2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Engine
  7
• Engine › Gasoline
  3
• Exhaust system
  2
• Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
  1

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1161%
• 25k–50k
  422%
• 50k–75k
  00%
• 75k–100k
  16%
• 100k–150k
  16%
• 150k+
  16%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

I bought a Ford Explorer Sport Trac in aug. Of 2002. Ever since it was a year old I have had nothing but problems with it. I had it 6 times for the same issue, they replaced the same part 4 times, that did not help. They finally called the Ford help line and found out they needed to replace the whole gas tank. My truck the first time lost all power while driving down the road, I shut it off and it restarted fine. I took into the dealership and they had to re-program the main computer chip. Next, my truck wouldn't start unless holding down the gas pedal then finally it would start and there would be a black smoke cloud that would come out of the tail pipe each time. The new gas tank finally fixed this problem! …

I bought this truck on February 20th, 2004 with a little over 20,000 miles. On February 24th, 2004, after leaving the dealership my truck died on a busy street on two separate occasions. The salesman told me that the truck had flooded. On June 10th, August 12th, November 19th, and again on December 2nd, 2004 (the only ones I wrote down it does happen more often) my truck also died while driving down the road. These have all been very serious incidents where I felt lucky to not only be alive but that I hadn t hit anything or anyone else. The technicians from the dealership have looked at my truck on all these occasions and gave me little or no excuse for the truck to die. At this time I ve asked for a reasonable refund with no success&&I m at a loss&&&please help!!!!

My 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac stalls when going down the road. It's like you're taking your foot off the gas and back on it again except that isn't what I'm doing. Today it did that and then went dead while driving down the road. I took it to the Ford place but they said with no lights on it wouldn't do any good to hook it up to a machine. They said it could be anything from electronics, fuel pump, etc. My warranty runs out in about 4,500 miles. This has been going on for about a year with the stalling out but this was the first time it actually went dead while driving down the road. I would estimate that over the past year that it has stalled at least 25 separate occasions but only 1 time so far did it go dead.

Tl contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. While driving 40 MPH, the oxygen sensor caused the check engine light to illuminate and the cruise control failed at 40,000 miles. The dealer promised over the phone to repair both the recall and the engine light, but later denied service because the vehicle was 24,000 miles over the limit to repair the oxygen sensor. The technician disconnected the cruise control switch to prevent a fire from occurring until the parts for the recall were available. A year has passed and the dealer still does not have the parts for the repair. The recall number was unknown. The current mileage was 56,000 and failure mileage was 40,000.

While driving 65 and attempting to pass another vehicle consumer's vehicle failed to go into passing gear. Engine stalled and consumer had to coast to the side of the highway. Once off the road consumer restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but the technician couldn't find anything wrong. The vehicle was taken back tot he dealer where they replaced the fuel pump, gas tank and air flow sensor. So far the vehicle has been running as it should. The heat shield under the vehicle rattled. The dealer adjusted it. The multifunction switch would not lock in place when using the turn signals.

While merging onto a freeway, couldn't get over 2,000 RPM and thus couldn't get enough speed to merge on at over 25mph. Vehicle stalled several times while trying to get off the freeway. New vehicle has 10812 miles. Ford maintenance dept stated they couldn't find anything wrong, it ran fine for them. My husband went to pick up the vehicle and in drive it ran, in neutral couldn't get more than 2,000 RPM, mechanic said it was the governor, needless to say, my husband said fix the car. They still have my truck.

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an automotive repair shop where a mechanic performed a diagnostic test and detected a malfunction in the emissions control system. The manufacturer had issued a voluntary recall for the emissions control system however, the contact's vehicle was not included in the recall campaign. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 161,673.

While driving my 2002 Ford Sport Trac at about 40 MPH,engine shut off without any warning,just a shaking feeling,then completely shut off,while in motion. Very dangerous situation! No check engine light came on and no codes were present. I was able to get out of traffic and avoid being hit. Had to crank for about half a minute and it restarted. Have driven on a daily basis about 200 miles since and problem has not recurred as of yet.vehicle is well maintained and up to date on filters,etc...

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.

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.

NHTSA investigations

Engine complaints in other Explorer Sport Trac years