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Ford Explorer Sport Trac Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability

Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.

3
Total Recalls
792
Total Complaints
53
Total Crashes
67
Reported Injuries
4
Reported Deaths
2001
Worst Year
2006
Best Year
13
Poor
Overall Reliability Score (0–100)

Own a Ford Explorer Sport Trac? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Ford Explorer Sport Trac — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison

YearVerdictRecallsComplaintsCrashesInjuriesDeathsTop Issue
2010Excellent2033Power TrainFull report →
2009Excellent5Air BagsFull report →
2008Excellent1262EngineFull report →
2007Good68910Power TrainFull report →
2006BestExcellent2Power TrainFull report →
2005Good4833Electrical SystemFull report →
2004Good731015StructureFull report →
2003Caution10813StructureFull report →
2002Avoid18310132Power TrainFull report →
2001WorstAvoid225915202SuspensionFull report →

10 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.

Most Common Ford Explorer Sport Trac Problems

Power Train
118
Structure
101
Suspension
61
Electrical System
59
Engine And Engine Cooling
55
Vehicle Speed Control
54
Service Brakes / Hydraulic
41
Air Bags
33
Seats
28
Tires
28
Visibility
25
Steering
21

Based on 792 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.

Explorer Sport Trac Years to Avoid

2001 Explorer Sport Trac
259 complaints · 2 recalls · 15 crashes · 2 deaths
Details →
2002 Explorer Sport Trac
183 complaints · 0 recalls · 10 crashes · 2 deaths
Details →
2003 Explorer Sport Trac
108 complaints · 0 recalls · 1 crashes
Details →

Ranked by combined complaints, recalls, crashes, injuries, and deaths.

Best Explorer Sport Trac Years to Buy

2006 Explorer Sport Trac
2 complaints · 0 recalls
Details →
2009 Explorer Sport Trac
5 complaints · 0 recalls
Details →

Years with fewest complaints and recalls.

Ford Explorer Sport Trac Problems by Year

Select a year to see detailed complaints, recall notices, and safety incident data.

Frequently Asked Questions — Ford Explorer Sport Trac Reliability

What year Explorer Sport Trac has the most problems?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 259 complaints and 2 safety recalls. See the full 2001 report for specific defects.

Is the Ford Explorer Sport Trac reliable?

The Ford Explorer Sport Trac has accumulated 792 owner-filed complaints and 3 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. There have been 4 reported deaths associated with complaints. The 2006 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Explorer Sport Trac.

What are the most common Explorer Sport Trac problems?

The most frequently cited problem areas are: Power Train (118 reports), Structure (101 reports), Suspension (61 reports), Electrical System (59 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.

How do I check if my Explorer Sport Trac has an open recall?

Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.

Check a Specific Ford Explorer Sport Trac VIN

Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.

Run a Free Ford Explorer Sport Trac VIN Report →

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