VehicleVerdict

2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 190 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 5.3 times the median Explorer Sport Trac year — the 2002 model ranks #2 of 14 Explorer Sport Trac years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 13 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across transmission (34), engine (24), and electrical system (22), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

190

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

3

Investigations

8

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

13

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2002 compare to other Explorer Sport Trac years?

Explorer Sport Trac NHTSA complaints by model year, 2002 highlighted229 complaints1997: 6 complaints1998: 8 complaints1999: 0 complaints2000: 3 complaints2001: 229 complaints2002: 190 complaints2003: 93 complaints2004: 108 complaints2005: 85 complaints2006: 6 complaints2007: 122 complaints2008: 34 complaints2009: 7 complaints2010: 38 complaints
Explorer Sport Trac NHTSA complaints by model year, 2002 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Explorer Sport Trac years to avoid →

What are the most common 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission3418%
Engine2413%
Electrical System2212%
Brakes2111%
Speed Control1910%
Fuel System179%
Body & Structure168%
Latches & Locks95%
Lighting74%
Suspension53%
Seats53%
Visibility & Wipers21%
Seat Belts21%
Steering21%
Tires & Wheels21%
Airbags11%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)11%
Other11%

Does the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

07V336000Speed ControlAugust 3, 2007 · 3,600,000 units

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.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

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. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

03V281000SeatsAugust 5, 2003 · 1,552,880 units

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.

01X001000Tires & WheelsMay 22, 2001 · 13,000,000 units

Defect

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.

Consequence

SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy

THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

WHILE PULLING ONTO A BUSY HWY. IN EASTERN UTAH MY TRANSMISSION WITHOUT WARNING JUST STARTED SLIPPING AND I HAD TO QUICKLY MANUALLY DOWN SHIFT THE AUTOMATIC AND HOPE THAT IT WOULD GO TO AVOID GETTING BROAD SIDED BY A SEMI THAT WAS BEARING DOWN ON ME. WHEN I GOT TO A PLACE THAT WAS SAFE I STOPPED AND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · January 14, 2009

THE VEHICLE MUST BE DRIVEN WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN BECAUSE CHEMICAL FUMES ENTER INTO THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED AND RESET BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. *SCC…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 5, 2003

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT STALLING PROBLEMS. VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT MORE THAN 40 MPH. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System

I'VE HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE LEFT REAR BRAKES HAS LOCKED UP: FIRST, AFTER ENTERING PARKING GARAGE FROM SNOW COVERED STREETS 02/21/03. SECOND, MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A COMPLETE STOP WHILE RAINING. LOSES TRACTION OVER BUMPY ROAD ARES AND DIPS.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · April 25, 2003 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND A JERKING MOVEMENT WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MOVE ERRATICALLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · March 9, 2012 · crash

2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac — common questions

Is the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 190 complaints put the 2002 model at #2 of 14 Explorer Sport Trac years. It is one of the Explorer Sport Trac years to avoid.

What are the most common 2002 Explorer Sport Trac problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (34 complaints), engine (24 complaints), electrical system (22 complaints).

Does the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 3 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Ford Explorer Sport Trac years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Explorer Sport Trac years to avoid are 2001, 2002, 2007, 2004, 2003, 2005. The cleanest record among Explorer Sport Trac years belongs to 1999.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.