2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:automatic Transmission (16) · Vehicle Speed Control (11) · Power Train (8)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Explorer Sport Trac model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
106 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (117)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Steering 2005-10-07 · 0427 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
steering shudder during low speed maneuvers - 4.0l engine. *tt
Fuel System, Other 2005-07-01 · 18719 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
malfunction indicator lamp coming on with diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0171, p0172, p0174 and/or p0175 (fuel system too rich or lean). *tt
Seat Belts:front:retractor 2005-06-07 · 042421 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
safety belt retraction speed. *tt
Power Train:axle Assembly 2005-04-01 · 030508 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
front axle leaks fluid from vent tube - vehicles equipped with 4x4 or awd. *tt
Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner 2004-12-27 · 042511 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
moan/vibration during air conditioning operation. *tt
Suspension:front 2004-12-13 · 042419 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
revised procedure for adjusting alignment on all suspensions - new right hand upper control arm design for torsion bar front suspensions. *tt
Showing the 6 most recent of 117 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-07-31 · Vehicle Speed Control · 120,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer sport trac. the contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the following day it was discovered that the cruise control switch located on the steering wheel had overheated and melted. the cause of the failure was not yet determined. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed th…”
2020-07-07 · Tires · 187,675 mi“i was driving on i-65 south bound on i-65 in goodlettesville, tennessee when my left rear tire blew out. the tire had plenty of tread left and apparently the steel belts came apart and blue outward.…”
2019-10-30 · Service Brakes · 168,177 mi“in the morning or whenever damp my front brakes lock up when driving, then stopping..…”
2019-08-31 · Seats · 170,000 mi“re: 2002 ford explorer sport trac. it appears that the upper bolt on the driver's side high back seat, that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame, has fractured and the seat back is permanently in the reclined position. this makes driving very cumbersome since i have no back seat support while i am driving. i was driving on a…”
2017-09-20 · Vehicle Speed Control“od light flashing, rebuilds transmision and nothing change, i see a lot of complains about this problems on explorers, rangers and mustangs…”
2016-08-31 · Power Train · 170,000 mi“driving one day the od off light began flashing now it shifts hard and clinks and clacks going down road…”
2016-02-29 · Power Train · 123,023 mi“there was not warning lights on dash, truck slowed down then engine raced up all on its own turned i turned off road shifted to nutral and sat until the racing stopped continued on to auto part store where they plugged into engine it read strange codes..…”
2016-02-29 · Power Train · 123,242 mi“on feb.12 2016 still no dash warning lights my ford trac..i left my home in drive moved onto highway 66, the truck would not shift as i tried to increase my speed up onto the 66 highway the rpm ran up only, i had to shift into second gear to get off road drove back home. now the truck will not move when shifted into drive or reverse. i only had in …”
2015-06-01 · Power Train · 90,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer sport trac. while attempting to shift into park, the gear shifter fractured behind the cluster. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000.…”
2015-03-17 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch“tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer sport trac. the contact stated that the door latches stopped working and the contact could only get in and out of the vehicle by using the outside door latch on all doors. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technician diagnosed that the main door module for the front driver side door needed to be repl…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.