1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.

< older1998
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0

Worst 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#11 complaints

Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)

#21 complaints

Seat Belts:Front

#31 complaints

Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate

Considering a 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.

Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Ford Explorer Sport Trac Years

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1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) with 1 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
Top reported problems: Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) (1 complaints); Seat Belts:Front (1 complaints); Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate (1 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
Does the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford Explorer Sport Trac reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 1997 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

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