2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac reliability: common problems

Owners of the 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac filed 31 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 31
involving a crash: 2

What fails most often

1 Powertrain 23% of all complaints
2 Air bags 13% of all complaints
3 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
4 Seats 13% of all complaints
5 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
6 Structure 10% of all complaints
7 Wheels 10% of all complaints
8 Electrical system 6% 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: 7 complaints (23% of all).
Air bags: 4 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine and cooling: 4 complaints (13% of all).
Seats: 4 complaints (13% of all).
Service brakes: 4 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 31 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

warning lights, check engine5 · 16%
loss of power / limp mode2 · 6%
steering or power steering problems2 · 6%
unintended acceleration2 · 6%
transmission slipping2 · 6%
vibration2 · 6%
airbag warning light1 · 3%
airbags did not deploy1 · 3%
A/C or heater1 · 3%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Powertrain	7	0
Air bags	4	1
Engine and cooling	4	0
Seats	4	0
Service brakes	4	1
Structure	3	1
Wheels	3	1
Electrical system	2	0
Engine	2	0
Vehicle speed control	2	0
Electronic stability control	1	0
Fuel/propulsion system	1	0
Steering	1	0
Suspension	1	0

What owners report

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

When the brakes are engaged, that accelerator also engages causing the vehicle to not stop. Which caused a serious wreck. This has been checked out by the ford dealer on multiple occasions. Several others have also reported this issue. Truck is totaled and airbags did not deploy with direct front end impact.
Air bags · crash · 2021-02-12 · NHTSA complaint #11396001
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.
Wheels · crash · 2011-12-13 · NHTSA complaint #10439795
The airbag/SRS warning light is also illuminated. We have thoroughly checked the passenger seat and surrounding area for objects, but the warning remains. The passenger seat's failure to remain securely locked while the vehicle is moving is a serious safety concern, particularly because it is occurring at the same…
Air bags · 2026-09-14 · NHTSA complaint #11763983
My vehicle's engine has on a number of occasions simply quit running. The engine has died while underway, and also when resuming from a stop. It will or has to this point cranked without problems each time this has happened.
Engine · 2024-04-20 · NHTSA complaint #11584230
The contact had the seat track replaced by an independent mechanic; however, the failure returned soon after repair. The contact then took the vehicle to a local dealer where he was given an estimate for the repair of another seat track.
Seats · 2021-09-24 · NHTSA complaint #11434260
Takata recall, the air bag light come on some times and other times it dose not. What can be done about this problem? It dose this when I start it and the light stay on and some times it dose not come on. Please advise. Thanks -- auto buyers, inc.
Air bags · 2018-11-15 · NHTSA complaint #11151714
I am driving with no problems then out of nowhere the wrench and check engine light comes on while loosing accretion. I am scared to death driving this vehicle. I have lost power in intersections, going up a bridge, in traffic, and coming off an onramp. I am going to be stuck paying for repairs.
Electronic stability control · 2018-10-23 · NHTSA complaint #11141972
My complaint is not with the seat belt. Please refer me to the right department. Took my 2010 ford explorer sport trac to dealership for full service. After got my truck back the engine light on my dash came on.
Powertrain · 2018-06-09 · NHTSA complaint #11100668

When owners complained

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

20107
20113
20131
20143
20152
20163
20171
20183
20191
20202
20212
20242
20261

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 6,472 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Explorer Sport Trac has 55 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 31, 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.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, air bags, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 31. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (16%), loss of power / limp mode (6%), steering or power steering problems (6%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 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 2010 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 2010 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.