Ford Explorer Sport Trac headlights problems

Filed Jun 2, 2025 · Electrical · OH

As I was driving to work one morning suddenly my headlights and all interior lights, such as the dashboard, suddenly went out without any warning and nothing electrical would work such as the radio and the windows and all the gauges in the dash dropped to zero or the needle fell all the way to the left. This has become an ongoing problem and I never know when it's going to go out or come back on for that matter and sometimes when it's acting crazy My speedometer will just jump all over the place. I believe this is a safety issue not only for myself but for other drivers on the road as my lights may suddenly go out as I am driving to work at 4:00 a.m. when it is dark. It is also a safety issue because when this happens I have no idea what speed I am driving or how much gas I have left or if my vehicle is starting to get hot. I have not taken the vehicle to the dealer or anywhere else for fear of it costing an arm and a leg to fix the problem, as every single Ford that I have ever owned seems to have had some type of electrical issue. I do have video of my gauges going crazy as I am driving on the highway; however looking ahead in this form it looks as if I can only submit photos and not a video.

Filed Dec 21, 2018 · Body, Wheels · 135,215 miles · GA

The front, driver's side, tire came apart and caused considerable damage to my vehicle's body and possibly other damages not seen. I need to take the vehicle to a mechanic for an inspection to see if there are other damages. The tire is a good year eagle rs-a. The dot # is 4b08 dlwr 3701. Tire size p235/70r16. I was driving on interstate I-75 when the tire came apart. It was terribly scary. I did not realize what had happened and thought the vehicle was falling apart. I pulled onto the emergency lane and realized the tire had come apart. The rubber coming off the tire caused quite a bit of body damage. The visible damages include damages to the driver's side head light, rubber ripped out the driver's side blinker, molding under the driver's door was ripped out, paint damage, tire well damage and loosening of other molding on driver's side. A mechanic will have to inspect for unseen damages.

Filed Sep 22, 2016 · Acceleration, Lights · 144,000 miles · IL

Takata recall, the inside lightsor dome lights, they shorted out one to another in the double over head lights and grounded out the battery could cause several problems one it killed the battery and I found out when I went to change one of the lights and to stop I took both lights out and seperated the copper that conects with switch

Filed Dec 18, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 202,556 miles · GA

On sunday the night before the incident the vehicle was used that day. In the afternoon around 3 pm it was taken to get gassed up for the work week. The next morning was chilly and it was started to warm the vehicle up. However, the vehicle didn't start at all. The dash lights, interior-exterior lights all have power to include power locks and windows. The battery tested good, the starter and solenoid tested good. The wire to the solenoid from the battery has power. The vehicle had not shown signs of faulty starting. Two to 3 times before this incident none of the lights would work but then miraculously work again. When the lights would work I'm mean the headlights, left and right turn signal, etc. It seemed the one way to get them to work again would be to adjust the steering wheel but that didn't always work. Why is this vehicle not starting when the day before is was working just fine and had not given any signs of failure?

Filed Sep 3, 2013 · Fuel system · AZ

I have a bad problem ( 2 ) times with the fuel pump the first one was spraying gas out top exterior of fuel pump .my husband went to a wrecking yard and purchased a used fuel pump than 5 to 6 months later done the same thing spraying out top exterior elbow of fuel pump. I use my truck to take my daughter back and forth to school and it is a very dangerous cause the fumes were really bad inside of cab and plus if some one was to throw a cigarette or anything that could ignite the leaking gas . I think that this matter should be fixed cause I know that I am not the only one that had or has this problem and not to say all of the other things that are wrong like my high beams not working the front door window is very slow going up and down and the back door ( passenger right side ) blow motor and ect. The big one is the fuel pump I fell that this is the worst and it should be fix before someone gets badly hurt or killed.

Filed Dec 12, 2008 · Lights · 22,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford explorer sport trac. The contact stated that the light switch that controls the headlights has been replaced four times. The failure occurred once while driving 25 MPH. He feels that the vehicle is unsafe to drive because the light switch may not work while driving at night. The current and failure mileages were 22,000. Updated 01/06/09. *lj updated 01/06/09.

Filed Oct 21, 2006 · Lights · 80,000 miles · OK

The headlights continues to go on and off. Most of the time it is the passenger side light but the drivers side also does the same thing. I have replaced the passenger side pigtale but the problem is still there.

Filed Aug 27, 2006 · Visibility · 10 miles · PA

I have a heated windshield with little lines through it. I am experiencing a major amount of headlight and tail light glare. I was told to clean it with vinegar with no results. Yellow lens, no help. Ars eyeglass coating no help. I don't wear glasses. I have no problems in my husbands vehicle. Someone needs to check into this. They are dangerous. They are telling me they can't put a plain windshield in the vehicle due to wiring. I need help....I am afraid to drive vehicle at night.

Filed Jun 15, 2003 · Electrical · 54 miles · AL

June 2, 2003 6:40 pm picked up the brand new explorer sport trac from treadwell ford and drove home to west mobile. June 3, 2003 7:20 am drove the nearly 30 mile commute to work in north mobile county. Upon parking the vehicle, it smelled hot, with a nearly burnt electrical smell. June 3, 2003 ~8:40 pm left work after long day. Drove approximately 3 miles, when radio console went black. Shortly thereafter, entire dashboard panel lighting, headlights, and electrical system started to act erratically. Pulled into bp gas station, and vehicle combustion system began to sputter. Braked to stop vehicle motion temporarily, and vehicle seemed to act drivable again. Attempted to leave bp station, but vehicle stopped and would not restart. Needed assistance to push vehicle out of entrance to highway 43. Creola police officer and another man who both assisted with pushing the vehicle while I steered it stated brake lights were acting erratically. June 4, 2003 ~8:50 am talked with don davis in treadwell ford service and explained what had happened last night. June 4, 2003 ~5:30 pm don davis left a message at my home that they were working on the vehicle but could not find any problem. June 5, 2003 ~11:30 am don davis left a message at my home that by driving the vehicle around, he was able to reproduce what happened to me the evening of june 3. June 5, 2003 ~5:30 pm don davis left a message that the vehicle was ready to be picked up as the alternator had been replaced.

Filed Jun 10, 2003 · Lights · TX

I purchased a new 2003 ford explorer sport trac this year and the headlights are made so that you cannot adjust them for side vision. I have had the truck to two different dealers and the technicians say that it is a design fault. Driving this vehicle at night is comparable to having tunnel vision. My truck is equipped with fog lights and they do help with the side vision but they only work on low beam. Even with the fog lights the area to the side of the truck are blacked out. In the months that I have had this vehicle I have only driven about six times at night. I do not know anyone else that owns a similar truck so I haven't been able to find out if everyone has this problem or just me.