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2001 Ford Excursion Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 209 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Excursion, most often about the wheels and tires (27% of complaints, typically around 40,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Excursion model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2001 Ford Excursion problems
Wheels and tires
57 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 40,500 miles. Parts named most often: tread/belt, sidewall, pressure monitoring and regulating systems, bead.
Consumer stated while driving at 60 MPH the left rear tire tread separated then the tire blewout without warning. The consumer had to pull over. The dealer was been notified (firestone, steel tex at, size p265/75r16).
Us marshalls lease a 2001 Ford Excursion from gsa fleet management. They were traveling down a highway when they heard a lound thumping noise. After stopping the vehicle, they exited the vehicle to find out that one of the rear tires tread came off the casing. The tire had not gone flat. When the tread seperated from…
Engine
52 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 98,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Excursion limited. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled, similar to NHTSA campaign id number: 07v553000 ( engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel). The dealer was contacted and stated that there were no recalls on his vehicle. The contact was waiting for a diagnostic testing…
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Excursion. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, he heard a loud noise in the engine. The vehicle then stalled and the contact confirmed that the engine was blown. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the dealer advised that the oil was not entering the engine as it should…
Transmission
20 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline, transfer case (4-wheel drive).
Vehicle has a vibration above 45 MPH up to 55 MPH. Not sure if the vibration is coming from the drive shaft or not but it has a distinct vibration.
Total failure of automatic transmission, without warning while driving. Transmission would not shift out of lower gears, creating extremely unsafe driving environment. Vehicle taken to transmission shop, diagnosed as having the "direct drum" break apart and overheat the internal mechanism of transmission. Owner of…
Suspension
14 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: front, rear.
Shock broke in half and severed the brake line and vehicle could not be stopped. Also, damaged windshield wiper motor. Reported to Ford.
Multiple warped rotors. Failed wheel bearing which by Ford design are not serviceable. Dealer told me not safe to drive, yet charged me for wht is a design flaw, a serious safety issue, possible lock up. Common knowledge on web that grese leakes on to rotors causing slow stopping, and warping, and you can not add…
Brakes
13 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 33,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components, power assist.
The rotors on my 2001 Ford Excursion keep warping and required periodic turning and/or replacement. As of 40,000 miles. On one occasion, the caliper & ABS sensor failed, seizing the front wheel and causing and incident on a snow covered road.
The vehicle had ongoing problems with the transmission, brakes, and air tire. While driving a noise was heard coming from the transmission. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice, and the problem could not be determined.
Electrical
13 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 101,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, instrument panel.
Cps, cam position sensor, failed in traffic. Intermittent hiccup while driving, stopped in traffic facing downhill truck died. Re-started and continued with intermittent stop/start for several more miles. Replace with new. No more problems.
We purchased a 2001 Ford diesel Excursion in february 2005. There were frequent mishaps with various electrical components (e.g. Blown fuses, dash lights, heated seats malfunctioning, back-up signals). In january 2009, the Excursion caught fire in our driveway; per the insurance inspection, it was a total loss. Today…
Speed control
12 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control.
Cruise control cutout switch mounted on master cylinder is full of brake fluid including the electrical connector. The VIN number doesn't link to a recall. Perhaps the previous owner had switch replaced under recall or perhaps this VIN wasn't in the original recall. In any event a fire hazard is present.
: the contact stated while driving 40 MPH the smell of smoke was present but no other indicators. The vehicle was moved off the road where a fire was noticed coming from under the hood. The fire was immediately extinguished. The fire department responded and filed a report. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it…
Steering
9 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 79,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist system, gear box, linkages.
I have a 2001 Ford Excursion. My complaint is that the steering stabilizer is located too low in the front of the vehicle. Most all of Ford's four-wheel drive vehicles, during those model years, have the same setup. If the vehicle comes into contact with a small( or medium) sized animal or anything lying in the road…
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Excursion. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to steer when parking or driving at very low speeds and he was unable to park the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power steering pump would need to be…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Ford Excursion recalls
Speed control: vehicle speed control
Risk: A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Fix: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Engine: diesel
Risk: In the event of an engine stall, a crash could result without warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the sensor and replace it with an improved camshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on december 29, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with 7.3l diesel engines, the camshaft position sensor located on the engine of the vehicle may function intermittently, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Speed control: vehicle speed control
Risk: Overheating could result in smoke or burn and an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on august 7, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 05v388)
Full defect summary
On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.
Visibility and wipers: motor
Risk: Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began august 20, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or ignition of the plastic cover material. Switch malfunction is most likely to occur when the intermittent setting of the wipers is being used, or when snow or ice obstructs the blades from returning to the "parked" position at the bottom of the windshield. These vehicles were built at the following assembly plants: atlanta plant from 2/11/00 through 7/31/00; chicago plant from 2/14/00 through 8/4/00; kansas city plant from 2/26/00 to 9/4/00; kentucky truck plant from 2/18/00 to 8/31/00; michigan truck plant from 2/23/00 through 8/3/00; norfolk plant from 2/21/00 thro
Seat belts: buckle assembly
Risk: In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began july 25, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. Ford crown victoria built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 mercury grand marquis built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. Lincoln town cars built at wixom assembly plant from 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. Lincoln navigators built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01. Ford windstars built at oakville assembly plant from 3/23/00 - 5/30/01. Ford rangers built at twin cities plant from 3/28/00 - 5/30/01, and also at the edison plant from 3/13/00 - 5/25/01. Ford f-150 truck built at norfolk plant from 4/18/00 - 5/25/00; at ontario plant from 5/10/00 - 5/28/01; at kansas city plant from 9/11/99 - 5/25/01; and at cuautitlan plan
Air bags: frontal
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the driver air bag may not deploy as intended, potentially resulting in reduced occupant protection, or a burn injury.
Fix: Dealers will install a driver air bag module. Owner notification began march 19, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. The inflator canister in the driver air bag module may have an inadequate weld near the igniter.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Engine stalling
Summary
The cam position sensor (cps) provides a critical signal to the subject vehicle (sv) engine management system, the loss of which results in an engine stall.during pe06-011, ford stated in their response to odi that it is continuing to investigate allegations of cps related engine stall and further advised that an update will be provided upon completion of the investigation.ford data shows that 20% of the 716,000 svs are equipped with manual transmissions which are capable of back-driving the engine when a stall occurs; power assisted steering and braking are not lost during engine back-drive.ford data also indicates that back-drive occurs in automatic transmission vehicles above certain road
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Summary
On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehi
Engine compartment fires
Summary
Ea05-005 is closed with ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.ford is also including the entire population of 1998 explorers.ford has informed odi that testing to determine the cause of failures in the 1998 explorers will continue after this investigation is closed.odi believes that the vehicles exhibiting the factors causing scds failure described in this report correlate well with the obs
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Summary
During the initial recall campaign in 2001, the subject vehicles were inspected by ford dealerships using a test tool that would detect a defective front seat outboard seat belt buckle assembly.approximately one million vehicles passed the inspection test for one or both front buckles.subsequent to the recall service action, odi received 15 consumer reports alleging that a passed inspection buckle subsequently failed to latch or inadvertently unlatched during use.in addition, ford has identified 543 owner and field reports alleging buckle failure subsequent to passing the inspection test.ford tested and examined over 100 warranty-returned buckles and found that 44% of the buckles had no prob
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Summary
Under recall campaign (01v227), ford recalled approximately 1.3 million vehicles to inspect and if necessary replace the front driver and/or passenger seat belt buckle.approximately 1.1 million owners responded by taking their vehicles to a dealer for inspection of the buckle using a specialized buckle test tool.ford reported that 829,927 vehicles had both buckles pass the tool test and another 167,336 vehicles had one buckle pass.odi and ford received complaints alleging seat belt buckle failure shortly after passing the original recall inspection service.complainants alleged that the buckle failed by either not latching or false-latching (partial engagement of the latch to the latch plate)
Accelerator pedal sensor (etc)
Summary
Failure counts from odi?s analysis are stated above; see the additional problem experience discussion in the summary report.ford data contained duplicative reports for 4 odi complaints and 1 crash.three crashes were allegedly due to intermittent operation of the electronic throttle control (etc) pedal, one crash occurred when an etc disabled vehicle was struck by another motorist, one report contained no detail.the injuries were minor.an issue involving fixed etc pedals was investigated also, however failure reports and populations are not shown above; see summary report for detail.although ford has used etc based throttle control systems for many years, the pap feature was new for my 2002.t
Sector shaft fractures
Summary
This ea was opened based on a response received from ford motor company to an information request (ir) submitted during sq00-018.ford stated in an internal service message that it had changed the steering gear sector shafts and pitman arms installed 1999 model year f-series super duty vehicles on march 22, 1999.ford stated that these design changes were implemented to make improvements in vehicle steering and handling, and that virtually all of the reported fractured sector shafts were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts.an engineering analysis closing report is attached.
Questions about the 2001 Ford Excursion
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Excursion?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: wheels and tires (57 complaints, typically around 40,500 miles); engine (52 complaints, typically around 98,000 miles); transmission (20 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Excursion have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 13, 2009 (speed control). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Ford Excursion?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Excursion model year since 2000, with 209 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.