Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train32
- Engine and engine cooling23
- Electrical system21
- Vehicle speed control19
- Structure16
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Fuel system, gasoline10
- Latches/locks/linkages9
- Exterior lighting7
- Suspension5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 9 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 42 2002 Explorer Sport Trac vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 34 people died inside them, and 21 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac failed the safety check 1.90% of the time — 5% less often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 167,116 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 13.9–15.6 L/100 km (about 15–17 mpg US), CO₂ 320–359 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer Sport Trac · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 12.1 | 13.9 |
| Explorer Sport Trac 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.4 | 12.9 | 14.8 |
| Explorer Sport Trac · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.9 | 12.6 | 15.0 |
| Explorer Sport Trac 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.8 | 12.9 | 15.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
| 2007258 7 Aug 2007 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The failure mode appears t… |
| 2006079 18 Apr 2006 | Seats And Restraints On certain Explorer, Explorer Sport and Explorer Sport Trac vehicles, the upper bolt on the driver's high back seat that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to… |
| 2003190 11 Aug 2003 | Seats And Restraints On certain Explorer, Explorer Sport and Explorer Sport Trac vehicles, the upper bolt on the driver's high back seat that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637924 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.3L, 3.0L OR 4.0L ENGINE AND 5R44E OR 5R55E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A FLUID LEAK AT THE TRANSMISSION SERVO COVERS IN COLD CLIMATES. *TT |
| 637922 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 9/15/2001 MAY EXHIBIT LOW LINE PRESSURE READINGS WHILE IN DRIVE, NO 2ND GEAR, NO 3RD GEAR, NO ENGINE BRAKING IN MANUAL 1ST AND SLIPPING SHIFTS AND / OR DELAYED ENGAGEMENTS. *TT |
| 637920 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0 SOHC (SINGLE OVER-HEAD CAM) ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A PRIMARY TIMING CHAIN RATTLE NOISE. *TT |
| 637843 | SOME VEHICLES EQUPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE, LOW SPEED ENGINE QUIT, HESITATION ON COLD ENGINE TIP-IN AND / OR HESITATION DURING A 5-3 DONWSHIFT. *TT |
| 637803 | CONCERNS WITH BRAKE VIBRATION, ROUGHNESS AND / OR GRINDING NOISE, AND EXCESSIVE BRAKE ROTOR CORROSION. *TT |
| 637794 | SUBJECT REGARDING PIONEER TREMOR / ULTIMATE 450 WATT AUDIO SYSTEM WHINE NOISE. *TT |
| 637781 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A HARD START / NO START CONDITION DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE BLEED DOWN. *TT |
| 637755 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO 1-2 UPSHIFT, NO 2-3 UPSHIFT, A NO ENGINE BRAKING CONDITION IN MANUAL 1 OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0732 (GEAR 2 INCORRECT RATIO) OR P0733 (GEAR 3 INCORRECT RATIO). *TT |
| 637726 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT SOFT CLUTCH PEDAL WHICH MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING GEARS (A NOTCHY FEEL). *TT |
| 637719 | SUBJECT REGARDING A WHINE NOISE CONDITION FROM THE SPEAKERS WHEN USING THE RADIO OR THE CD WITH THE PIONEER TREMORE / PIONEER ULTIMATE 450 WATT AUDIO SYSTEM. *TT |
| 637715 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING OIL SEAL LEAKS. *TT |
| 637710 | SOME VEHICLES WITH 4WABS MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES C1233 AND C1234 (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT FAILURE). *TT |
| 637584 | RUNNING CHANGE FOR THE UPPER RADIATOR SIGHT SHIELD. *TT |
| 637560 | CONCERNS OF WHINE NOISE FROM PSEAKERS, WITH THE PIONEER ULTIMATE 450 WATT AUDIO RADIO SYSTEM. *TT |
| 637542 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4WABS MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES C1233 AND C1234 (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT FAILURE). *TT |
| 637478 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5R55E/5R44E TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A WHINE NOISE IN 1ST GEAR THAT GOES AWAY AFTER THE 1-2 OR 1-3 SHIFT IS COMPLETED. *TT |
| 637460 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF STEERING WHEEL LEATHER PEELING. *TT |
| 637452 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT WIND NOISE AROUND THE FRONT DOORS, NEAR THE TOP REAR-WARD PORTION OF THE DOOR / GLASS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, OR IN A CROSS WIND. *TT |
| 636395 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINE AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT STUMBLE DURING DECELERATION AND / OR AT STOPS WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. *TT |
| 636366 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ADHESIVE EXTRUDING FROM THE HEADLINER MATERIAL AROUND THE MOONROOF. *TT |
| 636356 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A RATTLE FROM THE REAR WINDOW WHEN DRIVING WITHIN THE VENT POSITION. *TT |
| 636324 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT EITHER A VERY HARD OR VERY SOFT CLUTCH PEDAL FEEL. *TT |
| 636235 | EXPERIENCING A CLICKING / POPPING NOISE FROM THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN AREA WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT |
| 636233 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5R55E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A GEAR WHINE TYPE NOISE IN 1ST AND / OR 2ND GEARS ONLY. *TT |
| 636212 | SOME VEHICLES WITH 4WABS MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES C1233 AND C1234 (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR OUTPUT FAILURES) IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation