2001 Ford EXPLORER SPORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
188 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
66,522 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 115 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 188 complaints (9.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 11.2% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 10.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 9.0% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 18 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
| Seats | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Structure | 7 |
| Tires | 7 |
Suspension: 18; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 15; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Structure:Body: 10; Seats: 9; Air Bags: 8; Structure: 7; Tires: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 12
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 73 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 | 4 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 9; 2002: 21; 2003: 17; 2004: 19; 2005: 18; 2006: 14; 2007: 13; 2008: 14; 2009: 4; 2010: 22; 2011: 8; 2012: 8; 2013: 5; 2014: 7; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 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 10002084 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
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 INTERSECTION. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED A VIBRATION. SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032623 · 2003-08-12 (August 12, 2003)
I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. THE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND I HAVE CHANGED BRAKE PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. IT CURRENLT HAS 60,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON VARIUOS WEB-SITES AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS ON EXPLORERS????*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030835 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
EXPLORER SPORT VIBRATES AND SHAKES WHEN GOING OVER 50 MPH. HAD THE TIRES BALANCED AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE VIBRATING IS EVEN NOTICABLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH ALSO VIBRATES WHEN THIS OCCURS IN ADDITION TO THE SHAKING THAT CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE SEAT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056600 · 2004-02-05 (February 5, 2004)
ON NOVEMBER 29TH MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING HER 2001 FORD EXPLORER 2DR 4X4 TO WORK. SHE HIT AN ICE PATCH GOING APPROX. 30 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE REAR END SWUNG SIDEWAYS. HER FORD THEN FLIPPED ON IT'S PASSENGER SIDE AND HIT A TREE. MY MOTHER COULD NOT GET HER SEAT BELT UNDONE SO SHE CALLED 911 WHILE HANGING IN HER VEHICLE. A MAN AND WOMAN STOPPED TO HELP HER OUT BECAUSE THEY NOTICED THAT HER FORD WAS ON FIRE. THEY HAD TO BREAK INTO THE BACK WINDOW AND THE WOMAN CLIMBED IN TO RELEASE HER AND PULL HER OUT. IF THOSE PEOPLE WOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023756 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
I HAVE A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. MY 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES ON IT AND FROM THE NEW GROUPS I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING, I'M NOT ALONE. I UNDERSTAND THAT FORD HAS REDESIGNED THE VALVE BODY AND IS REFUSING TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE UNITS FREE OF CHARGE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052670 · 2004-01-08 (January 8, 2004)
FORD IS A COMPLETE RIP OFF AND SOLD ME A LEMON I WILL NEVER EVER BUY OR RECOMMEND A FORD IN MY LIFE ALL WE'VE HAD IS PROBLEMS... WE JUST BROUGHT OUR FORD EXPLORER TO MT. VERNON FORD IN NY AND THEY TOLD US THEY WILL CHECK OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND IF WE DECIDE FOR THEM NOT TO FIX IT THERE OUR CHARGE IS 85.00 DOLLARS AND IF WE FIX IT THERE THEY WILL PUT IT TOWARDS THE REPAIR AND TOLD US THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING IS FROM NOT MAINTAINING THE CAR HOW DARE THEY MAKE SUCH A STATEMENT I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF MY CARS I HAVE A NISSAN WITH 130,000 …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037835 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
VEHICLE'S MOTOR STALLED OUT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED.*MR THE CONSUMER WANTS TO PUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY ON NOTICE THAT HIS VEHICLE IS IN FACT DEFECTIVE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE AND REMEDY A FUTURE FAILURE, AT NO COST, SHOULD A SIMILAR PROBLEM RECCUR AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066209 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)
EGR VALVE FAILED ON MY VEHICLE 3 TIMES. ACCORDING TO AN ONLINE REPAIR FORUM, THIS COULD LEAD TO STALLING AND HESITATION IN ACCELERATION. MY EGR VALVE HAS FAILED ALL 3 TIMES DURING PERIODS OF ACCELERATION WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. THIS COULD POSE A SAFETY HAZARD SHOULD IT FAIL AND STALL WHILE ACCELERATING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY OR WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON A 2 LANE ROAD.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038527 · 2003-09-09 (September 9, 2003)
VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 10 MINUTES, DRIVER TRIED TO START VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO KICK OVER. DRIVER COULD HEAR THE MOTOR CLICKING ,BUT IT DID NOT START. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS OPERATING. HAD NOTIFIED THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DUPLICATED OR RESOLVED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109053 · 2005-01-27 (January 27, 2005)
WHEN TILTING THE STEERING WHEEL DOWN IT SHUTS EVERYTHING OFF. THEN, WHEN PLACING IT BACK TO THE NORMAL POSITION EVERYTHING COMES BACK ON, THE BRAKE LIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS, AND CONSUMER HEARS AN ELECTRICAL BUZZING INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109053 at NHTSA ↗