Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Ford Expedition owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On the second row seat, passenger side door will not open using the door handle with the child safety switch in lock or unlock position. It will open from the outside handle. This is a safety concern. In case accident happen or fire in the vehicle occurs, the second and third row passengers can not get out of the vehicle fast enough for their safety. This has not work for over a year now.
Approximately 15-20 minutes after I got home from work my 2001 Ford expeditions catches on fire. We, my wife and 3 kids here a loud pressure sound go off outside. Not sure what was going on, we run to the front door and as my wife opens the doors she screams that the house is on fire. We run back inside, she calls 911 and I take kids safely through the back yard. I got back inside the house and open the garage door and find the entire one car garage filled with smoke. Luckily, neighbors grab the hose and one a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. The flame reached the garage door and frame including gutters and roof tiles. Thankfully to the neighbors the entire house did not catch on firm said, the local fire department when they arrive at the scene. The loud pressure sound we heard was the driver side tire blow out. …
In the last few months, I have noticed that when it rains, my blower motor will run on high-speed and my lights will flicker after I turn the vehicle off. At first it would stop after a few seconds, however this last time, it ran for about 10 minutes and finally shut off. I have a co-worker who has the exact same Expedition and asked him if he's had this happen too him, which he stated yes and has been going on for around 6 months. I called Ford motor co to inquire about a recall, since this is very unique in nature, and (of course) they have no record nor keep any data on anything (according too the rep). Not quite sure what their job is! So I called the local dealer and they were 'familiar' with my problem and had a 'few' fixed. Well, after doing some research on the internet, it turns out there's more than just a 'few' incidents.. There are several!!! …
Was driving down the road in heavy rain when windshield wipers stopped working. Could not see 2 feet infront of me, so I was forced to pull over on a busy road. Put the truck in park, and wipers started working. Put back in drive and they stopped. Finally the rain slowed enough for me to drive with out the wipers, very unsafe! When I got home, I turned the key off, pulled them out of the ignition and the heater kept running. I had to turn it to off position. Lights on gauge cluster were flickering too. Opened driver side door and radio stayed on. Had to manually turn that off as well. Smelled something burning, so I quickly unhooked the battery. Came back a couple hours later, connected battery, now vehicle wont start! Will turn over, but wont crank. Did some research and found that this is a very common problem with many different Ford vehicles! …
Water leak in the front windshield (following a few consecutive rainy days), causing electrical failure of the dome light, wipers, radio and gear selector. Ford service advised replacing the fuse box and gem module for $1,100. This is my family vehicle and I am deeply concerned that this May cause an electrical fire or unwnated electrical activity when the car is unattended. My car is just under 80K miles. I have done some research and can see that there are many others that are experiencing similar problems. This is a safety concern that should should be attended to immediately. I hope this can be resolved without taking legal action.
After a rain and ice storm water leaked around the windshield causing electrical failures, including but not limited to the windshield wipers and the headlamps. Water entered the engine of the vehicle through an improperly sealed windshield causing the power distribution box and the generic electronic module to get wet. These components control various electrical systems in the vehicle. This caused the vehicle to stop running. Electrical damage had to be repaired and a new windshield had to be installed. This caused the owner to pay over $2000 in out of pocket expenses.
Incident: 2001 Ford Expedition 1. Windshield wipers would not work, radio would go off when vehicle was put in gear, blower, compass, thermometer lets & bells would not work, vehicle would not start, battery eventually went dead, etc 2. Had to service the vehicle for safety and performance reasons 3. Expedition was serviced at a local Ford dealership. Service department advised us that there was a water leak around the windshield. Water was leaking into an electrical box - had to replace fuse panel and reseal glass at a cost of $456.96.
Windshield leaking due to faulty sealant. Have all kinds of safety issue with the vehicle now. Water leaks directly into gem module which is responsible for turning on and off all functions of my Ford Expedition. Things just randomly start and stop working by themselves, including cruise control, four wheel drive, wipers, and heater blower. Some stay on even after key is removed leaving you stranded. The only thing you can do is find someone for a jump start.
Electrical hazard due to water intrusion resulting from windshield leak. 2001 Ford Expedition experienced several electrical failures during rain storm including but not limited to windshield wiper failure, headlamp failure, window/door lock failure, ac runs with ignition off and keys removed, car attempts to start without keys or driver.
Leaky windshield caused electrical failure of the general electronic module, causing most systems in vehicle to malfunction, including transfer case switching, transmission shifting. Ford, nor advantage warranty company would stand behind the cost of this failure brought on by poor quality in manufacturing.
Related recalls
Structure
Certain pickup truck, van, and Mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by American technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began March 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Body complaints in other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2001 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the body & structure of the 2001 Ford Expedition, 4% of the model year's 578 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Expedition body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-094 (structure, Mar 7, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford Expedition body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to body & structure 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.