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2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 167 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, most often about the transmission (22% of complaints, typically around 83,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Explorer Sport Trac model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems
Transmission
36 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 83,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly, driveline, clutch assembly.
2001 Ford explorer transmission problem. Transmission slipping when shifting between 2nd and 3rd. Ford unwilling to admit fault and repair problem. Many other vehicle owners with same problem not corrected yet.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the transmission slipped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the servos needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was…
Body and structure
27 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 117,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The contact stated that while performing routine maintenance he noticed that the body bushing had deteriorated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The contact stated that while driving approximately 2 MPH the structure of the vehicle made a noise. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the body mounts had deteriorated. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 128,000.
Speed control
26 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 62,000 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control, accelerator pedal.
The vehicle would continuously stall at low rpms but could be restarted immediately. The cause of stalling was not known . The dealers technician replaced the iac.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. On july 9, 2007, the vehicle caught fire. The vehicle was completely turned off with no passengers at the time of failure. The vehicle was destroyed. A fire and police report were filed. The current and failure mileages were 65,000. It was determined the faulty cruise…
Engine
19 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 92,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
- the contact owns a 2001 Ford explorer sport tract with a failure mileage of 84,000 miles. The contact was driving under wet conditions at about 35 MPH when the vehicle made a hard jerk and then lost power. The contact tried to restart the vehicle, but it would not turn over. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic…
There were no preceding events; unexpectedly and without warning the engine died. The entire engine and all attendant parts had to be replaced. The first new replacement engine also failed immediately upon installation. The dealership replaced with yet another engine. Cost to consumer: $6348.50.
Wheels and tires
16 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 39,500 miles. Parts named most often: tread/belt, rim, sidewall.
Dt: splitting of the sidewall about an inch up from the bead. Tires have not had a blow out. Caller was looking at vehicle and found that all 4 tires had this problem. Dealer and manufacturer have not been contacted yet.
When the firestone wilderness at tires were recalled and Ford sponsored their voluntary recall program, we tried to have our tires replaced. At the time, there was a tremendous backlog and we were told to wait; that the problem wouldn't affect US until the tires were 3 or more years old. After waiting for 2 years, we…
Suspension
16 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
I have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac and the drivers side front wheel bearing has gone out several times and no one knows what the problem is why don't they put sealed bearings so you don,t have to change them every 6 months.
I have a 2001 Explorer Sport Trac with 60k miles on it. The stock shocks are so bad that breaking and highway travel is dangerous. The last incident occurred while driving I-35 south right outside of kansas city, mo. A car broke down in my line and I tapped (not stomped) the brakes to slow down, the truck did a nose…
Electrical
14 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
No real event leads to this failure. Problem is the "door ajar" light on the dash. It detects whether a door is partially open. The switch in one of the doors fails for no reason. When it senses this falsely, the dash warning light comes on & beeps a tone & quite often the interior dome lights turn on. The dealer says…
I noticed my dash turn signal blinked fast when I signaling to turn right, but not left. I checked the bulb and it was working. If the steering column was in the upright position, it blinked at a normal pace, when I lowered the column it blinked fast. I removed the plastic cover around the steering column and found…
Air bags
11 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
I sustained facial injuries as a result of the deployment of the airbags on a 2001 Ford sport trac. It is my belief that the air bags deployed for no apparent reason.
After making an emergency stop air bag light came on and remained on while driving. Vehicle was taken to the dealer. Dealer informed consumer that the problem could be an electrical short.
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 Explorer Sport Trac recalls
Speed control: vehicle speed control
Risk: This could result in an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Full defect summary
On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Seats: recliner
Risk: The driver could potentially lose contact with the steering wheel or foot pedals during such an event, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver seat upper bolt with a metal spacer and bolt. In addition, seats with tubular back frames will have the fully threaded lower recliner bolt replaced with a partially threaded bolt. Owner notification began on august 29, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with high back seats, the upper bolt on the driver's side high back seat, that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame, could fracture. If the bolt fractures and does not jam in the seat back frame, the seat back may recline until it makes contact with an object behind the seat, such as the second row seat cushion.
Speed control: cables
Risk: The throttle return spring force may not be sufficient to overcome the binding condition when the speed control is disengaged. Braking function would be maintained though stopping distances may be increased.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the speed control cable and, if necessary, replace it. Owner notification began august 29, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control and 4.0l sohc engines, if the strand cover on the speed control cable becomes flared at the end, the speed control cable may bind when the speed control is activated.
Body and structure: hinge and attachments
Risk: A hood fly-up while the vehicle is being operated could result in reduced driver visibility.
Fix: Dealers will replace the hood striker.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles with steel hoods and certain pickup trucks equipped with sheet molding compound hoods. A wire formed hood striker could be susceptible to fatigue fractures. If the hood striker fractures, the hood could fly open while the vehicle is being driven.
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
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
Front seat back recliner attachment
Summary
By letter dated august 4, 2003, ford notified the agency that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 03v281) involving certain model year (my) 1998-2001 ford explorer / mercury mountaineer 4-door, my 1998-2000 ford explorer 2-door and my 2001-2002 ford explorer sport and sport trac vehicles equipped with high back seats.complaints allege that the driver's seat back reclined without warning.a bolt between the upper seat recliner attachment and the seat back frame may fracture.ford will replace the bolt that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame on the driver side seat.based on ford's safety recall action, this investigation is closed.
Questions about the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (36 complaints, typically around 83,500 miles); body and structure (27 complaints, typically around 117,000 miles); speed control (26 complaints, typically around 62,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from August 3, 2007 (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 Explorer Sport Trac?
- It is the most complained-about Explorer Sport Trac model year since 2000, with 167 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.