2001 Ford Explorer Sport Body & structure Problems

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. DURING NORMAL DRIVING, A REAR RATTLE/ BANGING NOISE WOULD OCCUR WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH ROAD OR OVER BUMPS. THIS HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. INVESTIGATION AND INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE HAD REVEALED THAT ALL THE BODY/FRAME MOUNT BUSHINGS HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THEY WERE CRUMBLING, LEAVING NO SUPPORT/CUSHION BETWEEN BODY AND FRAME. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY MAKE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AS THERE WOULD BE NO SUPPORT FOR THE BODY, CAUSE EXCESSIVE BODY MOVEMENT AND A SHIFT IN THE VEHICLE WEIGHT DYNAMICS. THIS ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED IN SEVERAL VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINTS PRIOR TO MINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621278

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

74,500 mi

ALL BODY BUSHINGS WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE BUSHINGS WERE DESICCATED AND HAD CRUMBLED AWAY. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE WHEN CORNERING AS THERE WAS NOTHING TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE BODY BETWEEN IT AND THE FRAME CAUSING EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT AND COMPROMISE OF CENTER OF GRAVITY. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED MY BUSHINGS, HE HAD SEEN THIS DEFECT ON ALL THE VEHICLES OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR. HE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM ON THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. I WENT TO A LOCAL JUNK YARD AND LOOKED AT SEVERAL FORD EXPLORER SPORTS AND NOTICED THE SAME DEFECT ON ALL THE 2001 MODEL YEARS. THE 1998 MODEL YEAR HAD BUSHINGS THAT WERE STILL IN GOOD CONDITION. *JS

NHTSA ID

10598366

Incident

Jun 7, 2014

Mileage

204,551 mi

THE BACK END BUMPS AND THUMPS LIKE THERE IS NO PADDING BETWEEN THE METAL ON METAL PARTS. VERY LOUD IN THE VEHICLE ALWAYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520862

Incident

May 1, 2009

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD BANGING/BUMPING NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT JACK HAD CAME LOOSE FROM HOLDER LOCATED IN FENDER WELL COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION JACK WAS FOUND TO BE TIGHT IN HOLDER. NOTICED THAT YOU COULD HEAR THE BANGING NOISE WHEN ROCKING THE VEHICLE UP AND DOWN. CARRIED VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED IT AND FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR BODY INSULATOR HAD DETERIORATED AND FELL OUT ALLOWING THE EXPLORER'S BODY TO RIDE DIRECTLY ON THE FRAME. MECHANIC STATED THAT HE FELT IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE VEHICLE BUT ADVISED TOO, THAT IT COULD DAMAGE THE BODY BECAUSE IT WAS RIDING DIRECTLY ON FRAME.COST TO REPAIR = $325 ($110 LABOR + $167 FOR NEW CHASSIS BODY INSULATOR PURCHASED FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALER + 40 FOR USED BODY MOUNT SUPPORTS PURCHASED AT A LOCAL SALVAGE YARD + 8 IN TAXES). MECHANIC HAD TO ALSO TIGHTEN BOLTS ON HINGES HOLDING REAR LIFT GATE ON. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE WAS 108,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515770

Incident

Jun 5, 2013

Mileage

108,000 mi

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT - OVERALL GOOD CONDITION - COMPLAINT INVOLVES FAILURE OF BOTH DOOR POWER LOCKS/HANDLE MECHANISMS. DRIVERS DOOR TOTALLY FAILED AND REPAIRS MADE AT AUTO SHOP, BUT MECHANISM QUICKLY FAILED AGAIN. EXPENSIVE REPAIR. - PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ALSO MALFUNCTIONING MILDLY BUT STILL OPERABLE FOR THE TIME BEING. APPEARS READY TO FAIL HOWEVER SINCE THIS WAS SAME PRIOR SYMPTOM OF THE OPPOSITE DOOR. NO INFORMATION LOCATED ON RECALL FROM FORD PREVIOUSLY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10477052

Incident

Aug 4, 2012

I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD LOUD NOISE. SOUNDED LIKE THE BACK WINDOW HATCH WAS OPEN AND VIBRATING WITH EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE HATCH WAS CLOSED, SO I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO FIND THE BODY MOUNTS HAD COMPLETELY CRUMBLED AWAY. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS RIDING ON THE FRAME WITH NO CUSHION. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO HANDLE AND FELT AS IF IT MAY SHIFT OFF THE FRAME AT ANYTIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468903

Incident

May 31, 2011

Mileage

180,000 mi

THE BODY MOUNTS ON MY EXPLORER SPORT ARE DETERIORATING AND CAUSING A BAD VIBRATION IN THE WHOLE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING AND EVENTUALLY THE CAB WILL SHIFT AND COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. THE FORD COMPANY IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE NEW PARTS NEEDED FOR MY MODEL VEHICLE AND THEY WANT $1,0000 JUST FOR THE PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450775

Incident

Feb 22, 2012

MY 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC'S BODY MOUNT CUSHION HAS DETERIORATED AND I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT AN EXPENSIVE (REMOVE THE BODY OFF OF THE TRUCK) PROCEDURE AND VERY EXPENSIVE PARTS. THIS SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. THANK YOU, [XXX] ATTORNEY AT LAW, MAUI, HAWAII INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *KB

NHTSA ID

10446351

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN A BANGING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BODY MOUNTS HAD DISINTEGRATED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10435199

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT - THE BODY MOUNT ISOLATORS ARE COMPLETELY DETERIORATED AS REPORTED BY OTHERS. ALL BODY MOUNT ISOLATORS WILL CRUMBLE UPON SIMPLE HAND PRESSURE. FORD HAS DISCONTINUED MANUFACTURER OF THESE REPLACEMENTS. IF AVAILABLE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY, LIST ON PARTS ALONE IS >+ $600.00 FOR SET OF EIGHT UPPER AND LOWER ISOLATORS.FAILURE @ 86,524 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10423852

Incident

Aug 30, 2011

Mileage

86,524 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY BUSHINGS WERE ROTTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FRAME AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 09/28/11*LJ

NHTSA ID

10421034

Incident

Aug 8, 2011

Mileage

126,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL OF THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE TO BE CAUSED BY THE BODY MOUNT INSULATOR WHICH WAS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10375117

Incident

Aug 15, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

LEFT HINGE ON THE BACK GLASS KEEPS FALLING OFF. I HAVE REPLACED IT 3 TIMES NOW AND FORD KEEPS SAYING THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH IT. THEY SAY IT MUST BE SOMETHING I'M DOING TO IT. THE RIGHT HINGE IS FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10357190

Incident

Aug 15, 2010

Mileage

84,000 mi

2001 FORD EXPLORER BODY MOUNTS. COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248006

Incident

Aug 21, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

THERE'S NO FAILURE JUST RUDE AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION WITH WORKERS. ON 12/21/07 I TOOK MY LETTER OF THE RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO GRANDE TRUCK CENTER ON INTERSTATE 10 @ W.W.WHITE RD."GARY RANDALL AND FINALLY GOT THE REPLACE MENT ON 05/29/08. MR. RANDALL EXPLAINED WHAT WAS TO TAKE PLACE AFTER I ASKED HIM WHY DID THE WORKER TEAR MY CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON(THE PLASTIC) HE STATED 'NO HE SHOULD HAVE LOOKED INSIDE BUT UNDER THE HOOD-MY CRUISE CONTROL PLASTIC FELL OF AND I JUST ASSUME THAT IT WAS A PART OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RECALL SO I LEFT IT IN THE CAR UNTIL THE RECALL WAS DONE-TO FIND OUT THE PLASTIC WAS NOT REPLACEABLE BY THE ONE WHO BROKE/TORE/CUT IT. AFTER THE JOB WAS FINISHED THE RUDE WORKER JUST SLAMMED THE HOOD CLOSE AND WALKED AWAY-VERY RUDE. POOR REPRESENTATION OF THE FORD COMPANY-RACE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THESE TYPE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD NOT BE WORKING IN THE PUBLIC-NOW I WOULD LET THEM DO NOTHING ELSE TO MY VEHICLE AGAIN NOT EVEN RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229403

Incident

May 29, 2008

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT DEFECTIVE BODY MOUNT INSULATORS. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BODY MOUNT INSULATORS DETERIORATED AND COULD CRUMBLE IN SOMEONE'S HAND. FORD DECLINED TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPLACING THE PARTS. *KB PARTS ATTACHED

NHTSA ID

10220625

Incident

Nov 1, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IT SOUND LIKE METAL STRIKING METAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BODY MOUNTS OF THE FRAME WERE DISINTEGRATING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10193852

Incident

Mar 11, 2006

Mileage

98,000 mi

2001 FORD EXPLORER LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE FAILURE. COVERED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN #04V442000. FORD HAS ONLY RECALLED A PORTION OF THE VEHICLES IN THIS CAMPAIGN AND WILL NOT MAKE REPAIRS ON THE 2001 MODEL YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10192117

Incident

May 30, 2007

Mileage

54,792 mi

EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP OR EVEN A ROCK MY CAR WOULD SHAKE AND RATTLE SO BAD I COULDN'T EVEN KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD PLACE IN LONGVIEW AND THEY SAID THERE WASN'T ANY RECALLS ON IT AND THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR IT. THEY SAID SOMETHING HAD BEEN SPRAYED ON IT (BUSHINGS) OR MY CAR HAD BEEN UP NORTH AROUND SALT WATER. NEITHER WERE TRUE. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC TO GET IT REPAIRED. I KEPT ALL THE PARTS. THE BUSHINGS HAD TURNED BRITTLE AND MUSHY AND HAD TO BE PUT IN A BOX. *JB

NHTSA ID

10176630

Incident

Dec 14, 2006

Mileage

25,000 mi

LEFT SIDE UPPER GLASS HINGE ON LIFTGATE BROKE OFF JULY 13, 2006 @60890 MILES , I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER 2004 @ 40014 MILES IN WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE UPPER GLASS HINGE ON LIFTGATE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10162806

Incident

Jul 13, 2006

Mileage

60,890 mi

BACK WINDOW DEFECT. THE LEFT-SIDE HINGE ON THE WINDOW OF THE HATCHBACK FELL OFF. APPARENTLY A RIVET CAME LOOSE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW CAUSING IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE HINGE. THE RIGHT SIDE REMAINED IN TACT. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN A FAILURE REPORTED ON AUGUST 23, 2003. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW. *JB

NHTSA ID

10158170

Incident

May 21, 2006

Mileage

74,000 mi

VEHICLE HYDROPLANES ON WET SURFACES RESULTING IN CRASH ON MAY 11, 2005. *JB

NHTSA ID

10134647

Incident

May 11, 2005

Mileage

43,800 mi

REGARDING "SIDE-STEPS" OR "RAILS" THAT BEGIN TO RUST AT JOINTS AND FLAT SURFACE AREA WITHIN AS LITTLE AS TWO YEARS OF NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY. WITNESSED VARIETY OF VARIOUS FORD VEHICLES THAT WERE LATE MODEL YEAR OF '02 & EARLIER THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. APPEARS TO BE A SYSTEMIC NATIONWIDE PROBLEM PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WITH WINTER MONTHS. CONTACTED DEALER AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD COVER THIS ISSUES UNDER 5YEAR FORD CORROSION COVERAGE, BUT THEY REFUSED TO, STETTING THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE "PERFORATION" OF VEHICLE BODY. FIRST CONCERN, IS RUST FORMING AND WEAKENING THE STRUCTURE WHICH MAY GIVE WAY UNDER PRESSURE. SINCE THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, FORD SHOULD REPLACE OR REPAIR THESE "SIDE-STEPS" AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNERS' AND CORRECT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM BY PROPERLY MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCING THIS ACCESSORY ITEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10110783

Incident

Feb 19, 2005

LTR FWD FM REGION V RE THE FORD EXPLORER AS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, HIS SISTER GINA AGIN AND HER FIANCE MICHAEL HEYWORTH KILLED IN A FATAL ROLLOVER ACCIDENT, ATTACHMENTS NOT IMAGED FWD NVS-200. *LA WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICAT THE THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD INTO THE GRASSY MEDIAN 2-3 TIMES. IT APPEARED THAT THE DRIVER OVERCORRECTED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SIDE TO SIDE THEN FRONT TO BACK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10079417

Incident

Aug 30, 2002

ON NOVEMBER 29TH MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING HER 2001 FORD EXPLORER 2DR 4X4 TO WORK. SHE HIT AN ICE PATCH GOING APPROX. 30 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE REAR END SWUNG SIDEWAYS. HER FORD THEN FLIPPED ON IT'S PASSENGER SIDE AND HIT A TREE. MY MOTHER COULD NOT GET HER SEAT BELT UNDONE SO SHE CALLED 911 WHILE HANGING IN HER VEHICLE. A MAN AND WOMAN STOPPED TO HELP HER OUT BECAUSE THEY NOTICED THAT HER FORD WAS ON FIRE. THEY HAD TO BREAK INTO THE BACK WINDOW AND THE WOMAN CLIMBED IN TO RELEASE HER AND PULL HER OUT. IF THOSE PEOPLE WOULD NOT OF STOPPED, MY MOTHER WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF THE INTERIOR OF MY MOM'S EXPLORER. ( NO SEATS. STEERING WHEEL & COLUMN, GLASS, NOTHING) I HAVE E-MAILED FORD AND SPOKE WITH THEM REGARDING THIS MATTER AND THEY SAY THAT IF MY MOM'S INSURANCE COMPANY SETTLED THEN THEY CLAIM NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I THINK THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RECTIFIED BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GETS HURT. THERE WAS A ARTICLE WRITTEN IN SHERMAN PUBLICATIONS BECAUSE THE TWO PEOPLE WHO SAVED MY MOTHERS LIFE IS UP FOR AN AWARD. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU! *JB

NHTSA ID

10056600

Incident

Nov 29, 2003

Mileage

18,900 mi