NHTSA vehicle safety data
2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 31 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac owner complaints
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, describing incidents dated February 14, 2010 to September 14, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Power Train 7 complaints
- Engine 6 complaints
- Air Bags 4 complaints
- Seats 4 complaints
- Service Brakes 4 complaints
- Structure 3 complaints
Of the 31 complaints on file, 2 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 31 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11763983 · Filed
Passenger Seat / Airbag Safety Concern The front passenger seat does not reliably lock into position and can move while the vehicle is being driven. The vehicle also displays “REMOVE OBJECT PASS SEAT” even when the passenger seat is completely empty and there are no objects on, underneath, or around…
ODI #11584230 · Filed
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. I've just been fortunate it hasn't quit while I'm in a driving situation…
ODI #11564197 · Filed
The key gets stuck in the ignition when gear selector is placed in park. This issue is due to the Gear Shift Assembly - Ford (9L2Z-7210-BB) malfunctioning.
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac in 1 investigation. Audit Queries and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations: they look at whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules, not at a possible vehicle defect. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Audit Query AQ10-001: Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Closed December 28, 2015
FRONT DRIVER & PASSENGER SEATS MANUAL RECLINERS
NHTSA #10V161000 · Seats — Front Assembly — Recliner · NHTSA notice
Reported April 20, 2010 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Potentially affected: 33,256 vehicles
Ford campaign 10C11 · Owners notified May 3, 2010 · Vehicles built December 11, 2009 – February 3, 2010 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, EXPLORER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND MERCURY MILAN AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINERS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINT." THE RECLINER GEAR PLATE TEETH MAY BE OUT OF DIMENSION SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LIMITED PAWL TO GEAR PLATE TOOTH ENGAGEMENT.
Safety consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEATBACK AND HEAD RESTRAINT MAY MOVE REARWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL RECLINERS FOR BOTH POWER AND MANUAL SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Notes
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .
Other Ford Explorer Sport Trac model years
Check your 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford Explorer Sport Trac at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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