Model year

2001 Ford Explorer

NHTSA lists 6 recalls and 375 complaints for the 2001 Ford Explorer (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 9 recalls and 355 complaints under EXPLORER SPORT and EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are TIRES (39), TIRES:TREAD/BELT (22), SUSPENSION (19). NHTSA lists 2 investigations. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 15–18 mpg combined and 39 MPGe combined and 87 kWh/100 mi depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $1,950–$4,450, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

09V399000 · Oct 13, 2009

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES…

07V336000 · Aug 3, 2007

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

03V281000 · Aug 5, 2003

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

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…

03V280000 · Aug 5, 2003

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

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.

03V094000 · Mar 7, 2003

STRUCTURE

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE…

00V313000 · Oct 17, 2000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567.4, "CERTIFICATION." THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED FROM THE ASSEMBLY PLANT WITHOUT SAFETY CERTIFICATION LABELS.

Complaints

375 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 64, fire flag on 21, injury field 65, deaths field 6. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

TIRES39
TIRES:TREAD/BELT22
SUSPENSION19
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL19
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION17
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL16
SEATS16
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING14

Other NHTSA names

These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.

Other matched NHTSA names
Name	Recalls	Complaints
EXPLORER SPORT	5	188
EXPLORER SPORT TRAC	4	167

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (2). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
Action	Subject	Opened	Closed
PE03020	FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT · SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER	May 21, 2003	Sep 5, 2003
DP05005	SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	Sep 22, 2005	Jan 4, 2006

Safety ratings

NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
Configuration	Fuel	City	Hwy	Comb	kWh/100 mi	Range	Annual fuel cost
Explorer Sport Trac 2WD · 4L · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	14	19	16	—	—	$4,200
Explorer Sport Trac 2WD · 4L · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	15	19	17	—	—	$3,950
Explorer Sport Trac 4WD · 4L · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	13	18	15	—	—	$4,450
Explorer Sport Trac 4WD · 4L · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	14	18	16	—	—	$4,200
Explorer 2WD · 4L · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	15	20	17	—	—	$3,950
Explorer 2WD · 5L · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	13	18	15	—	—	$4,450
Explorer Sport 2WD · 4L · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	15	20	17	—	—	$3,950
Explorer Sport 2WD · 4L · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	16	20	18	—	—	$3,700
Explorer USPS 2WD · 4L · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	15	20	17	—	—	$3,950
Explorer 4WD · 4L · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	13	18	15	—	—	$4,450
Explorer 4WD · 5L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	13	18	15	—	—	$4,450
Explorer Sport 4WD · 4L · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	14	18	15	—	—	$4,450

7 more configurations are in the EPA file and are not listed in this table. The fuel-cost calculator lists every configuration.

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2001 Ford Explorer at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

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