2001 Ford Explorer Sport complaints

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN UNEXPLAINED ROLL OVER INVOLVING A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, A 2 DOOR VEHICLE. I DID NOT HAVE FIRESTONE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION. MY GOODYEAR TIRES WERE INTACT AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE REVIEWED THE TEST DATA AND I AM CONVINCED THIS IS A FAULTY VEHICLE DESIGN. I NEARLY LOSS MY LIFE. IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS CLEARED FORD INDIRECTLY BY FOCUSING ATTENTION ON FIRESTONE TIRES AND NOT TESTING ALL FORD SUV'S.*JB

I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT THAT WAS SITTING FOR A > YEAR AS PART OF AN ESTATE. > > > > > > THIS CAR HAS FIRESTON WILDERNESS TIRES P255 70R16 1095 M+S. WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED. FORD & FIRESTONE REFUSE TO REPLACE THESE TIRES BECAUSE THE TIME ALLOTTED EXPIRED

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, INDICATING AIRBAGS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. AFTER EIGHT UNSUCCESFUL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, FORD REPLACED THE VEHICLE.

CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY DON'T COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUSH HARD ON THE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PUMPING THE BRAKES DOES NOTHING. ON THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT THE CONSUMER HAD TO RUN INTO A DITCH IN ORDER TO STOP FROM GOING INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED A VIBRATION. SCC *JB

WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISON WITH MY 01 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, IN WHICH THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. NEITHER MY DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OPENED. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED RECENTLY SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DIDN'T OPEN WE ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION THAT CAN BE FELT AT 45MPH OR GREATER MAKING IT HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPLACED TIRES, DRIVESHAFT AND THROTTLE ASSEMBLY BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. MANUFACTURER INFORMED THAT CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM IS A "TECHNICAL DEFECT" THAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL ON THIS MODEL. TS

AFTER REMOVING FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL AT 20 TO 25 MPH, WHEN TOUCHING THE PEDAL TO INCREASE SPEED, TRUCK SPUN AS THOUGH AT FULL THROTTLE. HAPPENED ONCE WHILE TURNING BEND ON A WET SURFACE. THEN HAPPENED AGAIN ON A STRAIGHT SNOW COVERED ROAD. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, BUT REPLACED THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE SINCE IT'S THE MOST COMMON COMPONENT TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. DT

WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THIS CONDITION ALMOST CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A PARKED CAR AND A PERSON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASION BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH *NLM

DURING THE MANUFACTURE OF THE REAR END BY FORD THEY PACK THE INAPPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF GREASE IN THE DIFFERENTIAL (WHEATHER TOO SMALL OR TOO MUCH) WHICH CAUSES THE BEARINGS TO RUB AND WEAR OUT QUICKLEY. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF IT CAN RESULT IN A LOCKING OF THE REAR END THUS HENCE THE LIKELY HOOD OF ACCIDENT POTENTIAL. JUST IMAGINE OUR CHILDREN BEING AFFECTED. FORD REFUSES TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM EVEN WHEN IT IS VERY CLEAR OF LIABLITY. THE DEALERS REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUE WITHOUT A CHARGE AND UNWARRENTED EXTRA WORK AND CHARGE. DT

ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE READING HOT WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT OVERHEATING. CHECK GAUGES TROUBLE LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER REPLACED BUT STILL MALFUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD. VEHICLE WILL JERK/CLUNK EVERY TIME TRANMISSION SHIFTS. DEALER FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE FLUID. NO CHANGE IN TRANSMISSION FUNCTION. VEHCILE VIBRATES/SHAKES AT HIGHER SPEEDS. MAY BE THE DRIVESHAFT. DEALER ROTATED TIRES. VIRBRATION STILL EXISTS. REAR SEAT BOTTOMS DO NOT ANCHOR SECURELY. THE SEAT BOTTOMS FLIP UP WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE REAR WINDOW WIPER WAS NOT CLEARING THE COVERED AREA, LEAVING DIRT AND DEBRIS ON THE WINDOW OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW. DEALER ADJUSTED ARM PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 70MPH IN THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

THIS IS PART OF A FORD "OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM 00M12" ABOUT A COMMONLY KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE WHICH FORD REFUSES TO FIX. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN REAR SEAT BELT IS IN USE, THEY WILL TWIST AND RETRACT MAKING THEM INOPERTIVE. NOTHING INSTALLED IN VEHICLE TO PREVENT SEAT BELT FROM TWISTING. DEALER CONTACTED. TS

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH SMOKE FILLED CAR AND NOTICED BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AKJLG

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT WHEEL ON THE DRIVER?S SIDE LOCKS WHEN HEAVY BRAKING IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. IN FORWARD THE WHEEL LOCKS AND PULLS TO THE LEFT OF DRIVER OR LEAVES RUBBER. DEALER REPLACED THE M VALUE WHICH ACCORDING TO FORD MANUAL WAS WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE BRAKE TO LOCK BUT BRAKES ARE STILL LOCKING. *YD

WHILE IN IDLE VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT OR AT TIMES JUST START SHAKING, IDLES ROUGHLY CONSTANTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

WHILE ALMOST AT A STOP VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED MOMENTS AFTER IMPACT. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD, AND PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON REARVIEW MIRROR. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK

WHILE ALMOST AT A STOP, VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON, BOTH FRONT SEATBELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER OR PASSENGER. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND PASSENGERS HEAD HIT THE REARVIEW MIRROR. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.*AK THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF AFTER IMPACT TO VEHICLE. THE DEALER RESET THEM BEFORE THEY COULD SEE THEM. THEY WERE RESET IMPROPER. THE BAG IS VISIBLE, NO ALARMS ARE WORKING AND THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ARE HANGING LOOSE. *JG

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SECOND ROW SEAT FLIPPING OVER WHEN EXITING VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *MJ CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAT BOTTOMS ON THE BACK SEAT FLIP, THE REAR OF THE BOTTOM ON SEATS FLIPS FORWARD AND PASENGER SLIDES OFF SEAT. *SLC

AS CONSUMER PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT THE BALL JOINT AND PIN BOLT BROKE CAUSING THE STEERING KNUCKLE TO DETACH, THE TIRE CAME OFF AND THE AXLE CRACKED. CONSUMERS PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WAS WITH THE 1999 MODEL. THIS VEHICLE WAS AN UPGRADE FROM THE PREVIOUS. *JG

FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15. CUSTOMER STATED TWO TIRES WERE CRACKED AROUND SIDEWALL. ONLY ONE OF THE TIRES WILL HOLD AIR. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK FIRESTONE DECLINED TO REPLACE THE CRACKED TIRES BUT THE CONSUMER PAID AND REPLACED IT. (DOT VDHL IRW 080) *YH

CONSUMER STATES WITH NORMAL CLOSURE OF THE REAR DOOR, THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY SHATTERED INTO SMALL PIECES LEAVING SPLINTERS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINING MINOR HAND AND FEET INJURIES TO THE INDIVIDUAL CLOSING THE BACK DOOR. *TT

VEHICLE IS DRIVEN VERY SLUGISH. ALSO, CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE ACCELERATING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT IT COULD BE THE CONVERTER.*AK

ABS FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LOCKS AND CAUSES SUV TO PULL TO THE LEFT UNDER HEAVY BRAKING SOMETIMES, DEALER HAS REPLACED VALUE AS PER FORDS COMPUTER FIXER, THE SUV HAS 33000 MILES AND THE BRAKE STILL LOCKS SOMETIMES, THE SE3RVICE MANGER HASW STATED THAQT FORD HAS DESIGNED THE 2001&2002 ABS BRAKES SO THAT EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT BRAKE WILL LOCK, ASKING THAT FORD REPLACE THE BRAKE CAPILER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY SUV TO NOT AVAIL.*AK

THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE TURN SIGNAL ARM DOES NOT STAY IN POSITION, AND THE TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT OPERATE. IN ORDER TO MAKE IT WORK YOU HAVE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO ANOTHER POSITION AND TRY AGAIN.

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND NOTICED STEERING WAS TILTED TO LEFT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL LEFT. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS THE TIRES. TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM OF PULLING LEFT STILL EXISTS. STEERING NOW TILTS RIGHT, BUT STILL PULLS LEFT. *AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND KEEPING STEERING WHEEL STEADY VEHICLE WANDERED TO LEFT LANE ON ITS OWN. DEALER REPLACED STEERING MECHANISM, BUT VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO LEFT. *AK CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE LEFT WHEN TURNED STEERING WHEEL AND WILL NOT TURN COMETIMES TO THE RIGHT. *YH

WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 50 MPH, AND MAKING A TURN, VEHICLE WILL GO UP IN AIR/ SLAM DOWN TO GROUND, AND SHAKE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT VEHICLE WILL ROLL OVER WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE REAR PINION BEARING FAILED. NLM

CUSTOMER COMPLAINS THAT BACK BENCH SEAT IS OF SUCH DESIGN THAT WHEN CHILDREN SIT ON IT, AND BRAKE IS APPLIED SEAT WILL MOVE UP, AND START TO FLIP FORWARD. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN ADULTS SIT ON BENCH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH SEAT. *AK

AS SHE WAS DRIVING OVER A CURB IN PARKING LOT AT LESS THAN 5 MPH TAILGATE WINDOW EXPLODED. 90 % OF GLASS WAS ON OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE, PIECES WERE VERY SMALL, THERE WAS NO GLASS LEFT IN WINDOW FRAME. *AK

POWER STEERING MOTOR PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END. ALSO TIRES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK

WHEN DRIVING ON SLIGHT UPHILL ROADS AND MAKING TURNS LEFT OR RIGHT, LIKE ON RAMPS TO FREEWAY AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, 5-10 MPH, VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL. GOES ALL OVER ROAD, BRAKING MAKES IT WORSE. DEALER REPLACED STEERING GEAR AND TIRES. DID NOT REMEDY. TO DEALER 9 DAYS ONE TIME, ANOTHER 14 DAYS.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES ENGINE MAKES A GRINDING NOISE RIGHT AFTER START-UP.*JB

THE VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, THERE IS ALSO A BURNING SMELL, POSSIBLY AN EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURE, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOURCE. NLM

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P255 70 R16) ARE EXPERIENCING CRACKING. *SLC

SECOND ROW SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY ANCHORED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.*AK WHEN REAR SEAT ARE IN UPRIGHT POSITION, BACKK OF SEAT REMAINS LOCKED BUT SEAT PART MOVES IN CATAPULTING FASHION. *YH

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235 75 R15 EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT. *SLC

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY EXHIBITS FRONT END VIBRATION, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS (CHANGING OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES AND REPLACEMENT OF THE AXLE), HOWEVER VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING VIBRATION PROBLEMS, POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE TIRES AND THE SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE.