The most-reported Explorer Sport Trac run is 1FMZU77E31U (2001 builds) with 11 complaints, 4.8× the typical run. Power train problems make up 23% of reports; 2001 is the worst model year at 4.8 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for Explorer Sport Trac model years 2001–2010.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Ford Explorer Sport Trac has 251 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 8% of every Explorer Sport Trac complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FMZU77E31U•••••• | 2001 | 1 | — | |
| 1FMZU77E21U•••••• | 2001 | — | 1 | |
| 1FMZU77E61U•••••• | 2001 | — | 1 | |
| 1FMZU77E42U•••••• | 2002 | — | — | |
| 1FMZU67E32U•••••• | 2002 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1FMZU67EX1U•••••• | 2001 | — | — | |
| 1FMZU67E22U•••••• | 2002 | 1 | — | |
| 1FMZU67E72U•••••• | 2002 | — | — | |
| 1FMZU67E11U•••••• | 2001 | 1 | — | |
| 1FMZU67E21U•••••• | 2001 | — | 2 | |
| 1FMZU67E01U•••••• | 2001 | 1 | — | |
| 1FMZU67E71U•••••• | 2001 | — | — |
Each of the other 239 Explorer Sport Trac runs has 7 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 23 Explorer Sport Trac VINs so far, most often 2007, 2005, 2010 builds; 2 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Ford Explorer Sport Trac the gap between build years is 4.8×: a 2001 car draws 4.8 complaints per run, a 1998 one 1.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 29 | 19 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 5 | 5 | — | |
| 2008 | 22 | 21 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 83 | 52 | 8 | |
| 2006 | 4 | 4 | — | |
| 2005 | 51 | 26 | 3 | |
| 2004 | 72 | 34 | 13 | |
| 2003 | 66 | 29 | 4 | |
| 2002 | 116 | 29 | 6 | |
| 2001 | 125 | 26 | 10 | |
| 1998 | 4 | 4 | — | |
| 1997 | 5 | 4 | — |
Heaviest year here is 2001 at 4.8 complaints per run; lightest is 1998 at 1.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 23% of everything Ford Explorer Sport Trac owners report: Power Train, 113 of 583 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 5 | 2 | |
| Electrical System | — | 7 | |
| Structure | 2 | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 10 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 2 | |
| Service Brakes | 7 | — | |
| Suspension | 3 | 1 | |
| Air Bags | 19 | 2 |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 10 recall campaigns on the Ford Explorer Sport Trac; the 6 below cover build years 2001 to 2010. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 06E026000 | Exterior Lighting | 2001–2005 |
| 07V336000 | Vehicle Speed Control | 2001–2002 |
| 03V281000 | Seats:front Assembly:recliner | 2001–2002 |
| 01X001000 | Tires:tread/belt | 2001–2002 |
| 10V161000 | Seats:front Assembly:recliner | 2010 |
| 07V453000 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines | 2008 |
The Explorer Sport Trac against its rivals
The Explorer Sport Trac draws 2.3 complaints per production run; the Dodge Dakota 2.2. That is the highest rate of the 2.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer Sport Trac | 583 | 251 | 8.1% | |
| Dodge Dakota | 5,126 | 2,369 | 8.1% |
How serious were they
Of the 583 reports on the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, 8.1% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Ford Explorer Sport Trac | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 583 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 47 (8.1%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 26 (4.5%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 57 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 40% above the all-vehicle rate.
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How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Ford Explorer Sport Trac share of that is 583 complaints over 251 runs, 0.05% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Ford Explorer Sport Trac VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 583 NHTSA complaints from 251 Explorer Sport Trac runs and 10 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Explorer Sport Trac production run has the most complaints?
1FMZU77E31U, a 2001 build, with 11 complaints, 1 of them after a crash. The typical Explorer Sport Trac run has 2.3.
Which Explorer Sport Trac years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2001 is heaviest at 4.8 complaints per run and 1998 lightest at 1.
Does the Explorer Sport Trac get more complaints than the Dodge Dakota?
Yes: 2.3 complaints per production run for the Explorer Sport Trac against 2.2 for the Dodge Dakota.
How many Explorer Sport Trac complaints involve a crash?
8.1% of 583 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 26 involved a fire.
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