Ford Explorer Sport Trac Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 139 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Ford Explorer Sport Trac across 12 model years. The 2001 model year has the most (36). The words owners use most often: “2nd 3rd” (7% of reports).
- 139power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $4,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 24%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- 2ND 3RD: mentioned in 10 of 139 complaints (7%)
- Transmission slipping: mentioned in 8 of 139 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Ford Explorer Sport Trac at $4,150, and half of them between $2,400 and $5,900.
Based on 15 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2013), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 119 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 139 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 4 an injury.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Explorer Sport Trac | 7 | 23% | 74,000 |
| 2009 Explorer Sport Trac | 2 | 33% | 89,752 |
| 2008 Explorer Sport Trac | 8 | 35% | 45,000 |
| 2007 Explorer Sport Trac | 23 | 23% | 16,436 |
| 2006 Explorer Sport Trac | 5 | 100% | 74,000 |
| 2005 Explorer Sport Trac | 3 | 5% | 98,000 |
| 2004 Explorer Sport Trac | 13 | 15% | 36,700 |
| 2003 Explorer Sport Trac | 8 | 10% | 96,600 |
| 2002 Explorer Sport Trac | 32 | 22% | 72,000 |
| 2001 Explorer Sport Trac | 36 | 22% | 83,500 |
| 2000 Explorer Sport Trac | 1 | 33% | 89,000 |
| 1997 Explorer Sport Trac | 1 | 17% | 50,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission:cooling unit and lines
Model years: 2008
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with the 4.6l engine and 6r transmission, the bolt securing the transmission oil cooler line fittings at the transmission may not have been sufficiently torqued during vehicle assembly. As a result, the bolt may loosen and the transmission oil cooler lines may disengage from the transmission, causing a transmission fluid leak.
Risk: If leaking transmission fluid contacts the catalytic converter, it may pose a risk of fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and have the transmission cooler line attachment bolt tightened free of charge. The recall began on august 30, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The key gets stuck in the ignition when gear selector is placed in park. This issue is due to the Gear Shift Assembly - Ford (9L2Z-7210-BB) malfunctioning.
When in 4 wheel drive and put it in park it locks up. Can not remove and get out of park.
The transmission will not upshift from low gear, from take off for awhile and give me the wrench sign, also will cut off the cruse control if being used or will not allow me to use it. After taking the vehicle to a transmission shop it was diagnosed to a faulty speed sensor, and was told that ford…
Transmission not working
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ford explorer sport trac. When the vehicle was engaged in park, the key became stuck inside the ignition. The contact mentioned that he manually pushed a pin in the shifter to remove the key. The contact also mentioned that the gear was able to be removed out of park…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Explorer Sport Tracs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 139 owner complaints about power train for the Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Explorer Sport Trac power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,150 (half paid between $2,400 and $5,900), from 15 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
The most frequent phrase is “2nd 3rd”, in 10 of 139 complaints, followed by “transmission slipping” (8).
See all Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems.