Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2001. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2004.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Explorer Sport Trac | 31 | 1 |
| 2009 Explorer Sport Trac | 6 | 0 |
| 2008 Explorer Sport Trac | 23 | 1 |
| 2007 Explorer Sport TracMost complaints | 100 | 1 |
| 2006 | 5 | 0 |
| 2005 Explorer Sport Trac | 66 | 0 |
| 2004 Explorer Sport Trac | 86 | 0 |
| 2003 Explorer Sport Trac | 78 | 0 |
| 2002 Explorer Sport TracMost complaints | 144 | 2 |
| 2001 Explorer Sport TracMost complaints | 167 | 4 |
| 2000 Explorer Sport Trac | 3 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 Explorer Sport Trac | 5 | 0 |
| 1997 Explorer Sport Trac | 6 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Power train139
- Electrical system88
- Structure79
- Engine and engine cooling75
- Vehicle speed control73
- Suspension51
- Air bags45
- Service brakes, hydraulic44
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 230 Explorer Sport Trac vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 159 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 8 | 5 |
| 2008 | 7 | 4 |
| 2007 | 22 | 10 |
| 2005 | 37 | 28 |
| 2004 | 39 | 24 |
| 2003 | 40 | 32 |
| 2002 | 42 | 34 |
| 2001 | 35 | 22 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 9 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 13.8–15.2 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Explorer Sport Trac 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.9 | 12.1 | 14.8 |
| 2009 | Explorer Sport Trac · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.1 | 11.5 | 14.0 |
| 2008 | Explorer Sport Trac · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.4 | 12.5 | 15.2 |
| 2007 | Explorer Sport Trac · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.4 | 12.3 | 15.1 |
| 2005 | Explorer Sport Trac FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.6 | 12.5 | 14.7 |
| 2004 | Explorer Sport Trac FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.1 | 12.7 | 15.1 |
| 2003 | Explorer Sport Trac · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 12.0 | 13.8 |
| 2002 | Explorer Sport Trac · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 12.1 | 13.9 |
| 2001 | Explorer Sport Trac · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 12.1 | 13.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
7 campaigns cover the Explorer Sport Trac.
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 RESTRAINT." THE RECLINER GEAR PLATE TEETH MAY BE OUT OF DIMENSION SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LIMITED PAWL TO GEAR PLATE TOOTH ENGAGEMENT.
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.
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.
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.
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 SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.
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.
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.
NHTSA recalls