2001 Ford Explorer Electrical Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A RESIDENCE AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11206286

Incident

May 2, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS TILTED TO THE UPPER POSITION, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10959861

Incident

Mar 9, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. DURING COLDER TEMPERATURES, THE FAILURE WORSENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS NOT DISCLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. UPDATED 05/17/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10954908

Incident

Feb 15, 2001

Mileage

1,000 mi

THE S.U.V LEAKS WATER IN CAUSING ISSUES I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAIN AND FUSE BOX NOW MINEXPENSIVE HAS A DRAINAGE OF ITS BATTREY AND THE LIGHT DONE GO OFF I REPLACED THE BATTREY AN ALTNATOR.AN AS WELL.FORD SHOULD FIX IT THY HE TO MANY ISSUES LIKE THIS.PARKED IN DRIVE WAY.

NHTSA ID

10883827

Incident

Jul 2, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE REPAIR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT ENTERED THE VEHICLE NEAR THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10725337

Incident

Sep 17, 2007

AS WITH SO MANY EXPLORERS I HAVE READ ABOUT, MY O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND FLASHES. I LOSE ALL POWER DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION AND THEN THE TRUCK SHOOTS OFF LIKE A ROCKET. IF I TURN THE IGNITION OFF, THE LIGHT RESETS AND THE VEHICLE IS OK FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE LIGHT AS WITH SO MANY EXPLORERS I HAVE READ ABOUT, MY O/D LIGHT COMES ON AND FLASHES. I LOSE ALL POWER DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION AND THEN THE TRUCK SHOOTS OFF LIKE A ROCKET. IF I TURN THE IGNITION OFF, THE LIGHT RESETS AND THE VEHICLE IS OK FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. I HAD THE CODES READ AND IT CAME UP A SOLENOID PROBLEM. I HAD THEM REPLACED AND TEN MILES FROM THE LOT, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FROM FORD, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO ACT ON THIS ISSUE. COMES ON AGAIN. I HAD THE CODES READ AND IT CAME UP A SOLENOID PROBLEM. I HAD THEM REPLACED AND TEN MILES FROM THE LOT, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FROM FORD, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO ACT ON THIS ISSUE. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE FIXED SEVERAL AND THEY GO RIGHT BACK OUT IT WAS A WASTE OF MY TIME.. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE U ALL FIX THIS IF U TRY TO TAKE OFF AND IT SLIPS AND WILL NOT GO U CAN AND WILL GET HIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565495

Incident

Feb 26, 2013

Mileage

99,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND I SAW AND SMELT SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY COULD TELL WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM BECAUSE I SAW THE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HAZARD LIGHT ON TOP OF MY STEERING WHEEL, IT THEN TURNED INTO A FLAME,IT WAS INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE FORTUNATELY I HAD WATER WITH ME AND I POURED A LITTLE BIT OF WATER ON THE FLAMES THAT WERE COMING OUT OF WHERE THE HAZARD LIGHT IS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES,WITH THE FINAL RESULT BEING 2 FIRES. IT HAPPENED A 3RD TIME WITH JUST SMOKE. I NO LONGER HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND SOME OF MY INTERIOR LIGHTS NO LONGER WORK. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS CAUSED OTHER PROBLEMS IE...MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON AS WELL AS MY CRUISE CONTROL WORKING WHEN IT WANTS TO AND OTHER TIMES NOT WORKING AT ALL PLUS THE BUTTONS ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL BEING HOT TO THE TOUCH! I'M TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR! *TR

NHTSA ID

10552446

Incident

Apr 5, 2013

Mileage

187,000 mi

TURN SIGNAL WAS TURNED ON AND SMOKE CAME BILLOWING OUT OF STEARING COLLUM. SMELLED BURNT WIRING. FIRE INSIDE OF COLLUM MINIMAL DAMAGE AS I TURNED OFF SIGNAL IMMEDIATELY. TOOK TO GARAGE NEXT DAY. THE WIREING HAD RUBBED ON COLLUM AND SHORTED OUT. REPAIRED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

NHTSA ID

10411901

Incident

Aug 15, 2009

Mileage

72,000 mi

WHEN I HAVE USED MY SPEED CONTROL I HAVE HAD SMOKE COME OUT OF THE TOP OF MY STEERING COLUMN TWICE. THE SMOKE COMES THROUGH THE HOLE FOR MY EMERGENCY LIGHT BUTTON ON THE TOP OF MY STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAPPENED RECENTLY FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE FORD DEALER IS CHARGING $652.63 TO REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS AND THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS WIPERS, HAZARD LIGHTS, BLINKERS, ETC. THE RECALL WAS REPLACED, AND THEY SAY THE TWO ARE NOT RELATED. APPARENTLY THIS COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AS WOULD THE RECALL PART. THE SUV IS A FORD EXPLORER 2001 V8 XLT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10272872

Incident

May 27, 2009

Mileage

194,462 mi

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. AFTER 4 HOURS LATER THE CAR WAS BURNING. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT... *TR

NHTSA ID

10249540

Incident

Nov 21, 2008

Mileage

140,000 mi

FORD EXPLORER 2001 - WHEN I USE THE SIGNAL LIGHT, IT FREQUENTLY SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. IT SOUNDS LIKE A BAD CONNECTION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN CAUSE MY TRUCK ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171866

Incident

Sep 4, 2006

AFTER HAVING MY 2001 LMTD EDITION EXPLORER PARKED FOR OVER 45 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS CONSUMED. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS, MELTED DOWN TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE MARSHAL WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AS THE DAMAGE WAS SO SEVERE, BUT I WAS REFERRED TO SEVERAL ARTICLES REGARDING SIMILAR FORD EXPLORER FIRES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10148277

Incident

Dec 4, 2005

Mileage

62,500 mi

MY VEHICLE HAS AN IDLE AIR CONTROL MALFUNCTION AND AFTER CONFERRING WITH OTHER FORD OWNERS. MOST HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED IT MAY BE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN FORD MAY BE AWARE OF. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT INVESTIGATED IF POSSIBLE. MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144497

Incident

Dec 2, 2005

Mileage

95,200 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. SHE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 35 MPH WHILE GOING UP A HILL, BUT WAS PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE, AND THEY STATED SHE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE CONSUMER SHOWED THE POLICE THAT THIS WAS WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED 7 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS. THE ON/OFF SWITCH THAT WAS USED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK, AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES HARD TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTACT HAS NOT BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, AND HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THE LIGHTS ON THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE FUSE HAS BEEN REPLACED TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE LIGHTS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10134697

Incident

Aug 27, 2005

Mileage

71,000 mi

DT: ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH WINDOWS UP THE CONSUMER GOT IN AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH, THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS. STOPPED SMOKING AFTER CONSUMER STARTED THE ENGINE, IN DURATION OF ABOUT 20 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 3-4 TIMES PER WEEK SINCE AFTER A LONG TRIP. THIS MOST OFTEN OCCURRED WHEN WINDOWS WERE UP AND IT WAS VERY HOT OUTSIDE. CONSUMER HAS NOT EVEN INSPECTED THE UNDER HOOD OR ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER THIS OCCURRED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER YESTERDAY AND HAS NOT DONE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. . CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE BUT WISHED TO FILE COMPLAINT. CONSUMER NOTED THERE WAS NO FIRE. FORD WANTED CONSUMER TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10133506

Incident

Jul 19, 2005

Mileage

73,000 mi

THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE (GEM) EXPERIENCED A CONDITION REFERRED TO AS "LOCK-UP" IN WHICH THE GEM CONTROLLED ELECTRONIC 4X4 SYSTEM COULD NOT BE TURNED ON.

NHTSA ID

10122285

Incident

May 19, 2005

Mileage

54,300 mi

2001 FORD EXPLORER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH A SHORT IN THE WIRING TO THE RADIO AND THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIO WAS NO GOOD. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE A BAD FUSE. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED TWO NEW BATTERIES FOR THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10121553

Incident

May 1, 2005

2001 FORD EXPLORER 4 WHEEL DRIVE THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS BURNED OUT ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS STARTED APPROXIMATELY 8-9 MONTHS AGO AND THE STEERING COLUMN KEPT HAVING SMOKE COME OUT OF IT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THEN IT WOULD STOP, AND JUST START UP OUT OF THE BLUE,BUT ABOUT 4 MTS. AGO THE CRUISE CONTROL FINALLY WENT OUT. THIS ITEM HAS BEEN RECALLED ON MAY VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR, BUT MY PARTICULAR VIN# HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. MY SUV HAS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED IN MANY OF THE VEHICLES AND THERE IS A RECALL ALREADY IN PLACE, JUST NOT FOR MY VIN #. THEY WANT ME TO REPAIR IT AT MY COST.

NHTSA ID

10120352

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK THE VEHICLE UP, IT CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10112972

Incident

Feb 20, 2005

Mileage

75,000 mi

ON JANUARY 25,2004 I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFIC SIGNAL IN MY 2001 FORD EXPLORER I SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 5MPH. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, BUT WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD ,AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THE ENGINE MADE A REVING SOUND AS IT LUNGED FORWARD. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUSTAINED DAMAGE TOTALING $ 1237 AND THE PASSENGER COMPLAINED OF A NECK AGGRIVATION. MY CAR SUSTAINED MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER. THIS WAS THE 1ST ACCIDENT I HAVE EVER BEEN IN WHERE IT WAS ALLEGED THAT I MAY BE AT FAULT, CLEARLY I WAS NOT. THIS SURGE WHEN DECELERATING HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES AFTER THIS ACCIDENT, BOTH OF WHICH WERE WITNESSED BY A PASSENGER IN MY CAR. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS INJURED ON THESE OCCASIONS. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALER WHEREUPON I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER HAD RECEIVED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULETIN (TSB) FROM FORD REGARDING AN IDLE AIR CONTROL (IAC) VALVE FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL DATED 2/5/03. THE DEALER REPLACED THIS VALVE ON 5/20/04.*AK

NHTSA ID

10074691

Incident

Jan 25, 2004

Mileage

28,500 mi

I HAVE SEVERAL MORE INVOICES 7-29-03 REPLACED DUST SEALS AND FORGOT TO PUT BRAKES BACK TOGETHER LOST WHOLE FRONT END AND BRAKING. HAD TRUCK FOR 3-4 DAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP PULLEY AND S BELT 2-3 TIMES. CRUISE CONTROL 10-16, 12/31/02 AGAIN SQUELING NOISE 02/28/03 DEFROST KILLS TRUCK AND CHIRPING STILL. 2/10/03 STEERING WHEEL SNAPED PART FALLS AROUND INSIDE,CRUISE CONTROL WAS FIXED, BEARING FAILURE IN BELT TENSIONER AGAIN. TODAY STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. COME GET THE PIECE OF !@!@#@#. I AM SICK OF TAKING THIS TRUCK IN EVERY MONTH TO FIX SOMETHING. IT IS A LEMON

NHTSA ID

10070345

Incident

May 15, 2002

Mileage

14,491 mi

THERE WAS A WARNING INDICATOR THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ILLUMINATED GREEN. WHEN THE INDICATOR TURNED BLUE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE INDICATOR WAS FOR THE LIGHTING SYSTEM, AND THE DEALER MADE SOME REPAIRS, BUT DID NOT INFORM THE CONSUMER OF WHAT WAS DONE. CURRENTLY, THE INDICATOR IS NOT ON AT ALL, AND THE DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHY IT IS NOT WORKING. ALSO, THE REAR WINDOW WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS NOT OPERATING. DEALER STATED MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID

10038193

Mileage

38,730 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TILTED IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO WORK.*JB

NHTSA ID

10006999

Incident

Feb 9, 2003

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATHER AND RADIO PANEL. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICE THAT THE PANEL WHERE THE RADIO IS WAS EXTREMILY HOT TO THE POINT WHERE SHE TOUGHT THAT IT COULD INITIATE A FIRE. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. TS

NHTSA ID

8023721

THE EXPLORER SUDDENLY ROLLED OVER, INJURING ME SEVERLY. MOMENTS AFTER THE INCEDENT THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES.*AK

NHTSA ID

763747

Incident

Jun 27, 2002