Model year record

2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 229 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V336000

Vehicle speed control

Component: Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 3,600,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-08-03
Owners notified: 2007-08-13

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V281000

Seats: front assembly: recliner

Component: Seats: front assembly: recliner
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 1,552,880
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-08-05
Owners notified: 2003-08-29

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V280000

Vehicle speed control: cables

Component: Vehicle speed control: cables
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 448,005
Reported to NHTSA: 2003-08-05
Owners notified: 2003-08-29

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V394000

Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments

Component: Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments
Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 137,700
Reported to NHTSA: 2000-11-28
Owners notified: 2001-01-23

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH STEEL HOODS AND CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SHEET MOLDING COMPOUND HOODS. A WIRE FORMED HOOD STRIKER COULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURES. IF THE HOOD STRIKER FRACTURES, THE HOOD COULD FLY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.

Safety risk

A HOOD FLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED COULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD STRIKER.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Power train: automatic transmission	18	49,600 mi
Vehicle speed control	18	65,000 mi
Structure: frame and members	13	105,000 mi
Power train	10	129,001 mi
Structure: body	10	105,000 mi
Electrical system	9	125,000 mi
Suspension	9	86,000 mi
Air bags	8	68,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	8	92,000 mi
Tires	7	14,000 mi
Unknown or other	6	127,854 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	6	57,560 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner	5	11,000 mi
Seats	4	147,260 mi
Structure	4	150,000 mi
Wheels	4	147,260 mi
Air bags: frontal	3	71,000 mi
Engine	3	170,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	3	84,000 mi
Exterior lighting	3	40,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	3	140,400 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	3	169,782 mi
Suspension: front	3	48,936 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	3	67,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt	3	25 mi
Electrical system: wiring	2	57,560 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash	2	2,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	2	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)	2	42,148 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system	2	62,003 mi
Power train: axle assembly	2	135,000 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit	2	92,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	2	40,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	2	70,000 mi
Steering	2	49,000 mi
Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments	2	70,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	2	31,076 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	—
Equipment	1	—
Equipment adaptive/mobility	1	70,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.	1	2,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights	1	—
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch	1	36,201 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail	1	70,000 mi
Fuel system, other: delivery	1	70,000 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly: pressure relief devices	1	62,003 mi
Interior lighting	1	85,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch	1	70,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch	1	—
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter	1	—
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft	1	—
Power train: clutch assembly	1	17,551 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)	1	91,800 mi
Seat belts	1	—
Seat belts: rear/other	1	20,000 mi
Service brakes	1	174,000 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock	1	—
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light	1	12,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	1	70,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper	1	70,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: shoes/linings	1	36,201 mi
Steering: column	1	36,201 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system	1	25,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump	1	—
Steering: linkages: drag: power assist system	1	5,000 mi
Structure: body: roof and pillars	1	—
Suspension: front: control arm: upper arm	1	49,000 mi
Suspension: front: shock absorber	1	60,000 mi
Suspension: rear: shock absorber	1	60,000 mi
Tires: sidewall	1	39,400 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core	1	—
Visibility: power window devices and controls	1	70,000 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer: switch/wiring	1	36,201 mi
Wheels: rim	1	32,000 mi

The 2000 model has 76 times as many complaints as this one. The 2002 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.