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Ford · vehicle model

Ford Explorer Sport

939 NHTSA complaints and 16 safety recalls across model years 1993–2005.

Complaints
939
Recalls
16
Model years
10

The verdict

The Ford Explorer Sport pairs above-average complaint volume with 16 recalls (heavily recalled).

11th pctile
complaint volume, US models
16
recall campaigns
Follow this model's NHTSA record changes

Ford Explorer Sport vs. all tracked models

Total NHTSA ODI complaints across models with substantive safety data

939 Higher than most more complaints than 89% of 3,088 models

tracked vehicle models, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more models. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · August 2026

The FordExplorer Sport appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 939 consumer safety complaints and 16 recall campaigns across 10 model years (1993–2005). That averages roughly 94 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 1 investigation file tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20055
200423
200385
2002160
2001243
2000102
1999127
1998145
199744
19935

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

16
’00
42
’01
62
’02
116
’03
101
’04
120
’05
49
’06
81
’07
58
’08
45
’09
69
’10
30
’11
30
’12
39
’13
35
’14
16
’15
9
’16
9
’17
4
’18
4
’19
1
’20
3
’25

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare FordExplorer Sport to Similar Vehicles

FordExplorer Sport vs HyundaiVeracruz → FordExplorer Sport vs MitsubishiMirage → FordExplorer Sport vs LexusIS 250 → FordExplorer Sport vs VolkswagenTouareg →

NHTSA Investigations

DP98001Defect PetitionClosed1998-01-06

HEAVY LATERAL VIBRATION

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the Ford Explorer Sport?▼
The Ford Explorer Sport has received 939 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1993 to 2005, with 16 recalls. That averages about 94 complaints per model year.
What years of Ford Explorer Sport are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the Ford Explorer Sport from 1993 to 2005 (10 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the Ford Explorer Sport have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many Ford Explorer Sport model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common Ford Explorer Sport complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the Ford Explorer Sport are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my Ford Explorer Sport has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. Ford Explorer Sport totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.