2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Routine

Owners filed 6 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train2
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Tires1
000
Service Brakes1
000
Air Bags1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Jan 11, 2026TN

On October 31, 2025, I was backing out of my driveway when multiple lights concerning the brakes came on. There had been no previous warnings about any issue with the brakes. My internet search revealed that it wasn't safe to drive, so I contacted Gary Yeoman Ford and they sent a rollback to pick the truck up. After Gary Yeoman performed tests, they confirmed that the ABS Module was defective and conducted a pinpoint test for code 1342 in system and found internal fault in module. According to Google, code B1342 can cause serious drivability issues. I have printouts from Google and Gary Yeoman Ford to support these statements. I will attempt to upload these documents from my phone. This is being filled out on a desktop and I have no scanner.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 24, 2021500 milesOH

THE SEAT BELT WARNING LITE WANTS TO STAY ON.

Power Train
Filed Nov 13, 202077,504 milesTN

WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND PUT IT IN PARK IT LOCKS UP. CAN NOT REMOVE AND GET OUT OF PARK.

Power Train
Filed Sep 3, 2019102,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN PARK, THE KEY BECAME STUCK INSIDE THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE MANUALLY PUSHED A PIN IN THE SHIFTER TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR WAS ABLE TO BE REMOVED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

Tires
Filed Sep 4, 200920,000 milesVA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TIRE BLEW UP DUE TO A NAIL EMBEDDED IN THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS RIPPED AWAY FROM THE RIM. THE SPARE WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE AND THEN DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED. THE TIRE WAS DEEMED DEFECTIVE AS A NAIL EMBEDDED IN THE TIRE SHOULD NOT CAUSE IT TO RIP AWAY FROM THE RIM. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 27, 2009500 milesPA

MY NEW 2009 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS HAS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. I FIND MYSELF HITTING THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME I AM HITTING THE BRAKE. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I ALREADY HAVE RUN INTO AN INTERSECTION ONCE. *TR

6 of 6 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201031120Routine
2009 — this page6000Routine
200823110Routine
2007100120Routine
20065000Routine
200566110Routine
200486210Routine
200378161Fatalities reported
2002144430Routine
2001167690Routine
20003100Routine
19985010Routine
19976010Routine

Compare every Explorer Sport Trac year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.