U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

375 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

90,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 113 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 375 complaints (10.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	51	13.6%
Steering behavior	32	8.5%
Transmission and shifting	22	5.9%
Engine operation	10	2.7%
Electrical and battery issues	9	2.4%
Fuel system concerns	6	1.6%

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.

Tires

Tires:Tread/Belt

Suspension

Vehicle Speed Control

Electrical System

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Air Bags:Frontal

Seats

Tires: 39; Tires:Tread/Belt: 22; Suspension: 19; Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Electrical System: 17; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 17; Air Bags:Frontal: 16; Seats: 16

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 23; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 30; 150,000 and above: 16

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 262 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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2021

2000: 42; 2001: 80; 2002: 75; 2003: 30; 2004: 21; 2005: 22; 2006: 8; 2007: 14; 2008: 17; 2009: 6; 2010: 12; 2011: 5; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 9; 2015: 9; 2016: 5; 2017: 6; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2021: 2

Pattern summary

Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 51 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 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 10001354 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001354 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006999 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)

THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TILTED IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO WORK.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006999 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10008279 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)

BRAKE PROBLEM, IN 2002 I HAD MY EXPLORER IN TO PHIL LONG FORD 3 TIMES FOR PULLING, VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN STOPPING. THEY MACHINED THE ROTORS EACH TIME. I THEN TOOK IT BACK TO FORD BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE STILL DOING THE SAME THING, ONCE AGAIN THEY MACHINED THE ROTORS DOWN TO THE LOWEST THICKNESS. THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO MAKE NOISE AND THE PEDAL IS NOW SLOPPY. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO TSB REPORT ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT YET I FIND ON THE INTERNET. THE BULLTIN # IS 15910 AND #15249. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT WHAT EVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008279 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007584 · 2003-02-16 (February 16, 2003)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 36,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007584 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10038323 · 2003-09-05 (September 5, 2003)

TRANSMISSION LEAKS WHILE DRIVING OR PARKING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038323 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10083715 · 2004-07-23 (July 23, 2004)

THERE WERE REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR ON 2001 FORD EXPLORER. *MR UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083715 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10120025 · 2005-05-05 (May 5, 2005)

VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHEN IT WAS AROUND 30 DEGREES OR LOWER IN THE WINTER AND WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE 3 OR 4 TIMES TO GET IT TO STAY STARTED, NOW VEHICLE DOES THIS EVERY MORNING AND EVEN WHEN ITS WARM OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER PUT SEAL ON INTAKE PLATTON. VEHICLE DOES IT EVERY TIME YOU START IT NOW.

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120025 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10110929 · 2005-03-02 (March 2, 2005)

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH HEARD A POPPING NOISE. NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. NO FLAMES APPEARED. PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN. CONTACTED POLICE AND TOWED THE TRUCK. AT THE MECHANIC'S SHOP WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS PINCHED OFF AND STARTED THE ELECTRICAL FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110929 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10121553 · 2005-05-13 (May 13, 2005)

2001 FORD EXPLORER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH A SHORT IN THE WIRING TO THE RADIO AND THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIO WAS NO GOOD. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE A BAD FUSE. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED TWO NEW BATTERIES FOR THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121553 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10481761 · 2012-10-17 (October 17, 2012)

CPSC#I12A0111A. 2001 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATED THAT A DAY AFTER SHE BROUGHT THE CAR IT BROKE DOWN. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, AS WELL AS A HOLE IN GAS TANK, WHICH HAD RUSTED OUT, THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE TIRE WERE DRY ROTTED, AS THEY KEPT GOING FLAT, THE DRIVER'S DOOR DID NOT LOCK, THE REAR DOORS DID NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR DID NOT OPEN AT ALL, THE OUTSIDE HANDLE WAS BROKE, THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT CLOSE, AND MOST OF THE TIME IT HAD TO BE SLAMMED SHUT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10481761 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 566886 · 2002-08-05 (August 5, 2002)

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SPURIOUS RADIO EMISSIONS IN EXCESSIVE OF 10 METERS FORM THE VEHICLE. THE RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE CAUSES NEAR TOTAL DISRUPTION TO RADIO FREQUENCY EQUIPMENT OPERATED WITHIN 10 METERS OF THE VEHICLE. THE TROUBLE HAS BEEN ISOLATED TO THE FUEL PUMP. TESTING INDICATES THE FUEL PUMP IS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS BEEN ASVISED BY FORD THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT BUT FORD REFUSES TO ASSIST. *JG

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 566886 at NHTSA ↗