FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC · model year

2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC

38 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2010FORDEXPLORER SPORT TRAC carries 38 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2010 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC is power train with 6 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (3) and wheels (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2010 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

38
Complaints
4
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

38 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
WHEELS3
AIR BAGS3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
SEATS2
SERVICE BRAKES2
ENGINE2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
STEERING1
STRUCTURE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1

Recalls (1)

10V16100020/04/2010

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, EXPLORER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND MERCURY MILAN AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINERS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR

Recent Complaints

20240420ENGINE

My vehicle's engine has on a number of occasions simply quit running. The engine has died while underway, and also when resuming from a stop. It will or has to this point cranked without problems each time this has happened. I've just been fortunate it hasn't quit while I'm in a driving situation that involves another vehicle in the position to crash into me as I'm restarting the engine. There is not a particular situation I can point to where it does this more. The engine has less than 120K miles and maintence is routine. OBD by certified mechanics has not shown any defective readings. I've also check on-line and found it's not just my vehicle, but others in different years are doing the same thing. There's nothing on the Ford website that addresses this issue.

20240108POWER TRAIN

The key gets stuck in the ignition when gear selector is placed in park. This issue is due to the Gear Shift Assembly - Ford (9L2Z-7210-BB) malfunctioning.

20210924SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The contact stated that the driver seat track had become defective causing the seat to move back and forth while driving. The contact had the seat track replaced by an independent mechanic; however, the failure returned soon after repair. The contact then took the vehicle to a local dealer where he was given an estimate for the repair of another seat track. The dealer also informed him that they could not guarantee that the repair would fix the failure. The contact was then referred to NHTSA for assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20210212CrashAIR BAGS

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE ENGAGED, THAT ACCELERATOR ALSO ENGAGES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT STOP. WHICH CAUSED A SERIOUS WRECK. THIS HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT BY THE FORD DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS ISSUE. TRUCK IS TOTALED AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH DIRECT FRONT END IMPACT.*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB

20210212CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE ENGAGED, THAT ACCELERATOR ALSO ENGAGES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT STOP. WHICH CAUSED A SERIOUS WRECK. THIS HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT BY THE FORD DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS ISSUE. TRUCK IS TOTALED AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH DIRECT FRONT END IMPACT.*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB

20210212CrashSERVICE BRAKES

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE ENGAGED, THAT ACCELERATOR ALSO ENGAGES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT STOP. WHICH CAUSED A SERIOUS WRECK. THIS HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT BY THE FORD DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS ISSUE. TRUCK IS TOTALED AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH DIRECT FRONT END IMPACT.*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB

20201104POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT FROM LOW GEAR, FROM TAKE OFF FOR AWHILE AND GIVE ME THE WRENCH SIGN, ALSO WILL CUT OFF THE CRUSE CONTROL IF BEING USED OR WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO USE IT. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO A FAULTY SPEED SENSOR, AND WAS TOLD THAT FORD PUT OUT A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THE SPEED SENSOR HAS DOWN SHIFTED TO LOW AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS LOCKING THE REAR DRIVE UP AND CAUSING ACCIDENTS. I HAVE CHECK MY VEHICLE RECALLS AND DID NOT FIND THIS RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS INDEED A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. WHY WOULD MY VEHICLE NOT BE RECALLED TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE SPEED SENSOR? BEFORE A MAJOR ACCIDENT HAPPENS.

Mileage: 140,000

20200119STRUCTURE:BODY

WHEN TEMP IS BELOW FREEZING DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE

20190613POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION WILL SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR, WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE, TAKES TIME GOING INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE.

Mileage: 100,000

20181115AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON SOME TIMES AND OTHER TIMES IT DOSE NOT. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? IT DOSE THIS WHEN I START IT AND THE LIGHT STAY ON AND SOME TIMES IT DOSE NOT COME ON. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS -- AUTO BUYERS, INC. -- (XXXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

20181023ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THIS IS MY 2ND FORD THAT HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH AN ELECTRIC THROTTLE BODY. FORD FIXED THE PROBLEM IN MY 2012 FORD FUSION BUT MY 2010 DOESN'T FALL IN THE SAME CATEGORY. I AM DRIVING WITH NO PROBLEMS THEN OUT OF NOWHERE THE WRENCH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WHILE LOOSING ACCRETION. I AM SCARED TO DEATH DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE LOST POWER IN INTERSECTIONS, GOING UP A BRIDGE, IN TRAFFIC, AND COMING OFF AN ONRAMP. I AM GOING TO BE STUCK PAYING FOR REPAIRS.

Mileage: 86,000

20180609POWER TRAIN

MY COMPLAINT IS NOT WITH THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE REFER ME TO THE RIGHT DEPARTMENT. TOOK MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC TO DEALERSHIP FOR FULL SERVICE. AFTER GOT MY TRUCK BACK THE ENGINE LIGHT ON MY DASH CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEY WORKED ON THE PCM & EGR WHEN THEY TAKE IT FOR A TEST DRIVE THE LIGHT IS OFF BUT THEN COMES BACK ON FOR 7 SECONDS. THEY SAY THE ENGINE IS GOOD JUST DON'T KNOW WHY THE LIGHT COMES ON. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT SINCE APRIL 25, 2018 THEY'VE HAD IT FOR 6 WEEKS. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I CAN DO

20171120FireELECTRICAL 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.

Mileage: 80,000

20171120FireFUEL/PROPULSION 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.

Mileage: 80,000

20160607POWER TRAIN

I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN MAY 2010. I HAD ALL THE SCHEDULED DEALER MAINTENANCE COMPLETED AS SCHEDULED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE HAS BEEN ENGAGED TWICE, AND THE MAJORITY OF THE MILES HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THIRTY MILES FROM FT LEONARD WOOD THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS SLUGGISH WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION CAUSING A HAZARD IN CITY DRIVING OR MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE. THE VIBRATION INCREASED ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, I DROPPED IT AT THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY FOR SERVICE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CALLED AND INFORMED TWO MAINTENANCE LIGHTS WERE ON FOR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SERVICE. I AGREED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED LATER THAT DAY AND INFORMED ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION BUT COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHAT THE CODES MEANT OR THE COST OF REPAIR. I ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION, BUT NO ONE EVER GOT BACK TO

Mileage: 37,000

20160321WHEELS

I REPLACED THE ORIGINAL OEM PIRELLI TIRES IN DECEMBER 2015 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES ON IT. THEY WERE REPLACED WITH THE SAME BRAND, SIZE AND STYLE OF PIRELLI TIRES. ON MARCH 8, 2016 AT APPROX. 42,000 MILES I RETURNED TO THE TIRE SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRES REBALANCED AFTER NOTICING SOME BUMPINESS. THE TIRE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT IN TWO OF THE TIRES THE STEEL BAND WHICH HELD THE TPMS SENSOR IN PLACE HAD DISINTEGRATED AND WAS FREE FLOATING IN THE TIRE AND HAD RUINED THE INNER LINERS IN THE TIRES MAKING THEM EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND INQUIRED ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALLS AND/OR BULLETINS INVOLVING THE STEEL BANDS USED ON THE TPMS. FORD DENIED ANY PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH THE BANDS HOWEVER THEY DID NOTE THAT FORD HAD QUIT USING THE STEEL BANDS AFTER ONLY USING THEM A SHORT WHILE. I FEEL FORD MOTOR COMPANY OWES ME THE $542.72 I AM OUT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES AND SENSORS I HAD TO REPLACE TO REMEDY A VERY UNSAFE SITUTATION. I REPLACE THE BANDS AND

Mileage: 42,000

20160202ENGINE

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN PITTS ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2010 FORD EXPLORER TRAC TSB KNOWN ENGINE FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE QUICKLY LOST POWER ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER. *JB

20150810SUSPENSION

DRIVING ON PAVED ROAD, CLEAR WEATHER ENTERING A LEFT BANK, TURNED STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS LEFT AT 30 MPH. TRUCK STARTED TO SHIMMIED AND LOOSE CONTROL. IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKE & STOPPED VEHICLE. BACK RIGHT WHEEL MISSING 2 WHEEL STUDS. HAD TIRES EXCHANGE 400 MILES PRIOR, NO PROBLEM WITH STUDS. MECHANIC IS NOW REPLACING REAR AXEL.

Mileage: 107,000

20150810WHEELS

DRIVING ON PAVED ROAD, CLEAR WEATHER ENTERING A LEFT BANK, TURNED STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS LEFT AT 30 MPH. TRUCK STARTED TO SHIMMIED AND LOOSE CONTROL. IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKE & STOPPED VEHICLE. BACK RIGHT WHEEL MISSING 2 WHEEL STUDS. HAD TIRES EXCHANGE 400 MILES PRIOR, NO PROBLEM WITH STUDS. MECHANIC IS NOW REPLACING REAR AXEL.

Mileage: 107,000

20150418POWER TRAIN

COASTING TO STOP AT INTERSECTION TRANSMISSION DID NOT DISENGAGE AND ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 2000 RPM. HELD BRAKES AND REAR TIRES SPUN. I KNOCKED TRANS INTO NEUTRAL AND ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. IT HAS DONE THIS TWICE IN 2 DAYS. NO FLOOR MATS AND NO CONTACT WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I DID HAVE A WITNESS TO THIS INCIDENT. UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION -VERY BAD! IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ALREADY? *TR

Mileage: 74,000

Compare 2010FORDEXPLORER SPORT TRAC to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC have?
The 2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC has 38 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC?
Yes, the 2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC?
The most-complained component for the 2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC is POWER TRAIN with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and WHEELS.
Is the 2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.