Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
NHTSA data on file today
The 2001 Ford Explorer Sport has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 188 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #07V336000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V114000 HIGH BACK SEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V280000 FORD/SPEED CONTROL CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V281000 FORD/HIGH BACK SEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01X001000 Tires — Tread/Belt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V394000 FORD/HOOD NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 32 complaints
- Structure 30 complaints
- Power Train 26 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 20 complaints
- Seats 15 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 14 complaints
Of the 188 complaints on file, 18 report a crash and 11 a fire; across all 188 complaints, owners report 20 injuries and 4 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$10,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2001 Ford Explorer Sport has a below-average reliability rating based on multiple recalls and over 180 complaints. Common issues include suspension, structural components, and powertrain, indicating a tendency for significant problems. While the data is somewhat comprehensive, specific failure mileages and costs are unclear.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | Unknown | $300–$800 | common |
| Structure | Unknown | $250–$700 | common |
| Power Train | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | common |
| Engine and Cooling | Unknown | $400–$1,200 | occasional |
| Seats | Unknown | $200–$600 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad and rotor replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system flush
- Tire rotation and balancing
- Spark plug replacement
- Suspension inspections
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual suspension noise
- Transmission slipping
- Engine overheating
- Unresponsive steering
- Seat recliner issues
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.