Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension14
- Air bags13
- Power train13
- Structure9
- Vehicle speed control8
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Electrical system7
- Tires6
- Seat belts5
- Unknown or other4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 18 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 39 2004 Explorer Sport Trac vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 24 people died inside them, and 14 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 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac failed the safety check 1.78% of the time — 19% less often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 154,384 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 15.1–20.4 L/100 km (about 12–16 mpg US), CO₂ 323–352 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer Sport Trac FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.1 | 12.7 | 15.1 |
| Explorer Sport Trac 4X4 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.2 | 12.9 | 15.3 |
| Explorer Sport Trac 4X4 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 22.8 | 17.0 | 20.2 |
| Explorer Sport Trac FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 23.0 | 17.3 | 20.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
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 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10019947 | NEUTRAL TOW CAPABILITY - SERVICE KIT REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
| 10018938 | VIBRATION DIAGNOSIS - TIRE/WHEEL RUNOUT. *TT |
| 10018934 | NEUTRAL TOW CAPABILITY -- SERVICE KIT REQUIREMENTS. *TT |
| 10018061 | STEERING SHUDDER DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS - 4.0L ENGINE. *TT |
| 10017899 | NO 3RD GEAR, DTC P0733 (3RD GEAR INCORRECT RATIO) AND FLASHING TCIL - VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 9/23/2004. *TT |
| 10017891 | FRONT AXLE LEAKS FLUID FROM VENT TUBE - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4X4 OR AWD. *TT |
| 10017860 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMING ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0171, P0172, P0174 AND/OR P0175 (FUEL SYSTEM TOO RICH OR LEAN). *TT |
| 10016814 | IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR. *SC |
| 10014263 | MOAN/VIBRATION DURING AIR CONDITIONING OPERATION. *TT |
| 10014138 | SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10013369 | GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10013365 | SQUEAKING NOISE FROM REAR SWAY BAR LINK. *TT |
| 10013306 | IMPROPERLY FORMULATED TRANSMISSION FLUID THAT, OVER TIME, MAY CAUSE DELAYED/HARSH REVERSE ENGAGEMENTS. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 04B22. 5R55S/E & 5R44E TRANSMISSION FLUID ADDITIVE. *TT SUPPLEMENT #1. *TT SUPPLEMENT #2. *TT SUPPLEMENT #3. *TT |
| 10013112 | 4X4 NOT ENGAGING OR INTERMITTENT 4X4 ENGAGEMENT - VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 4/1/2004. *TT |
| 10011166 | POWER LUMBAR BLADDER EXPANDING THROUGH BACK OF SEAT. *AR |
| 10010746 | SPEED CONTROL INOPERATIVE OR NOT HOLDING THE SET SPEED. OASIS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2005 EXPLORER, SPORT TRAC, MOUNTAINEER AND AVIATOR. *TT |
| 10010719 | OIL LEAK FROM OIL FILTER ADAPTER - 4.0L SOHC ENGINE BUILT BEFORE 4/1/2004. *TT |
| 10008554 | STARTER NOISE. *TT |
| 10008552 | REAR LEAF SPRING NOISE. *TT |
| 10008284 | DEMONSTRATION/DELIVERY HOLD - SPECIAL FIELD ACTION 03L17. REVISED SMOG EMISSIONS INFORMATION. *TT |
| 10008154 | BED EXTENDER COMPONENT REPLACEMENT SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10008139 | SEAT MATERIAL RIPPING AND/OR SEPARATING AT THE SEAMS. *TT |
| 10008115 | GENERATOR NOISE IN COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *MJ |
| 10007416 | PAINT PEELING AND/OR BUBBLING ON THE CENTER FINISH PANEL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation