Complaints
243
Crashes
23
Fires
14
Injuries
26
Fatalities
4
Recalls
0
Worst 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#118 complaints
Suspension Failures
Avg mileage:94,973 mi
#215 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:93,217 mi
#312 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:81,410 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:3
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension Failures | 18 | — | — | 94,973 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 15 | — | — | 93,217 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 12 | 1 | 3 | 81,410 mi | |
| Body Structure | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 9 | — | — | 104,444 mi | |
| Airbags | 8 | 5 | — | 79,041 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 | — | — | 22,250 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 7 | 4 | 1 | 21,540 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 7 | 1 | — | 135,633 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 6 | — | — | 131,407 mi | |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 6 | 1 | — | 76,600 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 | 3 | 1 | 59,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 5 | — | 3 | 106,024 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 5 | 2 | 3 | 83,500 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 | — | — | 28,000 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 5 | — | — | 38,908 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 | — | — | — |
Suspension Failures
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
94,973
Automatic Transmission
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
93,217
Unintended Acceleration
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
81,410
Body Structure
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
104,444
Airbags
8
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
79,041
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
22,250
Structural Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
21,540
Tire Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
135,633
Transmission / Drivetrain
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
131,407
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
76,600
Air Bags:Frontal
5
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
59,000
Electrical Faults
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
106,024
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Avg Miles
83,500
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
28,000
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
38,908
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Explorer Sport Years
2001 Ford Explorer Sport — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2001 Ford Explorer Sport has 243 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Suspension Failures with 18 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport?
Top reported problems: Suspension Failures (18 complaints, avg 94,973 mi); Automatic Transmission (15 complaints, avg 93,217 mi); Unintended Acceleration (12 complaints, avg 81,410 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 81,151 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport?
NHTSA complaints for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport include 23 crash-related reports, 14 fire reports, 26 injuries, and 4 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (suspension failures) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Explorer Sport reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
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