NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Ford Explorer. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TILTED IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO WORK.*JB
2001 V8 EXPLORER 36500 MILES, MY TRANSMISSON STARTED SLIPPING ALL OVER THE PLACE, LUCKILY I GOT THE EXTENDED WARRENTY. BUT THERE IS NO REASON FOR SUCH A YOUNG TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING TIMING CHAIN WAS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS. *AK
SUV SHUTTERS ON A QUICK STOP AT A LIGHT, WHEN TANK HAS ABOUT 1/4 IN IT. THEN WILL EATHER SHUT OFF OR CLEAR OUT WHEN STOPPED. ALSO IF YOU PARK ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH 1/4 TANK OF GAS I CAN NOT GET THE CAR STARTED. BOTH OF THESE CASES NEVER HAD THE LOW FUEL LIGHT ON BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED.
HEADLIGHTS TOO BRIGHT (LOW BEAMS SPECIFAICALLY)
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE A BRAKING LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASBOARD. THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON INTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURN OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
NO SUMMARY. DT
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL MAKE A VIBRATION MAKING HARD TO DRIVE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED FOUR TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. AS YOU MENTIONED YOU BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ON 10/26/2002 CALL 800/922-1594 STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE FOR LEMON LAW. TS
THERE WERE REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR ON 2001 FORD EXPLORER. *MR UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. *SC
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ANTI THEFT DOOR WOULD SHUT DOWN WHEN EVER A FOREIGN KEY IS USED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE BEGAN DECELERATING/NOT RESPONDING TO PEDAL APPLICATION. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DANGLING BUY A PIN, A FORD TROUBLE SHOOTER MET THE CONSUMER AND PATCHED THE PEDAL SO THE VEHICLE COULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER. *JB *SCC
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND CONSUMER NOTICED THAT RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS, P235/75R15. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
MY DAUGHTER'S 2001 EXPLORER SPORT WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-75 DIPED TO THE RIGHT RETURNED TO THE ROAD AND TRAVELED APROX 1/2 MILE AND THEN ROLLED LEFT TO RIGHT AND TUMBLED END OVER END KILLING BOTH PASSANGERS. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO APPARRENT REASON MY DAUGHTER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICAL AND IT ROLLED.*AK
ROLLOVER. TRUCK WAS TRAVELING ON FREEWAY AT POSTED SPEED OF 65MPH. 8AM, CLEAR DAY, NO RAIN, NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED, DRIVER ALERT AND OTHERWISE NOT IMPAIRED. TIRES HAD BEEN REPLACED PER RECALL AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 8K MILES ON THEM. HIT A PIECE OF DEBRIS (MORE SOLID THEN TIRE PIECES) IN ROAD WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BLOWN OUT RIGHT, REAR TIRE (UNCLEAR IF CAUSE OF ACCIDENT OR DURING ROLLOVER). TRUCK THEN STARTED TO FISHTAIL IN THE LANE. APPLIED BRAKES (WHICH DID NOT LOCK UP - GOOD PERFORMANCE), ALSO NO SKID OCCURRED. THE ACCIDENT LOCATION WAS A FREEWAY UNDERPASS, LEFT LANE WITH A GUARDRAIL VERY CLOSE TO SHOULDER AND WAS PAVED TO THE RAIL EDGE. AS I WAS FIGHTING FOR CONTROL, THE FRONT, LEFT BUMPER HIT THE RAIL. TRUCK THEN ROLLED OVER TWICE AND DID AN ADDITIONAL 180 DEG TURN. I VERY STRONGLY FEEL THAT WITH THE EXCELLENT ROAD CONDITIONS, PROPER SAFETY OF THE GUARD RAIL, RELATIVELY LOW AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DUE TO THE IMPACT ITSELF, ETC, THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND THAT THE ROLLOVER WAS AN EXCESSIVE, DANGEROUS REACTION WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. THE CARGO IN THE BACK BED WAS CENTERED FORWARD AND COMBINED WITH THE ITEMS INSIDE DID NOT EXCEED 600 POUNDS + 125LB DRIVER (WELL WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS OF TRUCK). BED HAD A DEALER INSTALLED, FIBERGLASS TOPPER. I WILL GIVE THE CAR CREDIT FOR KEEPING ME SAFE DURING THE ROLLOVER. I SUBSTAINED SCRATCHES, BRUISES, A SPRAINED WRIST, AND BUMP ON THE HEAD BUT WAS HELD IN PLACE VERY SECURELY BY THE SAFETY BELT AND SEAT. GAS TANK ALSO RUPTURED, SPILLING 19 GALLONS ON ROADWAY, BUT DID NOT EXPLODE. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. I UNDERSTAND AFTER TALKING TO DEALER MANAGEMENT THAT THE SPORT TRAC MODELS ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO HAVE THE ROLLOVER HISTORY OF THE ENCLOSED EXPLORERS BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY SHARE THE SAME STABILITY PROBLEMS.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING 45-50 MPH THE DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPAIRED SEAT. TWO MONTHS LATER THE SEAT COLLAPSED AGAIN. *AK THE PIN ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHERE THE SEAT BACK ATTACHED TO THE PIVOT WITH THE SEAT BOTTOM HAD SNAPPED TWICE WHICH CAUSED IT TO COLLAPSED BACKWARDS 6-8 INCHES. *SCC *JB
AT 31,059 MILES, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AT ACCELERATION AND LOSS POWER, ESPECIALLY AT SECOND GEAR. AT 42,000 THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEMS THAT EXPERIENCED AT 31,059 MILES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE D.P.F.E SENSOR. *TT
WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE WAS REARENDED AT HIGH SPEED AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 8000.00.*AK
THE EXPLORER SUDDENLY ROLLED OVER, INJURING ME SEVERLY. MOMENTS AFTER THE INCEDENT THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES.*AK
WINDSHIELD GLASS HAS A TWELVE INCH BROKEN LINE IN MIDDLE OF THE GLASS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 45 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN.*AK
THE EXTIRER DOOR HADLE KEEP BREAKING CAN NOT GET INTO VEHICLE WITH OUT GOING THRU BACK DOOR.IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT THERE WOULD BE NO WAY SO.EO E COULD GET ME OUT.I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS AND I HAVE REPLACED ED THEM 3 TIMES AND AGAIN THEY ARE BROKEN.
VEHICLE IDLES TO LOW AND CAUSES IT TO CUT OFF. TOOK TO DEALER 4 TIMES, AND THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK, ALSO CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING POOR GAS MILEAGE.. *YH
I HAVE SEVERAL MORE INVOICES 7-29-03 REPLACED DUST SEALS AND FORGOT TO PUT BRAKES BACK TOGETHER LOST WHOLE FRONT END AND BRAKING. HAD TRUCK FOR 3-4 DAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP PULLEY AND S BELT 2-3 TIMES. CRUISE CONTROL 10-16, 12/31/02 AGAIN SQUELING NOISE 02/28/03 DEFROST KILLS TRUCK AND CHIRPING STILL. 2/10/03 STEERING WHEEL SNAPED PART FALLS AROUND INSIDE,CRUISE CONTROL WAS FIXED, BEARING FAILURE IN BELT TENSIONER AGAIN. TODAY STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. COME GET THE PIECE OF !@!@#@#. I AM SICK OF TAKING THIS TRUCK IN EVERY MONTH TO FIX SOMETHING. IT IS A LEMON
JUST COMPLETED 20 MILE INTERSTATE DRIVE, PULLED INTO PARKING LOT AND HEARD A THUMP,STEPPED OUT TO SEE THE PROBLEM AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS COCKED AT 45 DEGREE ANGLE WHILE LEFT WAS STRAIGHT. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND REPAIRED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM BEFOREHAND.IF ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED 5 MINUTES EARLIER, COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR FATALITY. *AK
REAR SEAT LIFTS UP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, CAUSING PASSENGER IN SEAT TO ALMOST BE THROWN TO FRONT OF VEHICLE.*AK
WHILE PARKING VEHICLE POWER STEERING FAILED. DEALER DETERMINED THAT SERPENTINE BELT HAD BROKEN.*AK
AT TIMES MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL WHEN ENGAGED DOESNT WORK AND AT THIS TIME I NOTICE SMOKE COMING OUT OF STEERING COLLUMN,THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH PRESSING THE BRAKES, SOMETIMES WHEN I DEPRESS IT WORKS THEN GOES OFF WHEN PRESSING A SECOND TIME, ALSO DISPLAY ON STEREO WORKS PART TIME ONLY MAYBE ONE OUT OF EVERY TEN DRIVES. *AK
DURING A CRASH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRING OF RADIO HAD CAUSED A FIRE UNDER THE DASH WHILE PARKED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *JG
THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN GREAT. THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE, THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND ALL OF THE FLUID WAS PUSHED OUT THE THIRD TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MAKING SQUEAKING SOUNDS THAT CANNOT BE LOCATED.*AK
STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE UNDER 5 MPH, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY JUMPED OUT OF FOUR WHEEL HIGH TO FOUR WHEEL LOW AND CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS LED TO A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. VEHICLE AT THE DEALER, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. *AK *YH
MFG INSTALLATION OR DESIGN DEFECT--- UPPER RADIATOR HOSE LAYS ON THE UPPER PART OF ENGINE. IT LAYS AGAINST THE HEATER CORE INLET HOSE. THE HEATER CORE INLET HOSE HAS A CLAMP THAT CUTS INTO THE UPPER RADIATOR HOSE., NORMAL ENGINE VIBRATIONS ARE ENOUGH TO CUT THROUGH THE HOSE. NOTE: THE HOSE HAS A NYLON NETTING WHICH IS ABRAIDED. THIS RESULTS IN A LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT. THE OFFENDING CLAMP IS OF POOR DESIGN AND PLACEMENT. IT IS MADE FROM STAMPED SHEET METAL AND HAS OBVIOUS SHARP EDGES, HENCE CUTTING INTO THE RADIATOR HOSE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED AT DESIGN WITH A DIFFERENT HOSE CLAMP OR AT ASSEMBLY BY TURNING THE OFFENDING CLAMP APROX 90 DEGREES.*AK
SEAT DOES NOT RELEASE TO LET BACK PASSENGERS OUT OF TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM IS THE SECOND SET OF SEAT PROBLEMS. I OWNED AN EXPLORER SPORT IN 2000 AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS NOT DEALING WITH THE ISSUE. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN WHO RIDE IN THE REAR OF THE TRUCK AND IF SOME THING HAPPENS TO ME UP FRONT, THEY ARE TRAPPED IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK AND UNABLE TO GET OUT. SEEMS TO BE A SEAT MECHANISM PROBLEM WHICH THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS. THIS IS ACTUALLY A LIFE/SAFETY ISSUE AND I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.*AK
WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT ASSEMBLY FELL APART FROM THE WALL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK THE SEAT BELT FELL APART ON COLLISION BECAUSE IT WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT FACTORY. *YH
TEMPERATURE INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED, AFTERWARDS ENGINE STALLED. DEALER HAS REPLACED THERMOSTAT.*AKTHE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE WHILE IN MOTION AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED HE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CONSUMERS INSURANCE COMPANY DID A TEST WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED OUT THAT A FAULTY THERMOSTAT WAS THE CAUSE. *JG
MY NAME IS [XXX] I AM THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE MENTIONED MY MOTHER IS THE FIRST NAME ON THE CONTRACT. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO HAVE A STEERING AND BRAKING PROBLEM FOUR TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND ONCE TO ANOTHER. I HAVE SINCE HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE PROBLEMS THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS. I HAVE FOR MONTHS TRIED TO SOLVE THIS THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS . THIS WAS NOT RESOLVED AND I HAVE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE SO. I HAVE NEVER ASKED THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO FIX IT OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE WITH ANOTHER ONE EQUIVALANT TO THIS ONE . THEY KEPT LETTING ME LEAVE THE SERVICE DEPT THINKING IT WAS FIXED ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT DAY OR A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AFTER DRIVING IT THAT IT WAS NEVER FIXED. I HAD AN ACCIDENT THAT NEVER NEEDED TO HAPPEN AND I HAVE BEEN OUT MONEY OUT OF MY OWN POCKET BECAUSE OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I NEED THIS PROBLEM INVESTIGATED AND SOLVED . YOU MAY BE MY LAST HOPE BEFORE I HAVE TO OBTAIN A LAWYER FOR THIS DEALERSHIP AND FORD..THANK YOU [XXX], [XXX] , PARROTTSVILLE, TN [XXX] [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
REAR BENCH SEAT IS NOT STATIONERY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THIS WAS NORMAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
UPON CLOSING REAR DOOR WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE, THE WINDOW ON HATCHBACK SHATTERED. *AK THERE WAS ONE INJURY. *YD
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REARENDED THE IN FRONT OF ME THE IMPACT WAS SO MINOR THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE EXCEPT THAT BOTH OF MY AIR BAGS BLEW. I HAVE AN ACCIDENT REPORT AND A ESTIMATE THAT CLEARLY STATE NO DAMAGE. ON THE WEB I FOUND WWW.MARKETDRIVE.COM/SERVICE/TSBS.ASP THAT TELLS OF 2001 EXPLORER PROBLEMS #01110 PASSIVE RESTRAINT: AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR. I HAVE ASKED A FEW DEALERS OF THE IMFORMATION AND THEY HAVE NO CLUE ON WHAT THIS IS. WHY DID THE BAGS BLOW AT SUCH A MINOR HIT, WILL THEY GO OFF IF I BUMP A CURB? I WAS BY MY SELF AND HAPPY THAT MY WIFE WAS NOT IN THE OTHER SEAT.*AK
ENGINE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING COOLANT FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE.*AK
AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR THOUGH THE VENTS, AND THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE.*AK
AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE SKIDDED ON ICE, WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT THROUGH A CHAINLINK FENCE, AND ROLLED 3 TIMES. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NO INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
CONSUMER IS CALLING TO REPORT A DEFECT ON THE RUNNING BOARDS. CONSUMER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED HAND FROM FALLING OFF OF SLIPPERY RUNNING BOARDS. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH SEAT BACK LATCH MECHANISM FOR SECOND ROW OF SEATS FAILED, ALLOWING SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATED DURING A ROLLOVER THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM VEHICLE, VEHICLE WAS HIT AND ROLLED OVER, CONSUMERS WIFE WAS EJECTED RESULTING IN A FATALITY. *JG *AK ODI SPOKE TO HUSBAND AND HE ASSUMED HIS WIFE WAS WEARING THE SEATBELT. WIFE WAS DRIVING AND DURING EVENT WAS THROWN OUT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW. THERE WAS NO WITNESS TO THE WIFE WEARING THE BELT.CW
THE SEAT IS DESIGNED WIT A HEAD RESTRAINT THAT IS TOO LOW AND CAUSED A PERSONS HEAD TO SNAP BACK RESULTING IN INJURY. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OPHER PEOPLE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, HIT A DEER AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. VEHICLE HAD FRONTAL IMPACT. *AK CONSUMERS HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE ACCIDENT. *YH
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026