2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac reliability: common problems

Owners of the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 6

What fails most often

1 Powertrain 33% of all complaints
2 Air bags 17% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
4 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
5 Tires 17% of all complaints
6 Vehicle speed control 17% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Powertrain: 2 complaints (33% of all).
Air bags: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Electrical system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Service brakes: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Tires: 1 complaints (17% of all).

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Powertrain	2	0	0
Air bags	1	0	0
Electrical system	1	0	0
Service brakes	1	0	0
Tires	1	0	0
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

On October 31, 2025, I was backing out of my driveway when multiple lights concerning the brakes came on. There had been no previous warnings about any issue with the brakes. My internet search revealed that it wasn't safe to drive, so I contacted Gary Yeoman Ford and they sent a rollback to pick the truck up.
Service brakes · 2026-01-11 · NHTSA complaint #11710230
When in 4 wheel drive and put it in park it locks up. Can not remove and get out of park.
Powertrain · 2020-11-13 · NHTSA complaint #11374539
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ford explorer sport trac. When the vehicle was engaged in park, the key became stuck inside the ignition. The contact mentioned that he manually pushed a pin in the shifter to remove the key.
Powertrain · 2019-09-03 · NHTSA complaint #11252869
While driving on the highway, the tire blew up due to a nail embedded in the tire. The tire was ripped away from the rim. The spare was placed on the vehicle and then driven to the dealer where the truck was purchased.
Tires · 2009-09-04 · NHTSA complaint #10282828
My new 2009 ford explorer sport trac with adjustable pedals has the accelerator pedal and brake pedal too close together. I find myself hitting the gas at the same time I am hitting the brake. This is an accident waiting to happen. I already have run into an intersection once.
Vehicle speed control · 2009-04-27 · NHTSA complaint #10267020

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20092
20191
20201
20211
20261

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 12,234 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 38% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Explorer Sport Trac has 55 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 6, below average.

What to check before buying

Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, air bags, electrical system. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (17%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2009 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.