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2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 144 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, most often about the transmission (22% of complaints, typically around 72,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Explorer Sport Trac model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems
Transmission
32 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, transfer case (4-wheel drive), axle assembly, driveline.
Transmission fails to act on acceleration into traffic, there is a delay in speed pick up which can cause a near rear end collision with other vehicles. Not sure if it is the on board computer or a failure of the low pressure seals as discussed with car dealership.
I am having problems with my 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac transmission and am being told that it needs to be replace at a cost of 3200.00 of which I can not afford right now as I live on a fixed income, there is a known problem with this transmission that Ford motor company will not address.... Please make Ford fix…
Engine
24 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 18,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
While driving at various speeds black smoke would came from the tail pipe. Consumer could smell gas fumes inside the vehicle. . Drivers rear door will not open from the inside. Drivers side seat molding is falling off. Center duct loose on dash. Drivers seat cushion lost its form.
Consumer complained about a stalling problem. Vehicle was taken to dealer. However, the problem had not been corrected. Also, right rear door locks malfunctioned, and door couldn't be opened except from the outside.
Electrical
21 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery, instrument cluster/panel, ignition.
: the contact stated there is a short in the wiring system causing the vehicle to continually blow fuses. This causes the vehicle taillights and dashboard lights to be inoperable. The dealership was unable to find the source of the problem. Updated 03/03/06.
Part # e6db-14489-da. I've googled the issue and found numerous other people with same issue. Faulty connector causing the rear brake lights and turn signals not to work. The wiring comes out of the connector (it's in the steering column).
Speed control
19 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 99,500 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control, cables.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. While driving between 25-50 MPH on wet pavement, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a dirt embankment. There were no injuries and the front end of the vehicle was severely damaged. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the…
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 side before crashing…
Brakes
18 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
2002 Ford sport trac- vehicle has less than 40,000 miles on it. Had to have brakes and rotors replaced. Brakes were replaced and rotors turned first time at 21,532 miles on 01-19-04. Complained several times about excessive brake dust, rotors were turned again at 26,885 on 08-27-05. On august 23, 2005 while driving…
Manual transmission and parking brake 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 39800 slave and master cylinders replaced at 700.00 in january 2008. First incidence occurred december 24, 2007. I was actually pulling into grandma's drive on christmas eve and tried to back up into a space when the vehicle was stuck in place…
Body and structure
16 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The body mounts have deteriorated to a point that they are crumbling and are not supporting the frame to the body and need to be replaced for safety reasons. The transmission failed without any warning and had to be rebuilt. Neither of these problems should exist on a vehicle that is well maintained and has only…
There is extreme deterioration of the rubber body mount bushings...these are what holds the cab to the frame. The ones on my 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac are so badly deteriorated that what rubber is left will crumble in my fingers.
Fuel system
14 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 11,500 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery, fuel injection system.
Spits out gas when I start to fill it up. It has been in the shop 7 times between 8/02-2/03 for a cumlative total of 35 days! It's running now, but for how long before it goes back in the shop is anybody's guess. I asked one of the service advisors if there were any other sport tracs with the same problem, he said no.…
I drive a 2002 Ford sport trac with following problems that can not be corrected by the dealership.1) the fuel tank is not properly vented, because the last 3-4 gallons could take 3-4 minutes to accomplish while refueling. 2) while driving beteen 60-65 MPH on the interstate and following the dealership's instructions…
Doors and locks
9 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles. Parts named most often: doors.
2002 Ford sport trac 8 year old child broke door handle when trying to open door with child lock on. 5 year old child broke the other door handle the same way. Something needs to be done about this. These handles are not heavy dty enough for the weight that is forced on them when trying to open even with the child…
No decernable events LED up to the total failure of the vehicle's keyless entry system. The remotes ceased to function. Replacing batteries did not help. Remote capability to lock doors from outside or inside ceased at approximately 45k miles. Keypad ceased to dunction at same time. Dealer wants $75/hr to 'look and…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac recalls
Speed control: vehicle speed control
Risk: This could result in an underhood fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seats: recliner
Risk: The driver could potentially lose contact with the steering wheel or foot pedals during such an event, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Vehicle rollaway allegations
Summary
In response to an information request (ir) letter sent by the office of defects investigation (odi), ford stated consumer reports of higher than expected efforts when shifting into and out of park could be a result of a groove being worn into the swing arm ramp of the steering column. The swing arm is a component bolted to the steering column that assists in shifting through the transmission gears.an engineering evaluation conducted by ford of returned steering columns found the groove could be created over time if consumer shift more quickly from the drive or reverse to park than the brake shift interlock (bsi) solenoid pin retracts after the brake pedal is applied. In november of 2004, for
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Summary
On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehi
Front seat back recliner attachment
Summary
By letter dated august 4, 2003, ford notified the agency that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 03v281) involving certain model year (my) 1998-2001 ford explorer / mercury mountaineer 4-door, my 1998-2000 ford explorer 2-door and my 2001-2002 ford explorer sport and sport trac vehicles equipped with high back seats.complaints allege that the driver's seat back reclined without warning.a bolt between the upper seat recliner attachment and the seat back frame may fracture.ford will replace the bolt that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame on the driver side seat.based on ford's safety recall action, this investigation is closed.
Questions about the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (32 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles); engine (24 complaints, typically around 18,000 miles); electrical (21 complaints, typically around 53,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 3, 2007 (speed control). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Explorer Sport Trac model year since 2000, with 144 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.