2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Recalls
No NHTSA recalls on record for the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 108 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Complaints by component
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“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…”
“During normal use, usually when in motion but frequently when the vehicle is not in motion, the drivers seat suddenly flops backwards to the recline position. This has been an issue since the truck was about three years old. I took it to the dealer one time but they said they would have to keep…”
“Seatbelt mechanism for driver side and passenger side is inoperable. It doesn't lock after you put your seatbelt on. The mechanism you put the seatbelt buckle in is good but after that the lock mechanism for the belt to retract isn't working properly. It doesn't matter if you are driving or parked.”
“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;…”
“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;…”
“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;…”
“Instrument panel cluster gauges and odometer drop to zero at times while driving, and I don't know my speed and well as rpm's. Afraid the engine might slow down or stop creating a possible freeway accident. On line there are several complaint about this problem.”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford explorer sport trac. The contact stated that the driver and front passenger seat belts failed to retract and lock in position. The contact called sanders ford (located at 1006 w corbrelt ave, swansboro, nc 28584, [REDACTED]) and was informed that the seat belts…”
Defect investigations
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…
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…
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…
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. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT…
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. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT…
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. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.