Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2001 Ford Explorer
NHTSA data on file today
The 2001 Ford Explorer has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns and 375 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09V399000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/OVERHEATS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V336000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E056000 FUEL LEAK/FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS 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 #03V094000 SOUTHERN COMFORT/RUNNING BOARDS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01X001000 Tires — Tread/Belt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V313000 FORD/CERTIFICATION NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Tires 62 complaints
- Power Train 40 complaints
- Suspension 40 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 37 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 36 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 31 complaints
Of the 375 complaints on file, 64 report a crash and 21 a fire; across all 375 complaints, owners report 65 injuries and 6 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2001 Ford Explorer has several notable issues, including speed control, suspension, and tire complaints. Recalls mainly involve speed control and lighting problems. Owners report frequent issues with tires and the power train, indicating a below-average reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| tires | 40,000–70,000 miles | $400–$800 | very common |
| power train | 90,000–120,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | common |
| suspension | 80,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| engine cooling | 85,000–110,000 miles | $300–$700 | occasional |
| electrical system | 70,000–100,000 miles | $200–$1,000 | 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 change every 5,000 miles
- Replace brake pads every 40,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change at 60,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 60,000 miles
- Inspect suspension components regularly
- Tire rotation every 10,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual tire wear patterns
- Delayed gear shifting
- Noisy suspension over bumps
- Frequent overheating
- Dashboard warning lights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2001 Ford Explorer at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.