Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2003 Ford Explorer Sport has 98 NHTSA engine complaints and 0 engine-related recalls.
98
Complaints
0
Recalls
1
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2021 | ENGINE | Hello my name is [XXX] just writing you cause my neighbors have program my vehicle meaning they hack... |
| Oct 26, 2018 | ENGINE | ENGINE STOPS WHILE DRIVING (STALLS IN MOTION WHILE TURNING ON STREET AND HIGHWAY) RESTARTS WITHOUT P... |
| Jan 20, 2018 | ENGINE | EXHAST MANAFOLD HAS CRACK IN IT AND SCREWS CAME LOSE AND FELL OUT WIHICH CREATED FUMES IN CAR. |
| Dec 22, 2017 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED TO ... |
| Dec 6, 2016 | ENGINE | WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE SIX TIMES REQUIRING SIX DIF... |
| Mar 25, 2015 | ENGINE | TOOK VEHICLE IN FLUID CHANGES, COMPLETE CHECK, AND TO INVESTIGATE A LEAK UNDER VEHICLE. AFTER "COMPL... |
| Mar 12, 2015 | ENGINE | AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING LIKE I NORMALLY DO THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON BLINKING. THEN I PRESSED THE BUTTON ... |
| Feb 13, 2015 | ENGINE | SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAD FOR ALMOST A YEAR. DRIVING SON TO SCHOOL AND SUDDENLY HEARD A L... |
| Jan 1, 2015 | ENGINE | VEHICLE DIED UPON TURNING ONCE AGAIN. THIS IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT, AS IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW I... |
| Mar 3, 2014 | ENGINE | THE CAR WAS IDLING ROUGH AND THE "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, EVEN AFTER I HAD THE AUTO RE... |
| Feb 3, 2014 | ENGINE | SUBMISSION FROM CONSTITUENT RE A FILED COMPLAINT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBU... |
| Dec 21, 2013 | ENGINE | MY ENGINE WENT OUT AFTER ONLY 140000 MILES ON IT WITH NO WARNING. I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT OWN A 2... |
| May 23, 2013 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED... |
| Mar 16, 2012 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TRANSMISSION LIGHT FLASHING AND I AM TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THIS TR... |
| Jan 24, 2012 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | FAULTY CYLINDER HEAD CAUSING A THROWN SPARK PLUG, AND A BROKEN COIL PACK. *TR |
| Dec 9, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | RATTLING NOISE IN 4.0 LITER-SOHC 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT. DEALER REPLACED REAR TENSIONER. NOISE REMAI... |
| Dec 1, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TOOK EXPLORER TO DEALERSHIP TO GET THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED AND GOT A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP... |
| Aug 22, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE STARTED HER VEHICLE IT WAS I... |
| Aug 15, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE WITH VALVE COVER DAMAGE PROVOKING OIL LEAK AND HEAVY SMOKE OUT OF THE... |
| Jul 1, 2011 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE IN REVERSE AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO NO AVAIL.... |