Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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).
THe component was the speed control deactivation switch Manufacturer Recall Number 05S28 NHTSA Recall Number05V017000 Recall Status Recall Incomplete. It is unknown if the part is available for inspection but the vehicle is. The fire occurred while driving and left me stranded on the side of the road with five dogs, 2 hours away from home with no way of getting back. I had to find a hotel that allowed pets which was expensive and have been in said hotel starting August 25 through today, September 2. We are paid until tomorrow and I have exhausted all funds and resources. We will be without food, shelter, or teransportation. Yes the problemhas been confirmed by Santa Monica Lincoln Ford Dealership. The mechanic liason is Art Albrandt and can be reached at [redacted]. …
Vehicle caught on fire due to an incorrectly installed head light due to a cracked plug assembly. Vehicle was in a fast-food drive through when the smoke and subsequent flames were seen. Due to age of the vehicle the task of changing the light bulb was farmed out to local oil change shop. While changing the placing the new bulb into the plug assembly the thin plastic broke keeping the bulb from seating properly. Tested okay on reassembly but once night came the light was on for only 15 minutes and ignited the inner head lamp assembly and subsequently more of the engine compartment. Fortunately, the fast-food restaurant came out with an extinguisher and put out the fire. Thankfully, no one was hurt however, had the fire occurred on the highway, in a parking lot unattended, or in the homes garage, the outcome would have been far worse.
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and later became engulfed in flames. The fire and police departments were notified of the incident. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The fire department chief determined that the fire was started by a faulty ignition wire insulation. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.
Vehical burst into flames seems on passenger side under the hood...Had been parked all day. No one around or injured. Vehical is a total loss.
On May 18 2005 my 2001 Ford Expedition VIN #[redacted] stopped working while at a local walmart store I had to call roadside assistance to tow my vehicle to my home being that it was about 11 pm and no shops were open I had the vehicle towed to my address and parked in the driveway. The next evening while parked in the driveway undriven or started for 24 hours a neighbor ran into my home to get myself and my children out of our home. Screaming that our truck was on fire in the driveway parked directly in front of the garage. After pulling my family out we then called 911. Where the local fire dept was sent out to our home to put out the fire. The fire marshall at that time told us where the hot point was and that we should contact Ford. I contacted Ford immediately that morning and they denied any part of a recall for that or my other 98 Ford Expedition. …
On the morning of January 26, 2012 I parked May car at my employee parking lot at approximately 5:50 am. I head to work like any ordinary day, and at approximately 8:30 am, I had co-workers informing me that my car was on fire. I ran out to the parking lot and found my car in flames. My 2001 Ford Expedition eddie bauer caused the two cars on my sides to catch on fire as well. When the fire department arrived it was too late to save anything from the car. It was a total loss, everything inside was destroyed into ashes, my personal belongings were unrecognizable. I only had liability insurance on my car, and will have to pay for the damages that my car caused to the other people..I am now left with no car, and having the blame of the fire when I did absolutely nothing wrong. …
Wipers fail, came within inches of major crash several times, due to poor or no visibility from rain or snow because of wipers complete failure. Also, power windows fail, interior lights fail, radio fails, 4 wheel drive fail and it was stated on line that air bag failure is also a problem. Can not drive in rain or snow! When looking up the gem module part (generic electronic module) it was stated in several online parts sources that the 2001 Ford Expedition had a windshield improperley sealed at the factory on the assembly line. Thus water leaks on the gem module shorting it out; and it was stated that in several of the same vehicles that their entire fuse box fails which is located directly under the gem module which is mounted on top of the fuse box causing entire electrical failure. I feel it is the responsibility of Ford to recall these vehicles and fix the problem. …
Car was parked caught on fire in the middle of the night. Had city of seattle fire department and fire marshal investigator showed up also he determined fire was electrical. He gave me a report number I also reported incident to my insurance company. My car is a 2001 Ford Expedition. After reading on the internet all the other reports I have no doubt it was because of problems with the cruise control mentioned on many, many other sites. I am now stuck in a position where I have to buy another car, I have lost all the money I have invested into this vehicle. If I was aware of this problem when I brought it in 05 I could have had it turned around. The thing that really sticks out is that the recall was in 05 and makes me question why wasn't this fixed before I purchased the vehicle.
This has been an issue since acquiring this vehicle. The brakes are very soft, they will pump up but when a quicker slow down or stop is needed an individual doesn't have a lot of time to remember that. There have been no injuries or crashes as of this date. Master cylinder was replaced on mechanic's advice however this did not improve this issue. As well the vehicle seems to need the lower ball joints wear out quickly. Also please note that each time it rains there is water coming in from somewhere on the top driver's side of the windshield and post. It drips from that hand grip down to light switch and into vent on driver's side as well. There have been times where there is an electrical smell which causes concern of a vehicle fire possibility.
This vehicle was sitting in the service department of our dealership and had been idle since 5:00 pm on 5/6/2011. At approximately 1:15 pm on 5/7/2011, the vehicle spontaneously caught fire and subsequently caught a large portion of the service department on fire. The total damage is still untold, but the fire has shut the dealership down until it is deemed safe to open again. After speaking with fire officials and hearing this is a common problem among this make and model vehicle I did research and found that the cruise control switch has been found to be the culprit of many fires just like this one.
NHTSA investigations
Electrical system failure
Odi has received 39 reports alleging that water leaks around the windshield causing electrical failures, including but not limited to the windshield wipers and the headlamps.Ford reports that water entering the vehicle can wet the power distribution box (pdb) and the generic electronic module (gem).these components control various electrical systems in the vehicle.this investigation has been upgraded to an…
Windshield leak causes electric failures
Consumers alleged that when it rained or snowed, water leaked into the vehicle around the windshield.moisture flowing through the seal that surrounds the front windshield follows a path through the seal into the generic electronic module (gem) and fuse box, and May cause the electrical components in the vehicle to malfunction.overall, the number of reports alleging wiper failures and lighting failures is relatively…
Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of…
Electrical complaints in other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA has 118 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Ford Expedition, 20% of the model year's 578 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › interior/under dash (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Expedition electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2001 Ford Expedition, 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 Expedition electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 26 fires and 5 injuries to electrical system 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.