Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems

Owners filed 6 complaints about the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with NHTSA between Apr 2009 and Jan 2026. The most-cited component is power train (2).

Complaints
6
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train2
  2. Service brakes1
  3. Electrical system1
  4. Air bags1
  5. Tires1
  6. Vehicle speed control1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20092
20100
20110
20120
20130
20140
20150
20160
20170
20180
20191
20201
20211
20220
20230
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

2 reports
“WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND PUT IT IN PARK IT LOCKS UP. CAN NOT REMOVE AND GET OUT OF PARK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2020Power trainODI 11374539

Service brakes

1 report
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2026Service brakesODI 11710230

Electrical system

1 report
“THE SEAT BELT WARNING LITE WANTS TO STAY ON.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2021Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11397692

Air bags

1 report

Tires

1 report
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2009TiresODI 10282828

Vehicle speed control

1 report
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 27, 2009Vehicle speed controlODI 10267020
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.