2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac recalls and problems

There are no safety recalls for the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, but owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA.

Recalls
0
Complaints
86
Crashes / fires
14 / 1
Injuries / deaths
18 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Suspension15
Power Train13
Air Bags13
Structure9
Vehicle Speed Control8
Electrical System7
Engine and Engine Cooling7
Tires6
Seat Belts5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Unknown or Other4
Steering3

Most reported parts

  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 9
  • Structure › Body — 7
  • Suspension › Front — 5
  • Air Bags › Side/Window — 4
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 4
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 3
  • Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control — 3
  • Suspension › Rear › Shock Absorber — 2

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 45,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Air Bags · reported Jun 5, 2024
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…
Structure · reported Jan 14, 2020
The body of my 2004 ford explorer sport trac xlt has rivets on the top of the roof that hold water. Instead of being a flat surface where rain can naturally fall off the top of the roof it sits in these rivets and accumulates rust. This leads to a lot more problems.
Seat Belts · at 110,000 miles · reported Oct 10, 2019
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.
Seats · at 10,000 miles · reported Oct 8, 2019
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 the truck; that didnt work for me because I would have no transportation and I always have to go to work, then and now. I saw a recall on the 2010 for this and figured I would let you know it was for a lot longer than that. It might help explain some dead people in sport tracs. I certainly had some…
Electrical System · at 168,000 miles · reported Oct 1, 2018
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.

Other Ford Explorer Sport Trac years

Compare all Ford Explorer Sport Trac years · All Ford models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have any recalls?

No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.

What is the most common problem with the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

Owners report suspension problems most often (15 reports), followed by power train (13). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 45,000 miles.

Are Ford recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Ford dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.