2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 167 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (19% of complaints); the 2003 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2007
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 167 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Car takes about 3 to 5 tries to start. I replaced gas pump, plugs, cables, temp sensor, still takes long to start.o/d off light started flashing, and now it has a rough gear change I believe from 2nd to 3rd”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · May 2018
“Vehicle running in park while driver gathered boxes to place in bed of truck. Drive train engaged sending driverless vehicle down road, across intersection and into brick wall. Witness to impact ran to vehicle thinking to check on driver. Upon opening door, noted no driver and stated shifter still indicated vehicle was in park.”Owner report · Power Train · Jul 2017
“Driving on freeway front driver wheel fell off causing truck to roll over. No air bag was inflated. Was told the pin that holds the tire on came out. Truck was totalled and hit 2other cars while rolling.”Owner report · Wheels · Feb 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“I was driving on the interstate at 65mph when my left rear tire blew a flat. When I came to a stop safely, the tire was completely separated on the sidewall and the tire was smoking! Couldn't believe my eyes. I've now been reading that this michelin tire was recalled in other sizes. This event occurred on 8/17/2016 and the tire had 35,000 miles on it.”Owner report · Wheels · Aug 2016
“Takata recall, the inside lightsor dome lights, they shorted out one to another in the double over head lights and grounded out the battery could cause several problems one it killed the battery and I found out when I went to change one of the lights and to stop I took both lights out and seperated the copper that conects with switch”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jul 2016
“I purchased a 2001 ford explorer sport tract I didn't get to test drive it because there were other vehical surrounding it. When I finally got to drive my truck home I noticed the transmission had a severe issue. When I turned a corner my tires rubbed badly on some other part to the trucks parts and the driver seat has a medal rod that jabs me in the back that's coming thru the fabric now my battery has leaked acid every where in the battery compartment and surrounding areas.”Owner report · Seats · Jun 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford explorer sport trac. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving various speeds. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was manually restarted and operated as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as a transmission malfunction. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and transferred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 186,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2016
“I had an accident I january 2016 and my airbag did not deploy cause me damage to my neck and both shoulder. Doctors say I need surgery on rotator cuffs. If airbags had deployed I would not have been thrust forward. I grabbed steering wheel to brace myself and was thrust forward there for damage both rotator cuffs in my shoulder and hurting my neck also. I have seen many other trucks of my make that air bags have not deployed and people getting hurt. I do not understand why they did not deploy. . Why are there not recalls on this air bags. Thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).'*jb”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jan 2016
“I have had 3 tire blow outs in the short time I have had this truck due to the tires rubbing on a part of the steering when making turns. Its rubs off the material of the tire.....also the rear passanger door can not be opened from the inside and bearly opens from the outside. I have a young child making this extremely dangerous. Your site wants me to enter a date... I can't recall all three dates”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jul 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford explorer sport trac. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the steering wheel seized without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into a pole. The contact sustained injuries to the chest and ankle that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 155,000.”Owner report · Steering · Sep 2014
When filing, owners marked a crash in 15 of these complaints and injuries in 11 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH STEEL HOODS AND CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SHEET MOLDING COMPOUND HOODS. A WIRE FORMED HOOD STRIKER COULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURES. IF THE HOOD STRIKER FRACTURES, THE HOOD COULD FLY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD STRIKER.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.
Remedy: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL AND 4.0L SOHC ENGINES, IF THE STRAND COVER ON THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE BECOMES FLARED AT THE END, THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE MAY BIND WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS ACTIVATED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT UPPER BOLT WITH A METAL SPACER AND BOLT. IN ADDITION, SEATS WITH TUBULAR BACK FRAMES WILL HAVE THE FULLY THREADED LOWER RECLINER BOLT REPLACED WITH A PARTIALLY THREADED BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2001 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Explorer Sport Trac by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac reliable?
NHTSA has 167 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The most complained-about area is power train (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 71,760 miles or less.
Does the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning structure:body:hood:hinge and attachments. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.