BrakesPart report

2003 Ford Explorer Sport Brakes Problems

Complaints: 3about this part
Share: 5%of 65 total for the year
Median mileage: 119,000miles
Trend: Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport, 5% of the 65 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 119,000 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“My wife and I purchased a Ford explore sport 2003 new from the dealer; on several occasion we had problems with what I thought was the ABS brake system.the vehicle would continue to go forward after applying brakes. The Ford dealership replaced brake booster, master cylinder and it still today it continue to do the same things surge forward after two visit to the dealership with this problem. There response was we can't find it and sent us on our way. …”

NHTSA complaint #10218084, filed 2008-02, 65,062 miles

“While my son was driving west on route 64 in the left hand lane near rocky mount, nc at a speed of 70 MPH, the brake light came on followed by a loud noise and then the vehicle pulled hard to the right causing my son to run a motorcyclist off the road to avoid being hit. I had the vehicle towed to a shop and the determined that the right front bearing assembly had failed. This could have been a fatal accident due to the sudden loss of control.”

NHTSA complaint #10206174, filed 2007-10, 119,000 miles

Brakes: other model years

Year	Complaints	Share of year
2003	3	5%
2002	6	5%
2001	14	7%
2000	3	4%
1999	4	4%
1998	5	4%
1997	4	11%
1993	1	20%

Other parts of the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport

Body and structure
25 complaints Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaints Suspension
5 complaints Engine cooling
4 complaints Other or unknown
4 complaints Transmission and drivetrain
4 complaints Vehicle speed control
4 complaints Air bags
3 complaints Electrical system
3 complaints Fuel system
2 complaints Tires
2 complaints Wheels
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Ford Explorer Sport

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology