RoadVitals

2001 Ford Explorer Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Mar 9, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 375 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Mar 9, 2017

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
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 23, 2014

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
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Nov 15, 2013
Fire reported

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
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Mar 11, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THERE WAS ARE NO TURN SIGNAL OR BRAKE LIGHT. DRIVER WOULD MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL IN ANOTHER DIRECTION AND THE SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10062999
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Oct 9, 2002

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM AND DO NOT PUT OUT ADEQUATE LIGHTING, THE CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH VOLTAGE FROM THE HEADLIGHT TO THE BULB, THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE BULBS TWICE WITH WHITE HIGHER WATT BULBS BUT THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE IT WAS WORSE, THE THIRD SET OF BULBS WERE THE BLUE HALOGEN BULBS BUT WHEN THEY WERE INSTALLED THEY WERE DARK BLUE AND THE CONSUMER COULD SEE NOTHING. *MR *NLM

NHTSA ID
8020460
Incident
Sep 19, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 14, 2002

LOW DESIGN PLACEMENT OF TURN SIGNAL LEVER PREVENTS USE FOR LEFT TURN SIGNAL FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH LONG LEGS WHERE THERE IS INSUFFICIENT ROOM BETWEEN THE TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM AND THE DOOR TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY.*AK

NHTSA ID
759350
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Apr 19, 2001

COMPLETE FAILURE OF TAIL LIGHTS I.E. BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND RUNNING LIGHTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
744249
Incident
Apr 14, 2001
BrakesFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Feb 8, 2001
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH AND WHEN ATTEMTPING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, GRADUALLY DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL AND PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE/ FUEL PUMP AND OTHER PARTS WERE REPLACED BEFORE ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE *AK BAD CHECK VALVE CAUSED DELAY IN STARTING THE VEHCILE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS HARD TO RELEASE DUE TO LEAK OF GREASING. BRAKES MADE HIGH PITCH SQUEAL BECAUSE FRONT BRAKES AND PADS WERE GLAZED OVER. HEAD LIGHT FAILED DUE TO BAD CONNECTION AT LMULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. *YH

NHTSA ID
880111
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+1 more
Filed Jan 31, 2001

ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT IN DECEMBER 2000. DEALER REPLACED ABS AND OTHER BRAKE PARTS. BRAKES WENT OUT AGAIN ON JANUARY 30, AT DEALER AT THIS TIME. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE SEALS ON HEADLIGHTS AND TRIM OF VEHICLE REPLACED. THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND FROM RADIO. *AK

NHTSA ID
879424
Incident
Dec 13, 2000

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .