2003 Ford Explorer: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1368 complaints
1368
Total Complaints
74,000mi
Median Mileage
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Top Issue
70
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

40,950 25th Percentile
74,000 Median Mileage
110,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
141
STRUCTURE:BODY
135
POWER TRAIN
109
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
90
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
55
STRUCTURE
44
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
43
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
43
WHEELS
42
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
33

Severity Assessment

70
Crashes
10
Fires
69
Injuries
2
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CONSUMER STATED THAT REAR LIFT GATE GLASS SHATTERED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A "COOL" PARKING LOT ON A "COOL" DAY. TS"
"WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING A LOUD CLINKING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM SQUEELING NOISE FROM MOTOR. TRANSMISSION LURCHED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE HAD TO BE FLUSHED. REPLACE STEERING SHAFT FOR CLINKING NOISE. CLOCKSPRING REPLAC..."
"WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING A LOUD CLINKING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM SQUEELING NOISE FROM MOTOR. TRANSMISSION LURCHED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE HAD TO BE FLUSHED. REPLACE STEERING SHAFT FOR CLINKING NOISE. CLOCKSPRING REPLAC..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28