Why did Ford stop making Explorer Sport Trac?
Ford discontinued the Explorer Sport Trac, a mid-size crossover pickup truck, in 2010 after 10 years of production. The Explorer Sport Trac was a unique vehicle that combined the utility of a pickup truck bed with the passenger capacity of an SUV, but it ultimately failed to gain widespread popularity with consumers.
Declining Sales and Changing Market Trends
The Explorer Sport Trac was introduced in 2000 as a response to the growing demand for more versatile and lifestyle-oriented vehicles. However, its sales never reached the levels that Ford had hoped for. According to industry analysts, the Sport Trac struggled to find a clear market niche, as it was not as capable as a traditional pickup truck, nor as spacious and comfortable as a full-size SUV.
As consumer preferences shifted towards more fuel-efficient and car-based crossover SUVs in the late 2000s, the Explorer Sport Trac's truck-based platform and relatively poor fuel economy became less appealing to buyers. Ford decided to discontinue the model in 2010 to focus on its more successful SUV and truck offerings, such as the standard Ford Explorer and the F-150 pickup.
Increased Competition and Changing Regulations
The Explorer Sport Trac also faced increasing competition from other midsize crossover and truck-based SUV models, such as the Honda Ridgeline and the Chevrolet Avalanche. These vehicles offered similar utility and versatility, but with more modern designs and features that appealed to a broader range of consumers.
Additionally, stricter fuel economy and emissions regulations in the late 2000s made it more challenging for Ford to continue producing the Sport Trac, which had a relatively large and inefficient V6 engine. The company likely determined that the costs of updating the Sport Trac to meet these new regulations outweighed the potential benefits of keeping the model in production.
Conclusion
In the end, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was a unique and innovative vehicle, but it failed to find a strong enough market niche to justify its continued production. Declining sales, changing consumer preferences, increased competition, and stricter regulations all contributed to Ford's decision to discontinue the model in 2010.
What replaced the Ford Sport Trac?
As Ford developed the fifth-generation Ford Explorer as a unibody crossover for the 2011 model year, the Sport Trac was phased out of the model line, with production ending in October 2010.
What are the problems with Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
Common problems for the Ford Explorer Sport Trac include issues with the plastic intake manifold cracking, wheel bearing failure, and transmission problems, particularly with the 5-speed automatic transmission. Other frequent complaints involve coolant leaks, overheating, a faulty heater blend door, and rough engine idle.
This video discusses the top 5 problems for the first generation Ford Explorer Sport Trac: 1m1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics KnowYouTube · Sep 28, 2020
Engine and cooling system
- Plastic intake manifold: This can crack and cause a coolant leak.
- Coolant leaks and overheating: This can be due to a radiator leak or other internal leaks, sometimes occurring without visible signs at first.
- Worn timing chain cassettes: These can cause a rattling noise from the engine.
- Rough idle and stalling: This can be caused by various issues, including a sticking EGR sensor or a cracked PCV hose.
Drivetrain and brakes
- Transmission issues: Problems with the 5-speed automatic transmission are common, including rough shifting and other performance issues.
- Wheel bearing failure: This is a frequently reported problem.
- Brake grab/shift shock: Some models may experience a sudden "nudge" when stopping, which could be caused by transmission shift shock or brake caliper issues.
Electrical and climate control
- Heater blend door: The heater blend door can fail, often making a ticking or thumping noise behind the dashboard and causing the heater to get stuck on hot.
- Rear wiper motor: The rear wiper may stop working if the motor fails.
- Check engine light: This may come on after hesitation or stalling, potentially related to the EGR sensor or other engine issues.
- Instrument gauges: Some owners have reported issues with gauges and windows not functioning properly.
Other issues
- Spark plugs: Some models are known for spark plugs being difficult to remove or even ejecting from the cylinder head.
- Turn signals and headlights: Problems have been reported with turn signals not working and low-beam headlights failing.
- Key engagement: Issues have been reported where the key doesn't engage or makes a clicking sound.
What year explorer sport trac to avoid?
Despite its reliability, there are some years of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac that owners warn against owning. These owners state that 2001-2007 models have experienced frequent engine troubles, electrical malfunction, and transmission issues.
Why did Ford stop making the Sport Trac?
Ford SYNC integration was made optional on the vehicle in 2008 while Trailer Sway Control became standard in 2009. Due to slowing sales, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was discontinued after the 2010 model year.
