There are 7 owner-reported tires & wheels complaints for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sportin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE'S LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. DRIVER MADE AN ABRUPT STEERING INPUT THAT CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE OVERTURNED AND LEFT THE ROADWAY. DRIVER WAS SOLE OCCUPANT AND DID NOT SURVIVE. *TR
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING 60-65 MPH WITH TWO ADULTS AND TWO CHILDREN IN A 2001, FORD, EXPLORER SPORT SUV. WHILE DRIVING DRIVER NOTICED A LOUD BANGING NOISE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, AND NOTICED THAT TIRE CAUSE DAMAGES TO THE FUEL FILLER NECK LINE. IT WAS AN AFTER MARKET TIRE INSTALLED AT 51, 000 MILES, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15 AND DOT# 88L3L63101. THE TIRE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT THAT WAS SITTING FOR A > YEAR AS PART OF AN ESTATE. > > > > > > THIS CAR HAS FIRESTON WILDERNESS TIRES P255 70R16 1095 M+S. WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED. FORD & FIRESTONE REFUSE TO REPLACE THESE TIRES BECAUSE THE TIME ALLOTTED EXPIRED
FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15. CUSTOMER STATED TWO TIRES WERE CRACKED AROUND SIDEWALL. ONLY ONE OF THE TIRES WILL HOLD AIR. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK FIRESTONE DECLINED TO REPLACE THE CRACKED TIRES BUT THE CONSUMER PAID AND REPLACED IT. (DOT VDHL IRW 080) *YH
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235 75 R15 EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT. *SLC
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P255 70 R16) ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKING. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT DRIVER'S REAR TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BLOWOUT. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026