Ford Explorer Sport Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Ford Explorer Sport model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1993 drew the fewest (5) and the 2001 the most (188).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 Among the fewest complaints |
5 | 0 | Tires | — | — |
| 2005 Among the fewest complaints |
5 | 0 | Structure | — | — |
| 2004 Among the fewest complaints |
18 | 0 | Structure | — | — |
| 1997 | 37 | 0 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 2003 | 65 | 0 | Structure | — | 15–17 |
| 2000 | 71 | 1 | Power train | — | — |
| 1999 | 93 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 1998 Among the most complaints |
121 | 0 | Latches/locks/linkages | — | — |
| 2002 Among the most complaints |
133 | 3 | Power train | — | 15–17 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
188 | 5 | Suspension | — | 15–18 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Ford Explorer Sport years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2001 Ford Explorer Sport: 188 complaints
Most-reported: Suspension 33 (18%); Structure 30 (16%); Power train 26 (14%).
Reports mention 18 crashes, 11 fires, 20 injuries, 4 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 66,522 miles. 5 recall campaigns listed.
2002 Ford Explorer Sport: 133 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 32 (24%); Structure 28 (21%); Visibility 16 (12%).
Reports mention 10 crashes, 7 fires, 14 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 71,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1998 Ford Explorer Sport: 121 complaints
Most-reported: Latches/locks/linkages 33 (27%); Electrical system 18 (15%); Seats 14 (12%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 13 fires, 13 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 100,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The Ford Explorer Sport years with the fewest complaints
1993 Ford Explorer Sport: 5 complaints
Most-reported: Tires 2 (40%); Electrical system 1 (20%); Latches/locks/linkages 1 (20%).
Reports mention 1 fire. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2005 Ford Explorer Sport: 5 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 2 (40%); Seats 1 (20%); Visibility/wiper 1 (20%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2004 Ford Explorer Sport: 18 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 11 (61%); Power train 4 (22%); Air bags 2 (11%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 50,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Ford Explorer Sport owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50,000 |
| 2003 | 65 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 84,500 |
| 2002 | 133 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 71,000 |
| 2001 | 188 | 18 | 11 | 20 | 4 | 66,522 |
| 2000 | 71 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 68,112 |
| 1999 | 93 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 70,000 |
| 1998 | 121 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 100,000 |
| 1997 | 37 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 100,000 |
| 1993 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Ford Explorer Sport recalls
- SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (2001–2002 model years; 3,600,000 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2007; 07V336000)
- FORD/HIGH BACK SEATS (2001–2002 model years; 1,552,880 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2003; 03V281000)
- FORD/SPEED CONTROL CABLE (2001 model year; 448,005 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2003; 03V280000)
- FORD/HOOD (2000–2001 model years; 137,700 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2000; 00V394000)
- HIGH BACK SEATS (2001–2002 model years; 8,585 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2006; 06V114000)
All 5 Ford Explorer Sport recall campaigns · Ford Explorer Sport problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Ford Explorer Sport years FAQ
Which Ford Explorer Sport year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1993 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (5). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Ford Explorer Sport years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2001, 2002 and 1998 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the structure. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Ford Explorer Sport problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the structure (110 of 736 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Ford Explorer Sport have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the Ford Explorer Sport. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Ford Explorer Sport recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.