Your vehicle report

2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
167
Received Nov 2000 to Aug 2023
Official recalls listed
4
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Frame rusts and corrodes through15 complaints · 9.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Tires blow out or tread separates10 complaints · 6.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Transmission fails or loses power while driving10 complaints · 6.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #07V336000On 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.
  • Recall #03V280000On 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.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 15 crashes, 9 fires, 11 people injured, 0 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 16 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

1 more problem

Brakes

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

1 more problem

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
26
Show as a table
YearComplaints
20002
20013
20026
200322
200426
200516
20068
200711
200814
20098
20108
20119
20127
20137
20147
20151
20164
20174
20182
20191
20200
20210
20220
20231
20240
20250
2026 (to Oct 2026)0
Total167

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Frame rusts and corrodes through159.0%–
Tires blow out or tread separates106.0%–
Transmission fails or loses power while driving106.0%–
Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips74.2%–
Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps74.2%–
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes63.6%–
Vehicle catches fire from wiring63.6%–
Coil springs break and puncture tires53.0%–
Seat belt fails to latch or retract42.4%–
Rear door latch fails to open or close42.4%–
Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed42.4%–
Unintended acceleration despite braking31.8%–
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving31.8%–
Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up31.8%–
Engine won't start or cranks intermittently31.8%–
Front brake rotors warp and wear early31.8%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #07V336000August 3, 20073,600,000 vehicles affected

    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.

    This could result in an underhood fire.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #03V280000August 5, 2003448,005 vehicles affected

    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.

    The throttle return spring force may not be sufficient to overcome the binding condition when the speed control is disengaged. Braking function would be maintained though stopping distances may be increased.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #03V281000August 5, 20031,552,880 vehicles affected

    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 may recline until it makes contact with an object behind the seat, such as the second row seat cushion.

    The driver could potentially lose contact with the steering wheel or foot pedals during such an event, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  • NHTSA recall #00V394000November 28, 2000137,700 vehicles affected

    structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments

    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.

    A hood fly-up while the vehicle is being operated could result in reduced driver visibility.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the hood striker.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN