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2001 Ford Explorer Sport Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 188 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, most often about the suspension (18% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Explorer Sport model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2001 Ford Explorer Sport problems
Suspension
33 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Realized both lower ball joints were bad, not sure of exact date went bad just purchased vehicle as "Ford certified" but Ford will not cover repairs .
Design flaw in "ball joints" for 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. Vechicle has 52k miles, less than 3yrs old, and needed to replace lower ball joints, and it was suggested that the upper ball joints may also need replacing in the near future, at a cost of $400 for each set. These ball joints should never need replacing at…
Body and structure
30 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Back window defect. The left-side hinge on the window of the hatchback fell off. Apparently a rivet came loose from the inside of the window causing it to separate from the hinge. The right side remained in tact. This is the same problem as indicated in a failure reported on august 23, 2003. I bought this vehicle…
2001 Ford Explorer Sport. During normal driving, a rear rattle/ banging noise would occur when going over rough road or over bumps. This has progressively gotten worse over time. Investigation and inspection of the vehicle had revealed that all the body/frame mount bushings have deteriorated to the point that they…
Transmission
26 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 100,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly, driveline.
2001 Ford Explorer Sport with automatic transmission, 105,000 miles. "o/d off" light blinking after driving for a few minutes. Engine always revs high between gear shifts, especially between first and second, even before the light starts blinking. Changed transmission fluid and filter, but that didn't help. Only…
I have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport that the 4x4 control module constantly malfunctions. This is a common problem that is widespread and could cause major accidents by losing control of the vehicle during operation in the winter months on snow/ ice. If you research this you'll find the problem existed from when these…
Engine
21 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
Starting problems with temperatures below 40 degrees fahrenheit on a cold start. Vehicle attempts to start but will not turn over without pressure being applied to accelerator. Only duplicates in cold weather. Very widespread problem many other owners report same issues.
Intermittently while driving at 55 MPH vehicle stalled and hesitated. A mechanic determined that the intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced.
Seats
15 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: front assembly.
Recall 03v28100 regarding high back seat. Consumer was reaching back trying to pick up something behind the seat and the seat collapsed backwards onto the rear seat. Consumer's vehicle was not covered under the recall due to VIN.
Dt: consumer owns a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. She found recall 03v281000 for same year, make and model, 03v281000. But her vehicle was not included in the recall, according to manufacturer. The consumer would like to have her vehicle included in the recall because her vehicle had the same problem as described in the…
Brakes
14 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, foundation components.
Consumer stated when the brakes are applied, they don't come to a complete stop. The consumer had to push hard on the pedal to get the vehicle to come to a complete stop and pumping the brakes does nothing. On the most recent incident the consumer had to run into a ditch in order to stop from going into an…
2001 Ford Explorer Sport, I have changed my brakes 3 times in one year. When I brake, it squeaks, very slow to stop, and shift to either side. Any bump will make the vehicle lose control, esp when traveling greater than 45 miles per hour.. True hazard.
Speed control
14 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control, cables.
Dt: owns 2001 Ford explorer, both driver and passenger are pregnant. Had just entered interstate and was driving about 70 MPH and tried to slow down to about 65mph. Tried to tap brake but heard engine rev up and it immediately sped back up. Tapped brake again and knew something was wrong. Engaged hazard lights and…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. After being parked for a week, the vehicle caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause of the fire. The vehicle was parked in the driveway and burned the house. The current and failure mileages were…
Air bags
13 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 83,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. While driving 35 MPH during inclement weather, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the divider on the highway. During the crash none of the air bags in the vehicle deployed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact was taken to the hospital for injuries to…
Air bag light keeps flashing off and on. Don't know if air bags will deploy or not in case of an accident. Ford has a safey memo out on this problem, but won't recall because they say it isn't a safety issue. How can this not be a safety issue if you don't know if the air bags will deploy.
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 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. The recall began on april 10, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. This is a supplement to a previous recall campaign (03v281).
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, the seat back may recline until it makes contact with an object behind the seat, such as the second row seat cushion.
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
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: suspension (33 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); body and structure (30 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); transmission (26 complaints, typically around 100,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport have?
- 5 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?
- It is the most complained-about Explorer Sport model year since 2000, with 188 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.