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2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 27.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

51 reports with mileage · 15 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

5 reports
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64,000 miles · Feb 2, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL GAUGE IN MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC STOPPED WORKING. IT READS BELOW EMPTY AT ALL TIMES. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND IT IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM IN FORD EXPLORERS, MOUNTAINEERS AND RANGER HAVING A FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT AND FUEL PUMPS IN THIS MODEL YEAR. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND SHOULD BE RE…

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THE FUEL GAUGE IN MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC STOPPED WORKING. IT READS BELOW EMPTY AT ALL TIMES. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND IT IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM IN FORD EXPLORERS, MOUNTAINEERS AND RANGER HAVING A FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT AND FUEL PUMPS IN THIS MODEL YEAR. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. NOT KNOWING WHEN OR WHERE A VEHICLE WILL RUN OUT OF GAS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NOT KNOWING IF THE FUEL PUMP WILL FAIL IS ALSO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IT COULD BE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR IN A DESOLATE AREA. AFTER VIEWING SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS INTERNET SITES, FORD IS ALSO STILL SELLING THESE VEHICLES PRE-OWNED AND NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE SALE. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM EXCEPT TO CHARGE PEOPLE FOR THE REPAIR. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10446298

65,806 miles · Feb 15, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE IT SPRAYED BACK OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO FUEL THE VEHICLE AND THEY BOTH EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ADD FUEL TO HER VEHICLE AND SHE WAS ALSO UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE DASHB…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE IT SPRAYED BACK OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO FUEL THE VEHICLE AND THEY BOTH EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ADD FUEL TO HER VEHICLE AND SHE WAS ALSO UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,806.

NHTSA ODI #10382727

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO, I HAVE DEALT WITH A "CHECK FUEL CAP" LIGHT THAT CONSISTENTLY TURNS ON AND OFF. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER I TRY TO PUMP GAS, IT USUALLY COMES SPEWING OUT. NOW IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT WHENEVER I DO TRY AND PUMP GAS, IT WILL ONLY LET ME PUT IN ABOUT 10 CENTS AT A TIME BEFORE THE LATCH MAKES ME STOP. I G…

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FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO, I HAVE DEALT WITH A "CHECK FUEL CAP" LIGHT THAT CONSISTENTLY TURNS ON AND OFF. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER I TRY TO PUMP GAS, IT USUALLY COMES SPEWING OUT. NOW IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT WHENEVER I DO TRY AND PUMP GAS, IT WILL ONLY LET ME PUT IN ABOUT 10 CENTS AT A TIME BEFORE THE LATCH MAKES ME STOP. I GET VERY NERVOUS AFTER PUMPING MY GAS, KNOWING THAT THE LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR HAS GASOLINE SPILT ALL OVER IT. WHAT IF I WAS TO DRIVE BEHIND SOMEBODY THAT THROWS A CIGARETTE OUT AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT IT TOUCHS THE GASOLINE ON THE SIDE OF MY CAR? IN ORDER TO GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED, I TOOK IT TO D&D COLLISION, AND ACCORDING TO THEM THEY SAID IT IS THE EVAP CHARCOAL CANISTERS THAT ARE CAUSING THIS REACTION FOR THE GAS TO COME BACK OUT OF THE GAS TANK. IT JUST SO HAPPENS, THAT USUALLY MOST CARS ONLY HAVE ONE CANISTER, BUT MINE HAS TWO. THE TOTAL COST TO FIX IS APPROXIMATELY $500 AND THAT IS NOT INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THEY SAID ONCE THEY CHANGE THE CANISTERS THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IF THEIR ARE MORE PROBLEMS. THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE ABOUT 95% CORRECT ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAID THERE IS ABOUT A 5% CHANCE THAT THEIR COULD MORE TO THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD WITH GASOLINE ALL OVER THE LEFT SIDE. THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT, OR ANYTHING, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THIS RANDOMLY CAME FROM. I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON MY SPORTS TRAC EXPLORER AND IT JUST SEEMS THAT ALL TOGETHER, THE CAR WAS PUT TOGETHER IN POORLY CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265314

24,587 miles · Jun 26, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

TRUCK SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN AUGUST 2007 (MILEAGE: 24587). VERY DANGEROUS I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. 2 OTHERS IN TRUCK WITH ME, I WAS IN MIDDLE LANE OF I95. TOWED TRUCK TO QUALITY FORD OF MT. VERNON AND THEY REPLACE FUEL PUMP. IT DID IT AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2007 (MILEAGE: 29082) WHILE I WAS ON THE STREET. AGAIN, I HAD IT TOW…

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TRUCK SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN AUGUST 2007 (MILEAGE: 24587). VERY DANGEROUS I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. 2 OTHERS IN TRUCK WITH ME, I WAS IN MIDDLE LANE OF I95. TOWED TRUCK TO QUALITY FORD OF MT. VERNON AND THEY REPLACE FUEL PUMP. IT DID IT AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2007 (MILEAGE: 29082) WHILE I WAS ON THE STREET. AGAIN, I HAD IT TOWED TO QUALITY FORD OF MT. VERNON AND THIS TIME THEY SAID MY FUEL FILTER WAS DIRTY DIRTY DIRTY. EVEN THOUGH I HAD LESS THAN 30,000 MILES AND THE FILTER WASN'T EVEN DUE TO BE CHANGED, ACCORDING TO THEIR GUIDELINES. THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF A FEW TIMES AND I WAS ABLE TO RE-START IT WITH A JUMP. THEN FEBRUARY 22, 2008 (MILEAGE: 30972) THE CAR SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING LOCALLY AND I GOT A JUMP AND TOOK IT BACK TO QUALITY FORD OF MT. VERNON AND THEY REPLACE THE BATTERY THIS TIME. THEN APRIL 8, 2008 (MILEAGE: 32487) THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF ON ME AFTER STARTING WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO QUALITY FORD OF MT. VERNON AND THEY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN AND A FUEL PUMP MODULE. NOW IT'S JUNE 2008 (MILEAGE: 24,704) AND MY CAR HAS BEEN AT QUALITY FORD OF MT. VERNON FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS. FIRST THEY DID THE DIAGNOSTICS AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING, SO THEY SAID THEY HAD AN ENGINEER COMING IN TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINEER SUPPOSEDLY SAID I NEEDED YET ANOTHER FUEL PUMP AND SOME OTHER GISMO. I STILL DON'T HAVE A CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232370

29,111 miles · Aug 7, 2006
Fuel System, GasolineInjury

I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC - THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM SWITCH SEEMS TO SHUT DOWN ALL BY ITSELF. ONCE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS AT A STAND STILL IN THE LEFT HAND TURN LANE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION AND AGAIN LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE VERY BUSY 405 FWY. THE TRUCK JUST "SHUTS OFF" NO GAS, NO NOTHING. I HAD ONE …

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I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC - THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM SWITCH SEEMS TO SHUT DOWN ALL BY ITSELF. ONCE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS AT A STAND STILL IN THE LEFT HAND TURN LANE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION AND AGAIN LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE VERY BUSY 405 FWY. THE TRUCK JUST "SHUTS OFF" NO GAS, NO NOTHING. I HAD ONE PASSENGER INJURED AS WE WERE PULLED OVER, A CAR WENT BUY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND KNOCKED MY FRIEND INTO THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOU CAN'T DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT WILL JUST TURN ITSELF OFF IN "MID-STREAM" I COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY BIG ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164845

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE09020 · Vehicle Rollaway Allegations

Opened Apr 21, 2009 · Closed Aug 19, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:column; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

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 BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Steering:column

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 BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.

Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

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 BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.

Steering

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 BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.