2001 Ford Explorer Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 2001 Ford Explorer, and owners have filed 375 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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6 safety recalls for the 2001 Ford Explorer
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Vehicle speed control
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…
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…
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Vehicle speed control
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.
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…
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Cables (vehicle speed control)
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.
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.
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Recliner (seats)
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…
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…
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Structure
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.
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…
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Labels (equipment)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the certification labels.
375 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2001 Ford Explorer have filed 375 complaints with NHTSA; 64 describe a crash and 21 describe a fire. Reports cite 65 injuries and 6 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 89,749 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 80 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 03v281000 (seats). The contact stated that her son noticed that the front driver's seat was hard”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 5, 2021 · Seats
“Smoke coming from steering... Can feel a change in engine while driving, feels like a rough ride, and overdrive starts to flash.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 19, 2021 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2001 Ford Explorer (Explorer 2WD, Explorer 4WD, Explorer Sport 2WD, Explorer Sport 2WD FFV, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 15–39 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 13–45 / 17–33 |
| Fuel | Electricity, Gasoline or E85, Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4/5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Explorer model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Explorer model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2001 Ford Explorer
How do I know if my 2001 Ford Explorer has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2001 Ford Explorer; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V313000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
- Expedition9,359 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.