2003 Ford Explorer Reliability
The 2003 Ford Explorer has 1,313 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Explorer model years (2001–2005), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Explorer's typical year, while the 2005 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,313
NHTSA owner complaints
7
Recall campaigns
69
Complaints citing a crash
19
Complaints citing a fire
2003 Ford Explorer complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 model year, filed between 2002 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 389 | 30% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 356 | 27% |
| Engine & cooling | 87 | 7% |
| Visibility / wipers | 81 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 81 | 6% |
| Suspension | 77 | 6% |
| Wheels | 61 | 5% |
| Air bags | 59 | 4% |
2003 Ford Explorer recalls
7 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2003 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03V094000 | Mar 7, 2003 | Body structure | Certain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might… |
| 04V442000 | Sep 13, 2004 | Body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate / hinge and attachments | On certain sport utility vehicles, the liftgate glass strut may become disengaged or the hinge may fracture allowing the glass to fall and possibly break. |
| 06E026000 | Mar 23, 2006 | Exterior lighting | 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… |
| 06E049000 | May 24, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to… |
| 07E104000 | Dec 11, 2007 | Visibility / wipers — glass, side/rear | Certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., identified as dot-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and foreign vehicles may not break into small pieces as expected of… |
| 09E012000 | Apr 7, 2009 | Exterior lighting | Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
| 09E025000 | May 11, 2009 | Exterior lighting — headlights | Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
How the 2003 compares with nearby Explorer years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Explorer analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 730 | 12 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2002 | 3,613 | 10 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2003 (this page) | 1,313 | 7 | Body structure | Caution |
| 2004 | 1,408 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
| 2005 | 568 | 3 | Body structure | Better year |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2003 Ford Explorer
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Recalls: confirm each of the 7 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2003 Ford Explorer can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2003 Ford Explorer reliability FAQ
Is the 2003 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2003 Ford Explorer has 1,313 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby Explorer model years (2001–2005), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Explorer's typical year, while the 2005 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2003 Ford Explorer problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Ford Explorer are body structure (389), powertrain / transmission (356), engine & cooling (87), visibility / wipers (81). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2003 Ford Explorer have recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2003 Ford Explorer, including 03V094000 (body structure) and 04V442000 (body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate / hinge and attachments). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2003 Ford Explorer compare with the 2002 and 2004 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2002 has 3,613 complaints and 10 recalls (avoid); the 2004 has 1,408 complaints and 4 recalls (caution). The 2003 has 1,313 complaints and 7 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2003 Ford Explorer?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Explorer research
Other Ford Explorer model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2003 Explorer, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.