2001 Ford Explorer Sport Brakes Problems

MY PURCHASED NEW $30,000 2001 FORD 2 DOOR EXPLORER SPORT DIES OFTEN CAUSING NO BRAKES OR STEERING. IN 2001, IT DIED AND ROLLED OVER WITH NO STEERING OR BRAKES WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME, LEAVING HER STRANDED UPSIDE DOWN. FORD WOULD NOT RESPOND AND LOCAL DEALERS WOULD NOT OR COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT STILL DIES AND ALL RECALLS WERE PRESUMABLY DONE, INCLUDING THE FIRESTONE TIRES WHICH WERE THE BEST PART OF THE VEHICLE. NUMEROUS LETTERS TO FORD WERE NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A REFUND ON THIS VEHICLE. CAN YOU HELP ME? *TR

NHTSA ID

10568035

Incident

Feb 6, 2000

Mileage

1,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A HEAVILY TRAVELED ROAD, DRIVER 2 CARS AHEAD OF ME CAME TO A DEAD STOP. VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME HIT BRAKES HARD, I ALSO HIT MY BRAKES HARD, ON WET PAVEMENT. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT KICK IN, AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP.MY CAR SLID INTO THE REAR END OF DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME DOING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. AS I HAD JUST COME THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I WAS NOT GOING MORE THAN ABOUT 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE WET PAVEMENT CAUSED MY CAR TO SKID QUITE A WAYS. THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE INCLUDED THE ENTIRE BUMPER COVER BUCKLING, BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WERE DAMAGED AND BROKEN OUT. NONE OF THE COMPONENTS WERE PUSHED BACK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NEITHER THE DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY PASSENGER WAS JOLTED FORWARD AND ALMOST HIT THE WINDSHIELD DESPITE HAVING SEAT BELT ON. I WAS JOLTED FORWARD AS WELL WITH SEAT BELT ON, AND MY CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

10381949

Incident

Feb 5, 2011

Mileage

123,057 mi

BRAKES, ROTORS, PADS, ARE NEW... THE EXPLORER SPORT STILL DOES NOT COME TO A FULL STOP ... (2001) MILES 4900, BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR AND KEEPS GOING 2 TO THREE FEET MORE BEFORE IT STOPS... *TR

NHTSA ID

10360362

Incident

Jun 3, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN ENGAGED, AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN EXTREMELY WARM WEATHER TEMPERATURES WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS POSITIONED CLOSE TO THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE ABS TO OVERHEAT AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10357388

Incident

Jun 27, 2010

I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. AFTER DRIVING FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME,(ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES THEY SHUDDER VIOLENTLY. AS YOU TRY TO COME TO A STOP AT ANY TIME THE BRAKES GO IN ANTI- LOCK MODE AND THEN GIVE OUT!! YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO GET THEM TO HOLD. IT IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED AT MY FORD DEALER (FETTE FORD, CLIFTON NJ) NOT THAT MANY MILES AGO. AND THEY TELL YOU THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND IT'S MY BAD DRIVING HABITS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A WEBSITE (FORDBRAKES.COM) WHERE HUNDREDS OF DRIVERS DESCRIBE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND SIMILAR LIES TOLD TO THEM BY FORD SERVICE DEPTS. WHEN THIS STORY FINALLY GETS OUT AND WE START REALIZING HOW MANY ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND MAYBE DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE PAST DOZEN YEARS. IT WILL PROBABLY RIVAL THE TOYOTA COVER-UP. PLEASE TAKE ACTION AND INVESTIGATE NOW!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10316271

Incident

Nov 15, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT - INTERMITTENT LOCKING OF THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO PULL HARD TO THE LEFT, CREATING AN UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE. THIS INTERMITTENT LOCKING CAN OCCUR AT ANY SPEED INCLUDING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DANGEROUS. VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SOLD AS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE VEHICLE. SEPTEMBER 2004 - 30,173 MILES. CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKING. TECHNICIAN COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. OCTOBER 2004 - 30,400 MILES. CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE IS PULLING HARD TO LEFT WHEN BRAKING AT TIMES. TECHNICIAN COMMENTS "FOUND VEHICLE PULLING TO LEFT AND FELT POP IN PEDAL AND VEH STARTED BRAKING STRAIGHT, CHECKED BRAKES FOUND RIGHT INNER BRAKE PAD STUCK TRIED TO REPLACE BRAKE HARDWARE. REPLACED PADS TO GET HARDWARE KIT INSTALLED HARDWARE KIT AND NEW PADS AGAIN DROVE THE VEHICLE VEHICLE FOUND VEHICLE STOPS STRAIGHT." NOVEMBER 1, 2004 - CUSTOMER STATED THAT VEHICLE PULL HARD TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKING AT TIMES SERVICE COMPLETED BRAKE SERVICE - CALIPER ASY - BRAKE - LESS PAD - FLUID BRAKE - HUB ASY - WHEEL NOVEMBER 8, 2004 - 31,311 MILES. - CUSTOMER STATED BRAKES PULL TO THE LEFT AND LOCK UP! NEW PARTS AND ITEMS WORKED ON: ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CONTROL AND MODULE, PIN POINT TEST, ANTI LOCK MODULE - REPLACE, SOLENOID VALVE BLOCK / HCU - REPLACE 5/9/2007 - 6/8/07, MILES 62,013 - FORD HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH, LISTED BELOW ARE THE ITEMS THAT WERE REPAIRED FOR THE SAME HARD PULLING TO THE LEFT INTERMITTENTLY. - REPLACED FRONT AND REAR ROTORS - REPLACED BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS, ALIGNED FRONT END 6/14 - 6/20/07, MILES 62,326. - VEHICLE TAKEN HOME BY TECHNICIAN TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM - INSPECTED FRONT CALIPER PISTONS - BLED FRONT BRAKES FOR ANY AIR - INSPECTED FRONT WHEEL BEARING FOR LOOSENESS/ BINDING *WE HAVE A LETTER FROM FORD STATING THAT THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225428

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

29,500 mi

RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT. I HAD THE EXPLORER DIAGNOSED AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IT NEEDED A MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. I HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED AND A MONTH AND EIGHT DAYS LATER MY RIGHT SIGNAL AND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKES LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. I HAD THE BULB REPLACED TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE BULB KEPT GOING OUT AND THE DIAGNOSIS ON A MULTIFUNCTION WAS MADE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10162809

Incident

Jul 18, 2006

Mileage

60,934 mi

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE SRS LIGHT, ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. SUDDENLY, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10108669

Incident

Jan 14, 2005

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, I HAVE CHANGED MY BRAKES 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. WHEN I BRAKE, IT SQUEAKS, VERY SLOW TO STOP, AND SHIFT TO EITHER SIDE. ANY BUMP WILL MAKE THE VEHICLE LOSE CONTROL, ESP WHEN TRAVELING GREATER THAN 45 MILES PER HOUR.. TRUE HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ID

10057121

Incident

Jan 8, 2004

Mileage

15,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. THE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND I HAVE CHANGED BRAKE PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. IT CURRENLT HAS 60,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON VARIUOS WEB-SITES AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH EXPLORERS. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS ON EXPLORERS????*AK

NHTSA ID

10032623

Incident

Aug 10, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY DON'T COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUSH HARD ON THE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PUMPING THE BRAKES DOES NOTHING. ON THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT THE CONSUMER HAD TO RUN INTO A DITCH IN ORDER TO STOP FROM GOING INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED A VIBRATION. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10002084

Incident

Dec 12, 2002

Mileage

30,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH SMOKE FILLED CAR AND NOTICED BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AKJLG

NHTSA ID

8018251

Incident

Sep 9, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT WHEEL ON THE DRIVER?S SIDE LOCKS WHEN HEAVY BRAKING IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. IN FORWARD THE WHEEL LOCKS AND PULLS TO THE LEFT OF DRIVER OR LEAVES RUBBER. DEALER REPLACED THE M VALUE WHICH ACCORDING TO FORD MANUAL WAS WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE BRAKE TO LOCK BUT BRAKES ARE STILL LOCKING. *YD

NHTSA ID

566171

ABS FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LOCKS AND CAUSES SUV TO PULL TO THE LEFT UNDER HEAVY BRAKING SOMETIMES, DEALER HAS REPLACED VALUE AS PER FORDS COMPUTER FIXER, THE SUV HAS 33000 MILES AND THE BRAKE STILL LOCKS SOMETIMES, THE SE3RVICE MANGER HASW STATED THAQT FORD HAS DESIGNED THE 2001&2002 ABS BRAKES SO THAT EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT BRAKE WILL LOCK, ASKING THAT FORD REPLACE THE BRAKE CAPILER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY SUV TO NOT AVAIL.*AK

NHTSA ID

759577

Incident

Sep 15, 2000

THE VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, THERE IS ALSO A BURNING SMELL, POSSIBLY AN EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURE, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOURCE. NLM

NHTSA ID

558540

Incident

Nov 17, 2000