2001 Ford Excursion Owner Complaints

Odometer Fraud. The contact was interested in purchasing a 2001 Ford Excursion at the dealer who advertised the mileage on the vehicle as 120,000 on Saturday, December 6th, 2025; however, the odometer showed a mileage of 116,000. While noticing the difference, the contact decided to research the VIN online and discovered that on January 20th, 2024, in Maryland, the mileage was recorded for the vehicle at the time of servicing at 212,820. The contact asked the dealer for clarity on the difference in the mileage; however, the dealer failed to provide an explanation. The dealer stated that no laws in the state of Utah were being violated where the vehicle was being sold and disconnected the call. The contact reported the issue to the NHTSA after discovering the discrepancy.

NHTSA ID

11703730

Incident

Dec 6, 2025

Mileage

212,820 mi

Tie rod end broke in half. Tie rod fell to the ground

NHTSA ID

11518816

Incident

Apr 20, 2023

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Excursion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unattended, the vehicle caught fire without warning. There were no reported injuries, police reports, or air bag deployments. The fire department and city employees extinguished the fire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11511521

Incident

Mar 12, 2023

Mileage

135,000 mi

CRUISE CONTROL CUTOUT SWITCH MOUNTED ON MASTER CYLINDER IS FULL OF BRAKE FLUID INCLUDING THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE VIN NUMBER DOESN'T LINK TO A RECALL. PERHAPS THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD SWITCH REPLACED UNDER RECALL OR PERHAPS THIS VIN WASN'T IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL. IN ANY EVENT A FIRE HAZARD IS PRESENT.

NHTSA ID

11102252

Incident

Jun 17, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXCURSION EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE STEELTEX A/T TIRES, SIZE: LT265/75R16 119/116R (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TIRES EXPLODED AND CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ID

10783698

Incident

Oct 13, 2015

Mileage

147,000 mi

DROVE TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL AROUND 7:30AM AND RETURNED HOME AROUND 7:45 AM ABOUT A HOUR LATER I WAS NOTIFIED BY MY NEIGHBOR THAT MY FORD EXCURSION WAS ON FIRE, THE FIRE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE EXCURSION WAS PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID

10778903

Incident

Sep 28, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXCURSION. WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE SPEED BEGAN TO REDUCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THREAD GAVE WAY ON THE MOTOR HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10767514

Incident

Sep 20, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10732137

Incident

Jul 4, 2015

#7 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE SPARK PLUG HOLE. SPARK PLUGS WERE LAST REPLACED BY A LOCAL FORD DEALER IN 2011. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS FAILURE AND DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEADS TO BE COMMON IN THIS ENGINE, V-10 6.8L.

NHTSA ID

10730463

Incident

Jun 25, 2015

Mileage

146,846 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXCURSION. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN

NHTSA ID

10712414

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. WHILE I REALIZE THAT THERE WAS NO COLLATERAL DAMAGE THIS TIME, MY TRUCK HAS NINE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO IT AGAIN. MY DAUGHTER AND 4 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WERE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN 32 DEGREE TEMPS. HER CELL PHONE HAD DIED AND SHE HAD TO WALK TO A PHONE (CHILD IN TOW). THERE IS ENORMOUS PROOF THAT THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH FORD ENGINES AND HAS COST CONSUMERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR YET YOU CHOOSE NOT TO HOLD THEM LIABLE AND HAVE EVEN ALLOWED THEM TO COVER UP A PROBLEM. WHY? HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_SPARK.HTML HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS04/2007/05/FORD_TECHS_SPARK_PLUGS.HTML *JS

NHTSA ID

10681793

Incident

Feb 5, 2015

Mileage

198,000 mi

FACTORY PAINT PEELING. STARTED ON HOOD AND DOOR JAMBS, NOW ON ROOF. I CANNOT BELIEVE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY WOULD ALLOW PAINT TO PEEL AND CONTAMINATE IN THE ENVIRONMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679461

Incident

Jan 17, 2007

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXCURSION. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V352000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.

NHTSA ID

10664906

Incident

Dec 12, 2014

Mileage

198,000 mi

THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE HEAD AND BLOW THE IGNITION COIL TO BITS. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651065

Incident

Oct 29, 2014

Mileage

124,000 mi

ON SEPT. 29,2014I APPROACHED STOP LIGHT AND APPLIED BRAKES, ENGINE RPM INCREASED VERY HIGH AND BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD VEHICLE - HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE RPM CONTINUE TO GO HIGHER - THIS LASTED FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS BEFORE ENGINE WENT BACK TO IDLE SPEED THEN WE PROCEEDED HOME WITH NO MORE PROBLEMS. THIS HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND EACH TIME BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD VEHICLE BACK. I TOOK IT TO FORD IN 2013 AND EXPLAINED IT TO THEM AND THEY SAID TO PUT GAS STABILIZER IN TANK AS THE GAS IN TANK WAS CONDENSING AND CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO MALFUNCTION. I PUT THE GAS STABILIZER IN THINKING THIS WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT BUT THIS TIME , SEPT. 29,2014 AND THE TIME BEFORE, JUNE 2014 - IT REV UP SLIGHTLY , IT COULD NOT BE THE CASE THESE LAST TWO TIMES AS I HAD JUST PUT FRESH GAS IN IT. IT IS VERY SCARY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A BAD ACCIDENT. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I AM GOING TO CALL FORD AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641467

Incident

Sep 25, 2013

Mileage

55,547 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT ROLLED AWAY INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE ENGINE STARTED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL MAILBOX AND A MOBILE TRAILER. THE CONTACT'S RIGHT LEG AND LEFT ANKLE WERE INJURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PANEL AND ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10618964

Incident

Jul 11, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

DRIVER SEAT BELT UNLATCHES ON OCCASION AFTER BEING FULLY ENGAGED. SIMILAR TO THE SITUATION THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL IN 2001. WE DID TAKE THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME FOR THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586863

Incident

Apr 16, 2014

Mileage

177,842 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE WIRES BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT CUSHION, EMITTING SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10547945

Incident

Oct 12, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

THE APPROXIMATE DATE ABOVE IS THE FIRST TIME MY EXCURSION BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG WHILE ON A FAMILY TRIP IN PA. SINCE THEN, IT HAS BLOWN 2 MORE IN SEPARATE INSTANCES, THE MOST RECENT BEING ON THE HIGHWAY THIS PAST SUNDAY. THE FIRST INCIDENT I WAS TOWING AND PUTTING MORE STRAIN ON THE ENGINE, BUT THE 2ND AND 3RD INCIDENTS NO TOWING WAS INVOLVED. I HAVE READ ABOUT AND SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE ALSO TOLD ME THE FORD TRITON ENGINES ARE KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS FORD SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515022

Incident

Jul 23, 2012

Mileage

107,000 mi

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE. POSSIBLE DEFECT IN CASTING..?? WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON BUT FORD REFUSED TO COVER THEIR KNOWN DEFECT. COST ME OVER $6,000 TO REPLACE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501169

Incident

Jan 5, 2007

Mileage

84,014 mi

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY EXCURSION CRACKED ALONG THE BOTTOM FROM THE HEAT AND COLD ABOUT 3'' UP ALONG THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENED TO MY SONS 2001 F250 SAME WAY. THERE WAS NO REASON AS NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496328

Incident

Feb 2, 2013

Mileage

340,000 mi

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE. POSSIBLE DEFECT IN CASTING..?? WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON BUT FORD REFUSED TO COVER THEIR KNOWN DEFECT. COST ME OVER $5,000 TO REPLACE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479491

Incident

Oct 13, 2006

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE OIL WAS NOT ENTERING THE ENGINE AS IT SHOULD HAVE, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10463414

Incident

May 13, 2004

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXCURSION. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V553000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL) AND WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ID

10446031

Incident

Dec 21, 2011

Mileage

88,000 mi

RIGHT SIDE TIE ROD END CAME OUT OF COUPLER DUE TO WORN THREADS. HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY UPON LEAVING HOUSE, SO VERY LOW SPEED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AND REPAIRED. COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF SPEED HAD BEEN HIGHER. RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE STEERING LINKAGE. *TT

NHTSA ID

10417200

Incident

Jul 20, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi