2001 Ford Explorer

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2002· AIR BAGSCrash

  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

• 12/29/2000· TIRES

  2 TIRE BLOWOUTS IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS IS NOT NORMAL... ONE WHILE DRIVING IS UNSAFE..THE 2ND WHILE PARKED DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 8XHL IPY TIRESIZE: 235/75R15)

• 12/28/2009· WHEELS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. THE CHROME STEEL WHEELS HAVE EXTERIOR CORROSION. THIS CONDITION HAS CAUSED THE TIRES TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. SHE WAS ADVISED BY A TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER TO PAY $257.00. TO REPLACE BOTHER REAR TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

• 12/28/2007· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT SPEED CONTROL SWITCH RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY MORE PARTS BUT WOULD CALL AND DISCONNECTED THE SPEED CONTROL. SHE HAS YET TO HEAR FROM THE DEALER. *KB RECALL 07V336000. *JB

• 12/28/2003· SUSPENSION

  LOWER BALL JOINTS IN 2001 FORD EXPLORER BAD AT ONLY 46,000 MILES.*AK

• 12/27/2000· SUSPENSION

  VEHICLE HAS A ONE INCH LEAN ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE. COMMUNICATED, ONLINE WITH SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO NOTICED THIS UNBALANCE IN THEIR EXPLORERS. SAFETY CONCERNED DUE TO ACCIDENT HISTORY OF THE FORD EXPLORER AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT TOO HEAVY ON THE LEFT SIDE. *AK

• 12/22/2005· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  2001 FORD EXPLORER HOOD FLEW OPEN AND BROKE THE HINGES. *TS THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE HOOD AND HINGES, WIPER BLADES AND COWL AREA (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

• 12/21/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NONE

• 12/20/2006· STRUCTURE

  EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP OR EVEN A ROCK MY CAR WOULD SHAKE AND RATTLE SO BAD I COULDN'T EVEN KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD PLACE IN LONGVIEW AND THEY SAID THERE WASN'T ANY RECALLS ON IT AND THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR IT. THEY SAID SOMETHING HAD BEEN SPRAYED ON IT (BUSHINGS) OR MY CAR HAD BEEN UP NORTH AROUND SALT WATER. NEITHER WERE TRUE. I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC TO GET IT REPAIRED. I KEPT ALL THE PARTS. THE BUSHINGS HAD TURNED BRITTLE AND MUSHY AND HAD TO BE PUT IN A BOX. *JB

• 12/20/2002· STEERING

  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

• 12/20/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE A BRAKING LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASBOARD. THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON INTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURN OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

• 12/20/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HESITATES AND SEEMS NOT TO GET GAS. THEN, COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

• 12/18/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

  ON SUNDAY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS USED THAT DAY. IN THE AFTERNOON AROUND 3 PM IT WAS TAKEN TO GET GASSED UP FOR THE WORK WEEK. THE NEXT MORNING WAS CHILLY AND IT WAS STARTED TO WARM THE VEHICLE UP. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DIDN'T START AT ALL. THE DASH LIGHTS, INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALL HAVE POWER TO INCLUDE POWER LOCKS AND WINDOWS. THE BATTERY TESTED GOOD, THE STARTER AND SOLENOID TESTED GOOD. THE WIRE TO THE SOLENOID FROM THE BATTERY HAS POWER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT SHOWN SIGNS OF FAULTY STARTING. TWO TO 3 TIMES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT NONE OF THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK BUT THEN MIRACULOUSLY WORK AGAIN. WHEN THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK I'M MEAN THE HEADLIGHTS, LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, ETC. IT SEEMED THE ONE WAY TO GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN WOULD BE TO ADJUST THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THAT DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK. WHY IS THIS VEHICLE NOT STARTING WHEN THE DAY BEFORE IS WAS WORKING JUST FINE AND HAD NOT GIVEN ANY SIGNS OF FAILURE? *TR

• 12/18/2008· SUSPENSION

  2001 FORD SPORT TRAC 49,000 MILES HAVE HAD LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED TWO YRS AGO AND YESTERDAY 12-17-2008 HAD THE UPPERS REPLACED. ALL FOUR WERE PERM SEALED TYPE. I AM 64YRS OLD AND HAVE NEVER BEFORE HAD BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. PLEASE FORCE CAR COMPANIES TO GO BACK TO GREASE FITTINGS ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF A VEHICLE. *TR

• 12/18/2002· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  HEADLIGHTS TOO BRIGHT (LOW BEAMS SPECIFAICALLY)

• 12/17/2012· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

  SUB FRAME BODY MOUNTS ARE FALLING APART. I NOTICED THIS IN 2008 BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. CAR HAS LESS THAN 72000 MILES AND IS GARAGED, NO OFF ROAD USE. MOUNTS ARE BRITTLE AND FALL OF VEHICLE. FORD SAYS --SO SAD TOO BAD. NEVER SEEN MOUNTS FALL APART AND I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES FOR OVER 40 YEARS. *TR

• 12/17/2010· POWER TRAIN

  THE GUY BEFORE ME (AND MANY BEFORE HIM) EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING WITH MY 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT: O/D OFF LIGHT BEGINS FLASHING, FEELING LOSS OF POWER AND HARD SHIFTING, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO GO FROM A COMPLETE STOP. TURN OFF VEHICLE, THEN RESTART PROBLEM GOES AWAY. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, BUT MORE OFTEN IN COLD WEATHER. NOTHING COMING UP ON DIAGNOSTIC. *TR

• 12/16/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACTED WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE FENDER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CONTACTED AND REPORTS WERE FILED. THE FAILURE CAUSED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

• 12/15/2004· SEATS

  THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE BOLT UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. THREE MONTHS LATER THE POPPING NOISE STARTED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE BOLT WAS FINE BUT THAT THE LEVER FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE LEVER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *JB

• 12/14/2010· POWER TRAIN

  2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. O/D OFF LIGHT BEGINS FLASHING, FEELING LOSS OF POWER AND HARD SHIFTING, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO GO FROM A COMPLETE STOP. TURN OFF VEHICLE, THEN RESTART PROBLEM GOES AWAY. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, BUT MORE OFTEN IN COLD WEATHER. NOTHING COMING UP ON DIAGNOSTIC. *TR

• 12/14/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE STALLED, THE VEHICLE SURGES AND HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. NLM

• 12/13/2006· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLFire

  FORD SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *NM

• 12/13/2005· POWER TRAIN,EQUIPMENT

  2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 4X4 HAS 2-3 SHIFT FAILURE CAUSING CAR ENGINE RPM TO RISE SEVERELY WITHOUT SHIFTING TRANSMISSION INTO 3RD GEAR. THIS FIRST HAPPENED WHILE GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY LEAVING ME HOPELESSLY IN THE RIGHT LANE AS TRAFFIC RAPIDLY APPROACHED FROM BEHIND, I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER. I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT TODAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD FOR YEARS WHICH HAS YET TO BE ADDRESSED! THERE IS EVEN A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM! BESIDES RIPPING OFF CONSUMERS FOR OUTRAGES RECURRING REPAIR COSTS, THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE GETTING SEVERELY HURT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. *NM

• 12/12/2000· TIRESCrash

  2 TIRES BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND CAUSED TRUCK TO LOSE CONTROL, HITTING CURB. NO SERIOUS INJURIES. *AK

• 12/11/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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

• 12/10/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOST TOTAL POWER. *AK WHEN THE NEW MOTOR WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD JUST DIE WHILE IN MOTION AT ANY SPEED. IT HAD TAKEN THE DEALER THREE ATTEMPTS WHEN THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WASN'T A RUNNING CODE, SO IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. *SCC *JB

• 12/10/2003· POWER TRAIN

  THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2001 SPORT TRAC WENT OUT, IT ONLY HAD 42,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS ONE MONTH OVER THE 3 YEARS. THE CAR WAS SERVICE EVERY 3 THOUSAND MILES FOR OIL CHANGE, 31,000 THOUSAND FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE. I TOOK MY RECEIPT INTO THE FORD AUTO IN ST. PETERSBURG. I AM NOT HAPPY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN I DID EVERYTHING TO KEEP MY CAR IN TOP SHAPE. IT WAS NOT NEGLECTED IN ANY WAY. FORD AUTO SAID THEIR WAS NOT A THING THEY COULD DO. WHY NOT ? WHERE I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FIXED, BECAUSE IT WAS ON A WEEKEND WHEN IT WENT OUT, TOLD ME HE HAS HAD A LOT ON THE EXPLORER IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ONE OF THEM WAS AS LOW AS 37,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM, YOU SHOULD EITHER FIX IT OR PAY TO HAVE THEM FIX. *LA

• 12/10/2001· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, HIT A DEER AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. VEHICLE HAD FRONTAL IMPACT. *AK CONSUMERS HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE ACCIDENT. *YH

• 12/09/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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

• 12/08/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH. ALL FOUR ROTORS WHERE REPLACED. *TC *SC *JB

• 12/08/2004· POWER TRAIN

  MY 2001 SPORT TRAC 2WD TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY GASKETS. THE TRUCK WAS TO THE POINT THAT WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC THE 2ND - 3RD SHIFT WAS SO DELAYED THAT YOU HAD TO REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO LET THE TRUCK SHIFT. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU REALLY NEED TO ACCELERATE FAST TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN PAMPERED AND ALL TRANS SERVICE WAS TAKEN CARE OF ON SCHED. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH A FORD TRANS, BUT I REALLY THINK SOMEBODY DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. REMEMBER THAT MOTO, QUALITY IS JOB 1. THE REBUILD COST $1500. AND I DO HAVE THE OLD BANDS, AND CLUTCH PACK, WHICH IS WORN BADLY. *JB

• 12/07/2017· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  I HAVE A GREAT 2001 FORD EXPLORER BUT IT STARTED LEAKING FROM THE ROOF AND THE LEAK SOURCE CAN NOT BE FOUND. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE, JUST SOMETHING CHANGED. THERE IS NOW MOLD ALL OVER THE INTERIOR AND ITS POSING A GREAT HEALTH RISK TO MYSELF AND ANY OCCUPANTS. I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM FIXED BY FORD.

• 12/07/2011· POWER TRAINCrash

  VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY WITH THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN. TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO REVERSE, ROLLED BACKWARDS IN DRIVEWAY, CRASHING THROUGH TWO CHAINLINK GATES, THE DOOR WAS TORN BACK AGAINST THE FENDER, I TRIED TO REACH INTO THE TRUCK TO TURN IT OFF, AND WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE TRUCK, AND THE CHAIN LINK FENCE. EXPLORER CURRENTLY IN THE COLLISION SHOP, AND TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPAIRED WHEN THE BODYWORK IS DONE. *TR

• 12/06/2009· VISIBILITY

  2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2 DOORS BLEND DOOR BROKEN NO HEAT. *TR

• 12/06/2002· POWER TRAIN

  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

• 12/05/2007· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  I HAVE A '01 FORD EXPLORER INVOLVED IN A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL ISSUED IN AUG-07, AS OF TODAY 5-DEC-07) MY LOCAL DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE PARTS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO EXPECT THEM UNTIL 1ST QUARTER. UNSATISFACTORY AND UNACCEPTABLE. IS FORD DELAYING SO THE EXPENSE DOES NOT HIT THEM THIS YEAR? THEY COULD SHOW A BETTER PROFIT FOR 2007 IF SO. SOUNDS LIKE MANIPULATING THE BOOKS TO ME, AT THE EXPENSE OF CONSUMER SAFETY. *TR

• 12/05/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY VEHICLE HAS AN IDLE AIR CONTROL MALFUNCTION AND AFTER CONFERRING WITH OTHER FORD OWNERS. MOST HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED IT MAY BE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN FORD MAY BE AWARE OF. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT INVESTIGATED IF POSSIBLE. MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER. *JB

• 12/05/2000· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 80MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HIT A BUMP. IT WAS A SOLID HARD HIT AND SUSPENSION DIDN'T HOLD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/04/2017· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY FAILED TO START UPON TURNING THE KEY NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER (PEGUES-HURST FORD, 200 TX-63 SPUR, LONGVIEW, TX 75601, (903) 758-6211) WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED 12 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, 52 TSBS FOR THE ENGINE, AND 3 TSBS FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHICH PART CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

• 12/04/2009· SEATS

  THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS LOOSE AND TILTS TO THE RIGHT. THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WAY IT IS AFFIXED TO THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM HAS A DEFECT CAUSING THIS LOOSENESS. THE DEGREE OF LOOSENESS HAS INCREASED SINCE IT BECAME CLEARLY APPARENT IN FEBRUARY OF 2009; 5 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOW EVEN MORE LOOSE AND THERE IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS IF NOT FIXED BY THE DEALER. I WAS LIED TO AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, I REQUESTED CARFAX REPEATEDLY, BUT WAS NEVER PROVIDED WITH ONE. I REQUESTED A CAR MANUAL REPEATEDLY, BUT WAS NEVER GIVEN ONE. I OBTAINED A CARFAX ON MY OWN THAT SHOWS THE DEALER LIED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PREVIOUS OWNERS, THE SERVICE OF ONE FORD RECALL, AND THE EXISTENCE OF A SECOND FORD RECALL. THAT IS THE SEAT RECLINING MECHANISM. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL 03S04, DATED AUGUST 2003. CERTAIN 2001-2002 MODEL YEAR 2-DOOR EXPLORER/EXPLORER SPORT* VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, BUT AT THE LOUISVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM JOB #1, 2001 THROUGH JOB LAST 2002. IN 2001, THE EXPLORER 2-DOOR WAS RENAMED EXPLORER SPORT. AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE IDENTIFIED OASIS. IN ADDITION, FOR A LIST OF VEHICLES ASSIGNED TO YOUR DEALERSHIP, VISIT THE WEBSITE. THIS INFORMATION WAS MADE AVAILABLE ON APRIL 5, 2006. SOME OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS PROGRAM WILL RECEIVE ONE LETTER DESCRIBING BOTH PROGRAMS. FOR CUSTOMERS CONVENIENCE, PLEASE COMPLETE BOTH PROGRAMS 03S03 AND 03S04 DURING ONE CUSTOMER VISIT. THE REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL IS IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, A BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE DRIVER SEAT BACK FRAME MAY FRACTURE. IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR, THE CUSTOMER MAY EXPERIENCE LOOSENESS OR NOISE IN THE SEAT. IN EXTREME CASES THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT OR THE SECOND ROW CUSHION. THE OCCUPANT COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH. *TR

• 12/04/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND NEGATIVE CABLE ARE MAPPED LIKE THE LETTER "T". THE PLASTIC POWER STEERING RESERVOIR'S RUBBER CASING IS CHEWED OFF ON THE SIDE FACING THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING AND FLUID RESERVOIR ARE SEPARATED BY AN INCH. THE BATTERY IS POSITIONED AT A DOWNWARD ANGLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SHIFTS BACK AND CAUSES THE POWER CABLE TO RUB AGAINST THE RESERVOIR. THE SEAM AROUND THE RESERVOIR HAS SHARK LIKE TEETH WITH JAGGED EDGES THAT CUT INTO THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,800.

• 12/04/2002· TIRES

  NO SUMMARY. DT

• 12/04/2002· STRUCTURE

  CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WATER LEAKING. ALSO STATED THAT IS MORE THAN JUST A LEAKAGE BECAUSE EVERYTIME THE CONSUMER MAKES A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN YOU CAN HERE A REAL LOUD SOUND OF WATER MOVING ON THE ROOF. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT TO KEEP THE WINDOWS OPEN SO THE WATER CAN DRY. TS

• 12/04/2002· EQUIPMENT

  CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATHER AND RADIO PANEL. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICE THAT THE PANEL WHERE THE RADIO IS WAS EXTREMILY HOT TO THE POINT WHERE SHE TOUGHT THAT IT COULD INITIATE A FIRE. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. TS

• 12/04/2002· AIR BAGS

  CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE PANEL. ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON EVERY NOW AND THEN TO THE POINT THAT CONSUMER DOSEN'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAG WORK OR NOT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS FIXED BUT THE LIGHT STILL COMES ON. TS

• 12/03/2003· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE INSIDE COMPARTMENT. THE FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER WAS COMPLETELY CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND HIS GLASSES WERE KNOCKED OF HIS FACE. *AK *SCC *JB

• 12/03/2001· SUSPENSION,TIRES

  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

• 12/02/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,TIRESCrash

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLY PROBLEMS. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. ALL TIRES HAD STRESS MARKS LOCATED IN THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRES. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER RTS P255/70R16. ALSO, COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE . CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE LEAK. BUT TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE STRESS MARKS. *AK

• 12/02/2003· POWER TRAIN

  VECHILE HAS 16,000 MILES. THREE TIMES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND DRIVING TWO BLOCKS OVERDRIVE INDICATOR FLASHES BY ITSELF. THEN TRANSMISSION OVER REVS AND DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THAT HWEN OVERDRIVE KIGHT FLASHES TO CALL DEALER AND ARRANGE FOR SERVICE, AS THERE IS PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. BROUGHT TO DEALER TWICE, AS THEY COULD NOT RE-ENACT PROBLEM, THEY RETURNED VECHILE TO US SAYING NOTHING WRONG WITH VECHILE. I HAVE CALLED FORD CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO CONTACTED DEALER, BURNS FORD. THEY NOW SAY TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/02/2002· POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  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