Reliability & cost of ownership
Ford Explorer Sport Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Ford Explorer Sport? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for a full reliability and repair-cost forecast.
Ford Explorer Sport problems by model year
6 recall entries and 480 owner complaints on file across 6 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Explorer Sport | 0 | 5 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2004 Explorer Sport | 0 | 18 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2003 Explorer Sport | 1 | 65 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2002 Explorer Sport | 5 | 133 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2001 Explorer Sport | 0 | 188 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2000 Explorer Sport | 0 | 71 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Ford Explorer Sport, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- structure98 complaints
- power train78 complaints
- suspension51 complaints
- engine and engine cooling39 complaints
- seats33 complaints
- vehicle speed control33 complaints
- visibility33 complaints
- electrical system30 complaints