2001 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

I WAS SITTING IN A RESTAURANT DRIVE THRU WHEN THE CAR TURNED OFF. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON & INCHED A BIT FORWARD IN LINE. MOMENTS AFTER THAT WHILE IN DRIVE, BUT NOT MOVING, I HEARD A LOUD POP. AFTER THAT, I SAW FLAMES SHOOTING TOWARDS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON MY SIDE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND FLED. THE RESTAURANT WORKERS CAME TO MY AID AND PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT SPREAD. WHEN I WENT BACK TO SAY THANK YOU, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HEARD A SECOND POP BEFORE THEY PUT OUT THE FIRE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO FORD HEADQUARTERS. THEY CHECKED MY VIN AND TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL FOR A DEFECT THAT CAUSES FIRES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP A COUPLE MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND THEY DID NOT TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT A RECALL ON THE CAR. ALSO, THE CAR OIL WAS LAST CHANGED 3/5/2015 AND WAS BELOW THE MILEAGE FOR ANOTHER OIL CHANGE, SO I AM SO CONFUSED AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED, IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

THE RISING PRICE OF GAS DISCOURAGED ME FROM USING MY SPORT TRAC (ST) OFTEN, SO IT WAS GARAGED DURING THE WORK WEEK. ON THE WEEKENDS, I USUALLY DROVE THE ST TO RUN ERRANDS AROUND TOWN. ON JAN 28, 2012, I DROVE LESS THAN A MILE WHEN MY ST BEGAN LOSING THROTTLE RESPONSE AND AN UNFAMILIAR CLATTERING CAN BE HEARD GENERATED IN THE ENGINE BAY. I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THIS WAS NOT NORMAL, SO I PROCEEDED TO PULL OVER. I THEN TOOK THE TRUCK TO A MECHANIC NEAR MY LOCATION. THE MECHANIC AFTER EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD FAILED, ALONG WITH TIMING CHAIN GUIDES WHICH SHATTERED INTO MULTIPLE PIECES (PHOTOS AVAILABLE). THE TIMING CHAIN AND ITS COMPONENTS ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST FOR A LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE, AND HENCE FORD PROVIDED NO INFORMATION OR PROVISION FOR ITS MAINTENANCE. THE REPAIR WAS EXPENSIVE, BECAUSE IT REQUIRED THE REMOVAL OF THE ENGINE WHICH IS BASED ON THE SOHC DESIGN HAVING ITS RIGHT CAMSHAFT DRIVEN BY A TIMING CHAIN LOCATED BEHIND THE ENGINE NEAR THE FIREWALL. A RECALL OF THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND TENSIONER SHOULD BE MADE BECAUSE OF THE COMMON PROBLEM THIS HAS BEEN FOR THIS ENGINE DESIGN, SOHC 4.0L AFTER THE REMOVAL OF THE ENGINE AND TIMING CHAIN GUIDE REPLACEMENT, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION REGISTERED AN ERROR ON MY DASHBOARD, AND AFTER CONSULTATION WITH AN EXPERT, REQUIRED A TRANSMISSION REBUILD. THE COST OF THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION REBUILD HAS BEEN VERY EXPENSIVE TO SAY THE LEAST. THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF THIS FAILURES WOULD COMPROMISE SAFETY DURING HIGH SPEED OPERATIONS. I HOPE NHTSA WILL REVIEW COMPLAINTS REGARDING TIMING CHAIN AND TRANSMISSION FAILURES, WHICH SHOULD REVEAL A PATTERN OF DESIGN FAILURES AT FORD. INTERESTINGLY, FORD HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS AND ENGINE REMOVAL TO REPAIR CHAIN GUIDES IN THE PAST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACTED WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE FENDER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CONTACTED AND REPORTS WERE FILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. THERE WAS NOT A POLICE OR FIRE REPORT FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE SELLER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. 3 DIFFERENT TIMES IT HAS EJECTED THE REAR SPARK PLUG FROM THE ENGINE. I'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY GETTING IT REPARIED. EACH REPAIR HAS FAILED. EACH REPAIR SHOP HAS BEEN VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. THIS CERTAINLY CANNOT BE SAFE. FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING FOR SUCH A POOR DESIGN OF ITS ENGINES. *TR

FORD 2001 SPORT TRAC SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF HEAD. *TR

FORD EXPLORER 2001, V8 5.0L ENGINE. THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER SPARK PLUGS HAD RUSTED IN THE IRON BLOCK AND METAL RING SEPARATED FROM THE CERAMIC PART WHEN I TRY TO REMOVE THEM. A BROKEN THREADED PART REMAINED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. IT HAPPENED ON THE FIRST THREE TRIED. ON FIST TWO I WAS ABLE TO USE A REMOVER TO EXTRACT THE LEFT OVER PART, ON THE THIRD ONE, THE THREADER BROKE IN THE HEAD. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO A MECHANIC SHOP, PULL BOTH CYLINDER HEADS OUT AND REPLACE THE REST OF THE SPARK PLUGS. PORTS NEEDED TO HAVE INSERTS INSTALLED. DEFECT IS DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE SPARK PLUG WITH SHORT THREAD FOLLOWED BY A CYLINDRICAL PART THAT ACCUMULATES MOISTURE AND RUST. *TR

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME. VEHICLE DESTROYED BY FIRE. *TR

AS WITH SO MANY EXPLORERS I HAVE READ ABOUT, MY O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND FLASHES. I LOSE ALL POWER DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION AND THEN THE TRUCK SHOOTS OFF LIKE A ROCKET. IF I TURN THE IGNITION OFF, THE LIGHT RESETS AND THE VEHICLE IS OK FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. I HAD THE CODES READ AND IT CAME UP A SOLENOID PROBLEM. I HAD THEM REPLACED AND TEN MILES FROM THE LOT, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FROM FORD, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO ACT ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

2001 FORD EXPLORER TIMING CHAIN RATTLE AND FAILURE. ON 4.0L SOHC. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM ON FORUMS. FORD NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS MOTOR ISSUE OR REIMBURSE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT HEARD RATTLING NOISES IN THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT GOT A SECOND OPINION AND WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. A THIRD REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND CAMSHAFT WERE THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE MODIFIED AND WERE DEFECTIVE; THEREFORE, ENTIRELY NEW PARTS WERE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS HAVING ENGINE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 135,000.

THIS IS A 7 YEAR OLD VEHICLE AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH RECALLS CONTINUE. THIS VEHICLE HAS A CHAIN GUIDE PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE MAJOR. WE NOW EITHER NEED A NEW MOTOR OR WE HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED FOR 2,500.00 EVERYWHERE WE CHECK. MAJOR PROBLEM. NOT THAT OLD OF A VEHICLE. *TR

WIFE PARKED EXPLORER IN GARAGE, 20 MIN LATER HEARD A LOUD NOISE THEN NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. LUCKILY, WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE OUR HOME AND EVERYONE IS ALRIGHT. CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED AND OUR GARAGE IS A DISASTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE EGR SENSOR FAILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS AVAILABLE PERTAINING TO HIS VIN; THEREFORE, IT WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL NUMBER 02M01S6. THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL*- 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, WHO FOUND THAT THERE WAS WATER IN THE ENGINE AND THE TIMING GEAR HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE FAILURE HAPPENED. THE CONTACT HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED, AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE'S FAILURE WAS DUE TO RECALL 00M12 CONCERNING THE TIMING CHAIN OF WHICH NHTSA HAD NO RECORD. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK IS A 2001, IT SHOULD BE LISTED ON THE RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST 2000. THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED THE REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATE 05/04/07*TR

FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC TIMING BELT TENSIONER BROKE AT 38,000 BROKE AGAIN AT 92,000

I AM EXPERIENCING THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER ISSUE THAT RESULTED IN THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SATISFACTION PROGRAM #00M12. THIS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS OR 72,000 MILES ON THAT PART. TOO LATE FOR ME, AS I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE A FEW MONTHS A GO. NOW, I AM AT 6 YEARS/87,000 MILES. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING AND SO I CALLED FORD DIRECTLY. THEY TOLD ME TO LODGE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTS. PRETTY BAD SITUATION FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS AS I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RIDE ROUGHLY AND BACKFIRED WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS, HOWEVER, THE HEX NUT SNAPPED WHEN IT WAS REMOVED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE THREADED PART OF THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED INSIDE THE HEAD. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT A MACHINE SHOP REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG. AS OF JULY 3, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,184.