31 complaints2002: 29 complaints2003: 28 complaints2004: 11 complaints2005: 2 complaints
Explorer Sport body & structure complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · April 16, 2014 · fire

Common questions

How many body & structure complaints does the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport have?

NHTSA has 28 complaints about the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport body & structure — 33% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.