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#BS-2002-FOREXP-1F732002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Based on reports from 190 owners and 4 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Think Twice
Based on 190 complaints, 8 crashes, 3 fires, and 4 recalls.
Top reported problems
transmission slips o d light blinking
28 complaints β’ Severity 8.3/10
transmission failure
8 complaints β’ Severity 8.2/10
engine failure
3 complaints β’ Severity 10/10
Preview: What's in your full report
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Mechanic Inspection Checklist
17 owners reported power train:automatic transmission issues β failures commonly reported around 42K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0β30K miles (51 reports) β’ Median: 42K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Power Train:automatic Transmission (17 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, with 17 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 42,302 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 42K-mile mark.
Speed Control Issues
Speed Control complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, with 11 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Structure:body Issues
Structure:body complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, with 10 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Recent trend: stable.



Don't negotiate blind β know what this car costs to own
Repair costs β’ Negotiation scripts β’ Mechanic checklist β’ Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (4 recalls)
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Ford Explorer Sport Trac is the 2001 β worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 190 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 4 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Ford Explorer Sport Trac Model Years
View all Ford Explorer Sport Trac years β2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
Is the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac reliable?
How much does it cost to fix 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems?
Does the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have any recalls?
What mileage do Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems start?
Whatβs in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
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Get the Full 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 190 owner reports. Know before you buy.