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.

Read all 31 complaints

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.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

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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