2001 Ford Explorer Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THE COMPOSITE PANEL, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE LIFT GATE, BEGAN TO CRACK AND FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO OFFER REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE AND ADVISED CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,463 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,438. UPDATED 05/19/10*LJ

BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS ARE DETERIORATING PREMATURELY. *DT

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

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

THE RIGHT REAR SIDE OF MY FORD THE CAB MOUNT HAS RIPPED APART THE STEEL MOUNT HAS FAILED. THE CAB IS IN DANGER OF LEAVING THE FRAME. THE BODY SHOP TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 74534 MIL. 2001. I'M THE ONLY OWNER, THE TRUCK IS GARAGE KEPT AND VERY WELL MAINTAINED. THIS TRUCK WAS BUILT IN OCT. 2000 AND I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN NOV. 2000. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 EXPLORER AND THE PAINT HAS BEEN PEELING OFF FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. IF I WASH IT WITH HIGH PRESSURE, THE PAINT WILL BLOW OFF THE HOOD. PAINT HAS BUBBLED AND COME OFF ON THE HOOD, TAILGATE AND BOTH QUARTER PANELS OVER THE REAR WHEELS. I HAND WASH IT AT THIS POINT TO MINIMIZE MORE PAINT LOSS. *TR

2001 FORD EXPLORER BODY MOUNTS. COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. *TR

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.

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

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

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

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

VEHICLE HYDROPLANES ON WET SURFACES RESULTING IN CRASH ON MAY 11, 2005. *JB

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

ON A 2001 FORD SPORT TRAC : THE PAINT ON THE HOOD AND ROOF ARE BEGINNING TO CRACK OVER THE ENTIRE ROOF AND HOOD EXPOSING THE METAL UNDERNEATH. *NM

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

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

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

RUNNING BOARDS HAVE RUTTED OUT AND IF SOMEONE STEPPED ON THEM IT COULD FALL OUT. *TT

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

WHILE DRIVING AT 20-MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED A REAR END ACCIDENT. INDEPENDENT SHOP STATED THAT FRAMES WERE TORN. *AK

CUSTOMER STATES, THE COVER FOR DOOR LOCK AND WINDOW SWITCHES ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT DOOR IS LOOSE AND WILL NOT STAY SNAPPED IN PLACE, ALSO THE DOOR HINGES WERE REPLACED.*SCC *YH

THE NUMBER THREE BODY MOUNT LOCATED IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE HAS CRACKED THROW THE METAL WHICH CAUSES THE BODY TO BE DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN 122-25 FOR THIS PART,BUT THE REPAIR SOLUTION DOSE NOT FIX THE PROBLEM PER CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

STRAPS FAIL TO HOLD SCOOTER SECURELY, BOLTS HOLDING ROLLERS IN PLACE BEND, SCREWS HOLDING PLATFORM TOGHETHER COME LOOSE,THE LIFT FAILS TO REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION WITH THE SCOOTER SECURED TO IT AFTER HITTING MILD BUMPS.