2003 Ford Explorer vs 2003 Honda Element
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Ford Explorer | 2003 Honda Element |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,131 | 423 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 10 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 122 | 172 |
| Investigations | 3 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 60 | 28 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–17 | 20–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 74,000 mi | 25,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Honda Element |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 354 | 32 |
| Power Train | 335 | 12 |
| Visibility | 57 | 226 |
| Air Bags | 50 | 49 |
| Electrical System | 54 | 35 |
| Suspension | 63 | 25 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 69 | 5 |
| Wheels | 56 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 65 | 19 |
| Vibration / shaking | 36 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 31 | 18 |
| Check engine light | 25 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 22 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 20 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 18 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 7 | 0 |
2003 Ford Explorer
2003 Honda Element
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Honda Element years →
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.