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2001 Ford Expedition
The 2001 Ford Expedition appears in 6 NHTSA recall campaigns (vehicle speed control, structure and visibility) and in 565 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is engine and engine cooling: 172.9 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 116.8 per 1,000 across all 2001 model-year vehicles and against 133 per 1,000 for the Ford Expedition line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 183.7 complaints per model year across the 36 Ford Expedition model years on this register; 36 complaints reported a crash and 91 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2005 (78); the most recent in the file is dated 1 Sep 2017.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 6 investigations naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
Consequence: A fire at the switch could occur.
Remedy: By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are being notified that parts will be available and advised to make an appointment to reconnect the speed control beginning in february 2006. Owners who did not have their speed control deactivated are being notified to have their system remedied beginning in february 2006. Owners are urged to avail themselves of the free disconnect service as soon as possible because of the significant risk of fire. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 06v286)
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 05S28).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by SOUTHERN COMFORT CONVERSIONS.
Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or ignition of the plastic cover material. Switch malfunction is most likely to occur when the intermittent setting of the wipers is being used, or when snow or ice obstructs the blades from returning to the "parked" position at the bottom of the windshield. These vehicles were built at the following assembly plants: atlanta plant from 2/11/00 through 7/31/00; chicago plant from 2/14/00 through 8/4/00; kansas city plant from 2/26/00 to 9/4/00; kentucky truck plant from 2/18/00 to 8/31/00; michigan truck plant from 2/23/00 through 8/3/00; norfolk plant from 2/21/00 through 7/27/00; wayne stamping and assembly plant from 2/25/00 through 8/15/00; and wixom plant from 2/15/00 through 8/8/00.
Consequence: Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began august 20, 2001. 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 ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 01S24).
Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. Ford crown victoria built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 mercury grand marquis built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. Lincoln town cars built at wixom assembly plant from 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. Lincoln navigators built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01. Ford windstars built at oakville assembly plant from 3/23/00 - 5/30/01. Ford rangers built at twin cities plant from 3/28/00 - 5/30/01, and also at the edison plant from 3/13/00 - 5/25/01. Ford f-150 truck built at norfolk plant from 4/18/00 - 5/25/00; at ontario plant from 5/10/00 - 5/28/01; at kansas city plant from 9/11/99 - 5/25/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/9/01. Ford super duty f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 trucks built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 5/27/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/19/01. Ford excursions built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 10/2/00. Ford expeditions built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began july 25, 2001. 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 ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 01S21).
Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. The inflator canister in the driver air bag module may have an inadequate weld near the igniter.
Consequence: In the event of a vehicle crash, the driver air bag may not deploy as intended, potentially resulting in reduced occupant protection, or a burn injury.
Remedy: Dealers will install a driver air bag module. Owner notification began march 19, 2001. 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 ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 01S10).
Defect, as filed: Vehicle description: certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the affected expedition/navigator owner guides do not identify the locations of seating positions equipped with tether anchorages, and do not provide instructions for securing child seats to these tether anchorages. The f150 sc owner guides do not provide the procedure for securing child seats to the tether anchorages. The taurus/sable owner guides do not identify the center rear seating position as having latch compatible lower anchorages.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the child seat may not be properly attached increasing the risk of injury to the child.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with owner guide inserts revised to provide the required information, and instructions for affixing these inserts to their owner guides. Customers will also be advised that if they prefer, their dealer will affix the inserts to their owner guides.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 00L11).
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2001 Ford Expedition (black) against all 2001 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2001 | Expedition line | All 2001 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 172.9 | 133 | 116.8 |
| Electrical System | 167.4 | 123 | 98.8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 134.2 | 83.4 | 44.4 |
| Tires | 81.6 | 81.8 | 33.1 |
| Visibility | 63.6 | 55.5 | 35.9 |
| Power Train | 55.3 | 73.8 | 93.1 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 125 | 172.9 | 133 | 116.8 |
| Electrical System | 121 | 167.4 | 123 | 98.8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 97 | 134.2 | 83.4 | 44.4 |
| Tires | 59 | 81.6 | 81.8 | 33.1 |
| Visibility | 46 | 63.6 | 55.5 | 35.9 |
| Power Train | 40 | 55.3 | 73.8 | 93.1 |
| Seat Belts | 36 | 49.8 | 17.4 | 18.6 |
| Structure | 24 | 33.2 | 41.6 | 69.2 |
| Suspension | 23 | 31.8 | 60.2 | 78.6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 | 26.3 | 23.6 | 35.4 |
| Unknown or Other | 18 | 24.9 | 22.2 | 19.7 |
| Air Bags | 18 | 24.9 | 35.6 | 64.8 |
| Equipment | 17 | 23.5 | 16.2 | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 16 | 22.1 | 48.2 | 87.2 |
| Engine | 14 | 19.4 | 46.2 | 15.9 |
| Steering | 8 | 11.1 | 36.1 | 41.4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 11.1 | 11.8 | 31.3 |
| Wheels | 7 | 9.7 | 18.1 | 12.4 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 7 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 11.8 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 6.9 | 12.1 | 18.2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 3 | 4.1 | 5.4 | 5 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2.8 | 3 | 4.4 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 6.5 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1.4 | 1 | 1 |
| Seats | 1 | 1.4 | 8.4 | 13.7 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 2.6 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | 1.4 | 15 | 6.8 |
565 unique complaints, 723 component mentions; 60 injuries and 5 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA05015 | Engineering analysis | WINDSHIELD LEAK CAUSES ELECTRIC FAILURES | electrical system | 13 Oct 2005 | 6 Dec 2006 | — |
| DP05005 | Defect petition | SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD | engine and engine cooling:engine | 22 Sep 2005 | 4 Jan 2006 | — |
| PE05033 | Preliminary evaluation | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE | electrical system | 15 Jun 2005 | 13 Oct 2005 | — |
| EA05005 | Engineering analysis | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | electrical system | 22 Mar 2005 | 2 Aug 2006 | 05V388000 |
| EA05004 | Engineering analysis | FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | seat belts | 17 Feb 2005 | 6 Jul 2005 | — |
| RQ04011 | Recall query | FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | seat belts:front:buckle assembly | 22 Oct 2004 | 17 Feb 2005 | — |
Other Ford Expedition model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1993 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1994 NHTSA | 0 | 4 | — |
| 1995 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1996 NHTSA | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1997 | 7 | 847 | 7,668,883 |
| 1998 | 5 | 833 | 7,472,437 |
| 1999 | 5 | 944 | 5,123,889 |
| 2000 | 7 | 882 | 7,466,218 |
| 2001 | 6 | 565 | 7,481,942 |
| 2002 | 2 | 331 | 4,503,674 |
| 2003 | 1 | 591 | 3,674 |
| 2004 | 0 | 277 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 309 | — |
| 2006 | 2 | 292 | 210,003 |
| 2007 | 2 | 198 | 180,831 |
| 2008 | 3 | 126 | 123,835 |
| 2009 NHTSA | 1 | 24 | 1,357 |
| 2010 | 0 | 49 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 52 | — |
| 2012 | 3 | 74 | 164,650 |
| 2013 | 0 | 42 | — |
| 2014 NHTSA | 0 | 18 | — |
| 2015 | 3 | 58 | 1,815,628 |
| 2016 | 3 | 42 | 1,850,763 |
| 2017 | 4 | 27 | 1,974,374 |
| 2018 | 14 | 19 | 3,077,037 |
| 2019 | 11 | 3 | 3,269,466 |
| 2020 | 18 | 0 | 4,821,102 |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 | 4,037,713 |
| 2022 | 12 | 0 | 9,269,618 |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | 7,421,932 |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | 6,314,792 |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | 4,740,952 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 4,423,626 |
| 2027 | 2 | 0 | 4,423,626 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Ford Expedition model years · Ford: 201 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Expedition have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 05V388000, was reported to NHTSA on 7 Sep 2005 and concerns vehicle speed control. Across all model years the Ford Expedition line has 77 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2001 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 6 actions naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2001 Ford Expedition complain about most?
Engine and Engine Cooling: 125 of 723 component mentions (172.9 per 1,000). Next is electrical system with 121. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.