Ford Explorer Sport Trac Wheel & Tire Problems

Wheel & Tire complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Tread/belt
  3
• Sidewall
  3
• Pressure monitoring and regulating systems
  3
• Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
  2
• Rim
  1
• Valve
  1

Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1231%
• 25k–50k
  1128%
• 50k–75k
  00%
• 75k–100k
  615%
• 100k–150k
  821%
• 150k+
  25%

What owners report

I replaced the original OEM pirelli tires in December 2015 when the vehicle had approximately 36,000 miles on it. They were replaced with the same brand, size and style of pirelli tires. On March 8, 2016 at approx. 42,000 miles I returned to the tire shop to have the tires rebalanced after noticing some bumpiness. The tire shop discovered that in two of the tires the steel band which held the TPMS sensor in place had disintegrated and was free floating in the tire and had ruined the inner liners in the tires making them extremely unsafe. I contacted my local Ford dealer and inquired about possible recalls and/or bulletins involving the steel bands used on the TPMS. Ford denied any previous issues with the bands however they did note that Ford had quit using the steel bands after only using them a short while. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, he lost control of the vehicle, drove through a field and crashed. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the front driver side wheel was detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance. The failure and the current mileages were 30,000.

2007 sporttrac, started downshifting very rough when coming to a stop, took to freeport, il dealer who adjusted parts of the transmission, this made the downshifting much better for a few months, it is back now and worse than ever. You have to have your foot hard on the brake and don't stop very close to any vehicle or property in front of you. I learned hard way last week and hit a cement post with the front bumper, I had actually stopped maybe 6 inches from the post but the surge after stopped propelled me maybe 7-8", it is a very very dangerous situation. …

(year 2011 to 2013 all this happened lemon) the wheel bearings went on the vehicle...had to have all three replaced...both front ...one drivers side back. It wasn't the tires because they were brand new.( $2.100 including labor) the mechanic stated that never should have happened. This seems to be an on going problem with Sport tracs ...I am to have the right rear passenger side done soon ...no one has over $700...to put towards a vehicle in this day and age with the economy the way it is. This Sport Trac has been with so many issues to do with wheels, transmission (one month in the repair shop, reverse and drive gone on the tranny( $6897.65), radiator (replaced 3x due to rupture of the, cooling and heating system $1017.), hoses breaking ($200)...no wonder they quit making them total pain in the keester and very hard on the pocket book. …

The front, driver's side, tire came apart and caused considerable damage to my vehicle's body and possibly other damages not seen. I need to take the vehicle to a mechanic for an inspection to see if there are other damages. The tire is a good year Eagle rs-a. The dot # is 4b08 dlwr 3701. Tire size p235/70r16. I was driving on interstate I-75 when the tire came apart. It was terribly scary. I did not realize what had happened and thought the vehicle was falling apart. I pulled onto the emergency lane and realized the tire had come apart. The rubber coming off the tire caused quite a bit of body damage. The visible damages include damages to the driver's side head light, rubber ripped out the driver's side blinker, molding under the driver's door was ripped out, paint damage, tire well damage and loosening of other molding on driver's side. …

Tire thread separation(s) , severely vibrated the whole vehicle at all speed..sever to very severe vibration as speed is going up to highway speed limits. At low speeds it feels like you are hitting a pot hole every tire rotation. Tire brand: yokohama geolander 235/65r17 dot fbls. Installed in a 2005 Ford sportrac VIN [redacted] used just over 14000 miles....all tire pressures, maintenance and recommended tire rotation has been serviced on the said vehicle.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with mastercraft courser a/t 2 tires (size: lt265/75r16). While driving approximately 70 MPH, the front passenger side tire exploded, causing the contact to crash into another vehicle and the highway median. The front axle and tie rod fractured during the failure. The contact sustained a fractured back and a concussion. The contact was transported to the hospital via ambulance. The police reported to the scene and a report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 08t005000 (tires:sidewall) that could have been related to the failure. The contact stated the recall the dot number was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 2,000. The failure mileage of the vehicle was 110,000. ...updated 07/19/12

I own a 2004 Ford Explorer sporttrac that came with Michelin cross terrain tires. As I was driving home for the holidays my front driver side tire came apart, rubber started to fly everywhere, beating my truck up pretty bad. The tire was still holding air when I made it to the shoulder, the tire held its air pressure for 2 days after I had taken it off. Just thought I should let someone know.

NHTSA investigations