2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC Complaints

PREMATURE STEERING COMPONENT FAILURE. 48,000 TIE ROD ENDS, 59,000 UPPER CONTROL ARMS, LOWER BALL JOINTS, RACK AND PINION, AND POWER STEERING PUMP. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSITIONING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, THE VEHICLE SEEMED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT IN A GARAGE; THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE POLICE WERE ALSO ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND MOST LIKELY IGNITED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL ASSEMBLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V388000, REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC - 4X2 MANUAL 18 OCT 2002 - VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING INTO GEAR CLUTCH FLUID RESERVOIR EMPTY - DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. 02 NOV 2002 -VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING INTO GEAR CLUTCH FLUID RESERVOIR EMPTY - DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY 11 JUN 2003-VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING INTO GEAR CLUTCH FLUID RESERVOIR EMPTY - DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY I BELIEVE IT ALSO OCCURRED IN 2004 BUT NO RECORD OF WORK PERFORMED. 26 DEC 2005-VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING INTO GEAR CLUTCH FLUID RESERVOIR EMPTY - DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH MASTER & SLAVE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY 29 DEC 2005 - VEHICLE STOPPED SHIFTING INTO GEAR REWORK FROM LAST REPAIR - AIR IN CLUTCH FLUID LINE. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THE FAILURES PRESENT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, PARTICULARLY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE; MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, ENTERING INTERSTATE, ETC FORD IS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT ADEQUATELY. THERE ARE CURRENTLY FOUR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) ISSUED BY FORD RELATED TO THIS COMPLAINT. *JB

2001 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. FORD UNWILLING TO ADMIT FAULT AND REPAIR PROBLEM. MANY OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED YET. *JB

I NOTICED MY DASH TURN SIGNAL BLINKED FAST WHEN I SIGNALING TO TURN RIGHT, BUT NOT LEFT. I CHECKED THE BULB AND IT WAS WORKING. IF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, IT BLINKED AT A NORMAL PACE, WHEN I LOWERED THE COLUMN IT BLINKED FAST. I REMOVED THE PLASTIC COVER AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN AND FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE TURN SIGNALS AND WIPERS WAS MELTED ALONG WITH THE INSULATION AROUND THE WIRES. IT APPEARS THAT THE CONNECTOR OVER HEATED AND RUINED THE REST OF THE WIRES. SINCE I DISCOVERED THIS IN TIME, THANKFULLY, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CONSEQUENCES, I BELIEVE I SAVED MY VEHICLE FROM BURNING DOWN. MY STEERING COLUMN IS APART AS I AM AWAITING FOR GUIDANCE ON HOW TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, SINCE FORD IS AWARE THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES ARE CRACKING, I HOPE THERE IS A RESOLUTION SOON. *NM

I SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS ON A 2001 FORD SPORT TRAC. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *JB

PAINT STARTING CRACKING ON ROOF AND HOOD OF TRUCK. NOW THE PAINT IS STARTING TO CHIP ON THE ROOF OF THE TRUCK. TRUCK WAS WAXED OFTEN AND TAKEN CARE OF. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS PROBELM YET. *NM

2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED.*MR THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT TEN HOURS. *NM THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *JB

CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT SWITCH DOES NOT COME ON - STEERING WHEEL IS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH - AND THERE IS THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. SINCE DECEMBER 2003 ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE OUT ON STEERING COLUMN (I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE FORD SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD IT PROBABLY NEED A FUSE - I CHECKED THE FUSE IT SEEMS TO BE O.K. IS THERE A RECALL ON CRUISE CONTROL ON THE 2001 - FORD SPORT TRAC? *JB