44 of the
503 complaints about the 2001 Ford Explorer are about the
transmission — 9% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
110,000 miles.
D
44
Complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Automatic Transmission
1738.6%
Power Train
1431.8%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
24.5%
Axle Assembly
24.5%
Column Shift
24.5%
Manual Transmission
12.3%
Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
12.3%
Driveshaft
12.3%
Cooling Unit AND Lines
12.3%
Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
12.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain across every Ford Explorer year
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID. THERE WAS ALSO RUST UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND A HOLE IN THE RUNNING BOARDS, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THEM TO DETACH. THE CONTACT CLAIMED THAT THE GROUND COULD BE SEEN THROUGH THE HOLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO PRODUCED THICK SMOKE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #11187507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 147,000 milesSparks, NV
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING AROUND 30 MPH ON A FLAT STRAIGHT PAVED ROAD WHEN IT SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO 4 WHEEL LOW.
NHTSA complaint #10908002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 146,500 milesSparks, NV
POWER TRAIN
SWITCHED INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE LOW WITHOUT A COMMAND WHILE DRIVING AROUND 30 MPH ON A DRY LEVEL PAVED ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10905597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 87,372 milesDorado, PR
POWER TRAIN
THE FORD EXPLORER 2001 XLS 4.0L REAR WHEEL DRIVE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE IN SLIP 4 TO 5 GEAR IN 75000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10648140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 187,000 milesShoreline, WA
POWER TRAIN
I TOOK MY CAR TO ASTORIA FORD LATE LAST YEAR, BECAUSE IT WAS STALLING AND LOSING POWER. THE CHARGED ME ALMOST $1,000.00 AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE O/D ON OFF LIGHT WILL STOP AND START. WHEN IT COMES ON WHICH JUST STARTED TODAY, THE CAR IN ANY GEAR WHILE ONLY GO FORWARD. IN REVERSE AND NEUTRAL, ONLY FORWARD. AS A POLICE OFFICER THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND I CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. MANY HAVE SUBMITTED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TO FORD, THEY CALL IT A PHANTOM PROBLEM. I HOPE THIS PHANTOM PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR IN FRONT OF A DAY CARE.
NHTSA complaint #10605000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 143,000 milesRensselaer, NY
POWER TRAIN
FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED, LEAVING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY POWERLESS WHILE DRIVING. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES IN 2006, AGAIN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. IN BOTH CASES, I, AS THE DRIVER, WAS NEARLY INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS WITH OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE COMPLETE LOSS OF THE TRANSMISSION POWER TRAIN. THE VEHICLE ALSO GAVE NO WARNING OF THE FAILURE PRIOR TO THESE EVENTS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS HAS BEEN A LONG-STANDING DESIGN DEFECT WITH FORD EXPLORERS, WITH A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES FROM THE EARLY 2000S SUFFERING SIMILAR TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THIS IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND, I BELIEVE, A DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY AND/OR DEATH.. I ALSO WISH TO ADD THAT THIS VEHICLE, WHICH IS 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND INCLUDES A FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING PACKAGE, HAS ONLY OCCASIONALLY BEEN USED FOR TOWING A BOAT (2X PER YEAR) AND IS SELDOM USED IN ITS 4 WHEEL DRIVE CAPACITY (ONLY ON SNOW COVERED ROADS 2-3 TIMES PER YEAR). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS IN EACH CASE WAS OVER $2,000.
NHTSA complaint #10584045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 99,000 milesFort Worth, TX
POWER TRAIN
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 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. 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. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE FIXED SEVERAL AND THEY GO RIGHT BACK OUT IT WAS A WASTE OF MY TIME.. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE U ALL FIX THIS IF U TRY TO TAKE OFF AND IT SLIPS AND WILL NOT GO U CAN AND WILL GET HIT.
NHTSA complaint #10565495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rocky MT., VA
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND WITH AN UNUSUAL WHINING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10483709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,750 milesLexington, KYCrash1 injured
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY WITH THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN. TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO REVERSE, ROLLED BACKWARDS IN DRIVEWAY, CRASHING THROUGH TWO CHAINLINK GATES, THE DOOR WAS TORN BACK AGAINST THE FENDER, I TRIED TO REACH INTO THE TRUCK TO TURN IT OFF, AND WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE TRUCK, AND THE CHAIN LINK FENCE. EXPLORER CURRENTLY IN THE COLLISION SHOP, AND TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPAIRED WHEN THE BODYWORK IS DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10438898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 126,000 milesUnited States OF America, NC
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WOULD NOT CATCH 3RD GEAR AND THEN SOUNDED LIKE A TOOLBOX WAS SCATTERED UNDER THE CAR. CAR SUCCESSIVELY LOST ALL GEARS EXCEPT 1ST. REPAIR COST OVER $2800.00.
NHTSA complaint #10437941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,000 milesMeadville, PACrash
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AND THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THAT INVOLVED FOUR ADDITIONAL VEHICLES. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERVO PLUG HAD POPPED OUT OF PLACE AND FRACTURED THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10386707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 166,724 milesVivian, LA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OD LIGHT IS FLASHING AND THE FIRST GEAR SHIFTS REAL HARD. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE FIXED SEVERAL AND THEY GO RIGHT BACK OUT IT WAS A WASTE OF MY TIME.. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE U ALL FIX THIS IF U TRY TO TAKE OFF AND IT SLIPS AND WILL NOT GO U CAN AND WILL GET HIT.
NHTSA complaint #10341339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 143,212 milesCincinnati, OH
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPLORER AND AT FIRST THE TRUCK WOULD SLIP IN AND OUT OF GEARS SO I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH. I HAD THAT REPLACED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. YESTERDAY, I WAS DRIVING AND THE TRUCK SLIPPED OUT OF DRIVE.... AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. THIS TRUCK IS GOING TO COST ME OVER 2,000 DOLLARS TO FIX AND IT SEEMS AS IF I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP!
NHTSA complaint #10334535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 107,400 milesTemecula, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FORD EXPLORER O/D LIGHT FLASHING, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING.
NHTSA complaint #10324584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,000 milesBartlett, IL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
'O/D OFF' LIGHT IF BLINKING, ON AND OFF. WHILE LIGHT IS BLINKING THE CAR SEEMS TO BE SLUGGISH AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE PROPERLY. ROUGH SHIFTS WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10318169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,000 milesBartlett, IL
POWER TRAIN
'O/D OFF' LIGHT IF BLINKING, ON AND OFF. WHILE LIGHT IS BLINKING THE CAR SEEMS TO BE SLUGGISH AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE PROPERLY. ROUGH SHIFTS WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10318169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesRichmond, IN
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2001 FORD EXPLORERS TRANSMISSION IS HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS FOLLOWED BY IT'S OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING. I TALKED TO SEVERAL FORD TRANSMISSION FRIENDS AND THEY ADVISED ME TO INSTALL A UPGRADE KIT IN THE VALVE BODY. THIS WAS DONE, FLUID AND FILTER CHANGED, TO NO AVAIL. THE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FLASHES AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WEIRD. AFTER READING SEVERAL POSTS ON SEVERAL SITES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, I AM AT A LOSS AT WHAT TO DO. SEVERAL PEOPLE STATED THAT THEY WENT TO THE EXTENT OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSIONS WITH NEW ONES AND THE LIGHT STILL FLASHING AND HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY EXPLORER HAS 60K MILES ON IT AND THIS PROBLEM STARTED AT ONLY 50K MILES, TO ME THIS IS A PROBLEM FORD SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE, AND ALLOW SOME COMPENSATION TO IT'S LOYAL CUSTOMERS.
NHTSA complaint #10298792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesKeswick, 00
POWER TRAIN
FORD PART # 1L24-7H473-AG VENDOR # M799G MOTOROLA MODEL # 01MU152B06 DATE CODE 01211 SERIAL # 21396939
NHTSA complaint #10245340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 96,427 milesBayamon, PR
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE EVERYTIME THE BLINKING OCCURRED. THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR EACH TIME THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,491 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,427.
NHTSA complaint #10240700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,450 milesDento, TX
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP IN A LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AS MY WIFE EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE LINKAGE ON THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION USING A PAIR OF PLIERS WHILE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS SET, AND MY WIFE APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200.00. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2001 AND HAS ONLY 58,000 MILES. IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED IN ANY MANNER. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHATSOEVER THAT THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF A PROBLEM. SURELY, THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT FORD WILL PROBABLY DENY.
NHTSA complaint #10190137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesBurlington, VT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT AROUND 55000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE MY REAR AXLE AND I AM NOW AT 62000 AND MY O/D WILL START FLASHING AND MY 2001 EXPLORER WILL SHIFT HARD OR NOT SHIFT AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10147014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesWest Long Branch, NJ
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OVERDRIVE TURNS OFF - FORD HAS ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ((TSB) 03-22-10 IN OBVIOUS RECOGNITION OF NUMEROUS PROBLEMS ,BUT REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10118059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 48,500 milesWoodstock, GA
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE- NO WARNING-
NHTSA complaint #10069359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,500 milesInglewood, CA
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON OCTOBER 8,2003. THREE DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK FOUR TIMES BACK TO BACK. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THE SECOND AND THIRD TIME THE SAME THING. ON THE FOURTH ATTEMPT, THEY HAD ME TAKE IT TO ONE OF "THEIR" MECHANICS. HE SAID IT WAS A BAD SWITCH IN THE SYSTEM. NOT EVEN A WHOLE WEEK LATER, THE CHECK GUAGE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR LOT WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT MY CAR BECAUSE OUT OF THE KINDNESS OF THEIR HEART THEY'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT IT. SO I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY FIXED IT AND SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION, AND THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY CAR LOT SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET FOR SOME PROBLEMS THAT ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEN THE FIRST TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I LATER FOUND OUT THAT A SALES PERSON WHO WAS NOT CERTIFIED MECHANIC, TRIED TO FIX THE CAR WHEN THEY SAID THEY WERE SENDING IT TO A MECHANIC. I'M STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE JUST GETTING WORSE!
NHTSA complaint #10071226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Columbia, SC
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
PROBLEMS INVOLVING 2001 FORD EXPLORER. *MR (THE LETTER WAS WRITTEN IN SPANISH) THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10044788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poughkeepsie, NY
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
TRANSMISSION LEAKS WHILE DRIVING OR PARKING. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10038323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 31,059 milesSuwanee, GA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 31,059 MILES, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AT ACCELERATION AND LOSS POWER, ESPECIALLY AT SECOND GEAR. AT 42,000 THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEMS THAT EXPERIENCED AT 31,059 MILES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE D.P.F.E SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #10020860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 36,500 milesHollywood, FL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
NHTSA complaint #10007584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Grande, OR
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLS FORWARD WHEN PUT IN PARK.
NHTSA complaint #567425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Grande, OR
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLS FORWARD WHEN PUT IN PARK.
NHTSA complaint #567425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.