Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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
THE GUY BEFORE ME (AND MANY BEFORE HIM) EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING WITH MY 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT: O/D OFF LIGHT BEGINS FLASHING, FEELING LOSS OF POWER AND HARD SHIFTING, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO GO FROM A COMPLETE STOP. TURN OFF VEHICLE, THEN RESTART PROBLEM GOES AWAY. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, BUT MORE OFTEN IN COLD WEATHER. NOTHING COMING UP ON DIAGNOSTIC. *TR
2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. O/D OFF LIGHT BEGINS FLASHING, FEELING LOSS OF POWER AND HARD SHIFTING, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO GO FROM A COMPLETE STOP. TURN OFF VEHICLE, THEN RESTART PROBLEM GOES AWAY. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, BUT MORE OFTEN IN COLD WEATHER. NOTHING COMING UP ON DIAGNOSTIC. *TR
2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING, FEELING LOSS OF POWER IN EARLY GEARS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO GO FROM A COMPLETE STOP. TURN OFF VEHICLE, NO PROBLEMS UNTIL AFTER DRIVING AGAIN. NOTHING COMING UP ON DIAGNOSTIC. *TR
2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, 105,000 MILES. "O/D OFF" LIGHT BLINKING AFTER DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES. ENGINE ALWAYS REVS HIGH BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTS, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND, EVEN BEFORE THE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING. CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. ONLY OCCASIONALLY TOWED SMALL TRAILER, BUT MOSTLY JUST DAILY DRIVING. NUMEROUS BLOGS ON THIS SUBJECT, SO THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD! *TR
3RD GEAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY. *JB
TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE AND ONLY 66000 MILES. *NM
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2WD. AT 109000 MILES ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY, AND I NOTICED THAT THE O/D LIGHT IS FLASHING. I TRIED TO TURN IT OFF, BUT IT WOULDN'T. I EXITED FROM THE FREEWAY AN I PARKED THE CAR AT THE NEARBY GAS STATION TRYING T O FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES,AND THEN I TURNED IT BACK ON,AND THE O/D LIGHT WENT OFF. I THOUGHT IT WAS FINISHED, BUT IT WASN'T. I STARTED DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES THE O/D LIGHT CAME BACK ON, AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARDLY FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP TO CHECK WHAT IS GOING WRONG. FROM MY HOUSE TO THE SHOP ABOUT 25 MINUTES DRIVE, THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THEY PULLED THE CODE (P0....) , AND THE INSPECTOR SAID THERE A MALFUNCTION INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION, SOMETHING RELATED TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER. TO FIX IT THEY GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $2500 . AND I M NOT CURRENTLY UNDER WARRANTY. I'VE BEEN MAINTAINING THIS CAR AS MUCH AS I CAN. BUT IT IS SHOCKING TO SEE THE TRANSMISSION GOING AT THIS MILEAGE. FORD MUST RECALL THIS ISSUE. IF NOT THEY SHOULD TAKE CAR OF THE REPAIR COST. THIS IS REALLY A SHAME! MY CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED YET, BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THE COST OF THAT REPAIR. I'M HOPING THAT FORD WILL LOOK AT THE CASE. *JB
I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, WHICH I WAS TOLD USES THE SAME FAULTY TRANSMISSION AS THE 2002 EXPLORER. LIKE MANY THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND NOW THE ESTIMATE IS AROUND $3000 FOR THE DEALER TO INSTALL A TRANSMISSION. ONLY HAVE 76,000 MILES. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE VARIOUS TECH BULLETINS. THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO AVOID THE COST OF A RECALL. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD I HAD FAIL AROUND THIS MILEAGE WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE DEALER COULD CARE LESS I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY THIS BUT I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN! THEY NEED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT HERE, DO A SEARCH ONLINE AND YOU WONT BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE! *NM
2002 2WD EXPLORER SPORT: PLEASE RELEASE TO FORD: HERE'S YOUR TECHNICAL SERVICE NOTICE: 03-25-4 DEC 03 A/T - 5R55W NO 3RD GEAR/SLIPPING 2-3 SHIFT/DTC'S SET MY TRANSMISSION DIED AT 65,000 MILES. EVERYONE WITH A FORD EXPLORER HAS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50-65,000 MILES WITH THE PROBLEM NOTED IN YOUR TSB ABOVE. REFUND MY SERVICE DEDUCTIBLE FOR A KNOWN FAILURE WITH YOUR BROKEN TRANSMISSION. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A BUTTON TO PUSH TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO OVERDRIVE. HOWEVER, IT GOES INTO OVERDRIVE ON ITS OWN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK BADLY. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT OCCURS DURING COLD WEATHER. TO DISENGAGE THE OVERDRIVE, THE VEHICLE MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONSULTED. DURING COLD WEATHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN OVERDRIVE IT GOES OUT OF OVERDRIVE AND JERKS. THE VEHICLE, SPEED AND RPMS DROP, AND OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT FLASHES. CONTACT HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY AND TURN VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART FOR VEHICLE TO START INOVERDRIVE AS NORMAL. CONTACT CAME CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE WOULD REMAIN IN OVERDRIVE UNLESS THE CONTACT CLICKED BUTTON ON SHIFT COLUMN TO TAKE IT OUT OF OVERDRIVE OR IF IN OVERDRIVE TO RESUME BACK TO OVERDRIVE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO CLAIMED THERE WAS NO RECALL, BUT DID ADVISE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER CONSUMERS. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND WAS TOLD THERE WA SNO RECALL AND COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. *AK
2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 4X4 HAS 2-3 SHIFT FAILURE CAUSING CAR ENGINE RPM TO RISE SEVERELY WITHOUT SHIFTING TRANSMISSION INTO 3RD GEAR. THIS FIRST HAPPENED WHILE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY LEAVING ME HOPELESSLY IN THE RIGHT LANE AS TRAFFIC RAPIDLY APPROACHED FROM BEHIND, I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER. I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT TODAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD FOR YEARS WHICH HAS YET TO BE ADDRESSED! THERE IS EVEN A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM! BESIDES RIPPING OFF CONSUMERS FOR OUTRAGES RECURRING REPAIR COSTS, THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE GETTING SEVERELY HURT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. *NM
I HAVE A 2001 EXPLORER SPORT. IN LOWER SPEEDS, MY TRANSMISSION WOULD START MISSING. FORD AND ANOTHER REPAIR CENTER BOTH IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE MAIN BODY REPLACEMENT VALVE. THE REPAIR CENTER TOLD ME THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN IDENTIFYING THIS PROBLEM (ARTICLE #02-13-8). HOWEVER, THERE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL RECALL. FORD SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE COMPLETE REPAIR. *JB
FORD IS A COMPLETE RIP OFF AND SOLD ME A LEMON I WILL NEVER EVER BUY OR RECOMMEND A FORD IN MY LIFE ALL WE'VE HAD IS PROBLEMS... WE JUST BROUGHT OUR FORD EXPLORER TO MT. VERNON FORD IN NY AND THEY TOLD US THEY WILL CHECK OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND IF WE DECIDE FOR THEM NOT TO FIX IT THERE OUR CHARGE IS 85.00 DOLLARS AND IF WE FIX IT THERE THEY WILL PUT IT TOWARDS THE REPAIR AND TOLD US THE PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING IS FROM NOT MAINTAINING THE CAR HOW DARE THEY MAKE SUCH A STATEMENT I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF MY CARS I HAVE A NISSAN WITH 130,000 MILES I HAVEN'T EVEN CHANGED THE CLUTCH STILL ORIGINAL WELL WE DECIDED NOT TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE THERE AND WHEN WE GOT THERE THEY CHARGED UP OVER 130.00 DOLLARS I AM DISGUSTED AND I AM GOING TO REPORT FORD TO THE BBB AND EVERY COMPLAINT CENTER THAT I CAN... WE ONLY HAVE 50,000 MILES ON IT AND BEFORE 36,000 WE HAD TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION IT'S A LEMON A PIECE OF JUNK... WE'VE ALSO BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T FIXED IT AND I SWEAR TO GOD IF WE ARE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR GET PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE SOMEONE IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT TRUST ME LAW SUIT AND ALL. *LA
I HAVE A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. MY 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES ON IT AND FROM THE NEW GROUPS I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING, I'M NOT ALONE. I UNDERSTAND THAT FORD HAS REDESIGNED THE VALVE BODY AND IS REFUSING TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE UNITS FREE OF CHARGE. *NLM
ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READING HOT WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT OVERHEATING. CHECK GAUGES TROUBLE LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER REPLACED BUT STILL MALFUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD. VEHICLE WILL JERK/CLUNK EVERY TIME TRANMISSION SHIFTS. DEALER FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE FLUID. NO CHANGE IN TRANSMISSION FUNCTION. VEHCILE VIBRATES/SHAKES AT HIGHER SPEEDS. MAY BE THE DRIVESHAFT. DEALER ROTATED TIRES. VIRBRATION STILL EXISTS. REAR SEAT BOTTOMS DO NOT ANCHOR SECURELY. THE SEAT BOTTOMS FLIP UP WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE REAR WINDOW WIPER WAS NOT CLEARING THE COVERED AREA, LEAVING DIRT AND DEBRIS ON THE WINDOW OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW. DEALER ADJUSTED ARM PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. DT
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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