There are 20 stored owner reports matching the body & structure leading-label group for the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 20 of 20 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)BODY MOUNTS DETERIORATED CRUMPLED.BODY DOWN ON FRAME CAUSING IRREGULAR RIDE CONTROL
REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND BEEN SO FOR 3 HOURS. TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 60 DEGREES. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE CRACKS OR OTHER DEFECTS. WAS WITNESSED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE. DID NOT JUST CRACK OR BREAK. IT SHATTERED INTO THOUSANDS OR PIECES. WAS NOT BEING OPENED OR CLOSED. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STATIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BODY MOUNT EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND WAS DETERIORATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCHBACK HINGES FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE INTO A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT. BEFORE I GOT OUT FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I RAN INTO A STORE AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO TRY AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. I FAILED, AS THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE EXPLORER WAS IN FLAMES AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT. I HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 7 WEEKS. THE USED DEALER WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. SHOULD THEY? I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON MAR. 3,2014 AT OC AUTO EXPO IN WESTMINSTER, CA. *TR
ON THE MORNING OF 1/29/14 I WAS AT THE MARKET ,CAME OUT TO LOAD MY ITEMS INTO THE VEHICLE , OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE AT ABOUT THE 1/3 OPEN POINT THE GLASS EXPLODED INTO A MILLION PIECES . WHICH IN TURN SENT SHARDS OF GLASS INTO MY FACE ,HANDS , HEAD AND EYES . THEY WERE MINOR INJURIES BUT I'M STILL EXTRACTING GLASS FROM MY HEAD AND HANDS AND THERE IS STILL GLASS EMBEDDED IN MY HANDS . I HAVE AN APT WITH MY DR ONLY BECAUSE THERE IS GLASS IN MY EYES. MY MOTHER WAS WITH ME BUT SHE WAS AT THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE SO SHE DIDN'T GET NAILED .I HAVE NEVER SEEN A WINDOW EXPLODE LIKE THIS, THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE , THE POWER OF THE FLYING GLASS WAS UNREAL SOME OF IT WENT THROUGH 3 -12 PACKS OF SODA WITH EASE. ALSO I HAVE NO RESOURCES TO GET A NEW WINDOW AS THEY ARE AROUND 700 DOLLARS . SO THIS IS WHAT I GET FROM FORD FOR BEING A LOYAL CUSTOMER ? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGES WERE LOOSE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE REAR GLASS WINDOW SO IT WOULD NOT FALL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
WINDOW FEEL AND SHATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES. AFTER CONTACTING MY INSURANCE TO HAVE THE GLASS REPLACED I FOUND OUT THE REASON FOR THE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY HINGE. I WAS TOLD BY THE GLASS COMPANY THAT THE HINGE FAILED DUE TO ELECTROLYSIS (TWO DIFFERENT METALS REACTING WITH EACH OTHER). I FEEL THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAPPENED WITH FORD RECALL MANUFACTURER CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04S20, HOWEVER MY VIN DOES NOT PULL UP THIS ISSUE CODE AND THEREFORE I AM NOT RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM FORD WITH THIS MANNER. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS OF MY SAME MAKE AND MODEL WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE OFFICIALLY ADDRESSED AS I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY GLASS FELL, BUT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME WHEN IT HAPPENED. OTHERWISE I AM 100% POSITIVE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
LEFT REAR LIFTGATE HINGE FAILED/BROKE; LIFTGATE GLASS ALMOST FELL OFF COMPLETELY (BUT WAS STILL PARTIALLY ATTACHED VIA RIGHT HINGE). THIS HAPPENED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED. NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF "WEAR AND TEAR"; LIFTGATE HINGE HAD BEEN USED NORMALLY FOR SEVERAL YEARS. MANY OTHER NHTSA REPORTS LIST THIS DEFECT (04V442000). FORD ISSUED A RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO (04S20), BUT IT ONLY COVERS A VERY SPECIFIC AND LIMITED RANGE OF VIN NUMBERS; MINE WAS EXCLUDED. MANY OTHER 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT OWNERS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM, YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM OR COMPENSATE THE AFFECTED OWNERS FOR THEIR LOSSES. I HAD TO PAY "OUT OF POCKET" AT A LOCAL PRIVATE SHOP TO GET MY HINGE REPAIRED. *TR
REAR LIFT GATE PANEL CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. CONCERNS WITH UNSTABLE REAR GLASS, ABILITY OF HATCH TO REMAIN CLOSED AND OPERATION OF REAR WIPER. GLASS INSTABILITY A CONCERN WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN USING LIFTGATE. PRIOR INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE HINGES WERE LOOSE AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REAR GLASS WINDOW WOULD FALL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,000. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLS SPORTS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE HATCHBACK LIFTGATE HINGE BROKE AND THE GLASS FELL BUT DID NOT BRAKE. HE STATED SOMEONE CAUGHT THE GLASS. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. HE REFERENCED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) AND WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,100.
IN TRYING TO DETERMINE WHERE A NEW RATTLE WAS COMING I HEARD ON THE WAY HOME, I NOTICED THE REAR GATE GLASS HINGE HAD BROKEN OR BECAME DISLODGED. WHEN TRYING TO SECURE IT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, THE GLASS SLIPPED AND CUT DEEP GASHES INTO THE BODY. I HAD JUST RETURNED HOME AND HAD IT FALLEN OFF ON THE HIGHWAY IT GOOD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP ATTRIBUTED IT TO WEAR AND TEAR EVEN THOUGH I HAD PREVIOUSLY ONLY OPENED THE GLASS LIFT GATE TWICE DURING THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I WAS CHARGED A FEE JUST TO REPLACE THE HINGE. I DID NOT GET HE BODY WORK REPAIRED. THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER EXPLORER'S MADE DURING THE SAME PERIOD MINE WAS MADE, BUT I WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. (FORD RECALL NO. 04S20 AND A CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V442000 AND SAFETY REPORT #10266375 AND #10266836). *TR
OPENED THE REAR WINDOW (HATCH) AND THE RIGHT SIDE FLEW UP - THE HINGE HAD DISENGAGED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. LOCATED ON NHTSA.GOV #04V442000 WHICH COVERS THE SAME PROBLEM - WAS TOLD BY DEALER MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL (04S20) AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HINGE ON THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS DETACHED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE: BODY: HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HER THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR LIFTGATE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GLASS WAS LOOSE AND THE HINGE WAS FAILING. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY CATCH THE GLASS BEFORE IT STRUCK THE GROUND OR HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT RECALL REGARDING THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V442000 (STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS) FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,250.
BUBBLING AND PEELING PAINT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER XLT SPORT. WHILE CLOSING THE LIFTGATE THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE WINDOW. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A FEW CUTS ON THE CONTACT'S HANDS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 38,254.*AK UPDATE 05/21/07.*JB
2/14/2007 I NOTICED THERE IS A FRACTURE/CRACK BETWEEN THE TAILGATE DOOR OPENER AND THE WINDOW. THE FRACTURE/CRACK BECOMES MORE/LESS WIDER DEPENDING ON HOW HOT OR COLD IT IS OUTSIDE. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WOULD CAUSE ME BETWEEN $400-$800 TO GET IT FIX AND THE WHOLE AREA WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY STATED THAT IT SHOULD NOT CAUSE MUCH PROBLEM UNLESS SOMEONE HITS THE BACK OF MY CAR OR I CLOSE THE TAILGATE NOT SOFT ENOUGH, WHICH COULD DAMAGE THE WINDOW. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALL EXPLORERS THAT I SEE HAVE THE SAME FRACTURE/CRACK ON THE TAILGATE DOOR ON THE SAME AREA LOCATION. I ALSO HAVE SEEN MANY MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT THAT IS CAUSING THE FRACTURE ON THE TAILGATE DOOR BELOW THE WINDOW. THIS COULD CAUSE INJURY IF THE WINDOW BREAKS OR THERE IS ISSUE WITH THE DOOR OPENER HINGE. *TR
I JUST BOUGHT A FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2 DOOR TO TOW MY BOAT. THE SPECS FOR TOWING PROVIDED BY FORD ARE 5100 LBS. MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT, 350 LBS. MAX TONGUE WEIGHT. MY BOAT & TRAILER IS 3200 LBS AND TONGUE WEIGHT 280 LBS., WELL WITHIN SPECS. MY FIRST TRIP TRAILERING 20 MILES TO THE LAKE THE VEHICLE THEN TRAILER SWERVED, SINCE THE WEIGHT PUSHES THE REAR DOWN & FRONT END UP SO THAT LITTLE WEIGHT REMAINS ON THE FRONT TO CONTROL STEERING. THE FORD ENGINEER CONSULTED SAID "IF HE BOUGHT THE EXPLORER TO TRAILER WHY DIDN'T HE BUY THE 4 DOOR" (IMPLYING IT HAS A LONGER WHEEL BASE & IS MORE STABLE. THE SERVICE DIRECTOR & SHOP FOREMAN AT THE DEALER AGREED THAT THE FRONT END IS TOO HIGH TO BE SAFE BUT FORD REFUSES TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO CORRECT. NLM
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 29, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.