Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 86 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #06E056000 FUEL LEAK/FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 14 complaints
- Air Bags 13 complaints
- Power Train 13 complaints
- Structure 9 complaints
- Tires 8 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 8 complaints
Of the 86 complaints on file, 14 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 86 complaints, owners report 18 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,500–$11,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac faces extensive owner complaints, especially in suspension and powertrain issues, and has notable recalls, including safety-critical ones. Frequent failures and moderate repair costs contribute to its below-average rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 70,000–100,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | very common |
| powertrain | 80,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,500 | common |
| airbags | 60,000–90,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | common |
| electrical system | 90,000–130,000 miles | $300–$1,000 | occasional |
| engine cooling | 100,000–140,000 miles | $400–$900 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil change every 5,000 miles
- Brake pads replacement every 30,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 40,000 miles
- Transmission service every 50,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 7,500 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual suspension noise
- Transmission slipping
- Airbag warning light
- Electrical shorts
- Overheating engine
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.