Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system11
- Structure10
- Engine and engine cooling9
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Power train8
- Suspension7
- Vehicle speed control5
- Tires4
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Steering4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 40 2003 Explorer Sport Trac vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 32 people died inside them, and 19 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac failed the safety check 2.67% of the time — 27% more often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 166,246 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 13.8–15.1 L/100 km (about 16–17 mpg US), CO₂ 317–347 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer Sport Trac · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 12.0 | 13.8 |
| Explorer Sport Trac · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.2 | 12.5 | 14.5 |
| Explorer Sport Trac 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.2 | 12.8 | 14.7 |
| Explorer Sport Trac 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.1 | 12.6 | 15.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 619276 | ON SOME VEHICLES, INCLUDING SPORT AND SPORT TRAC, THE FRONT AXLE LEAKS FLUID FROM THE VENT TUBE. *TT |
| 10018061 | STEERING SHUDDER DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS - 4.0L ENGINE. *TT |
| 10017891 | FRONT AXLE LEAKS FLUID FROM VENT TUBE - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4X4 OR AWD. *TT |
| 10017860 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMING ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0171, P0172, P0174 AND/OR P0175 (FUEL SYSTEM TOO RICH OR LEAN). *TT |
| 10016814 | IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR. *SC |
| 10014263 | MOAN/VIBRATION DURING AIR CONDITIONING OPERATION. *TT |
| 10014138 | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT |
| 10014096 | REVISED PROCEDURE FOR ADJUSTING ALIGNMENT ON ALL SUSPENSIONS - NEW RIGHT HAND UPPER CONTROL ARM DESIGN FOR TORSION BAR FRONT SUSPENSIONS. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10013369 | GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10013365 | SQUEAKING NOISE FROM REAR SWAY BAR LINK. *TT |
| 10013112 | 4X4 NOT ENGAGING OR INTERMITTENT 4X4 ENGAGEMENT - VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 4/1/2004. *TT |
| 10013084 | FAST IDLE STRATEGY TO PREVENT SPARK PLUG FOULING. *TT |
| 10012954 | SAFETY BELT WEB STOP BUTTON SERVICE. *EH |
| 10011166 | POWER LUMBAR BLADDER EXPANDING THROUGH BACK OF SEAT. *AR |
| 10010746 | SPEED CONTROL INOPERATIVE OR NOT HOLDING THE SET SPEED. OASIS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2005 EXPLORER, SPORT TRAC, MOUNTAINEER AND AVIATOR. *TT |
| 10010719 | OIL LEAK FROM OIL FILTER ADAPTER - 4.0L SOHC ENGINE BUILT BEFORE 4/1/2004. *TT |
| 10008608 | EQUIPPED WITH A HARD TONNEAU COVER. * MJ |
| 10008580 | LAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ |
| 10008552 | REAR LEAF SPRING NOISE. *TT |
| 10008359 | DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) C1233 & C1234 - REPLACE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM EUC. *MJ |
| 10008351 | NEW TONNEAU COVER LOCK CYLINDER RETAINER CLIPS RELEASED FOR SERVICE. *MJ |
| 10008344 | REAR BRAKE ROTOR RUBS ON BACKING PLATE / CONTACT REQUEST. *MJ |
| 10008329 | NO START/NO COMMUNICATION-CONTACT REQUEST. *MJ |
| 10008328 | SQUEAK NOISE FROM THE REAR STABILIZER BAR LINK. *MJ |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation