NHTSA Data Explorer

Ford Explorer Sport

Data refreshed October 26, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Ford Explorer Sport.

Complaints

5,301

Active records

Recalls

18

Active records

TSBs

489

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

18

Injuries

351

Crashes

304

Fires

115

Top reported issues — Ford Explorer Sport

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

2,242

Operating state

1,616

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

1,213

Reporting mechanism

868

Noise

795

Safety restraint issue

343

Vibration/harshness

288

Performance issue

285

Engine behavior

248

Access/entry issue

219

Safety restraint behavior

207

Fluid issue

192

Thermal issue

191

Driver assistance issue

185

Braking behavior

155

Lighting behavior

82

Ride/handling behavior

78

Steering behavior

64

Electrical issue

63

HVAC behavior

60

Smell

56

Starting behavior

51

Recent change

38

Powering on/off behavior

22

Wiper/washer behavior

20

Infotainment behavior

17

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2002 FORD EXPLORER

Filed Sep 9, 2026


The rear toe arms came unhinged or disconnected from their placement and sank down to continuously rub a groove in the inner rim. The suspension was affected, the steering was effecting especially when turning, it made the brakes stick, and made loud crunching and rolling noises. It is quite frankly dangerous. It was through no fault of mine that this happened, just weak design. I took it to a shop and they charged me all my money, but nothing was fixed.

2002 FORD EXPLORER

Filed Jul 20, 2026


1 injured

I was driving down the road and my airbag instantly deployed in my face without cause or notice. I became completely disoriented as it hit my hand and face with severe force and was extremely loud and shocking. I thank God that I had just let off the gas and didn't hurt anyone else. If I had panicked or was going through an intersection, experiencing a turn, coming to a stop, or someone in front of me stopped I could have struck another vehicle or object and caused death or injuries. I have not…

2003 FORD EXPLORER

Filed Sep 17, 2025


The contact rented a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the seat warmer activated, after arriving at a Rest Stop and exiting the vehicle, the contact became aware that a blister had formed on the back of her left thigh. The contact attributed the blister to a burn sustained while using the driver's side seat warmer. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic, but instead was returned to…

2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Filed Jul 24, 2025


Suspenion and or traction was and the electrical system didnt work good

2002 FORD EXPLORER

Filed Jul 9, 2025


1 injured

September 2, 2023 at about 6 pm I pulled over to grab a couple water bottles from the rear of my 2002 Ford Explorer Sport cause my engine was overheating. I got out walked to the rear of my vehicle pushed my unlatch button on the tailgate and I lifted the glass part of the rear hatch. Both air hinges were not working correctly to keep it up so I gently rested the glass on my hair that was put up in a bun and just a little bit of the glass was resting on the very top of my head where my hair…

2002 FORD EXPLORER

Filed Jun 14, 2024


The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her fiancé was driving 45 MPH, the driver’s side and passenger’s side air bags inadvertently deployed without an impact or a crash, causing the contact’s fiancé to swerve and drive down into a ditch. No warning lights were illuminated. The front bumper, windshield, and passenger’s side taillight were cracked. No injuries were sustained. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent…

2002 FORD EXPLORER

Filed Nov 30, 2023


The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to coast off the freeway. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called an independent mechanic, but the mechanic declined to service the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified about the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

2002 FORD EXPLORER

Filed Sep 9, 2022


The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the steering wheel intermittently seized while driving at various speeds without warning. After finding a replacement part at a salvage yard, the contact had the steering wheel replaced by an independent mechanic; however, the failure persisted. The contact also stated that an abnormal ticking noise was coming from the engine with the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the same independent mechanic and the…

2003 FORD EXPLORER

Filed Aug 1, 2022


There is a crack down the middle section of the liftgate for quite some time. The liftgate has been unlocking and opening automatically by itself. On only rare occasions has the liftgate opened all the way while driving. On the morning of 7/28/2022 while the vehicle was parked in my driveway the liftgate was discovered to have again unlocked by itself and opened slightly and now with one of the two hinges holding the glass sheared leaving the liftgate glass hanging by only one hinge. With the…

2002 FORD EXPLORER

Filed Jul 8, 2022


The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the hood latch independently released, causing the hood to strike the windshield. The contact was able to get to the side of the roadway and closed the hood. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated October 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.