2001 Ford Explorer vs 2003 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 Ford Explorer | 2003 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 375 | 1,131 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 115 | 122 |
| Investigations | 2 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 64 | 60 |
| Fire reports | 21 | 10 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–18 | 15–17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 90,500 mi | 74,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 29 | 354 |
| Power Train | 42 | 335 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 39 | 69 |
| Suspension | 43 | 63 |
| Electrical System | 29 | 54 |
| Air Bags | 28 | 50 |
| Tires | 62 | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 37 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 21 | 65 |
| Vibration / shaking | 19 | 36 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 20 |
| Clunking / rattling | 7 | 18 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 7 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 5 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 5 | 31 |
2001 Ford Explorer
2003 Ford Explorer
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Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.