2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Owner Complaints

I was driving and the lights on the vehicle went out I thought it was the bulbs but no lights were working I adjusted steering wheel to look to see fuse box and all lights came back on there is an electrical short somewhere then I went to start the truck and it made a funny sound and then I lost all power and truck wouldn't start then the alarm kept going off and I could turn off even with the remote or the chipped key. And the truck won't start. Also when you change gears the indicator to show what gear you are in dosent move . This truck has electrical issues and is not safe for drivers to lose all power like this and basically its something ford should be responsible for fixing because it's a defect in the electrical system also the AC compressor dosent work

NHTSA ID

11538547

Incident

Feb 2, 2023

TRANSMISSION NOT WORKING

NHTSA ID

11253967

Incident

Nov 10, 2018

Mileage

127,854 mi

CAR TAKES ABOUT 3 TO 5 TRIES TO START. I REPLACED GAS PUMP, PLUGS, CABLES, TEMP SENSOR, STILL TAKES LONG TO START.O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, AND NOW IT HAS A ROUGH GEAR CHANGE I BELIEVE FROM 2ND TO 3RD

NHTSA ID

11096662

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUALLY RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND TRANSFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,000.

NHTSA ID

11075183

Incident

Feb 27, 2016

Mileage

186,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY FAILED TO START UPON TURNING THE KEY NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER (PEGUES-HURST FORD, 200 TX-63 SPUR, LONGVIEW, TX 75601, (903) 758-6211) WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED 12 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, 52 TSBS FOR THE ENGINE, AND 3 TSBS FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHICH PART CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

11052185

Incident

Nov 14, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi

VEHICLE RUNNING IN PARK WHILE DRIVER GATHERED BOXES TO PLACE IN BED OF TRUCK. DRIVE TRAIN ENGAGED SENDING DRIVERLESS VEHICLE DOWN ROAD, ACROSS INTERSECTION AND INTO BRICK WALL. WITNESS TO IMPACT RAN TO VEHICLE THINKING TO CHECK ON DRIVER. UPON OPENING DOOR, NOTED NO DRIVER AND STATED SHIFTER STILL INDICATED VEHICLE WAS IN PARK.

NHTSA ID

11010899

Incident

Jul 13, 2017

Mileage

235,000 mi

I HAD AN ACCIDENT I JANUARY 2016 AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSE ME DAMAGE TO MY NECK AND BOTH SHOULDER. DOCTORS SAY I NEED SURGERY ON ROTATOR CUFFS. IF AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THRUST FORWARD. I GRABBED STEERING WHEEL TO BRACE MYSELF AND WAS THRUST FORWARD THERE FOR DAMAGE BOTH ROTATOR CUFFS IN MY SHOULDER AND HURTING MY NECK ALSO. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER TRUCKS OF MY MAKE THAT AIR BAGS HAVE NOT DEPLOYED AND PEOPLE GETTING HURT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DID NOT DEPLOY. . WHY ARE THERE NOT RECALLS ON THIS AIR BAGS. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID

10984456

Incident

Jan 3, 2016

DRIVING ON FREEWAY FRONT DRIVER WHEEL FELL OFF CAUSING TRUCK TO ROLL OVER. NO AIR BAG WAS INFLATED. WAS TOLD THE PIN THAT HOLDS THE TIRE ON CAME OUT. TRUCK WAS TOTALLED AND HIT 2OTHER CARS WHILE ROLLING.

NHTSA ID

10969825

Incident

Feb 6, 2017

Mileage

107,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL, THE INSIDE LIGHTSOR DOME LIGHTS, THEY SHORTED OUT ONE TO ANOTHER IN THE DOUBLE OVER HEAD LIGHTS AND GROUNDED OUT THE BATTERY COULD CAUSE SEVERAL PROBLEMS ONE IT KILLED THE BATTERY AND I FOUND OUT WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE ONE OF THE LIGHTS AND TO STOP I TOOK BOTH LIGHTS OUT AND SEPERATED THE COPPER THAT CONECTS WITH SWITCH

NHTSA ID

10908818

Incident

Jul 15, 2016

Mileage

144,000 mi

I HAVE HAD 3 TIRE BLOW OUTS IN THE SHORT TIME I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK DUE TO THE TIRES RUBBING ON A PART OF THE STEERING WHEN MAKING TURNS. ITS RUBS OFF THE MATERIAL OF THE TIRE.....ALSO THE REAR PASSANGER DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE AND BEARLY OPENS FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE A YOUNG CHILD MAKING THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. YOUR SITE WANTS ME TO ENTER A DATE... I CAN'T RECALL ALL THREE DATES

NHTSA ID

10897684

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65MPH WHEN MY LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW A FLAT. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP SAFELY, THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATED ON THE SIDEWALL AND THE TIRE WAS SMOKING! COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES. I'VE NOW BEEN READING THAT THIS MICHELIN TIRE WAS RECALLED IN OTHER SIZES. THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON 8/17/2016 AND THE TIRE HAD 35,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

10896785

Incident

Aug 17, 2016

Mileage

215,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRACT I DIDN'T GET TO TEST DRIVE IT BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER VEHICAL SURROUNDING IT. WHEN I FINALLY GOT TO DRIVE MY TRUCK HOME I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION HAD A SEVERE ISSUE. WHEN I TURNED A CORNER MY TIRES RUBBED BADLY ON SOME OTHER PART TO THE TRUCKS PARTS AND THE DRIVER SEAT HAS A MEDAL ROD THAT JABS ME IN THE BACK THAT'S COMING THRU THE FABRIC NOW MY BATTERY HAS LEAKED ACID EVERY WHERE IN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT AND SURROUNDING AREAS.

NHTSA ID

10877013

Incident

Jun 26, 2016

Mileage

147,260 mi

EVER SINCE I GOT THE TRUCK ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKES LOCKING UP. IT HAPPENS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING UP FOR A FEW HOURS AND IT'S RAINING OR THERE'S A GOOD BUT OF MOISTURE IN THE AIR. WHEN YOU FIRST GET IN THE TRUCK THE REAR BRAKES WILL LOCK UP ON YOU ONLY GOING FORWARD FOR SOME REASON. IF YOU APPLY VERY LITTLE PRESSURE IT DOES IT. AFTER ABOUT 10 TIMES LOCKING IT UP IT DRIVES FINE AS LONG AS ITS NOT PARKED FOR A WHILE. ON A GOOD HOT SUMMER DAY WITH NO MOISTURE OR RAIN IT DOES DO IT AT ALL. A FEW WEEKS AGO I BACKED OUT MY DRIVE WAY IT WAS RAINING AND IT DID IT. SO I DECIDED TO PULL BACK INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND TAKE MY FIANCE'S CAR TO TOWN. WHEN I WAS PULLING UP IT LOCKED UP WHEN I TRYING TO STOP AND SLID INTO THE CORNER OF MY HOME. NO MAJOR DAMAGE WAS DONE JUST CRACKED THE FRONT BUMPER. I HAVE TAKING IT TO 3 LOCAL MECHANICS. NONE KNOW HOW TO FIX. THEY LOOKED AT THE BREAKS, ROTORS AND HUBS. ALL WAS FINE. ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS WAS THE 3 TIME HE HAS SEEN THIS ON THE SAME EXACT KIND OF TRUCK. I DO LIKE THE TRUCK. BUT I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT. I THOUGHT ABOUT SELLING IT, BUT NOW I'M IN A SITUATION WHERE IF SOMEONE GETS HURT IN IT I WOULD FEEL HORRIBLE. I SURE HOPE SOMEONE ON HERE CAN HELP ME OUT WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10713695

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

174,000 mi

I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK SINCE 2002. LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE (ONE DAY IT WORKED, NEXT DAY IT WAS FLOPPING AND OBVIOUSLY DISCONNECTED). CAN'T OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE ALSO FEELING FLOPPY AND LOOSE. CHILD "SAFETY" LATCHES ON BOTH BACK PASSENGER DOORS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SO ANYONE SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT HAS TO BE LET OUT BY SOMEONE ON THE OUTSIDE AS THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WON'T WORK. ON THE INTERNET, YOU WILL SEE THAT DOOR FAILURES ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL ARE RAMPANT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGERS COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE TRUCK. FIXING THE DOORS IS REALLY DIFFICULT AS W/O BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, YOU HAVE TO DISMANTLE THE INTERIOR OF THE TRUCK IN ORDER TO GET TO THE I/S DOOR PANEL. THIS IS NOT A REPAIR A TYPICAL OWNER COULD DO FOR THEMSELVES, EVEN MY MECHANIC DOES NOT WANT TO DO IT. WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF TRUCK OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THIS DOOR FAILURE PROBLEM ON THE NET AND THE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSITION IT PUTS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS IN, FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ISSUED. OBVIOUSLY THESE DOOR LATCHES ARE VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE AND CONTINUED TO BE INSTALLED BY FORD FOR YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10661269

Incident

Nov 7, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

FOUND THAT AFTER APPROX.80,000 MILES THAT ALL THE BODY SUPPORT BUSHING HAD DRIED OUT AND CRUMBLED.. THIS CAUSE SEVER LACK OF CONTROL. CORNERING WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH LOUD BODY METAL BANGING. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE AND REPAIRED. THE BODY WAS RAISED OFF THE FRAME AND ALL BUSHING WHERE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. FORD WOULD NOT COMPLETE THIS WORK UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS A GROSS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649989

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

86,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I HEARD A POPPING FOLLOWED BY A LOT OF METAL NOISE. THE TRUCK SEAMED SHIFT AROUND. UPON LOOKING UNDER THE TRUCK THE BODY MOUNT UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS GONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME. THE CAB IS NOW SITTING ON THE FRAME AND SOME PARTS AROUND THE PASSENGER FRONT MOUNT ARE CRACKED. CALLED FORD, NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. (GOOD ANSWER?) I THINK NOT....TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER IN RI. TOLD HIM WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THAT MY WIFE WANTED TO USE THE SPORT TRAC TO PICK UP OUR 1 YEAR OLD GRANDSON. HE TOLD ME THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE AND NOT TO DRIVE IT ... SOUND LIKE A MAINTENANCE ISSUE? SOUNDS MORE LIKE A PRODUCT FAILURE. FORD KNOWS. NHTSA KNOWS. WE WHO OWN KNOW. THIS IS NOT ENVIRONMENTAL DUE TO THE FACT THAT I SEE IT IS ALSO HAPPENING IN TEXAS TOO. SO I WILL CALL FORD AGAIN AND DEMAND THE FIX AS MANY TIMES AS IT TAKES TIL MY TRUCK IS FIXED. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO START CALLING THIS WHAT IT IS "FORD"S BAD PRODUCT DECISION AND NOT THE BURDEN OF THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643945

Incident

Oct 10, 2014

Mileage

101,944 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND ANKLE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

10639012

Incident

Sep 22, 2014

Mileage

155,000 mi

VEHICLE BODY MOUNTS HAVE DRIED OUT AND CRUMBLES WHEN TOUCHED. THIS DETERIORATION CAUSES THE BODY TO RIDE ON TOP OF THE FRAME WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN OTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. THE WORSE I HAVE SEEN ON A FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629245

Incident

Aug 23, 2014

Mileage

112,000 mi

WHEN I HAD MY VEHICLE INSPECTED I WAS INFORMED THE BODY MOUNTS WERE ALMOST ALL RUSTED OUT AND THERE IS A DANGER THE BODY COULD COME LOOSE. ITS EASY TO PICTURE WHAT COULD HAPPEN IT THIS OCCURRED IN A 60 MPH CURVE ON INTERSTATE. MECHANICS TELL THIS IS UNHEARD OF IN ANY OTHER VEHICLES EXCEPT FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRACS MODEL YEARS 2001 THRU 2005. IF THIS ISNT A HAZARD I DONT KNOW WHAT IS. ITS EVIDENT THIS PARTS ARE JUNK AND FORD DID NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. STARTING IN 2006 THIS PROBLEM NO LONGER EXISTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606675

Incident

Jun 1, 2014

Mileage

95,000 mi

VEHICLE BODY MOUNTS HAVE DRIED OUT AND CRUMBLES WHEN TOUCHED. THIS DETERIORATION CAUSES THE BODY TO RIDE ON TOP OF THE FRAME WHICH COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN OTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. APPEARS THE PRODUCT WAS MADE OF SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL AND HAS BEEN WORN OUT FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10594100

Incident

May 23, 2014

Mileage

170,000 mi

ON SUNDAY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS USED THAT DAY. IN THE AFTERNOON AROUND 3 PM IT WAS TAKEN TO GET GASSED UP FOR THE WORK WEEK. THE NEXT MORNING WAS CHILLY AND IT WAS STARTED TO WARM THE VEHICLE UP. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START AT ALL. THE DASH LIGHTS, INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALL HAVE POWER TO INCLUDE POWER LOCKS AND WINDOWS. THE BATTERY TESTED GOOD, THE STARTER AND SOLENOID TESTED GOOD. THE WIRE TO THE SOLENOID FROM THE BATTERY HAS POWER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT SHOWN SIGNS OF FAULTY STARTING. TWO TO 3 TIMES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT NONE OF THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK BUT THEN MIRACULOUSLY WORK AGAIN. WHEN THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK I'M MEAN THE HEADLIGHTS, LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, ETC. IT SEEMED THE ONE WAY TO GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN WOULD BE TO ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THAT DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK. WHY IS THIS VEHICLE NOT STARTING WHEN THE DAY BEFORE IS WAS WORKING JUST FINE AND HAD NOT GIVEN ANY SIGNS OF FAILURE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10556466

Incident

Dec 16, 2013

Mileage

202,556 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD UPON ENGAGEMENT AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE AIR VENTS AND FROM UNDER HOOD. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY JUMPED FROM THE VEHICLE ONCE HE NOTICED FLAMES EXTENDING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED ROAD RASH AND INJURIES TO THE LEFT WRIST AND HAND. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE FACILITY. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED BEFORE THE RECALL REMEDY COULD BE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,800.

NHTSA ID

10547111

Incident

Sep 17, 2013

Mileage

156,800 mi

GAS TANK SUPPORT HANGER RUSTED AWAY AND TANK FELL OFF. *TT

NHTSA ID

10537633

Incident

Aug 15, 2013

Mileage

140,400 mi

VEHICLE STARTED HAVING A CHATTER UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OUT ON TO THE HIGHWAY AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE (VERY DANGEROUS, WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND COULDN'T MOVE). TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE NOISE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TENSIONERS OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT ON THE TRANSMISSION. HE SAID THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS IN THE PAST BUT NOT SURE IF THE RECALL IS STILL IN EFFECT. THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR WORSE AND FORD WILL BE LIABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10534431

Incident

Jul 15, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SERVOS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10515519

Incident

May 9, 2013

Mileage

77,000 mi