Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 31 safety complaints
about the 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 2 mention a fire, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the seats.
The most complained-about system is the power train,
named in 7 complaints, 23% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 30,000 miles,
the median across the 23
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers February 2010 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
31 complaints on file
31
Complaints
2
Describe a crash
2
Mention fire
1
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
POWER TRAIN 7 · 23%
7 23%
AIR BAGS 4 · 13%
4 13%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4 · 13%
4 13%
SEATS 4 · 13%
4 13%
STRUCTURE 3 · 10%
3 10%
WHEELS 3 · 10%
3 10%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 · 6%
2 6%
ENGINE 2 · 6%
2 6%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 6%
2 6%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2 · 6%
2 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 · 6%
2 6%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 · 3%
1 3%
048
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 31.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2010 at 7.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2010 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2010 Ford EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
4-DR. w/SAB
Overall
Not rated
Frontal crash
Not rated
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Not rated
Side barrier
Not rated
Side pole
Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover
19.8%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
NHTSA made its frontal crash test harder for the 2011 model year, and says ratings from before that change should not be compared with ratings after it.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Recall campaigns
1 on file
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
10V161000 · April 20, 2010
The defect
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 VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINT." THE RECLINER GEAR PLATE TEETH MAY BE OUT OF DIMENSION SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LIMITED PAWL TO GEAR PLATE TOOTH ENGAGEMENT.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEATBACK AND HEAD RESTRAINT MAY MOVE REARWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL RECLINERS FOR BOTH POWER AND MANUAL SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY · up to 33,256 vehicles across all model years covered
Defect investigations
1 on file
An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A
preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering
analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
AQ10001
Closed audit query · opened November 18, 2010 · closed December 28, 2015
unknown or other
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed
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
NHTSA complaint 11396001. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
fire · 26,000 miles
I HAVE A 2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC WITH APPROXIMATELY 26000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN THE CAB AND THE BED. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, ONTO AN EXIT RAMP TO A FRONTAGE ROAD. I CALLED 911. BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. IT IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE ORIGINAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10399922. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
fire · 80,000 miles
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. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
WHEELS
crash · 30,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DROVE THROUGH A FIELD AND CRASHED. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,000.
NHTSA complaint 10439795. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
Passenger Seat / Airbag Safety Concern The front passenger seat does not reliably lock into position and can move while the vehicle is being driven. The vehicle also displays “REMOVE OBJECT PASS SEAT” even when the passenger seat is completely empty and there are no objects on, underneath, or around the seat. The airbag/SRS warning light is also illuminated. We have thoroughly checked the passenger seat and surrounding area for objects, but the warning remains. The passenger seat's failure to remain securely locked while the vehicle is moving is a serious safety concern, particularly because it is occurring at the same time as warnings involving the passenger occupant/airbag system. I am …
NHTSA complaint 11763983, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
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 …
NHTSA complaint 11584230, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER 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.
NHTSA complaint 11564197. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
150,000 miles
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.
NHTSA complaint 11434260. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
140,000 miles
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 …
NHTSA complaint 11372978, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed April 20, 2010.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst