Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Ford Excursion owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving on the highway at 70 MPH rear driver side tire blew out and the front driver side tire tread separated. When the second failure occurred driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with another vehicle. Three weeks prior to the accident vehicle was taken into the dealership for a routine warranty service, and dealership never informed the consumer of the tire recall 04t003000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Excursion equipped with Firestone steeltex a/t tires, size: lt265/75r16 119/116r (na). While driving 55 MPH, the tires exploded and caused considerable damage to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The vehicle and tire failure mileage was 147,000.
1. I have a 2001 Ford Excursion. I had Firestone steeltex a/t lt 265-75 r16's all the way around my vehicle. We were driving on the highway and had a blow out; it was the right front tire. We got out looked at the tire and the tread had separated. The steel in the tire torn up the undercarriage and wheel well and did a lot of damage underneath and to my grill guard. Within less than 50 miles, my other front tire went out. But with this one the tread was pulling away and falling off (again tearing up the body as it went). The tire never blew but the tread did enough damage to my truck that it will have to be fixed on that side also. The body of my truck will need work. When I open my doors they pop because it is rubbing on the frame that has been pushed back. …
The sidewall/tread of one of my front tires looked as if it were in the early stages of tread separation as indicated by a crack or linear indication that extended almost 75% around the perimeter where the sidewall met the tread area. There were also numerous other areas of notable separation that appeared to be a result of the rubber material being too dry perhaps. I called Ford and they said there was nothing they could do about it and referred me to this site. Before failure occurred with my family in the vehicle, I installed all four new tires, model Michelin ltx m/s that I purchased from cosco. This is a 2001 Ford Excursion with approx 30,000 miles on it at the time. Unfortunates, I wasn't really thinking at the time and did not have the technicians at cosco save the old tires for me.
Problems with tire failure on 2001 Ford Excursion. The consumer experienced 2 catastrophic tire failures while driving. During the first failure there was no indication of a road hazard and the tire was properly inflated prior to failure. The consumer simply accepted the tire failure as a fluke. The second tire failure occurred while driving 55 MPH. The tire separated from the plies across the tread face and a very noticeable thump was heard and felt. No solution was offered or alternate Bridgestone/Firestone product with higher load range was available. The consumer was forced to replace all 5 tires.
At 62 MPH, my left rear tire developed a large bulge (approximately 12" in diameter) on the tread area which extended into the sidewall approximately 4". The truck shook violently and I pulled off the road. The tread never separated from the tire carcass. I believe it would have separated if I had not stopped immediately. My vehicle is a 2001 Ford Excursion with a diesel engine. The tires- Firestone steeltex lt265/75r16- are original with 35,850 miles on them. I check tire pressure weekly and keep it at 60psi for these tires. They have never lost air in the 12 months I have owned the vehicle.
I was driving my 2001 Ford excersion, with my wife and two daughters, on the freeway at approximately 65 MPH. The left rear Firestone steeltex at tire blew out as a result of the tire tred seperating from the rest of the tire. The vehicle had 49530 miles at the time of the incident. The left rear quarter panel and fender were damaged as a result of the blow out. On 06-20-05, Firestone replaced four out of the five tires I had on the vehicle as part of a recall. The spare tire is on oder, because they did not have it in stock.
Copper tires dominator at lt 305 70 16 purchased from discount tire 10-14-2005. The vehicle a Ford 2001 Excursion had 86000 miles on it. On 11-24-2009 a blowout occurred, right rear tire. Damaging rear tail light the paint on rear door and rear qtr panel wheel well trim damage running board damage and wheel damage. The blowout separated the tread from the tire leaving the belts exposed.
Us marshalls lease a 2001 Ford Excursion from gsa fleet management. They were traveling down a highway when they heard a lound thumping noise. After stopping the vehicle, they exited the vehicle to find out that one of the rear tires tread came off the casing. The tire had not gone flat. When the tread seperated from the casing it had done some body damage to the wheel well area.
Vehicle tire blew out and tread wrapped around right the vehicle was in motion when he noticed a bumpy feeling/vibration. The consumer immediately slowed down and the tire burst and wrapped around the right side of the vehicle and caused an extreme amount of damage. The consumer saw that the tire completely separated. (the tread disintergrated)
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Excursion years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2001 Ford Excursion?
NHTSA has 57 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2001 Ford Excursion, 27% of the model year's 209 complaints. The component named most often is tread/belt (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Excursion wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 2001 Ford Excursion, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford Excursion wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 41,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to wheels & tires problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.