2001 Ford Explorer Reliability
The 2001 Ford Explorer has 730 owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and suspension. Compared with nearby Explorer model years (1999–2003), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Explorer's typical year, while the 2002 drew 3,613 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
730
NHTSA owner complaints
12
Recall campaigns
97
Complaints citing a crash
41
Complaints citing a fire
2001 Ford Explorer complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2001 model year, filed between 2000 and 2023. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 102 | 14% |
| Suspension | 87 | 12% |
| Tires | 86 | 12% |
| Body structure | 83 | 11% |
| Speed control / throttle | 76 | 10% |
| Engine & cooling | 72 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 54 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 52 | 7% |
2001 Ford Explorer recalls
12 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2001 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 01X001000 | May 22, 2001 | Tires — tread/belt | 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.… |
| 03V094000 | Mar 7, 2003 | Body 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… |
| 03V280000 | Aug 5, 2003 | Speed control / throttle — 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. |
| 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… |
| 06E026000 | Mar 23, 2006 | Exterior lighting | 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… |
| 06E049000 | May 24, 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to… |
| 06E056000 | Jun 13, 2006 | Fuel system | Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n f65277, shipped from January 16 through June 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Due to incorrect design, the quick connectors may not fully seat with the tube… |
| 07V336000 | Aug 3, 2007 | Speed control / throttle | 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. |
| 09E012000 | Apr 7, 2009 | Exterior lighting | Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
| 09E025000 | May 11, 2009 | Exterior lighting — headlights | Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety… |
| 09V399000 | Oct 13, 2009 | Speed control / throttle | 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… |
How the 2001 compares with nearby Explorer years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Explorer analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1,465 | 15 | Tires | Caution |
| 2000 | 1,078 | 15 | Tires | Caution |
| 2001 (this page) | 730 | 12 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2002 | 3,613 | 10 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2003 | 1,313 | 7 | Body structure | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2001 Ford Explorer
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Tires: check tread depth and date codes, and look for uneven wear that points to alignment problems.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 12 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2001 Ford Explorer can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2001 Ford Explorer reliability FAQ
Is the 2001 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2001 Ford Explorer has 730 owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and suspension. Compared with nearby Explorer model years (1999–2003), it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Explorer's typical year, while the 2002 drew 3,613 complaints.
What are the most common 2001 Ford Explorer problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2001 Ford Explorer are powertrain / transmission (102), suspension (87), tires (86), body structure (83). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2001 Ford Explorer have recalls?
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2001 Ford Explorer, including 00V313000 (equipment — other / labels) and 01X001000 (tires — tread/belt). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2001 Ford Explorer compare with the 2000 and 2002 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2000 has 1,078 complaints and 15 recalls (caution); the 2002 has 3,613 complaints and 10 recalls (avoid). The 2001 has 730 complaints and 12 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2001 Ford Explorer?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Explorer research
Other Ford Explorer model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2001 Explorer, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.