2001 Ford EXCURSION problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
209 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
81,350 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 116 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 209 complaints (14.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 25 | 12.0% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 10.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 8.6% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 31 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 17 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 10 |
| Suspension | 10 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
Tires: 31; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 17; Tires:Tread/Belt: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 10; Suspension: 10; Tires:Sidewall: 10; Electrical System: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 23 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 31 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 93 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 34 |
| 2003 | 34 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 15; 2002: 34; 2003: 34; 2004: 32; 2005: 13; 2006: 12; 2007: 10; 2008: 14; 2009: 8; 2010: 7; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 8; 2018: 1; 2023: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10011041 · 2003-03-26 (March 26, 2003)
PANIC STOP AND VEHICLE PULLED LEFT SO HARD THAT IT ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE CENTER SAFETY BARRIERS ON INTERSTATE. PULLED SO HARD THAT IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE HAD GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL AND YANKED IT. ANYTIME YOU BRAKE HARD IT PROGRESSIVELY PULLS HARDER TO THE LEFT THE MORE YOU APPLY THE BRAKES. ALSO POWER-STEERING WILL DISAPPEAR AT SLOW SPEEDS MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN INTO PARKING LOTS. DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR OVER 4 WEEKS. THE FORD HOT LINE HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE FRONT SPRINGS, TIE ROD ENDS, STEERING BOX, POWER STEERING PUMP, …
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014071 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
THE ROTORS ON MY 2001 FORD EXCURSION KEEP WARPING AND REQUIRED PERIODIC TURNING AND/OR REPLACEMENT. AS OF 40,000 MILES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CALIPER & ABS SENSOR FAILED, SEIZING THE FRONT WHEEL AND CAUSING AND INCIDENT ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005313 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING TO A BOOK STORE, A STEERING INPUT WAS MADE TO AVOID A TRACTOR IN THE ROAD. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE, UNRESPONSIVE TO ANY AND ALL FURTHER INPUTS.THE VEHICLE DEPARTED THE ROAD CROSSING A MEDIAN, TWO NORTHBOUND LANES OF TRAFFIC, UP A BANK AND ROLLED AT LEAST 2 TIMES BEFORE STOPPING. INSPECTION OF THE STEERING LINKAGE INDICATED FAILURE OF THE STEERING BOX SHAFT WHERE THE CONTROL ARM ATTACHES TO THE STEERING BOX. THIS FAILURE MAY HAVE OCCURRED DURING THE INITIAL STEERING INPUT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020453 · 2003-05-22 (May 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE SECOND GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION FROZE UP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020453 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023998 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BRAKES, AND AIR TIRE. WHILE DRIVING A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. *AK *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 36,620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152272 · 2006-03-09 (March 9, 2006)
2001 FORD EXCURSION WITH 7.3L POWER STROKE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ON 11/06/2005 THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING WITH MY WIFE DRIVING ALONG A REMOTE COUNTRY ROAD ALONG A RIVER. THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL THAT CAUSED THE TRUCK TO LEAVE THE PAVEMENT AND NEARLY PLUNGE INTO THE RIVER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRUCK RESTARTED, BUT THERE WAS A PROFOUND LOSS OF POWER RENDERING IT UNDRIVEABLE. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED 45 MILES TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER WHERE A SENSOR WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187391 · 2007-04-09 (April 9, 2007)
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THERE'S NO CONSISTENT SITUATION I HAVE NOTICED, HAS STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AS WELL AS AT A STOP LIGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS RATHER SPORADIC WHEN I FIRST NOTICED SOME TIME AGO, BUT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT.*AK I HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED ANY REPAIRS YET.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10187391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024382 · 2003-06-18 (June 18, 2003)
ELECTRICAL SOCKET INSIDE THE VEHICLE WILL COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135667 · 2005-09-07 (September 7, 2005)
A PASSERBY KNOCKED ON OUR FRONT DOOR LETTING US KNOW OUR 2001 FORD EXCURSION PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WAS SMOKING. WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WHILE WAITING FOR THEM, DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES TO SHUT OFF ANY POWER TO THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT HAS BEEN CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH OTHER MAKES OF FORD TRUCKS AND SUV'S. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY FIRE INVESTIGATORS AND FORD PARTS MANAGERS THAT THE MODULE IS THE SAME DESIGN/PART USED IN ALL OF T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050853 · 2003-12-20 (December 20, 2003)
AFTER PURCHASING MY 2001 EXCURSION WITH POWER STROKE DIESEL I HAD PROBLEMS WITH A HUNTING AND SOMETIMES SURGING WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE. AFTER TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND THEM STATIONING THAT THERE WAS "NO" PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING THREE DAYS LATER. LUCKILY I WASN'T IN TRAFFIC I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO PULL OUT ONTO THE ROAD. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A DIFFERENT DEALER (DUE TO LOCATION) I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAM PICK-UP SENSOR WAS BAD AND THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS. I RETURNED ABOUT TWO DAYS LATER COMPLAIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,121 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050853 at NHTSA ↗