Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
STRUCTURE - BODY - HOOD - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
00V394000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 09/24/1999 to 10/17/2000V (Vehicle)13770001/23/2001MFRFORD MOTOR COMPANY11/28/200011/29/2000
Defect SummaryVehicle description: sport utility vehicles with steel hoods and certain pickup trucks equipped with sheet molding compound hoods. a wire formed hood striker could be susceptible to fatigue fractures. if the hood striker fractures, the hood could fly open while the vehicle is being driven.
Consequence SummaryA hood fly-up while the vehicle is being operated could result in reduced driver visibility.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace the hood striker.
NotesOwner notification began january 23, 2001.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
STRUCTURE
1764703/01/200410007416Paint peeling and/or bubbling on the center finish panel of the instrument panel. *tt06/22/2004
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR
1576504/01/2002637452Some vehicles may exhibit wind noise around the front doors, near the top rear-ward portion of the door / glass at highway speeds, or in a cross wind. *tt11/26/2002
1507007/01/2001621075A condition may exist with flaking or peeling of the interior door pull handle paint on vehicles built before july 24, 2000. *tt09/06/2001
STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS
1725310/01/200310004907Water leak near the roof opening panel. 2004 explorer sport trac included. *tt01/14/2004

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
STRUCTURE
05/29/200801
 There's no failure just rude and lack of communication with workers. on 12/21/07 i took my letter of the recall for the cruise control to grande truck center on interstate 10 @ w.w.white rd.gary randall and finally got the replace ment on 05/29/08. mr. randall explained what was to take place after i asked him why did the worker tear my cruise control button(the plastic) he stated 'no he should have looked inside but under the hood-my cruise control plastic fell of and i just assume that it was a part of the replacement of the recall so i left it in the car until the recall was done-to find out the plastic was not replaceable by the one who broke/tore/cut it. after the job was finished the rude worker just slammed the hood close and walked away-very rude. poor representation of the ford company-race has always been an issue with these type people that should not be working in the public-now i would let them do nothing else to my vehicle again not even recall. *tr
11/01/20071
 2001 ford explorer sport defective body mount insulators. mechanic determined that the body mount insulators deteriorated and could crumble in someone's hand. ford declined taking responsibility for replacing the parts. *kb parts attached
12/14/2006250001
 Every time i hit a bump or even a rock my car would shake and rattle so bad i couldn't even keep it on the road. we took it to the ford place in longview and they said there wasn't any recalls on it and they wouldn't pay for it. they said something had been sprayed on it (bushings) or my car had been up north around salt water. neither were true. i had to take it to a mechanic to get it repaired. i kept all the parts. the bushings had turned brittle and mushy and had to be put in a box. *jb
05/11/200543800407/07/2000
 Vehicle hydroplanes on wet surfaces resulting in crash on may 11, 2005. *jb
08/30/20021
 Ltr fwd fm region v re the ford explorer as a defective product, his sister gina agin and her fiance michael heyworth killed in a fatal rollover accident, attachments not imaged fwd nvs-200. *la witness statements indicat the the vehicle veered off the road into the grassy median 2-3 times. it appeared that the driver overcorrected and the vehicle rolled over side to side then front to back. *nm
11/29/2003189001
 On november 29th my mother was driving her 2001 ford explorer 2dr 4x4 to work. she hit an ice patch going approx. 30 mph and lost control of her vehicle because the rear end swung sideways. her ford then flipped on it's passenger side and hit a tree. my mother could not get her seat belt undone so she called 911 while hanging in her vehicle. a man and woman stopped to help her out because they noticed that her ford was on fire. they had to break into the back window and the woman climbed in to release her and pull her out. if those people would not of stopped, my mother would not be here today. there is nothing left of the interior of my mom's explorer. ( no seats. steering wheel & column, glass, nothing) i have e-mailed ford and spoke with them regarding this matter and they say that if my mom's insurance company settled then they claim nothing was wrong with the vehicle. i think that there is a serious problem and would like to see it rectified before someone else gets hurt. there was a article written in sherman publications because the two people who saved my mothers life is up for an award. please look into this matter. thank you! *jb
03/10/200120000108/15/2000
 I was involved in an unexplained roll over involving a 2001 ford explorer sport, a 2 door vehicle. i did not have firestone tires on the vehicle in question. my goodyear tires were intact after the accident. i have reviewed the test data and i am convinced this is a faulty vehicle design. i nearly loss my life. it has changed my life. it seems as though your organization has cleared ford indirectly by focusing attention on firestone tires and not testing all ford suv's.*jb
STRUCTURE - BODY
05/31/20111800001
 I was driving and heard loud noise. sounded like the back window hatch was open and vibrating with every bump in the road. the hatch was closed, so i looked under the vehicle to find the body mounts had completely crumbled away. the body of the vehicle was riding on the frame with no cushion. the body of the vehicle was very hard to handle and felt as if it may shift off the frame at anytime. ## vin passed ## ford explorer sport 2001 ## *tr
08/30/201186524
 2001 ford explorer sport - the body mount isolators are completly deterioated as reported by others. all body mount isolators will crumble upon simple hand pressure. ford has discontinued manufacturer of these replacements. if available from ford motor company, list on parts alone is >+ $600.00 for set of eight upper and lower isolators.failure @ 86,524 miles
08/08/2011126000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2001 ford explorer sport. the contact stated that the body bushings were rotting. the contact stated that the body of the vehicle was loose from the frame. the contact then called the manufacturer regarding the frame and the manufacturer advised that there were no recalls for the failure. the contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer or a local mechanic for inspection or repairs. the failure mileage was 126,000. kmj
08/08/2011126000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2001 ford explorer sport. the contact stated the body bushings a rottening. the contact stated the body of the vehicle is lose from the frame. the called the manufacturer regarding the frame and the manufacturer stated there is no recall. the contact has not taken the vehicle to the dealer or a local mechanic. the contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the failure mileage was 126,000. jo
08/15/201084000
 Left hinge on the back glass keeps falling off. i have replaced it 3 times now and ford keeps saying there is no problem with it. they say it must be something i'm doing to it. the right hinge is fine.
08/21/2008700001
 2001 ford explorer body mounts. completely deteriorated. *tr
532001
 While driving the consumer heard a loud popping noise. the noise was caused by the #3 body reinforcement. the reinforcement broke loose on the right rear side of the cab. there's a tsb 630329 on this issue. *nlm
STRUCTURE - BODY - BUMPERS
01/10/200420000310/20/1999
 Both items happened right after my vechicle coverage ran out in oct. of 2003,anyway 1st. the a/c recycling switch went bad at around 20,200 miles, now the passenger front lower ball joint is making a terrible noise , so i assume that thats on it`s way out,also i noticed that the rear bumper is on a downward position. to me i think this year`s production model stinks . *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
02/19/20050104/21/2004
 Regarding side-steps or rails that begin to rust at joints and flat surface area within as little as two years of new vehicle delivery. witnessed variety of various ford vehicles that were late model year of '02 & earlier that have this problem. appears to be a systemic nationwide problem particularly in areas with winter months. contacted dealer and asked if they would cover this issues under 5year ford corrosion coverage, but they refused to, stetting this does not constitute perforation of vehicle body. first concern, is rust forming and weakening the structure which may give way under pressure. since there are others who are experiencing the same problem, ford should replace or repair these side-steps at no charge to the owners' and correct the root cause of this problem by properly manufacturing and producing this accessory item.*ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
05/30/200754792102/07/2004
 2001 ford explorer liftgate glass hinge failure. covered in nhtsa campaign #04v442000. ford has only recalled a portion of the vehicles in this campaign and will not make repairs on the 2001 model years. *tr
07/13/200660890209/29/2001
 Left side upper glass hinge on liftgate broke off july 13, 2006 @60890 miles , i had a similar problem in november 2004 @ 40014 miles in which i had to replace the right side upper glass hinge on liftgate. *nm
05/21/200674000106/25/2001
 Back window defect. the left-side hinge on the window of the hatchback fell off. apparently a rivet came loose from the inside of the window causing it to separate from the hinge. the right side remained in tact. this is the same problem as indicated in a failure reported on august 23, 2003. i bought this vehicle brand new. *jb
08/23/20031
 Back window defect - the left-side hinge on the window of the hatchback fell off. apparently a bolt came loose from the inside of the frame and my window fell off. the right-side remained in tact, but was bent a bit. this is a defective part! i bought this car brand new two years ago and my window just falls off one day?!?!?! *ak
STRUCTURE - BODY - TAILGATE
09/27/2000109/20/2000
 The tailgate trim was falling off and does not fit flush like the right side. nlm
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
08/15/201050000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2001 ford explorer sport. while driving approximately 30 mph the contact heard a banging noise coming from the right rear well of the tire. the vehicle was taken dealer where the technicians diagnosed the failure to be caused by the body mount insulator which was completely disintegrated. the technicians stated the body mount insulators needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted. the approximate failure mileage was 50,000. ds
08/21/2008700001
 2001 ford explorer body mounts. completely deteriorated. *tr
03/11/200698000102/14/2000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford explorer sport. while driving at any speed, the contact heard a loud clunking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. it sound like metal striking metal. the dealer stated that the body mounts of the frame were disintegrating. the current and failure mileages were 98,000.