The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a pickup truck built from 2001 to 2010 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Between 2004 and 2010 it grew 11 cm longer and gained 147 kg. Engines offered: V6, V8. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Explorer Sport Trac is
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a pickup truck that Ford built from 2001 to 2010 — 10 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2007. It has been offered with V6, V8 power. Its closest siblings in the Ford range: F-150, Ranger.
Where the Explorer Sport Trac is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 579 Explorer Sport Tracs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1FM | 1997-2010 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Ford VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Explorer Sport Trac belongs to. What every character in a Explorer Sport Trac VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Ford Explorer Sport Trac adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Explorer Sport Trac generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Explorer Sport Trac's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Explorer Sport Trac that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-2005 | 523 cm | 320 cm | 1925 kg | - | - |
| 2007-2010 | 534 cm | 331 cm | 2072 kg | +11 cm | +147 kg |
Between 2004 and 2010 the Explorer Sport Trac gained 11 cm in length (+2.1%) and 147 kg in weight (+7.6%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Explorer Sport Trac that is 147 kg against 11 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Ford Explorer Sport Trac tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Explorer Sport Trac owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Ford Explorer Sport Trac have? Power & range
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is offered with 2 powertrains — 4L 6-cyl, 4.6L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 4.0L · 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | RWD | Regular |
| V8 | 4.6L · 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | RWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Ford Explorer Sport Trac tow? Towing & payload
As a pickup, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Explorer Sport Trac's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Explorer Sport Trac by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Explorer Sport Trac | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 17 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 3,418 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,244/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 324 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
The Explorer Sport Trac is a pickup truck, built from 2001 to 2010 across 2 generations. Engines offered: V6, V8.
Where is the Ford Explorer Sport Trac made?
Across 579 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Explorer Sport Trac have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2007. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Explorer Sport Trac grew 11 cm longer and gained 147 kg.
What is the Ford Explorer Sport Trac warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Explorer Sport Trac reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Explorer Sport Trac?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Ford
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | 1981–2026 | 462 | 72 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Ford Bronco | 1981–2026 | 146 | 27 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Ford Mustang | 1981–2026 | 240 | 26 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Ford Explorer | 1991–2026 | 212 | 39 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Ford Escape | 2001–2026 | 226 | 41 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Ford Ranger | 1982–2026 | 278 | 58 mpg | 3.5/5 |