2009 Audi A8 vs 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.
2009 Audi A8
2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Stories from the shop
These come from different vehicle segments, which means we're not declaring a winner here. The 2009 Audi A8 scores 4.5; the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac scores 4.5. Different testing populations, different driving patterns, different categories of failure. Use the data below to understand what each one is good at and what each one breaks.
Bottom line: these are different categories of vehicle. Pick based on what you actually need it for. We're showing the reliability data so you can factor in long-term ownership cost, not pick a winner.
Common questions
Which is more reliable, the 2009 Audi A8 or the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (4.5 vs 4.5). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.
What goes wrong more often on the 2009 Audi A8?
On the categories we tracked, the 2009 Audi A8 doesn't show meaningfully more complaints than the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Both have similar issue patterns.
What goes wrong more often on the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
On the categories we tracked, the 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac doesn't show meaningfully more complaints than the 2009 Audi A8. The two are running close.
Which has more recalls?
The 2009 Audi A8 has more active recalls (1 vs 0). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.
Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?
Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $0 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.