Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure11
- Electrical system11
- Fuel/propulsion system10
- Air bags7
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Engine4
- Steering4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Unknown or other3
- Tires3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 37 2005 Explorer Sport Trac vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 28 people died inside them, and 16 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 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac failed the safety check 2.48% of the time — 8% more often than the average 2005 passenger car (2.30%). Median odometer at inspection: 152,803 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 14.7–20.3 L/100 km (about 12–16 mpg US), CO₂ 309–354 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer Sport Trac FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.6 | 12.5 | 14.7 |
| Explorer Sport Trac 4X4 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.3 | 13.0 | 15.4 |
| Explorer Sport Trac FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 21.8 | 16.3 | 19.3 |
| Explorer Sport Trac 4X4 FFV · Pickup truck: Standard · E85 ethanol | 22.9 | 17.3 | 20.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2005 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 2005 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 |
| 10014310 | WELD BONDING PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 10014263 | MOAN/VIBRATION DURING AIR CONDITIONING OPERATION. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation