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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.

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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

Power Train complaints

3 reports
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212,000 miles · Nov 25, 2018
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING FRIDAY AFTERNOON AFTER WORK WAS OVER GOT HOME AN PARKED IT WENT TO LEAVE TO GO TO THE STORE AN IT WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME WAS THE OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR I REPLACED IT AN IT DROVE PERFECTLY FINE I HAD IT SERVICED FOR OIL AN TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH AFTER THA…

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I WAS DRIVING FRIDAY AFTERNOON AFTER WORK WAS OVER GOT HOME AN PARKED IT WENT TO LEAVE TO GO TO THE STORE AN IT WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME WAS THE OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR I REPLACED IT AN IT DROVE PERFECTLY FINE I HAD IT SERVICED FOR OIL AN TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH AFTER THAT IT DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AN AS I DESCRIBED IN THE BEGINNING IT HAPPENED AGAIN SAME SYMPTOMS O/D FLASHING WOULDN'T GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE SO I REPLACED THE SENSOR AGAIN THIS TIME IT STILL DID NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT IT HAS 212000 ON IT AN FORD KNOWS THESE GO OUT AN THE TRANSMISSION SHOP I GO TO SAID THEY REPLACE 12 EVERY MOTH CAUSE THIS IS COMMON WITH FORD VEHICLES SO WHY DOE FORD NOT COVER THIS AN WHY ARE THERE NO RECALLS ON THIS IN MY OPINION THIS IS A COMPLETE JOKE ON FORD NOW I HAVE TO SPEND 2400 ON REPLACING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WHICH I THINK FORD SHOULD BE REPLACING IT FOR FREE KNOWING [XXX] WELL THAT THE TRANSMISSIONS GO OUT IN THEM FORCING THE OWNER TO PAY THE PRICE FOR NEW ONE IT'S ABSOLUTELY ABSURD FORD NEEDS TO GET THERE HEAD OUT OF THERE ASS AN REPLACE THESE FOR FREE FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY PEOPLE ACTUALLY SPEND ON FIXING THERE CARS OIL CHANGES TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHES AND TIRES THAT WE HAVE TO BUY EVERY YEAR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11153599

36,000 miles · Sep 23, 2011
Power Train

I PURCHASED MY SPORT TRAC IN 2005. IN 2011 I HAD APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A SEVERE VIBRATION WHICH CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD AND MADE STEERING DIFFICULT DOING ABOUT 60 MPH. I REPLACED THE TIRES BUT THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD SENT OUT A SERVICE MEMO STATING THIS PARTICULAR FORD MODEL HAD …

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I PURCHASED MY SPORT TRAC IN 2005. IN 2011 I HAD APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A SEVERE VIBRATION WHICH CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD AND MADE STEERING DIFFICULT DOING ABOUT 60 MPH. I REPLACED THE TIRES BUT THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD SENT OUT A SERVICE MEMO STATING THIS PARTICULAR FORD MODEL HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVESHAFT AND A NEW ALUMINUM ONE WAS NECESSARY. I CONTACTED FORD BUT WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. ON JUNE 15, I WENT TO CLASSIC FORD LINCOLN-MERCURY AND TOLD THEM I NEEDED AN UPDATED DRIVESHAFT. AFTER IT WAS INSTALLED THE VIBRATION CONTINUED AND I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY THEN INSTALLED THE RIGHT ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT. MY PROBLEM IS THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THE DRIVESHAFT AND THE VIBRATION IT CAUSED AND HAD WRITTEN A SERVICE MEMO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I KNOW THAT MY CAR HAD 36,000 MILES BUT THAT IS WHEN THE PROBLEM BECAME SERIOUS. I BELIEVE THAT FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCTS AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR THE PROBLEMS THEY CAUSED. I THINK FORD MOTOR SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THE ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT SINCE I WAS MADE AWARE THAT FORD REALIZED THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE WRONG ONE AND FAILED TO HAVE A RECALL . HOPEFULLY NO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS RESULTED FROM THIS FORD ENGINEERING ERROR.

NHTSA ODI #10427428

98,000 miles · May 24, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHETHER DRIVING OR ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING WHETHER DRIVING OR ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #10402528

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.