2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC Complaints

I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD SPORT TRAC NEW ON JULY 21, 2001. IT NOW HAS ALMOST 78,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW MONTHS AGO I STARTED NOTICING ALOT ROUGHER RIDE THAN USUAL. AS IT SEEMED TO GET WORSE AND WORSE, I DECIDED TO PUT IT ON A LIFT AND HAVE A LOOK. WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT ALL OF THE CAB BODY MOUNTING BUSHINGS HAVE JUST DETERIORATED. THEY ARE STILL THERE, BUT WILL ACTUALLY CRUMBLE IN YOUR HANDS. AS I KNEW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I DECIDED TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ANSWER IS YES. IT LOOKS LIKE QUIET A NUMBER OF PEOPLE. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED HOW THE BUSHINGS WOULD JUST CRUMBLE IN YOUR HANDS, AND THAT IT WAS ONLY THE CAB BODY BUSHINGS. THE BED BUSHINGS ARE ALMOST LIKE NEW, NOT HARDLY SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF WEAR. I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEM TO LOOK AT IT, BUT WAS GIVEN THE PHONE NUMBER OF FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO CALL THEM AND EXPLAIN THE SITUATION. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED IT TO THEM. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I DID THAT, AND WAS INFORMED AT THAT TIME THAT ALL I COULD DO WAS CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE BACK AND SEE IF THEY WOULD HELP ME OUT, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I CALLED THEM AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY , AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE THE WORK DONE ON IT BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WOULD GET A 12 MONTH/ 12000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE WORK. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER FOR PRICES ON THE BUSHINGS, I WAS ABOUT FLOORED TO HEAR THAT THEY WOULD COST ABOUT $478.36 PER SIDE, SO THAT IS TIMES 2 SIDES. THEN, THAT DOES NOT EVEN INCLUDE THE NEW BOLTS TAX, OR LABOR. THIS COULD BE A REALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. BUT I EXPLAINED THAT TO FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE ALSO, AS THEY COULD SEEM TO CARE LESS. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NO WAY SHOULD THE BUSHINGS BE DETERIORATED LIKE THIS . *TR

I OWN A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. 2WD. AUTOMATIC. A FEW MONTHS AGO I STARTED HEARING AN ANNOYING SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH IT WHEN I GOT HOME. THE BUSHINGS THAT GO IN THE MOUNTS TO SECURE THE CAB OF THE TRUCK TO THE FRAME ARE DETERIORATING. YOU CAN ACTUALLY TOUCH THEM AND THEY WILL FALL APART. I CHECKED WITH A FEW LOCAL AUTO PART STORES AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT THOSE BUSHINGS ARE A DEALER ITEM, AND COST ABOUT $35 EACH. ON THE INTERNET I ALSO FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THE BUSHINGS TO GO BAD. ON EACH CAB MOUNT ON THE FRAME; THERE IS AN UPPER AND LOWER BUSHING. ALL OF THE BUSHINGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ARE EITHER BAD OR GOING BAD. I CAN'T FIND ANY RECALL FROM FORD ON THESE BUSHINGS. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP, AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE AROUND $600 TO REPLACE THESE BUSHINGS. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE THE CAB OF THE TRUCK COULD SHIFT WHEN TURNING OR ON BUMPY ROADS. I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE BUSHINGS SINCE IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE CAB MOUNT BUSHINGS OR KNOW OF ANYONE WHO HAS HAD TO; EXCEPT ON A FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. I CURRENTLY STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO EVEN PURCHASE THE BUSHINGS DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES. I AM A DO-IT-YOURSELFER AND COULD REPLACE THESE ON MY OWN IF I COULD AFFORD THEM. I FEEL THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THE AFFECTED MODELS OF THE FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL STATED THAT A FIRE COULD POTENTIALLY START FROM UNDER THE HOOD. LATER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS ADDED TO THE RECALL AND HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE LETTER PERTAINED TO A DIFFERENT VEHICLE HE OWNED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 114,350.

THE EMAILS BELOW CHRONICLE MY ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ADDRESS WHAT I FEEL TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMPONENTS THAT ARE THE SUBJECT TO THE INQUIRY ARE PART OF THE STEERING. ANY FAILURE OF THESE COMPONENTS MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE RUBBER BODY MOUNT, STRUT AND CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ON MY 2001 SPORT TRAC 4WD ARE CRUMBLING. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS TAKING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. [XXX] THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER REGARDING THE CONCERNS YOU HAVE WITH YOUR 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WE HAVE REVIEWED THE SITUATION, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES, FIELD SERVICE ACTIONS/CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS ON YOUR VEHICLE THAT WOULD PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR THIS REPAIR. HOWEVER, WE DO SUGGEST THAT THE REPAIR BE DONE BY A FORD/LINCOLN-MERCURY DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ARE TRAINED TO PUT YOUR VEHICLE BACK INTO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS, AND ANY FORD PARTS REPLACED WILL COME WITH A 12 MONTHS/12,000 MILES WARRANTY. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC FEE MAY BE CHARGED. IF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED, WE SUGGEST THAT YOU CONTACT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP/SERVICE MANAGER. THEY WILL FURTHER ASSIST IN FACILITATING YOUR SERVICE/REPAIR NEEDS. YOUR NEXT STEPS ARE TO DISCUSS THIS REPAIR WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT YOUR DEALERSHIP. SHOULD YOU FEEL THAT WE HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED YOUR QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US VIA TELEPHONE AT (800)392-3673 BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8AM AND 5PM, LOCAL TIME, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR 10 DIGIT REFERENCE NUMBER - [XXX] . SINCERELY, [XXX] CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR

TRANSMISSIONS IN EXPLORER SPORT TRACS 2001 ARE NOT VERY RELIABLE, I AM HAVING TO PUT A 2ND ONE IN WITH ONLY 126,000 MILES. FORD SHOULD ADDRESS THE ISSUE WITH ALL TRANSMISSIONS IN THE EXPLORER. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD, NOR WILL I TELL ANYBODY ELSE, MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A BAIL-OUT FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO FIX THERE CARS. *TR

2001 FORD SPORT TRAC BODY MOUNTS HAVE ALL DETERATED AND FALLEN OFF. VERY SERIOUS MATTER WHEN BODY MIGHT BREAK OFF. *CN

THE RUBBER BODY MOUNT,STRUT AND CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ON MY 2001 SPORT TRAC 4WD ARE CRUMBLING. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC AND THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAS GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WHY DON'T THEY PUT SEALED BEARINGS SO YOU DON,T HAVE TO CHANGE THEM EVERY 6 MONTHS. *TR

WE BECAME THE OWNERS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC THROUGH A FAMILY MEMBER, AND FOUND THAT THE SIGNAL BLINKERS DO NOT WORK WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN IS ADJUSTED. THE FAMILY MEMBER NEVER KNEW SHE COULD ADJUST THE STEERING COLUMN (SHE IS 74 YEARS OLD). I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY DECLINED THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE BLINKERS WORK FINE AS LONG AS THE STEERING COLUMN REMAINS IN THE TOP UPRIGHT UNADJUSTED POSITION. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND SEVERAL OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER FORD TRUCKS AS WELL SUCH AS THE FORD 150 PICKUP TRUCK. YET, FORD CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. OUR FORD DEALER HAS CLOSED LOCALLY. I AM INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT IF THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC VEHICLES HAS BADLY DETERIORATING CAB MOUNT BUSHINGS. (THESE BUSHINGS CONNECT THE CAB TO THE FRAME.) ON MY VEHICLE THEY HAVE ALMOST TOTALLY FALLEN APART. THEY CRUMBLE WHEN TOUCHED AND SOME ARE TOTALLY MISSING. THIS CAN CAUSE A BODY SWAY OF UP TO 3-4 INCHES. THERE IS NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUES ACCORDING TO FORD. I RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. COST OF REPAIR IS ABOUT $600.00. *TR