2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (6) · Wheels (3) · Seats (3)
🧭 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
23 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Seats:front Assembly:recliner 2010-04-20 · campaign 10V161000 · 33,256 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEATBACK AND HEAD RESTRAINT MAY MOVE REARWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL RECLINERS FOR BOTH POWER AND MANUAL SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Service bulletins (17)
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.
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-24 · SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
Equipment 2024-04-24 · SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
all accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. if the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,
Visibility:glass, Side/Rear 2019-08-09 · SSM 48130 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or streaking etched into the surface. this is caused by hydrofluoric acid which is used in some car wash solutions as a cleaning agent. hydrofluoric acid can attack the glass and cause visual distortion and/or disc
Power Train 2019-05-10 · SSM 47976 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
on vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter pilot hub be greased with motorcraft multi-purpose grease spray xl-5-a even if grease was not applied from the factory. also verify that the engine/transmission alignment dowel pins are present as well as the eng
Steering 2018-10-02 · DOR-S3J9G-11 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this sku is a front upper ball joint. the customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball studs with excessive rotational friction in the ball joint assembly. excessive friction in the ball joint assembly may cause a perceptible increase in steering effort.
Equipment 2018-06-01 · SSM 47331 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
various vehicles equipped with a 4.6l, 5.4l, 6.8l modular 3 valve engine built on or before 8-jan-2016 may exhibit symptoms that may include upper end engine noise, rough running, misfire and/or engine damage. if diagnosis leads to only camshaft/camshaft roller follower(s) requiring replacement, rep
Showing the 6 most recent of 17 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-09-14 · Seats“passenger seat / airbag safety concern the front passenger seat does not reliably lock into position and can move while the vehicle is being driven. the vehicle also displays “remove object pass seat” even when the passenger seat is completely empty and there are no objects on, underneath, or around the seat. the airbag/srs warning light is also il…”
2024-04-20 · Engine“my vehicle's engine has on a number of occasions simply quit running. the engine has died while underway, and also when resuming from a stop. it will or has to this point cranked without problems each time this has happened. i've just been fortunate it hasn't quit while i'm in a driving situation that involves another vehicle in the position to …”
2024-01-08 · Power Train“the key gets stuck in the ignition when gear selector is placed in park. this issue is due to the gear shift assembly - ford (9l2z-7210-bb) malfunctioning.…”
2021-09-24 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust · 150,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 ford explorer sport trac. the contact stated that the driver seat track had become defective causing the seat to move back and forth while driving. the contact had the seat track replaced by an independent mechanic; however, the failure returned soon after repair. the contact then took the vehicle to a local dealer where he …”
2021-02-12 · Structure:body · 💥 crash“when the brakes are engaged, that accelerator also engages causing the vehicle to not stop. which caused a serious wreck. this has been checked out by the ford dealer on multiple occasions. several others have also reported this issue. truck is totaled and airbags did not deploy with direct front end impact.*dt*jb*dt*jb*dt*jb…”
2020-11-04 · Power Train · 140,000 mi“the transmission will not upshift from low gear, from take off for awhile and give me the wrench sign, also will cut off the cruse control if being used or will not allow me to use it. after taking the vehicle to a transmission shop it was diagnosed to a faulty speed sensor, and was told that ford put out a safety recall on this problem because the…”
2020-01-19 · Structure:body“when temp is below freezing drivers door will not close…”
2019-06-13 · Power Train · 100,000 mi“transmission will slipping out of gear, will not go into drive, takes time going into drive and reverse.…”
2018-11-15 · Air Bags“takata recall, the air bag light come on some times and other times it dose not. what can be done about this problem? it dose this when i start it and the light stay on and some times it dose not come on. please advise. thanks -- auto buyers, inc. -- (xxxxxx) parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable informa…”
2018-10-23 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · 86,000 mi“this is my 2nd ford that has had a problem with an electric throttle body. ford fixed the problem in my 2012 ford fusion but my 2010 doesn't fall in the same category. i am driving with no problems then out of nowhere the wrench and check engine light comes on while loosing accretion. i am scared to death driving this vehicle. i have lost power in …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.