Ford Explorer Sport Trac Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 720 owner complaints across 13 model years of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac (1997–2010). The most-complained-about year is 2001.

Pick your Ford Explorer Sport Trac model year

• 1997
• 1998
• 2000
• 2001
• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010

What Ford Explorer Sport Trac owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 720 complaints with NHTSA. The 2001 model year has the most, with 167.

• Electrical system64
• Power train: automatic transmission62
• Power train48
• Structure: body41
• Vehicle speed control32
• Air bags28
• Engine27
• Suspension21

All Ford Explorer Sport Trac recalls (7)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Ford Explorer Sport Trac, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

1. Recliner (seats)

   NHTSA 10V161000 Reported April 20, 2010 33,256 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Ford is recalling certain model year 2010 fusion, explorer, explorer sport trac, and mercury milan and mountaineer vehicles manufactured between december 15, 2009 through february 3, 2010 equipped with front seat manual recliners. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 202, "head…

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the manual recliners for both power and manual seats free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before april 30, 2010. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.

   Model years: 2010

2. Cooling unit and lines (power train)

   NHTSA 07V453000 Reported September 26, 2007 1,497 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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,…

   Remedy: 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.

   Model years: 2008

3. Vehicle speed control

   NHTSA 07V336000 Reported August 3, 2007 3,600,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.

   Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch…

   Model years: 2001, 2002

4. Steering

   NHTSA 07V181000 Reported April 25, 2007 11 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   On certain sport utility vehicles, the two bolts that attach the steering gear assembly to the frame may have been over-tightened. This condition could result in one or both of the bolts fracturing, causing the steering gear to become loose.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace both the steering gear assembly mounting bolts and nuts free of charge. The recall began on april 27, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.

   Model years: 2007

5. Cables (vehicle speed control)

   NHTSA 03V280000 Reported August 5, 2003 448,005 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control and 4.0l sohc engines, if the strand cover on the speed control cable becomes flared at the end, the speed control cable may bind when the speed control is activated.

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect the speed control cable and, if necessary, replace it. Owner notification began august 29, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.

   Model years: 2001

6. Recliner (seats)

   NHTSA 03V281000 Reported August 5, 2003 1,552,880 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with high back seats, the upper bolt on the driver's side high back seat, that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame, could fracture. If the bolt fractures and does not jam in the seat back frame, the seat back may recline until it makes contact with an object behind the…

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver seat upper bolt with a metal spacer and bolt. In addition, seats with tubular back frames will have the fully threaded lower recliner bolt replaced with a partially threaded bolt. Owner…

   Model years: 2001, 2002

7. Hinge and attachments (structure)

   NHTSA 00V394000 Reported November 28, 2000 137,700 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles with steel hoods and certain pickup trucks equipped with sheet molding compound hoods. A wire formed hood striker could be susceptible to fatigue fractures. If the hood striker fractures, the hood could fly open while the vehicle is being driven.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the hood striker.

   Model years: 2000, 2001

Other Ford models

• F-15037,961 complaints
• Explorer34,566 complaints
• Escape27,430 complaints
• Fusion22,405 complaints
• Focus22,096 complaints
• Taurus18,159 complaints
• Windstar14,158 complaints
• Edge14,065 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.