Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TRANSMISSIONS IN EXPLORER SPORT TRACS 2001 ARE NOT VERY RELIABLE, I AM HAVING TO PUT A 2ND ONE IN WITH ONLY 126,000 MILES. FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH ALL TRANSMISSIONS IN THE EXPLORER. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD, NOR WILL I TELL ANYBODY ELSE, MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A BAIL-OUT FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO FIX THERE CARS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE SHIFT SOLENOID WAS REPLACED, BUT BEGAN TO FAIL 4,000 MILES LATER. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WITHIN HOURS THE TRANSMISSION STARTED NOT CATCHING...WOULD REV BETWEEN 2-3K RPM OR AROUND 30 MPH BUT NOT ACCELERATE. THEN O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. ALL OUT OF THE BLUE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LEVER IS PULLED TO CHANGE GEARS, IT GOES ONE SPACE TOO FAR. WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED INTO NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE DRIVES IN REVERSE. WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE OPERATES IN NEUTRAL. WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN PARK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,231 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,175. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED DISCONNECTED SPEED DEACTIVATION SWITCH PERTAINING TO RECALL 05S28. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
MY 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC HAS BEEN IDLING ROUGH AND DOES NOT SEEM TO SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. WHILE DRIVING, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WILL RANDOMLY COME ON AND FLASH. ONCE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON, THE VEHICLE IS VERY SLUGGISH AND DOES NOT DRIVE PROPERLY AFTER THAT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF SOME OF THE EXPLORER SPORT TRAC'S BY FORD AND TO CONTACT A DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TRUCK WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER I PROVIDED THEM. EVEN THOUGH MY TRUCK IS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRACS. *JB
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS STARTED IN EARLY 50,000 MILES RANGE. LONG LAG BETWEEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD WITH INCREASED RPM'S OF ENGINE. INTERMITTENTLY CAUSES OVERDRIVE LIGHT TO START BLINKING. DEALER NOR AAMCO COULD DETERMINE CAUSE. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSITIONING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, THE VEHICLE SEEMED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.
2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC - 4X2 MANUAL 18 OCT 2002 - VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING INTO GEAR CLUTCH FLUID RESERVOIR EMPTY - DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. 02 NOV 2002 -VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING INTO GEAR CLUTCH FLUID RESERVOIR EMPTY - DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY 11 JUN 2003-VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING INTO GEAR CLUTCH FLUID RESERVOIR EMPTY - DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY I BELIEVE IT ALSO OCCURRED IN 2004 BUT NO RECORD OF WORK PERFORMED. 26 DEC 2005-VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING INTO GEAR CLUTCH FLUID RESERVOIR EMPTY - DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH MASTER & SLAVE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY 29 DEC 2005 - VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING INTO GEAR REWORK FROM LAST REPAIR - AIR IN CLUTCH FLUID LINE. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THE FAILURES PRESENT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, PARTICULARLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE; MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, ENTERING INTERSTATE, ETC FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT ADEQUATELY. THERE ARE CURRENTLY FOUR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) ISSUED BY FORD RELATED TO THIS COMPLAINT. *JB
2001 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. FORD UNWILLING TO ADMIT FAULT AND REPAIR PROBLEM. MANY OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED YET. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE THIRD GEAR TO SLIP. THIS HAPPENED FOR A DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE, IT BLEW A CODE AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE OVERDRIVE INDICATOR STARTED FLASHING. AS SOON AS THAT LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP. *AK
MY 2001 FORD SPORT TRAC TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER TAKING IT TO DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. WITH ONLY 56,000 ON TRUNK. SINCE ITS OUT OF WARRANTY I WILL HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL OF $3600. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER SPORT TRAC OWNERS GETTING STUCK WITH BAD TRANSMISSIONS. PLEASE MAKE FORD FIX THERE BAD TRANSMISSIONS. *JB
2001 EXPLORER SPORT REVERSE NOT ENGAGING, SLIPPING TRANSMISSION, O/D LIGHT FLASHING. TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING OR ACCELERATING CORRECTLY, RPMS SHOOT UP BUT NO ACCELERATION. TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BUT HAD NO ACCELERATION. LUCKILY STEERED OUT OF IT. FORD DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT KNOWLEDGE AND WANTS ME TO PAY FOR IT.
MY 2001 SPORT TRAC 2WD TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY GASKETS. THE TRUCK WAS TO THE POINT THAT WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC THE 2ND - 3RD SHIFT WAS SO DELAYED THAT YOU HAD TO REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO LET THE TRUCK SHIFT. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU REALLY NEED TO ACCELERATE FAST TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN PAMPERED AND ALL TRANS SERVICE WAS TAKEN CARE OF ON SCHED. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH A FORD TRANS, BUT I REALLY THINK SOMEBODY DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. REMEMBER THAT MOTO, QUALITY IS JOB 1. THE REBUILD COST $1500. AND I DO HAVE THE OLD BANDS, AND CLUTCH PACK, WHICH IS WORN BADLY. *JB
TRAVELING IN THE SLOW LANE AND WENT TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS THE RPM JUST RACED BUT THE TRUCK DID NOT? TURNS OUT WITH ONLY 70,000 CAREFULLY AND PAMPERED MILES I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE WITH ALL PROPER SERVICES AT SUGESTED MILAGE? $2000 IS A BIG EXPENSE AT SUCH LOW MILAGE- WARANTY OUT AT 60,000 SO FORD TOLD ME IM OUT OF LUCK- THEY DID NOT TAKE ANY BLAME IN FAULTY PARTS OR ENGINEERING! FORD HAS A VERY BAD REPUTATION AND NOW I KNOW WHY. *AK
ME AND MY FAMILY HAVE BEEN LONG TIME FORD CUSTOMERS. I MYSELF HAVE OWNED 3 FORDS AND MANY OTHERS IN MY FAMILY HAVE HAD SEVERAL FORD VEHICLES. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A LONG TIME FORD SALESMAN IN BUNKIE, LA. I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC WITH 46000 MILES. I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2 TO 3 GEAR SHIFT SLIPPING. WELL TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I HAD TO GET A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL TO THE TUNE OF $1,800. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 46000 MILES AND HAS DONE VERY LITTLE LIGHT TOWING AND NO OFF ROADING ETC. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED FORD QUALITY, BUT IT SEEMS HAS DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS OUT ON THIS TRANNY AND I HAVE RESEARCHED AND DISCOVERED MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM, AND I THINK THEY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT BEFORE THEY LOSE ANOTHER LONG TIME CUSTOMER LIKE MYSELF. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL BE PURCHASING A NEW CAR SOON, BUT PLAN TO TAKE MY BUSINESS TO OTHER BRANDS DEALERSHIPS. *JB
2001 EXPLORER SPORT-TRAC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AT 49,600 MILES. TRANSMISSION MECHANIC SAID THAT THE 4R55E AND 5R55E TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING FAULTY VALVE BODIES WHICH CAUSES THE CLUTCHES TO BURN UP. MY TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY. NEVER RACED OR TOWED HEAVY LOADS. JUST A DAILY COMMUTER VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REASON THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE FAILED THIS EARLY.*AK
2001 FORD SPORT TRAC TRANSMISSION ELECTRONICS FAILED AT 45,000 MILES CAUSING ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REBUILD TO BE NECESSARY. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE EXTREMELY UNHELPFUL, NOTHING THEY WOULD DO AND ALSO WOULD NOT PROVIDE SUPERVISOR TO SPEAK TO. *JB
THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2001 SPORT TRAC WENT OUT, IT ONLY HAD 42,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS ONE MONTH OVER THE 3 YEARS. THE CAR WAS SERVICE EVERY 3 THOUSAND MILES FOR OIL CHANGE, 31,000 THOUSAND FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE. I TOOK MY RECEIPT INTO THE FORD AUTO IN ST. PETERSBURG. I AM NOT HAPPY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN I DID EVERYTHING TO KEEP MY CAR IN TOP SHAPE. IT WAS NOT NEGLECTED IN ANY WAY. FORD AUTO SAID THEIR WAS NOT A THING THEY COULD DO. WHY NOT ? WHERE I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FIXED, BECAUSE IT WAS ON A WEEKEND WHEN IT WENT OUT, TOLD ME HE HAS HAD A LOT ON THE EXPLORER IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ONE OF THEM WAS AS LOW AS 37,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM, YOU SHOULD EITHER FIX IT OR PAY TO HAVE THEM FIX. *LA
VECHILE HAS 16,000 MILES. THREE TIMES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND DRIVING TWO BLOCKS OVERDRIVE INDICATOR FLASHES BY ITSELF. THEN TRANSMISSION OVER REVS AND DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THAT HWEN OVERDRIVE KIGHT FLASHES TO CALL DEALER AND ARRANGE FOR SERVICE, AS THERE IS PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. BROUGHT TO DEALER TWICE, AS THEY COULD NOT RE-ENACT PROBLEM, THEY RETURNED VECHILE TO US SAYING NOTHING WRONG WITH VECHILE. I HAVE CALLED FORD CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO CONTACTED DEALER, BURNS FORD. THEY NOW SAY TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *AK
THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO REVERSE, KNOCKED THE CONSUMER DOWN AND ROLLED OVER HIS LEG. *NLM
CONSUMER STATES WHILE SHE WAS PUTTING ITEM IN HER VEHICLE, HER TWO YEAR OLD SON CRAWLED UP TO THE FRONT OF VEHICLE AND TURNED THE KEY TO THE SECOND TURN OF THE GEAR SHIFTER AND PULLED THE TRUCK INTO GEAR, THE SECOND TURN ON THE GEAR SHIFTER IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THE VEHICLE CAN BE PUT INTO GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL OF THE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED THE SAME WAY. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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