NHTSA lists 167 complaints for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, 15 of them mention a crash and 9 mention a fire. 11 complaints mention an injury, with 11 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Recalls
See new recalls and investigations this week.
4 recalls.
Date: 2007-08-03. Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Defect: 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. (excerpt)
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. (excerpt)
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 (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2003-08-05. Systems: SEATS.
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2003-08-05. Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2000-11-28. Systems: STRUCTURE.
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A HOOD FLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED COULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD STRIKER.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
2 investigations; 0 open.
DP05005
Opened: 2005-09-22. Closed: 2006-01-04.
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CY
Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE03020
Opened: 2003-05-21. Closed: 2003-09-05.
FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT
BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 4, 2003, FORD NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V281) INVOLVING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2001 FORD EXPLORER / MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 4-DOOR, MY 1998-2000 FORD EXPLORER 2-DOOR AND MY 2001-2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT AND SPORT TRAC VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS.COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK RECLINED W
Systems: SEATS.
Linked campaign numbers: 03V281000.
Manufacturer communications
164 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system| System | Count |
|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 36 |
|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 31 |
|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 19 |
|---|
| STEERING | 15 |
|---|
| STRUCTURE | 11 |
|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 9 |
|---|
| VISIBILITY | 7 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT | 6 |
|---|
10018061
Date: 2005-10-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.
STEERING SHUDDER DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS - 4.0L ENGINE. *TT
10014138
Date: 2005-06-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEAT BELTS.
SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT
10017891
Date: 2005-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
FRONT AXLE LEAKS FLUID FROM VENT TUBE - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4X4 OR AWD. *TT
10014263
Date: 2004-12-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
MOAN/VIBRATION DURING AIR CONDITIONING OPERATION. *TT
10014086
Date: 2004-12-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
10014096
Date: 2004-12-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION.
REVISED PROCEDURE FOR ADJUSTING ALIGNMENT ON ALL SUSPENSIONS - NEW RIGHT HAND UPPER CONTROL ARM DESIGN FOR TORSION BAR FRONT SUSPENSIONS. *TT
10013365
Date: 2004-11-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION.
SQUEAKING NOISE FROM REAR SWAY BAR LINK. *TT
10013369
Date: 2004-11-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
10011150
Date: 2004-08-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
RATTLE NOISE FROM PRIMARY CHAIN DRIVE AREA 2000-3000 RPM - 4.0L SOHC ENGINE. *TT
10008252
Date: 2004-06-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
STREAMLINED DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR VEHICLES WITH MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0401, P0402, P1400 OR P1401. ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE RUNS ROUGH, LACKS POWER, SURGE, POOR FUEL ECONOMY. *TT