The 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission, specifically the electronically controlled 4R55E family, paired with the 4.0L V6 engine. A manual transmission was not offered from the factory for this model year.
Drivetrain overview
The Sport Trac debuted as a pickup-style variant of Ford’s mid-size SUV lineup, sharing the 4.0L SOHC V6 engine with standard two- or four-wheel-drive configurations. The transmission used across most Sport Tracs of this era is a traditional four-speed automatic, designed to work with both 2WD and 4WD layouts.
Transmission details
Before diving into the specifics, note that Ford commonly used the 4R44E/4R55E family for Explorers and related trucks around this time. For the 2001 Explorer Sport Trac, the factory specification centers on the four-speed automatic in the 4R55E family, rather than a manual option.
- Gear count: 4 speeds (automatic with overdrive)
- Electronic control: computer-managed shifting
- Applications: paired with the 4.0L V6 engine, available in both 2WD and 4WD Sport Trac models
- Market positioning: no factory manual transmission option for this model year
The core characteristics of the transmission as originally equipped include:
In summary, the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac uses a conventional, four-speed automatic transmission (from the 4R44E/4R55E family) paired with its 4.0L V6 engine, with no factory manual option offered.
Maintenance and practical notes
For reliability, ensure regular automatic transmission maintenance as recommended in Ford’s owner materials. If you’re inspecting a used Sport Trac, signs of transmission wear or shifting issues should be evaluated by a qualified technician, especially on units with higher mileage or prior heavy-use history.
Summary
- Transmission: four-speed automatic (4R55E family)
- Engine: 4.0L SOHC V6
- Drive options: 2WD and 4WD versions were available
- Manual option: not offered for this model year