Ford Explorer Sport Trac Problems by Year
NHTSA has 720 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on file for the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, across 14 model years (1997–2010). The 2001 model year has the most complaints (167). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Explorer Sport Trac year: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2001 Explorer Sport Trac: 167 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2002 Explorer Sport Trac: 144 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2007 Explorer Sport Trac: 100 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2000 Explorer Sport Trac: 3 complaints, 1 recall
- 1998 Explorer Sport Trac: 5 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2006 Explorer Sport Trac: 5 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 139 | 12 | 6 |
| Electrical System | 88 | 11 | 1 |
| Structure | 79 | 8 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 75 | 9 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 73 | 11 | 12 |
| Suspension | 51 | 9 | 4 |
| Air Bags | 45 | 9 | 21 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 44 | 9 | 5 |
| Tires | 38 | 8 | 3 |
| Engine | 32 | 8 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 30 | 7 | 0 |
| Steering | 25 | 8 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 24 | 7 | 2 |
| Seats | 23 | 7 | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 5 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 17 | 6 | 0 |
| Wheels | 17 | 6 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 14 | 9 | 4 |
| Visibility | 13 | 5 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 6 | 2 |
| Equipment | 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Ford Explorer Sport Trac model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Explorer Sport Trac | 31 | 1 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 Explorer Sport Trac | 6 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 2008 Explorer Sport Trac | 23 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 Explorer Sport Trac | 100 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 Explorer Sport Trac | 5 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 2005 Explorer Sport Trac | 66 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 Explorer Sport Trac | 86 | 0 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 Explorer Sport Trac | 78 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 Explorer Sport Trac | 144 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 Explorer Sport Trac | 167 | 4 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Explorer Sport Trac | 3 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1999 Explorer Sport Trac | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 1998 Explorer Sport Trac | 5 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1997 Explorer Sport Trac | 6 | 0 | — | Power Train |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Explorer Sport Trac years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2001 (167), 2002 (144), 2003 (78), 2004 (86), 2005 (66), 2007 (100) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Explorer Sport Trac year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
Power Train, with 139 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford Explorer Sport Trac have?
7 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.