Ford Explorer Sport Trac won't start problems

Filed Aug 15, 2023 · Electrical, Lights · CA

I was driving and the lights on the vehicle went out I thought it was the bulbs but no lights were working I adjusted steering wheel to look to see fuse box and all lights came back on there is an electrical short somewhere then I went to start the truck and it made a funny sound and then I lost all power and truck wouldn't start then the alarm kept going off and I could turn off even with the remote or the chipped key. And the truck won't start. Also when you change gears the indicator to show what gear you are in dosent move . This truck has electrical issues and is not safe for drivers to lose all power like this and basically its something ford should be responsible for fixing because it's a defect in the electrical system also the AC compressor dosent work

Filed Jun 27, 2017 · Fuel system · 142,808 miles · FL

On may 4, 2017 I was at a red light on a very busy highway when the vehicle's engine just shut off. Check engine light came on and another wrench symbol light came on. I got it started again but was very slow accelerating and within a few feet it stopped accelerating even when pressing on the gas all the way. I was stuck trying to coast through a very busy intersection until I could get it in a parking lot.it would restart but would not accelerate and then engine was shaking. Then wouldn't start at all. I had to call someone to pick me up and then a tow service to have it towed to a mechanic shop. The repair shop called and informed me that it was running but the check engine light was still on and it gave a computer code for a bad throttle body motor. They informed me after researching that is a common and dangerous occurence with my vehicle type so they replaced the throttle body motor. This had happened before in october of 2016 on a road trip the truck just stopped running while I was driving down a highway and I was stranded on the side of the road for 30 minutes until it finally started running again. The check engine light stayed on for several days after that.

Filed Feb 9, 2015 · Engine · 85,000 miles · TX

After turning onto the main road out of our subdivision the vehicle shut down and would not start. The car behind us nearly ran into the back of the vehicle. It appears there is a design flaw in the tensioners used for the timing chains on the motor in this vehicle. The tensioners are a plastic that cannot hold up to the heat and eventually deteriorate prematurely. Apparently when one of them fails the vehicle automatically shuts off the engine causing the driver to lose control.

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 May 9, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 72,481 miles · WI

Stopped to get fuel and truck would not start. Engine would turn over, but would not start. I had vehicle towed to the ford dealership. Told by the ford service manager that it was the fuel control module located by the rear spare tire and they have replaced many of them. The ford dealership confirmed it and replaced the fuel control module. My cost $386.93. We had purchased a extended motor vehicle service agreement (national protection plan, inc.) from capital ford in madison, wi. We were told when we purchased the policy it was a bumper to bumper and the company will not stand behind policy.

Filed Aug 5, 2011 · Fuel system · 82,500 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford explorer sport trac. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The contact also stated that she attempted on several occasions to start the vehicle while depressing the accelerator pedal, but it would not start. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop, who diagnosed that the fuel pump was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure continued. The contact stated that the fuel pump was replaced a total of four times within the past six months. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 82,500 and the current mileage was 82,600.

Filed Feb 7, 2010 · 83,800 miles · FL

I was leaving my friend's house to drive approximately 2 miles and when I went to park my truck which is a 2004 ford explorer sport trac xlt, the gear shifter was very loose going into park, but did not engage because I was still rolling back, I then proceeded to put on the emergency brake. I turned off my truck and then started it again and this time my truck will not turn over and the shifter is still extremely loose. I looked on several forums and they all say that I might have to replace my steering column, and as far as my truck not starting, I don't know.

Filed Apr 9, 2007 · Engine · 84,000 miles · PA

Tl*- the contact owns a 2001 ford explorer sport tract with a failure mileage of 84,000 miles. The contact was driving under wet conditions at about 35 MPH when the vehicle made a hard jerk and then lost power. The contact tried to restart the vehicle, but it would not turn over. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic, who found that there was water in the engine and the timing gear had failed. The contact had been to the dealer several times about this problem before the failure happened. The contact had the engine replaced, and found that the engine's failure was due to recall 00m12 concerning the timing chain of which the federal safety agency had no record. *ak the consumer states that even though the truck is a 2001, it should be listed on the recall because it was manufactured in august 2000. The consumer has provided the repair invoice. Update 05/04/07

Filed Aug 9, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 500 miles · CA

I purchased a ford explorer sport trac in dec. 2002. I have been in and out of the service department a number of times. The following is a list of items that I've had repaired under warranty: 1.) front brakes: a loud rubbing/griding sound became increasingly louder. The first time the service dept. Folks said that it was normal. The next time I brought the car in, they could deny the noise and they subsequently replace one rotor and resurfaced the other. 2.) rear axle: a broken seal allowed hydroulic fluid to cover inside of the rear wheel causing difficulty in braking. The service dept. Repaired under warranty 3.) the transfer case for the 4-wheel drive was leaking fluid. The service dept. Repaired under warranty. 4.) the vehicle stalls a numerous amounts of times (10-15 times) since I've owned it. It stalls while I'm driving at 35 miles per hour, in reverse, day or night. When I go for an errand and park, the vehicle will not start. An hour later, when the tow truck is there, the vehicle start. It drives me crazy!! The service dept. Says they cannot do anything because nothing registers on the computer and they cannot simulate the problem. The last time it happened (08-04-04) merging on to the freeway it stalled. Upon start-up, black smoke poured out of the exhaust and idling was extremely rough. I had it towed to a ford dealership. The service dept replaced a mass airflow meter under warrenty. The vehicle runs...I'll cross my fingers!! My current problem is that the front tires are severly cupping and the front end viberates at 60 MPH and over. The vehicle has 25k miles and the tires have been rotated 5 times about every 5k miles. I had the wheels checked for alignment and balance and it is to specifications. The service dept says its normal and to continue with the rotations. The tires are wearing unevenly and prematurely. The tire shop recommends that the shocks and struts be replaced. The service dept does not.

Filed Jun 8, 2004 · Engine · 11,000 miles · IN

I bought a ford explorer sport trac in aug. Of 2002. Ever since it was a year old I have had nothing but problems with it. I had it 6 times for the same issue, they replaced the same part 4 times, that did not help. They finally called the ford help line and found out they needed to replace the whole gas tank. My truck the first time lost all power while driving down the road, I shut it off and it restarted fine. I took into the dealership and they had to re-program the main computer chip. Next, my truck wouldn't start unless holding down the gas pedal then finally it would start and there would be a black smoke cloud that would come out of the tail pipe each time. The new gas tank finally fixed this problem! Now I have other issues with a noise in the engine and when I first start it up and back out of the garage or parking space it sputters then once in drive it is ok, also when shifting after 40mph it has a hard shift instead of a smooth one. Still trying to get it fixed.