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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 78 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac owner complaints

Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, describing incidents dated February 20, 2003 to August 3, 2021.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 12 complaints
  • Electrical System 11 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 11 complaints
  • Structure 10 complaints
  • Power Train 8 complaints
  • Suspension 7 complaints

Of the 78 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 78 complaints, owners report 5 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11432965 · Filed

    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.

  • ODI #11421035 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #11240999 · Filed

    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.

Read all 78 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E026000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported March 23, 2006 · PRO-A MOTORS, INC.

Potentially affected: 61,944 vehicles

Owners notified April 3, 2006

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO PRO-A MOTORS AFTERMARKET LAMPS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Other Ford Explorer Sport Trac model years

Check your 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford Explorer Sport Trac at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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