RoadVitals

2001 Ford Excursion Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Apr 25, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 209 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Ford Excursion submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Apr 25, 2023

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

NHTSA ID
11518816
Incident
Apr 20, 2023
Steering
Filed Apr 23, 2015

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
Steering
Filed Aug 5, 2011

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
Steering
Filed Mar 16, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER WHEN PARKING OR DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS AND HE WAS UNABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED HAVING DIFFICULTIES WITH STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS OPEN FOR THE FAILURE AND THAT THEY WOULD BE SENDING THE INFORMATION TO THEIR TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT FOR REVIEW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10390384
Incident
Mar 1, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 29, 2009
Fire reported

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 FORD EXCURSION WITH MYSELF AND OUR 19 MONTH OLD BABY DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WHEN IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND IGNITED A FIRE DIRECTLY UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. WE WERE IN TRAFFIC, MADE IT A POINT THAT WE COULD PULL OVER, GET OUT, REMOVING THE BABY FROM THE CHILD'S SEAT, AND THE FRONT SEAT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. 911 WAS CALLED, AND THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT OF THE TRUCK, EXCEPT THE IRON SHELL AND IRON STRUCTURES WHERE THE SEATS USED TO BE. WE HAD THE RECALL PARTS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY, AND WE HAD JUST DRIVEN TO VA, HAVING SOME SMOKE UNDER THE STIRRING COLUMN AND A FUSE TO BLOW. WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER IN VA, PLACING IT ON THE DIAGNOSTICS MACHINE, REPLACING THE FUSE, AND TELLING US THAT IT SHOULD BE FINE. AFTER MAKING IT BACK TO BRANDON, MS, WE EXPERIENCED THE ABOVE EVENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10278630
Incident
Jul 18, 2009
Mileage
153,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 14, 2005

I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXCURSION. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE STEERING STABILIZER IS LOCATED TOO LOW IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. MOST ALL OF FORD'S FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, DURING THOSE MODEL YEARS, HAVE THE SAME SETUP. IF THE VEHICLE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH A SMALL( OR MEDIUM) SIZED ANIMAL OR ANYTHING LYING IN THE ROAD, THE STABILIZER CAN BECOME BENT AND THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STEERED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10142672
Incident
Apr 15, 2005
Mileage
78,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 29, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH TIE ROD FELL OFF. STEERING WHEEL BECAME DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10101744
Incident
Nov 22, 2004
Mileage
69,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 5, 2003
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING TO A BOOK STORE, A STEERING INPUT WAS MADE TO AVOID A TRACTOR IN THE ROAD. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE, UNRESPONSIVE TO ANY AND ALL FURTHER INPUTS.THE VEHICLE DEPARTED THE ROAD CROSSING A MEDIAN, TWO NORTHBOUND LANES OF TRAFFIC, UP A BANK AND ROLLED AT LEAST 2 TIMES BEFORE STOPPING. INSPECTION OF THE STEERING LINKAGE INDICATED FAILURE OF THE STEERING BOX SHAFT WHERE THE CONTROL ARM ATTACHES TO THE STEERING BOX. THIS FAILURE MAY HAVE OCCURRED DURING THE INITIAL STEERING INPUT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTROL ARM WAS BENT TOWARD THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY INDICATING IT HAD BEEN DRAGGED FOR MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE MISHAP.

NHTSA ID
10005313
Incident
Jan 15, 2003
Mileage
36,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Feb 21, 2002

WHEN BRAKING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL, LIKE POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CAN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
8004335
Incident
Feb 12, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .