2001 Ford Explorer steering problems
21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the steering on the 2001 Ford Explorer — 6% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Smoke coming from steering... Can feel a change in engine while driving, feels like a rough ride, and overdrive starts to flash.”
filed Jan 19, 2021
“Was making a right hand turn from a city street into my community and about 90 degrees into the turn the steering locked up and I was headed for the median. I stopped with the brakes and looked down at the dash and the battery picture was red which helped me to realize the car had turned off. I put…”
filed Oct 8, 2015
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Steering problems in other Explorer years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 1 | 3% |
| 2025 Explorer | 9 | 9% |
| 2024 Explorer | 2 | 10% |
| 2023 Explorer | 12 | 11% |
| 2022 Explorer | 9 | 3% |
| 2021 Explorer | 6 | 1% |
| 2020 Explorer | 25 | 2% |
| 2019 Explorer | 9 | 3% |
| 2018 Explorer | 20 | 3% |
| 2017 Explorer | 76 | 4% |
| 2016 Explorer | 530 | 22% |
| 2015 Explorer | 345 | 19% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2001 Ford Explorer
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.