NHTSA lists 144 complaints for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, 7 of them mention a crash and 3 mention a fire. 5 complaints mention an injury, with 9 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC.
At a glance
Complaints
144
With crash
7
With fire
3
With injury (complaints)
5
Injuries
9
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
3,600,000
Investigations
3
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
117
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
POWER TRAIN
32
22.2%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
23
16.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
21
14.6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
19
13.2%
STRUCTURE
16
11.1%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
15
10.4%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
10
6.9%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
9
6.3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
7
4.9%
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
5
3.5%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
17
STRUCTURE
BODY
15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE
10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL
7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIRING
6
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOORS
6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
STORAGE
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EXHAUST SYSTEM
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12V/24V/48V BATTERY
2
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Defect: 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. (excerpt)
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. (excerpt)
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS (excerpt)
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT UPPER BOLT WITH A METAL SPACER AND BOLT. IN ADDITION, SEATS WITH TUBULAR BACK FRAMES WILL HAVE THE FULLY THREADED LOWER RECLINER BOLT REPLACED WITH A PARTIALLY THREADED BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
3 investigations; 0 open.
PE09020
Opened: 2009-04-21. Closed: 2009-08-19.
VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS
Systems: STEERING.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
DP05005
Opened: 2005-09-22. Closed: 2006-01-04.
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CY
Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE03020
Opened: 2003-05-21. Closed: 2003-09-05.
FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT
BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 4, 2003, FORD NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V281) INVOLVING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2001 FORD EXPLORER / MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 4-DOOR, MY 1998-2000 FORD EXPLORER 2-DOOR AND MY 2001-2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT AND SPORT TRAC VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS.COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK RECLINED W
Date: 2005-10-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.
STEERING SHUDDER DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS - 4.0L ENGINE. *TT
10017860
Date: 2005-07-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER.
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMING ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0171, P0172, P0174 AND/OR P0175 (FUEL SYSTEM TOO RICH OR LEAN). *TT
10014138
Date: 2005-06-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEAT BELTS.
SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT
10017891
Date: 2005-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
FRONT AXLE LEAKS FLUID FROM VENT TUBE - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4X4 OR AWD. *TT
10014263
Date: 2004-12-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
MOAN/VIBRATION DURING AIR CONDITIONING OPERATION. *TT
10014086
Date: 2004-12-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
10014096
Date: 2004-12-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION.
REVISED PROCEDURE FOR ADJUSTING ALIGNMENT ON ALL SUSPENSIONS - NEW RIGHT HAND UPPER CONTROL ARM DESIGN FOR TORSION BAR FRONT SUSPENSIONS. *TT
10013365
Date: 2004-11-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION.
SQUEAKING NOISE FROM REAR SWAY BAR LINK. *TT
10013369
Date: 2004-11-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
10011150
Date: 2004-08-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
RATTLE NOISE FROM PRIMARY CHAIN DRIVE AREA 2000-3000 RPM - 4.0L SOHC ENGINE. *TT
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.