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 where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Ford Explorer Sport problems by model year
16 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 | 1 | 5 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2004 Explorer Sport | 1 | 18 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2003 Explorer Sport | 1 | 65 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2002 Explorer Sport | 5 | 133 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2001 Explorer Sport | 7 | 188 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2000 Explorer Sport | 1 | 71 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
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