FaultScore

Ford Explorer Sport Trac electrical problems

89 of the 929 complaints filed about the Ford Explorer Sport Trac are about the electrical system — 10% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.

89

Complaints

10%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

8

Fires

Electrical System complaints by model year

Median failure at 107,883 miles

Median failure at 97,067 miles

Median failure at 46,208 miles

Median failure at 25,000 miles

Median failure at 108,851 miles

Median failure at 135,130 miles

Median failure at 10,000 miles

Median failure at 110,500 miles

Median failure at 500 miles

Median failure at 43,750 miles

What owners said

2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Brighton, CO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The dash cluster don't work cant see your rpms,speed,the fuel gauge gos up and down can't see milage or trip meter if you hit the dash it will work but go out going down the road and I researched it and its a common issue and I cant aford a new dash cluster I got a speeding ticket yesterday because I couldn't see my speed and there was no one in front of me to go off of i was going 15 over

NHTSA complaint #11731749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Elyria, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

As I was driving to work one morning suddenly my headlights and all interior lights, such as the dashboard, suddenly went out without any warning and nothing electrical would work such as the radio and the windows and all the gauges in the dash dropped to zero or the needle fell all the way to the left. This has become an ongoing problem and I never know when it's going to go out or come back on for that matter and sometimes when it's acting crazy My speedometer will just jump all over the place. I believe this is a safety issue not only for myself but for other drivers on the road as my lights may suddenly go out as I am driving to work at 4:00 a.m. when it is dark. It is also a safety issue because when this happens I have no idea what speed I am driving or how much gas I have left or if my vehicle is starting to get hot. I have not taken the vehicle to the dealer or anywhere else for fear of it costing an arm and a leg to fix the problem, as every single Ford that I have ever owned seems to have had some type of electrical issue. I do have video of my gauges going crazy as I am driving on the highway; however looking ahead in this form it looks as if I can only submit photos and not a video.

NHTSA complaint #11664289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Orange Grove, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Tire pressure monitoring system will incorrectly display tire sensor fault after driving over 55mph for approximately 15 miles After repeated repair attempts, Ford dealer has not been able to fix it and the TPMS is in constant alert with message Tire Monitor Fault. Dealer states that Ford no longer supports this government mandated safety feature.

NHTSA complaint #11618847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Riverside, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I was driving and the lights on the vehicle went out I thought it was the bulbs but no lights were working I adjusted steering wheel to look to see fuse box and all lights came back on there is an electrical short somewhere then I went to start the truck and it made a funny sound and then I lost all power and truck wouldn't start then the alarm kept going off and I could turn off even with the remote or the chipped key. And the truck won't start. Also when you change gears the indicator to show what gear you are in dosent move . This truck has electrical issues and is not safe for drivers to lose all power like this and basically its something ford should be responsible for fixing because it's a defect in the electrical system also the AC compressor dosent work

NHTSA complaint #11538547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 500 miles Vermilion, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE SEAT BELT WARNING LITE WANTS TO STAY ON.

NHTSA complaint #11397692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 81,000 miles Brooklyn, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH ON THE SAND IN A BEACH AREA THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE OF WHICH A STRONG BURNING ODOR STARTED, EXCESS HEAT WAS FELT BY THE DRIVER, FRONT PASSENGER AND 3 REAR PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AS THEY EXITED THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE NEAR THE TRANSMISSION AREA, FLUID HAD LEAKED ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS THE FIRE PROGRESSED TO DESTROYING THE VEHICLE WITH THE FIRE BECOMING EXTENSIVE WHICH HAD ERUPTED ALL THE WAY TO THE FUEL SYSTEM TO THE FUEL TANK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE REMAINING FLAMES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD NOT RENDERED ANY ASSISTANCE TO INSPECT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. A DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE YET. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE INTERNAL FAILURE RESULTING IN A CATASTROPHIC FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE IF THEY MAY BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA complaint #11233315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 179,766 miles Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL.. THE LIGHTS INSIDE WILL CUT ON FOR NO REASON. THE RADIO AND OTHER COMPONENTS WILL CUT ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WANT..THE BRAKE PADDLE WORKS WHEN IT WANT .

NHTSA complaint #11183727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 155,000 miles Cornelia, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE DRIVER SEAT BACK KEPT FALLING INTO THE BACK SEAT WHILE DRIVING, NOW THE SEAT BACK DOESN'T MOVE. THE PASSENGER IS DOING THE SAME JUST NOT AS BAD. THE HEATED SEATS COME ON WHENEVER THEY WANT, BUT THE HEATED DRIVER'S SEAT HAS STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. THE SEAT BELTS RANDOMLY LOCK AND BARELY RETRACT.

NHTSA complaint #11181630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 168,000 miles Milwaukee, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER GAUGES AND ODOMETER DROP TO ZERO AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING, AND I DON'T KNOW MY SPEED AND WELL AS RPM'S. AFRAID THE ENGINE MIGHT SLOW DOWN OR STOP CREATING A POSSIBLE FREEWAY ACCIDENT. ON LINE THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11132434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 149,325 miles Somerset, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2005 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND WHEN IT DOES, MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STOPS WORKING. MY TACHOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, TEMP, AND FUEL GAUGES STOP WORKING. HERE LATELY, MY RADIO AND POWER WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND REPORTED TO ME THAT THE VEHICLE STARTS SHAKING AND SHUTS OFF AS WELL. NOT REALLY SURE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH IT, BUT WHEN EVERYTHING STOPS WORKING, I SIT THERE AND HIT THE DASH TO GET THE LIGHTS AND WINDOWS TO START WORKING AGAIN. I USED TO BE ABLE TO HIT THE DASH WITH MY HAND AND GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF AND THE GAUGES START WORKING. WHEN I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD STORE AND TALKED TO THEM IN SERVICE, THEY QUOTED ME LIKE $400 FOR A PART AND JUST AS MUCH FOR LABOR, LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS AND THEY KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO FIX. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING, BUT WITH THE ODOMETER NOT REGISTERING MILES FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS, I NOW HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS CONSIDERED SALVAGE TITLE BECAUSE IT IS UNKNOWN MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11123241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 170,000 miles Kilgore, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY FAILED TO START UPON TURNING THE KEY NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER (PEGUES-HURST FORD, 200 TX-63 SPUR, LONGVIEW, TX 75601, (903) 758-6211) WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED 12 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, 52 TSBS FOR THE ENGINE, AND 3 TSBS FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHICH PART CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA complaint #11052185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 80,000 miles NEW Hartford, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TRAVELING ON THE NYS THRUWAY PASSING A CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 75MPH AND MY ENGINE GOES DEAD. NO POWER OR GAS NO POWER STEERING NOTHING. I MANAGE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND I CAN SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. I WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP TO FIND THAT MY FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE AND WIRING HARNESS ARE MELTED TOGETHER. SCARIEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

NHTSA complaint #11047615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 112,638 miles Powdersprings, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CLUSTER GOING BAD AND CUTTING POWER TO ENTIRE VEHICLE WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD , CITY ENVIROMENT

NHTSA complaint #10934576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 195,000 miles Hazlet TWP, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

RIGHT REAR DIRECTIONAL LIGHT AND HAZARD LIGHT ARE NOT WORKING. REPLACED BULB AND SOCKET 4 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. THE LEFT DIRECTIONAL/HAZARD LIGHT DOES ILLUMINATE.

NHTSA complaint #10915501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 170,000 miles Brookshire, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DRIVING ONE DAY THE OD OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING NOW IT SHIFTS HARD AND CLINKS AND CLACKS GOING DOWN ROAD

NHTSA complaint #10899846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 10,000 miles ST John, VI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED OR REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA complaint #10895052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 147,260 miles Surprise, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRACT I DIDN'T GET TO TEST DRIVE IT BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER VEHICAL SURROUNDING IT. WHEN I FINALLY GOT TO DRIVE MY TRUCK HOME I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION HAD A SEVERE ISSUE. WHEN I TURNED A CORNER MY TIRES RUBBED BADLY ON SOME OTHER PART TO THE TRUCKS PARTS AND THE DRIVER SEAT HAS A MEDAL ROD THAT JABS ME IN THE BACK THAT'S COMING THRU THE FABRIC NOW MY BATTERY HAS LEAKED ACID EVERY WHERE IN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

NHTSA complaint #10877013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 80,000 miles Raleigh, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DOME LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING. OFTEN OCCURS WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH ROAD OR IN TURN. WILL TURN OFF IF (ANY) DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED OR IF THE KEY IS "JIGGLED"

NHTSA complaint #10872342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 126,260 miles Greenbelt, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. CAUSED ALL MY LIGHTS (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR) TO GO OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE DARK ON AN 8 LANE INTERSTATE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO ELECTRIC SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS. TOOK TO FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR. HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER). FORD SAYS IT IS ON BACK ORDER. NOTE: THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD!

NHTSA complaint #10863307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at 162,787 miles Evansville, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CUTS OUT AND RESARTS THEN CUTS OUT AGAIN CAUSING NO SPEEDOMETER TACH FUEL GAUGE OIL PRESSURE TEMPERATURE AND VOLTAGE GAUGE TO STOP WORKING. ELECTRIC WINDOWS WON'T WORK RADIO OUT ODOMETER BLANK HAPPENS RANDOMLY IN ANY CONDITION IDLE DRIVING EVERY WHEN NOT IN THE VEHICLE. YOU CAN HEAR THE RELAY CLICKING FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10862808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems