Most common 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems
Share of the 86 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac complaints by model year
Best Explorer Sport Trac years: 2006, 2009, 1997. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002, 2007, 2004, 2003. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac:
Vehicle rollaway allegations
In response to an information request (ir) letter sent by the office of defects investigation (odi), Ford stated consumer reports of higher than expected efforts when shifting into and out of park could be a result of a groove being worn into the swing arm ramp of the steering column.
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
What 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac owners say
Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the frame was rusted and parts were fractured from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the frame and the front and rear motor mounts were rusted and needed be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred with the front end motor mount. While driving approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the driver and passenger side pinion, barons, and seals needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000. Ma 10/23/15
I have experienced accelerated front tire wear, and associated noise and vibration on this vehicle, with current mileage at 37000 miles. I have had the wheels balanced religiously every 5000-6000 miles since I bought it. I first noticed the wear and vibration at about 25000 miles. I took the vehicle in to have the wheels balanced and was told that the ball joints were loose and out of specification. I then returned the vehicle to the dealer to have the vibration and wear problem addressed under warranty. The dealer told me that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, and that the noise was simply due to tire wear. When I indicated that a third party shop had found loose ball joints, the dealer stated that they were in spec, and then recommended front end alignment which I had performed. The vibration and noise from the front tires continued after the alignment was done. …
Transmission & drivetrain
Have had 2 of these 2004 Ford Sport Trac trucks. One which was flipped onto my driver side and totaled in an accident where I was hit doing 25mph down a back road whith a stop sign intersection, no airbags went off the only thing that saved me was my seat belt from worse injures. My current truck which has been well maintained and I still have all receipts for over 5000 worth of work done, recently with over a quarter tank of gas turning left will cut out and die completely in traffic which has almost cause me to be hit a couple times with my child in the car. Also my transmissions went out and lost gears at low mileage. I took my current truck to richards transmission where they told me the Ford Sport track transmission normally doesn't last past 50,000 miles that Ford did not machine the transmission correctly which is a known problem in the Ford Sport Trac. …
The truck's transmission slips going from first to second gear. This was a noticeable problem around 35K miles, and has continued to happen infrequently. Ford sent a letter, January 2005, stating that the transmission fluid used at the assembly plant needed to be replaced because, that over time, it could cause delayed/harsh engagements. When I took the vehicle in for the fluid replacement (42K miles approx), I mentioned this problem to the service employee. He said that this would probably fix the problem, and that I should drive it for awhile to see if the problem corrects itself. At 49K miles, I took the vehicle back to the service center due to the same problem. The first phone call I received, the service center employee said that he drove the car on two occasions and the problem did not occur. Then, I explained the symptoms directly to the mechanic. …
Air bags
All four side curtain airbags deployed while I was driving my car in a parking lot. There was no collision and no reason whatsoever for the airbags to deploy. The airbags in the dash did not deploy. The airbag hit me in the side of the head and shrapnel from the airbag, hit me in the face and eyes and knocked me sideways toward the passenger seat. I was completely stunned and had piercing pain throughout my head and neck. I was able to pull into a parking spot and call police dispatch, and get the car towed. The car will be inspected tomorrow by the insurance company, but because there was no reason for the airbags to deploy, this could be a major problem! Imagine if I was driving on the freeway or in another situation and the airbags just deployed for no reason with no warning. Please take immediate action to get these unsafe airbags off the road. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. While driving 40 MPH in inclement weather and road conditions, there was a loss of traction and steering ability. The vehicle spun out of control, rolled over at least five times, and crashed into a ditch. The seat belt restrained the driver; however, the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained extensive bruising on the right side of the body, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. Miller motor sales inc (1196 milwaukee ave, burlington, wi 53105, [phone]) was notified. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a yard by the insurance company. The approximate failure mileage was 204,000.
2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac a good car?
Based on 86 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Explorer Sport Trac rates avoid: 2.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Explorer Sport Trac at the same age. It is one of the Explorer Sport Trac years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
The suspension — 14 complaints, 16% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (13) and air bags (13).
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2009 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2002, 2007, 2004 and 2003. See the full Ford Explorer Sport Trac years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 52% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.