2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

93

Owner Complaints

5 Crashes 8 Fires 1 Death

1

Recall

ACTIVE RECALL

15

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC

The 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC has received a total of 93 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING. 15 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (9 complaints), Engine And Engine Coolingengine (5 complaints), and Suspension (5 complaints).

Recalls for the 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC

NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, potentially affecting up to 61,944 vehicles.

Recall 06E026000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING

| 61,944 vehicles affected

Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

View full details →

Owner Complaints for the 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC

93 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Electrical System
Complaints: 9 2 Fires
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
Complaints: 5
Suspension
Complaints: 5
Power Train
Complaints: 4 1 Fire
Steering
Complaints: 4
Structurebody
Complaints: 4
Air Bags
Complaints: 3 1 Crash 3 Injuries
Engine
Complaints: 3 1 Fire
Engine And Engine Cooling
Complaints: 3 1 Fire
Fuelpropulsion System
Complaints: 3
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
Complaints: 3
Structureframe And Members
Complaints: 3
Vehicle Speed Control
Complaints: 3 1 Fire
Fuel System Gasoline
Complaints: 2
Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assemblyfiller Pipe And Cap
Complaints: 2
Parking Brake
Complaints: 2
Service Brakes
Complaints: 2 1 Crash 1 Injury
Service Brakes Hydraulic
Complaints: 2
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip
Complaints: 2
Tires
Complaints: 2
Tiressidewall
Complaints: 2
Air Bagssidewindow
Complaints: 1
Electrical Systemignitionanti Theftcontrol Module
Complaints: 1
Electrical Systemwiring
Complaints: 1
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolinebelts And Associated Pulleys
Complaints: 1
Equipment
Complaints: 1
Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner
Complaints: 1
Exterior Lightingheadlights
Complaints: 1
Fuel System Gasolinedelivery
Complaints: 1
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryfuel Pump
Complaints: 1
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryhoses Linespiping And Fittings
Complaints: 1
Fuel System Gasolinestorage
Complaints: 1
Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch
Complaints: 1
Power Traindrivelinedifferential Unit
Complaints: 1
Seat Beltsfrontretractor
Complaints: 1
Seatsfront Assemblyrecliner
Complaints: 1 1 Crash 1 Injury
Structurebodyhatchbackliftgate
Complaints: 1
Structurebodyhoodhinge And Attachments
Complaints: 1
Structurebodyroof And Pillars
Complaints: 1 1 Crash 1 Death
Suspensionfront
Complaints: 1 1 Fire
Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint
Complaints: 1
Unknown Or Other
Complaints: 1
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
Complaints: 1
Vehicle Speed Controllinkages
Complaints: 1 1 Crash
Wheels
Complaints: 1 1 Fire
Wheelslugsnutsboltsstuds
Complaints: 1

Most Recent Complaints

#11432965 | SERVICE BRAKES | | N/A miles
drivers side rear brake line developed a hole caused by the emergency brake cable rubbing against it causing all the brake fluid to leak & the brakes failed. Fortunately my husband was driving on our rural road & not out on the main highway. We have not been able to get it repaired yet.
#11421035 | AIR BAGS | | N/A miles Crash 3 Injuries
The driver was driving down the expressway and her back tire blew out causing her vehicle to spiral out of control and the vehicle then flipped and started rolling downhill, the vehicle airbags did not deploy in the vehicle at all. The driver and her mother are in critical condition. Yes, the safety of others safety was put at risk. I did contact Ford Manufacturer on her behind of the airbags and they said there is nothing they can do for her with the vehicle being totaled out. But my main problem is why these airbags did not deploy. The vehicle is going to be inspected by her insurance company here in the next few days. There were no prior lamps, messages, or anything that would have indicated that the airbags were defective.
#11240999 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | | N/A miles
TAKATA RECALL .. THE SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE CAB AND OUTSIDE IS REALLY BAD. IT'S MAKING ME SICK AND GIVING ME HEADACHES. THE TRUCK DOESN'T RUN RIGHT AND THE MILEAGE IS AWFUL.
#11064418 | SUSPENSION | | 176,000 miles
WE HAD PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BOUT A YEAR AGO AND WHEN WE GOT IT WE WENT TO GET TIRES AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND THEY ENDED UP REPLACING UPPER ND LOWER BALL JOINTS, CONTROL ARM AND SWAY BAR ON PASSENGER SIDE.THIS WAS 6/20/2017. IT WASN'T MAKING ANY NOISE UNTIL 1/3/2018. I WAS GOING DOWN CITY STREET AND SOMETHING POPPED AND THEN IT STARTED ROARING. IF YOU PUT IN 4WD IT ROARS LOADER AND JERKS. 1/23/18 REPLACED DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL HUB AND BEARINGS. IT STILL ROARS WHILE ACCELERATING SPEED BUT NOT AS BAD IN 2WD BUT PUT IN 4WD ITS REAL LOUD AND JERKS YOU . I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE FOR THIS YEAR MODEL SPORT TRAC AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. EVERYTIME GET ONE THING FIXED ON FRONT END SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS TO IT. YOU CAN DRIVE IT BUT IF YOU GET OVER 10-15 MPH THE ROARING GETS WORSE AND IT LOCKED THE THE WHOLE WHEEL UP AND JERKED THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
#11033833 | STRUCTURE:BODY | | N/A miles
THE CAB TO FRAME MOUNTING BOLT BUSHINGS, AND STEERING STABILIZER BUSHINGS ARE HAVE AND ARE CRUMBLING. ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE TO FIX IT. I JUST INHERITED THIS TRUCK AND JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU.

View all Electrical System complaints →

Safety Rating for the 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC

Ford Motor Company has issued 15 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

05-11-11 — TIRES

IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR. *SC

17579 — SEATS

SEAT MATERIAL RIPPING AND/OR SEPARATING AT THE SEAMS. *TT

0305 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

EMISSIONS RECALL 03E05: EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CANISTER FRESH AIR INLET HOSE CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT.*MR

17291 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SCRAPING NOISE FROM THE RIGHT REAR AXLE AREA USUALLY WHILE TURNING LEFT. *TT

03195 — VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER REAR WINDOW BOUNCES BACK OPEN WHEN CLOSING. 2004 SPORT TRAC MODEL INCLUDED. *TT

17055 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

LACKS POWER / BLACK SMOKE / RUNS ROUGH, USUALLY WITH NO MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. *TT

17085 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

LACK OF AIR CONDITIONER COOLING. 2004 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC INCLUDED. *TT

16761 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

SLOW FUEL FILL CONDITION ON CERTAIN VEHICLES BUILT AFTER 3/3/02. *TT

16810 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ROUGH IDLE AND/OR CHECK ENGINE LAMP DUE TO CLOSURE HOSE WHICH BECOMES LOOSE OR DISCONNECTED AT THE RIGHT HAND CAM COVER. *TT

16610 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

NO START, NO COMMUNICATION WITH POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) USING WDS/NGS OR A MISS/BUCK/JERK WHILE DRIVING. *TT

Showing 10 of 15 technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC

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Other FORD Models

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