Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
There was not warning lights on dash, truck slowed down then engine raced up all on its own turned I turned off road shifted to nutral and sat until the racing stopped continued on to auto part store where they plugged into engine it read strange codes..
Vehicle is a 2002 Ford Sport Trac with approx 42K miles. Began with rapid flashing of left turn signal. Rear turn and brake lamp were inoperable. Replacing bulb had no effect. Found positioning steering column to a higher tilt position corrected malfunction. Removed steering column cover and found 4 wires pulled out of connector on multi-function (turn signal switch). Wires move in and out as column is moved through tilt range. Wires out at bottom of tilt and in at top of tilt range. Removed connector part # e6db-14489-da. 3 connector pin retainers fell out and were recovered. A fourth was found to be in the connector but not retaining it's pin. Connector must be replaced to correct problem. Also the wiring harness is secured above the tilt pivot point of the steering column. …
I purchased my 2002 Explorer Sport Trac in March last year(2003). I had to wait and extra week to pick up my vehicle due to electrical problem that they swore to me was taken care of. In January 2004 my check engine light came on so I called my closest Ford dealership and they told me it would take 2 weeks for me to get an appointment to have my truck checked. Three days later my transmission blew. I called Ford customer relations and they said that it was not a problem and that I would have to pay to have my truck fixed. Three weeks and $2600.00 later I got my truck back. Now the check engine light is still on and my 4 wheel drive does not work. I called aamco(the place Ford referred me too), and they told me that it was not the transmission but now an electrical problem that I would need to take to the dealership to have fixed but I would have to pay to have that fixed as well. …
There is a problem in the steering column wiring that after a while causes not only your turn signal and brake light to stop working but in some cases causes problem with air bag as well. A lot of cases can be seen by going to http://www.mysporttrac.com/mysporttrac/ and doing a search of turn signals. On my particular vehicle. My turn signal or brake light on the passenger side will not work when the tilt steering is engaged. If I leave the steering wheel all the way up everything works. I attribute my air bag indicator light coming on to this same issue. Most people are saying the wires are too short and some come unplugged and others break their pins off.
Part # e6db-14489-da. This is a wiring harness connector located in the steering column that becomes unplugged when you tilt steering downward. Result is brakes lights and turn signals no longer function. ** my sister-in-law was nearly rear-ended while waiting to make a turn. This is a major safety issue. Many other people with same issue. Also, have seen similar complaints for other Ford vehicles (taurus). Serious accidents will happen if public is not notified. Dealers charging $200+ to fix.
I come to realize in the automotive industry vehicles do not a transmission gauge. Transmission sensory light to let you know when your transmission fluid is getting low. This is a problem for me and many more americans. My Ford Explorer Sport Trac do not have a transmission sensory light or a gauge. The transmission is slipping and not shipping out gears right. Someone is responsible for this problem. We have all other fluid gauges except a transmission gauge.
All four tires were slightly cupping, and the brakes made a thumping noise when they were depressed. Dealership replaced the pads, lubed the front caliper slide pin, and replaced rotors. Vehicle experiencing problems with tires cupping. The following repairs were performed on the vehicle: engine replaced, brakes, replaced, alignment, battery wiring assembly repaired, dpfe sensor replaced. Consumer asked dealer for a full refund on vehicle.
Consumer called complaining about stalling problems. Vehicle completely shut down more than a dozen times while driving at more than 40 MPH. Manufacturer was contacted and stated that this was the first time that they heard of this problem. Dealer was contacted, and vehicle had been at the dealer four different times, and they still couldn't find what was wrong with the vehicle.
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.
Dt*: 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.
Electrical complaints in other Explorer Sport Trac years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the electrical system of the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, 15% of the model year's 144 complaints. The component named most often is wiring (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 29% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.