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2001 Ford Explorer
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2001 Ford Explorer, covering vehicle speed control, seats and structure, and 373 consumer complaints received since 2000.
The component named most often is tires: 133.7 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 33.1 per 1,000 across all 2001 model-year vehicles and against 138.9 per 1,000 for the Ford Explorer line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 526.7 complaints per model year across the 45 Ford Explorer model years on this register; 64 complaints reported a crash and 21 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2001 (80); the most recent in the file is dated 8 May 2019.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 2 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: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 09S09).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 05S28).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 03S04).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 03S03).
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: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY (manufacturer campaign 00L10).
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 Explorer (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 | Explorer line | All 2001 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 133.7 | 138.9 | 33.1 |
| Suspension | 89.8 | 52 | 78.6 |
| Power Train | 87.8 | 146.1 | 93.1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 81.8 | 61.5 | 116.8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 71.9 | 56.8 | 44.4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 67.9 | 54.4 | 87.2 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 67 | 133.7 | 138.9 | 33.1 |
| Suspension | 45 | 89.8 | 52 | 78.6 |
| Power Train | 44 | 87.8 | 146.1 | 93.1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 41 | 81.8 | 61.5 | 116.8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 71.9 | 56.8 | 44.4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 34 | 67.9 | 54.4 | 87.2 |
| Structure | 33 | 65.9 | 83.7 | 69.2 |
| Electrical System | 29 | 57.9 | 48.9 | 98.8 |
| Air Bags | 28 | 55.9 | 26.1 | 64.8 |
| Seats | 24 | 47.9 | 18.6 | 13.7 |
| Steering | 21 | 41.9 | 60.8 | 41.4 |
| Visibility | 17 | 33.9 | 38.9 | 35.9 |
| Unknown or Other | 12 | 24 | 54.7 | 19.7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 24 | 10.9 | 31.3 |
| Seat Belts | 11 | 22 | 16.8 | 18.6 |
| Equipment | 10 | 20 | 13.2 | 19 |
| Wheels | 10 | 20 | 14.5 | 12.4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 18 | 15.6 | 35.4 |
| Engine | 6 | 12 | 35.3 | 15.9 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 4 | 2.3 | 6.5 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 2 | 4 | 12.6 | 11.8 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 4 | 6.1 | 18.2 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 2 | 3.7 | 6.8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | 2 | 14.8 | 6.8 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | 2 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 2 | 0.6 | 1.7 |
373 unique complaints, 501 component mentions; 65 injuries and 6 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DP05005 | Defect petition | SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD | engine and engine cooling:engine | 22 Sep 2005 | 4 Jan 2006 | — |
| PE03020 | Preliminary evaluation | FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT | seats:front assembly:recliner | 21 May 2003 | 5 Sep 2003 | 03V281000 |
Other Ford Explorer model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 NHTSA | 0 | 2 | — |
| 1984 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1985 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1986 NHTSA | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1987 NHTSA | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1988 NHTSA | 0 | 4 | — |
| 1989 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1990 NHTSA | 0 | 12 | — |
| 1991 | 8 | 608 | 1,915,500 |
| 1992 | 4 | 633 | 1,267,784 |
| 1993 | 6 | 936 | 2,574,157 |
| 1994 | 4 | 1,206 | 2,024,373 |
| 1995 | 5 | 842 | 5,837,982 |
| 1996 | 6 | 1,447 | 5,543,470 |
| 1997 | 7 | 1,729 | 6,792,376 |
| 1998 | 9 | 1,955 | 9,567,644 |
| 1999 | 9 | 1,340 | 12,178,996 |
| 2000 | 9 | 936 | 10,560,697 |
| 2001 | 6 | 373 | 10,104,564 |
| 2002 | 4 | 3,266 | 5,511,406 |
| 2003 | 2 | 1,124 | 959,406 |
| 2004 | 0 | 1,285 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 487 | — |
| 2006 | 1 | 616 | 199,942 |
| 2007 | 1 | 200 | 11 |
| 2008 | 1 | 133 | 1,497 |
| 2009 | 0 | 30 | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 97 | 33,256 |
| 2011 | 6 | 657 | 3,609,175 |
| 2012 | 5 | 410 | 3,607,517 |
| 2013 | 11 | 984 | 5,100,891 |
| 2014 | 6 | 660 | 4,260,351 |
| 2015 | 8 | 635 | 5,716,171 |
| 2016 | 14 | 717 | 5,832,874 |
| 2017 | 13 | 316 | 6,354,133 |
| 2018 | 7 | 52 | 3,905,452 |
| 2019 | 6 | 1 | 3,848,705 |
| 2020 | 33 | 0 | 6,198,017 |
| 2021 | 26 | 0 | 5,838,416 |
| 2022 | 24 | 0 | 4,646,746 |
| 2023 | 15 | 0 | 3,599,589 |
| 2024 | 10 | 0 | 1,814,933 |
| 2025 | 20 | 0 | 1,434,649 |
| 2026 | 14 | 0 | 571,142 |
| 2027 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 76,748 |
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 Explorer model years · Ford: 201 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Explorer have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 09V399000, was reported to NHTSA on 13 Oct 2009 and concerns vehicle speed control. Across all model years the Ford Explorer line has 142 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2001 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 2 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 Explorer complain about most?
Tires: 67 of 501 component mentions (133.7 per 1,000). Next is suspension with 45. 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.