2001 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls

HEADLIGHTS TOO BRIGHT (LOW BEAMS SPECIFAICALLY)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000235 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004659 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007919 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 10008280 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-10-17 (October 17, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567.4, "CERTIFICATION." THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED FROM THE ASSEMBLY PLANT WITHOUT SAFETY CERTIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: INCORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE COULD RESULT IN TIRE TREAD SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CERTIFICATION LABELS.

Reported: 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

Reported: 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL AND 4.0L SOHC ENGINES, IF THE STRAND COVER ON THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE BECOMES FLARED AT THE END, THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE MAY BIND WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS ACTIVATED.

Consequence: THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING FORCE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE BINDING CONDITION WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS DISENGAGED. BRAKING FUNCTION WOULD BE MAINTAINED THOUGH STOPPING DISTANCES MAY BE INCREASED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.

Consequence: THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT UPPER BOLT WITH A METAL SPACER AND BOLT. IN ADDITION, SEATS WITH TUBULAR BACK FRAMES WILL HAVE THE FULLY THREADED LOWER RECLINER BOLT REPLACED WITH A PARTIALLY THREADED BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.