10 of the
503 complaints about the 2001 Ford Explorer are about the
wheels — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
136,109 miles.
MAIN PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT IS A CLICKING, KNOCKING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE IS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE. YOU CAN FEEL TRUCK SHAKE/VIBRATE WHEN YOU HEAR THE NOISE. PREVIOUS PROBLEMS LUG BOLTS CAME LOOSE AND ALMOST CAUSE TIRE TO FALL OFF. OTHER PROBLEM TRUCK STARTED OFF SOUNDING LIKE THE BRAKE PADS WERE GOING THEN THE TRUCK STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE . FELT LIKE THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FALL OUT. ENDED UP BEING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. RIM HAD STATTERED.
NHTSA complaint #10790422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
South Lake Tahoe, CACrash2 injured
WHEELS
AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEREIN A YOUNG MAN WAS SEVERELY INJURED. HE SURVIVED, BUT HAS A PLATE IN HIS JAW, AND SEVERE SCARRING ON HIS FACE. HIS SISTER WAS ALSO A PASSENGER AND WAS INJURED, BUT LESS SEVERELY. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE APPEARS TO HAVE BLOWN OUT, CAUSING THE CRASH. A WITNESS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT STATED: "I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE ONE OF THE RIGHT SIDE TIRES BEND TO THE SIDE AND SUDDENLY EXPLODE. AT THAT POINT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL DUE TO THE TIRE EXPLOSION AND SWERVED TO THE CENTER DIVIDER AND CRASHED. INFORMATION ON THE TIRES IS AS FOLLOWS: RADIAL SXT ALL TERRAINS. DOT NUMBER ON THE TIRES WERE XFA 0307 AND THE TIRE SIZE WAS 75/16. ALL TIRES PASSED INSPECTION THREE MONTHS BEFORE, WITH A TREAD OF 6/32. THE OFFICER NOTED THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10524057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesDownsville, NY
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CHROME STEEL WHEELS HAVE EXTERIOR CORROSION. THIS CONDITION HAS CAUSED THE TIRES TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. SHE WAS ADVISED BY A TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER TO PAY $257.00. TO REPLACE BOTHER REAR TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA complaint #10297112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cathedral City, CA
WHEELS
VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE DEFECTIVE. A MECHANISM INSIDE OF THE WHEEL TREAD SHEARED OFF INTO THE MANUFACTURER'S TIRES, AND CAUSED THE UNEVEN WEAR AND TEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10090410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Finleyville, PA
WHEELS
THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL MADE A NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #10009539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pelham, ALCrash
WHEELS:RIM
ROLLOVER, L REAR TIRE, INS. CO STATES RIM CAUSED ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #759327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Roseville, MI
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65 MPH PASSANGER SIDE REAR TIRE FELL OFF DUE TO LUG BOLTS BREAKING. VEHICLE ALMOST ROLLED, BUT WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL BEFORE THAT HAPENED. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP AND SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. FORD MOTOR HAS ALSO BEN CONTACTED AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP EITHER. (TIRESIZE: 16 INCH)
NHTSA complaint #752537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NVCrash1 injured
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD, EXPLORER ,2001. WHILE TRAVELING AT 35-40 MPH CONSUMER HIT A CONSTRUCTION SITE AND PASSENGER REAR TIRE FELL OFF, THEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK ANALYST IS UNSURE OFCOMPONENT, POSSIBLE TIRE FAILURE, POSSIBLE LUG, NUT, AND BOLT FAILURE, CAUSING ROLLOVER, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #889753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hastings, MI
WHEELS:RIM
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL RIM CRACKED WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. TIRE HAD BLOWN. WHEN WRECKER CAME TO CHANGE TIRE, DRIVER DISCOVERED INSIDE OF WHEEL RIM WAS BROKEN OFF. CONSUMER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS HIT THAT WOULD CAUSE RIM TO BREAK.*AK
NHTSA complaint #884821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntsville, AL
WHEELS:RIM
WHILE RIDING DOWN HIGHWAY PART OF REAR LEFT RIM CAME OFF OF AUTOMOBILE. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #883901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.