2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Complaint Log

MY 2001 FORD SPORT TRAC TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER TAKING IT TO DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. WITH ONLY 56,000 ON TRUNK. SINCE ITS OUT OF WARRANTY I WILL HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL OF $3600. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER SPORT TRAC OWNERS GETTING STUCK WITH BAD TRANSMISSIONS. PLEASE MAKE FORD FIX THERE BAD TRANSMISSIONS. *JB

2001 EXPLORER SPORT REVERSE NOT ENGAGING, SLIPPING TRANSMISSION, O/D LIGHT FLASHING. TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING OR ACCELERATING CORRECTLY, RPMS SHOOT UP BUT NO ACCELERATION. TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BUT HAD NO ACCELERATION. LUCKILY STEERED OUT OF IT. FORD DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT KNOWLEDGE AND WANTS ME TO PAY FOR IT.

MY 2001 SPORT TRAC 2WD TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY GASKETS. THE TRUCK WAS TO THE POINT THAT WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC THE 2ND - 3RD SHIFT WAS SO DELAYED THAT YOU HAD TO REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO LET THE TRUCK SHIFT. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU REALLY NEED TO ACCELERATE FAST TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN PAMPERED AND ALL TRANS SERVICE WAS TAKEN CARE OF ON SCHED. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH A FORD TRANS, BUT I REALLY THINK SOMEBODY DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. REMEMBER THAT MOTO, QUALITY IS JOB 1. THE REBUILD COST $1500. AND I DO HAVE THE OLD BANDS, AND CLUTCH PACK, WHICH IS WORN BADLY. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLY PROBLEMS. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. ALL TIRES HAD STRESS MARKS LOCATED IN THE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRES. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER RTS P255/70R16. ALSO, COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE . CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE LEAK. BUT TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE STRESS MARKS. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS UNABLE TO RECLINE OR ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD MAKING THE ABILITY TO DRIVE FOR A TALLER PERSON DIFFICULT. THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD A CLICKING NOISE WHEN THE HEATER WAS ON. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER. *JB

TRAVELING IN THE SLOW LANE AND WENT TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS THE RPM JUST RACED BUT THE TRUCK DID NOT? TURNS OUT WITH ONLY 70,000 CAREFULLY AND PAMPERED MILES I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE WITH ALL PROPER SERVICES AT SUGESTED MILAGE? $2000 IS A BIG EXPENSE AT SUCH LOW MILAGE- WARANTY OUT AT 60,000 SO FORD TOLD ME IM OUT OF LUCK- THEY DID NOT TAKE ANY BLAME IN FAULTY PARTS OR ENGINEERING! FORD HAS A VERY BAD REPUTATION AND NOW I KNOW WHY. *AK

(1)BRAKE LIGHTS OUT. (2) HAD FUSE AND BULBS REPLACED AND THE BRAKE SWITCH CHECKED. *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

DROVE HOME, GARBAGE PICK-UP MISSED OUR HOUSE. GRAB THE CAN ,AND PUT IN BACK OF FORD SPORT TRAC..TRIED TO CATCH THE GARBAGE TRUCK DOWN A DIRT ROAD. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FRONT HOOD ON MY SPORT TRAC CAME OPEN.ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN TURNING ON AIR-CONDITIONER.I BELEIVE SAME TYPE OF PARTS OR COMPONENTS USED IN PREVIOUS YEARS FORD EXPLORER SPORT...RANGING BACK TO 98 OR FURTHER.PROBABLY SAME TYPES RECALLED OR COMPLAINED ABOUT IN THOSE YEARS PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTS..I HAVE FOUND THAT MY 2001 FORD SPORT TRAC WAS ACTUALLY MADE IN LATE YEAR OF 2000.*AK

ME AND MY FAMILY HAVE BEEN LONG TIME FORD CUSTOMERS. I MYSELF HAVE OWNED 3 FORDS AND MANY OTHERS IN MY FAMILY HAVE HAD SEVERAL FORD VEHICLES. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A LONG TIME FORD SALESMAN IN BUNKIE, LA. I CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC WITH 46000 MILES. I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2 TO 3 GEAR SHIFT SLIPPING. WELL TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I HAD TO GET A TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL TO THE TUNE OF $1,800. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 46000 MILES AND HAS DONE VERY LITTLE LIGHT TOWING AND NO OFF ROADING ETC. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED FORD QUALITY, BUT IT SEEMS HAS DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS OUT ON THIS TRANNY AND I HAVE RESEARCHED AND DISCOVERED MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM, AND I THINK THEY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT BEFORE THEY LOSE ANOTHER LONG TIME CUSTOMER LIKE MYSELF. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WILL BE PURCHASING A NEW CAR SOON, BUT PLAN TO TAKE MY BUSINESS TO OTHER BRANDS DEALERSHIPS. *JB

THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY STALL AT LOW RPMS BUT COULD BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE CAUSE OF STALLING WAS NOT KNOWN . *AK THE DEALERS TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE IAC. *NM

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY FORD EXPLOER SPORT TRAC IN DEC, 2000, I HAVE DEALT WITH A STEERING SHUDDER. I HAVE HAD 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIRES ON THE VEHICLE AND ALL EXHIBITED THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD, BUT THEY WERE NOT SURE OF THE CAUSE. TODAY I CALLED FORD AND THEY ARE SHIFTING THE BURDEN OF THE NECESSARY REPAIR TO ME DESPITE THAT I BROUGHT THIS UP AT LEAST TWICE DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IS ESPECIALLY BAD ON WET SURFACES. I THINK THE REPAIR SHOULD BE DONE AS A RECALL AND NOT BURDEN THE CONSUMER ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE FORD DEALER'S ATTENTION DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT THAT DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH MY VEHICLE. IT CAN AFFECT THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING ON WET PAVEMENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING,THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL BY SLOWING DOWN THE ACCELERATION OR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP . THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A SOLENOID SWITCH. *NM A WHINING SOUND BEGAN AROUND 25K MILES. THERE WAS A JERK IN THE STEERING WHEEL. AT 48800K MILES, THE VIBRATION WAS CONSTANT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE MADE TURNS. THE POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED AND THE VALVE IN THE RACK AND PINION. *SC *JB

WHEN CHANGING GEARS, THERE WAS HESITATION AS IF THE TRUCK WANTED TO CUT OFF AND SHUDDER IN STEERING. HAD OXYGEN SENSOR AND FUEL INJECTOR CHECKED. *AK *JB

CURRENTLY FORD HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM UNDER ONP 00M12 WHICH EXTENDS THE WARRANTY FOR THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER ON, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 2001 EXPLORER SPORT TRACS. ACCORDING TO FORD'S SYSTEM, MY CAR, WHILE A 2001 SPORT TRAC WITH THE SOHC MOTOR, IS NOT COVERED. I AM AT THIS TIME EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE COVERING UNDER THIS EXTENSION, BUT FOR SOME REASON MY CAR IS EXCLUDED. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY HAD NO INFORMATION WHY MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED, BUT DID ADMIT THAT 2001 SPORT TRACS WERE PART OF THIS EXTENDED COVEREAGE. THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY DETAILS OR FACTS TO SUPPORT THEIR REASONING. IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE SOHC MOTORS, THUS THE REASON FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, MY CAR SEEMS TO BE NOT PART OF THIS PROGRAM, THUS NOT COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY, YET I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS WHAT IS COVERED.*AK

THE BRAKES FAILED. THIS CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM BY A PASSING MOTORIST. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED VEHICLE SURGED BY APPLYINGTHE BRAKES. *AK

2001 EXPLORER SPORT-TRAC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AT 49,600 MILES. TRANSMISSION MECHANIC SAID THAT THE 4R55E AND 5R55E TRANSMISSIONS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING FAULTY VALVE BODIES WHICH CAUSES THE CLUTCHES TO BURN UP. MY TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY. NEVER RACED OR TOWED HEAVY LOADS. JUST A DAILY COMMUTER VEHICLE. THERE IS NO REASON THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE FAILED THIS EARLY.*AK

MY WIFE AND I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC FROM SIMMONS ROCKWELL, IN BIG FLATS NEW YORK ON FEBRUARY 28, 2004. UPON SIGNING PAPERWORK, WE WERE SHOWN A FORM FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE MENTIONED WAS A REPURCHASED VEHICLE. THE FORM STATED THAT THE ORIGIONAL OWNER WAS COMPLAINING OF THE ABS SYSTEM NOT PROPERLY WORKING. THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE AND THE FORD FORM STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND WAS IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM NOT WORKING AND A LIGHT ON THE DASH INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT A FORD DEALER. I CONTACTED MCGUIRE FORD IN ITHACA NEW YORK AND THEY RAN A REPAIR HISTORY ON THIS VEHICLE, WHICH SHOWED NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE ABS SYSTEM. MCGUIRE FORD STATED THAT THEY HAD TO ORDER PARTS FOR THE ABS SYSTEM. A WEEK LATER MCGUIRE FORD REPLACED PARTS FOR THE ABS SYSTEM. A FEW DAYS LATER I HAD TROUBLES WITH THE ABS SYSTEM AGAIN AND CONTACTED SIMMONS ROCKWELL FORD IN HORNELL NEW YORK. I DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR REPAIRS ON 4/1/04 AND PICKED IT UP 0N 4/2/04. ON 4/2/04 I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AGAIN. I CONTACTED SIMMONS ROCKWELL HORNELL SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ASKED THEM IF IT WAS ALRIGHT IF I USED ANY FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AS THEY WERE 45 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME. THEY INDICATED YES THAT ANY FORD DEALER WOULD HONOR THE WARRANTY,SO I WENT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THIS DEALER REFUSED TO DO REPAIRS DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND PAST PROBLEMS WITH SIMMONS ROCKWELL. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 29,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE NOT OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR A MONTH AND I HAD TO HAVE UNSUCCESSFUL REPAIRS MADE. THE FIRST PAYMENT IS DUE ON 4/13/04. I DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF TO SIMMONS ROCKWELL ON 4/5/04 AND TOLD THE SALES REP MIKE GIAGIOS THAT I DID NOT WANT THE VEHICLE. *AK

2001 FORD SPORT TRAC TRANSMISSION ELECTRONICS FAILED AT 45,000 MILES CAUSING ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REBUILD TO BE NECESSARY. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE EXTREMELY UNHELPFUL, NOTHING THEY WOULD DO AND ALSO WOULD NOT PROVIDE SUPERVISOR TO SPEAK TO. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND HAD A BUMPY RIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH. *AK THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

I HAVE HAD POOR FUEL MILEAGE, STALLING OF ENGINE FROM STOP SIGNED INTERSECTIONS AND ENTERING HIGHWAYS FROM SIDE ROADS. COULD CAUSE MYSELF TO STALL IN FRONT OF AN ON COMING VEHICLE, OR FROM GETTING OUT OF WAY OF A DRUNK DRIVER OR ACCIDENT. I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED FOR POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS. INTAKE MANIFOLD SEALS WERE REPLACED. THE SOHC 4.0 V6 PERFORMED SOME WHAT BETTER, BUT I'M STILL HAVING SOME OF SAME PROBLEMS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT PREVIOUSLY SHOW ANYTHING WRONG. IT NOW READS CODES PO174/ PO171/ AND PO442 READ BY LOCAL AUTO PARTS DEALER WITH SCANNER FOR OBD11...HE SAID BANK 1 AND 2 WERE RUNNING TO LEAN AND EVAP SYSTEM WAS SHOWING A SMALL LEAK. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIND LEAKS IN FUEL RETURN LINES BUT UPON SOME DISSASEMBLY NOTED THAT AIR INTAKE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY MATE SURFACES DID NOT MATE PROPERLY. SAYS THAT IT LOOKED LIKE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM COVERED UP BY THE MANUFACTURER. A DEFECT THAT WAS JUST CHEAPLY AND TEMPORARILY SOLVED JUST TO GET VEHICLE TO THE SALES LINE. ANYWAY, RUBBER SEALS THAT HAVE NOT LASTED EVEN 3 YEARS. JUST A RUBBER STUFFING TO GET THE VEHICLE THROUGH INSPECTION UNNOTICED IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME. THIS COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN A DISASTER AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY. IT STUMBLED WITH MYSELF AND MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER UPON ENTERING ONTO A 4 LANE STATE HIGHWAY WHERE TRAFFIC SPEED IS 65 MPH, AND IT WAS A CLOSE CALL AT BEING HIT BROAD SIDE. FROM OTHER FORUMS ON THE INTERNET WHILE TRYING DESPERATELY TO GET AN IDEA AS TO THE PROBLEM FROM OTHERS, I FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME SITUATION AS MYSELF. LOCATING THE CAUSE AND GETTING IT REPAIRED..*AK

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

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2001 SPORT TRAC WENT OUT, IT ONLY HAD 42,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS ONE MONTH OVER THE 3 YEARS. THE CAR WAS SERVICE EVERY 3 THOUSAND MILES FOR OIL CHANGE, 31,000 THOUSAND FOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE. I TOOK MY RECEIPT INTO THE FORD AUTO IN ST. PETERSBURG. I AM NOT HAPPY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN I DID EVERYTHING TO KEEP MY CAR IN TOP SHAPE. IT WAS NOT NEGLECTED IN ANY WAY. FORD AUTO SAID THEIR WAS NOT A THING THEY COULD DO. WHY NOT ? WHERE I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FIXED, BECAUSE IT WAS ON A WEEKEND WHEN IT WENT OUT, TOLD ME HE HAS HAD A LOT ON THE EXPLORER IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ONE OF THEM WAS AS LOW AS 37,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM, YOU SHOULD EITHER FIX IT OR PAY TO HAVE THEM FIX. *LA

TIRE RECALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS. *AK

VECHILE HAS 16,000 MILES. THREE TIMES AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND DRIVING TWO BLOCKS OVERDRIVE INDICATOR FLASHES BY ITSELF. THEN TRANSMISSION OVER REVS AND DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THAT HWEN OVERDRIVE KIGHT FLASHES TO CALL DEALER AND ARRANGE FOR SERVICE, AS THERE IS PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. BROUGHT TO DEALER TWICE, AS THEY COULD NOT RE-ENACT PROBLEM, THEY RETURNED VECHILE TO US SAYING NOTHING WRONG WITH VECHILE. I HAVE CALLED FORD CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO CONTACTED DEALER, BURNS FORD. THEY NOW SAY TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50-60 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE VIBRATION WAS CAUSED BUT TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. *AK *NM

AFTER MAKING AN EMERGENCY STOP AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.*AK

I HAVE THE GOOD YEAR WRANGLER TIRES, AND I JUST WANT TO STATE THESE ARE BY FAR THE WORST TIRES THAT I HAVE EVER DRIVEN ON. I FELT LIKE I'M ON ICE WHEN THE ROAD IS A DAMPED. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A WRECK BECAUSE OF THEM BUT I ALMOST DID. I OWN A FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND FOR SUV THEY NEED BETTER TIRES. *LA

WHILE TRAVELING FROM WILLIAMSBURG/NEW PORT NEWS, VA MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT. IT IS A POOR FLOW FOR THE EGR VALVE. ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTATION IN VARIOUS ENGINE REFERENCE BOOKS FAILURE OF THE VALVE COULD CAUSE ERRATIC ENGINE SURGES AND POTENTIAL OTHER RELATED PROBLEMS TO INCLUDE FAILURE OF THE POWER PLANT. THERE ARE APPARENTLY NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE 4.0L V-6 WHICH IS A COMMON ENGINE IN THE RANGER AND EXPLORER MODELS. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 42000 HIGHWAY MILES AND RECEIVES REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOW LIFE OF THIS PART UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND CONDITIONS, AS WELL AS THE SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT THAT THE PART FAILURE COULD CAUSE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING THE 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, DRIVER SUFFERED A SEIZURE. VEHICLE HIT THE POST, THEN VEHICLE SHOT ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH HITTING A TREE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. IF PASSER BYS DID NOT PULL DRIVER FROM VEHICLE, DRIVER WOULD HAVE DIED. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES ON IT. DRIVER SUFFERED BROKEN BACK. VEHICLE TOTALED. DAMAGE TO TREE, WALL, HOUSE. *LA

ON THE OCT 6TH 2003 I WAS DRIVING THE FORD SPORT-TRAC AND SUFFERED A SEIZURE. I THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND CRASHED INTO A WALL OF A HOME IN THE AREA. THE TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE 2 PEOPLE PULL ME FROM THE TRUCK BEFORE IT EXPLODED. THE AIRBAGS IN THE TRUCK DID NOT DEPLOY AND I BROKE MY BACK IN 2 PLACES. THE DOCTOR AT THE HOSPITAL TOLD ME THAT THE BREAKS IN MY BACK AND THE BRUISES ON MY FRONT SIDE ALLIGNED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AND THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF MY INJURIES. NO SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS FOUND AND THE TRUCK MELTED AT THE SCENE. I AM NOW INJURED FOR LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT. I CONTACTED FORD AT THE TIME AND THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME BACK AFTER THEY SAID THEY WOULD.

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

THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL BEARING RUNS DRY ON LUBRICATION CAUSING THE BEARING TO SCREECH LOUD. THE SAME BEARING HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE ON MY 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC IN TEN MONTHS.*AK

WHEELS STUCK, CANNOT REMOVE WHEELS TO CHECK BRAKES OR ROTATE TIRES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF I GET A FLAT TIRE.*AK

AFTER HAVING COME TO A FULL STOP, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. BOTH TIMES I WAS AT A FULL STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. ONLY THE FIRST INCIDENT DATE IS NOTED. THE SECOND HAPPENED IN JULY 2003.

WHEN THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE RECALLED AND FORD SPONSORED THEIR VOLUNTARY RECALL PROGRAM, WE TRIED TO HAVE OUR TIRES REPLACED. AT THE TIME, THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS BACKLOG AND WE WERE TOLD TO WAIT; THAT THE PROBLEM WOULDN'T AFFECT US UNTIL THE TIRES WERE 3 OR MORE YEARS OLD. AFTER WAITING FOR 2 YEARS, WE TRIED AGAIN TO GET THE TIRES REPLACED, BUT WERE INFORMED THAT FORD WOULD NOT HELP US IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER--WE HAD MISSED THEIR DEADLINE (WHICH WAS NEVER MENTIONED IN THE ORIGINAL MATERIALS AND WHICH IS NOT MENTIONED IN ANY WEB-SITE OR NHTSA ANNOUNCEMENT WE COULD FIND). DURING A RECENT TRIP FROM ATLANTA TO FLORIDA, WE WERE FLAGGED TO PULL OVER BY ANOTHER MOTORIST WHO NOTICED THAT OUR LEFT-REAR TIRE WAS SMOKING. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF IN TIME TO REPLACE IT WITH THE SPARE WITHOUT ROLLING THE VEHICLE OR OTHERWISE ENDING UP DEAD. NOW WE ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW TO GET THE REMAINING TIRES REPLACED. PLEASE HELP. *NLM

THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO REVERSE, KNOCKED THE CONSUMER DOWN AND ROLLED OVER HIS LEG. *NLM

ACCELERATOR IN A FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC ENGAGED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT WERE UNABLE TO PREVENT THE CRASH - AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF THUS STOPPING THE VEHICLE. *JB

LOSS OF TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND HEADLIGHTS WHEN TILT WHEEL IS ADJUSTED. DEALER HAS TRIED THREE TIMES TO REPAIR THIS. HAS REPLACED WIRING AND PARTS TWICE. IT IS NOW FAILING AGAIN WHICH WILL REQUIRE A FOURTH VISIT. *NLM

AFTER 15,000 MILES AND MORE THAN 50% TREAD REMAINING, THERE IS ZERO WET TRACTION ON THESE TIRES. IT SEEMS THAT THE TRACTION GRADE ON THIS TIRE IS EITHER WRONG, OR THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM TO EVALUATE AND PUBLISH HOW THE TIRES WILL GRADE AFTER SOME WEAR AND NOT BRAND NEW. *LA

STOPPED BY POLICE BECAUSE BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT OPERATING. 3RD BRAKE LIGHT WAS FUNCTIONING. ALL BRAKE LIGHTS WORK WITH THE TILT-WHEEL ALL THE WAY UP. IN ANY OTHER POSITION, ONLY THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT WORKS

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER RAN HEAD-ON INTO A COW WHICH WALKED INTO THE ROAD, NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND LEG INJURIES.*AK *NLM

I HAVE A 2001 FORD SPORT TRAC 2 WHEEL DRIVE. WHEN THE TRUCK HAD JUST PASSED THE WARRANTY PERIOD THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE RIGHT FRONT WAS DOWN TO BARE METAL. THE ROTOR WAS REPLACED. TWICE SINCE THEN THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH THE EXACT SAME PLOBLEM AND NOW NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.FORD PARTS WERE USED AND PARTS WERE PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED.I HAVE SPOKED WITH 11 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME TRUCK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO THE TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK IF THE TILT STEERING IS TILTED DOWN. MY TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 92000 MILES, AND QUIIET FRANKLY I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. I HAVE OWNED FORDS FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS AND UNTIL THIS ONE I WOULD NOT HAVE OWNED ANYTHING ELSE. NOW IT'S TIME TO GET A NEW TRUCK AND I AM NOT AT ALL SET ON A FORD. *AK

I AM HAVING A TIRE CUPPING PROBLEM WITH MY 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES ALIGNED AND ROTATED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE DEALER WANTS ME TO SPEND APPROXIMATEY $500 FOR A NEW SET OF TIRES. I AM CURIOUS IF OTHER FORD SPORT TRAC OWNERS HAVE NOTIFIED YOU OF A SIMILAR PROBLEM. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP. *TT

WHEN GOING 50 TO 55 MPH WHEN PUT FOOT ON BRAKE STEERING WHEEL AND TIRES VIBRATED. - I HAVE HAD BACK TO DEALER 4 TIMES LAST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS TIRES SO HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE TIRES SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG BECAUSE IT IS STILL HAPPENING MY TRUCK ONLY HAS 38000 MILES ON IT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I NOW KNOW IT IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES BUT THERE IS A DEFECT SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE ITSELF. *AK

AT 31,000 MILES BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND AGAIN AT 57,000 MILES. HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BECAUSE THE BRAKES SQUEALED, ESPECIALLY WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED. TECH SAID THE BRAKES NEEDED TO SEED. PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES HAS BEEN ONGOING. IS THIS NORMAL OR ARE THERE OTHER SPORT TRAK OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKES. (HAS LEAD TO TIRES CUPPING, BUSHINGS NEEDING REPLACEMENT, FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT, ETC.)*AK

BEGINNING ROUGHLY ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE (10/2000) I HAVE DETECTED AT TIMES A STRONG OILY VAPOR ODOR WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR IMPREGNATES MY CLOTHING AND EXPOSED SKIN AND HAS CAUSED MINOR (AT THIS TIME, AT LEAST) RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS. I AM FORCED ON THESE OCCASIONS, WEATHER PERMITTING, TO RIDE WITH MY WINDOWS DOWN TO LESSEN THE EFFECT. THE OCCURRENCE IS INTERMITTENT AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT CAUSING FACTORS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS FAILED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM (4 VISITS), SUGGESTING THAT IT'S JUST THE AIR BEING BROUGHT INTO THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. TS

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