Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
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).
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. …
Dt: the contact complained about several problems with vehicle. First, the accelerator pedal stuck. The dealer cleaned the throttle body which seemed to solve the problem. The vehicle would sometimes surge forward. She thought the surging was related to apparent transmission problems. She finally had the transmission rebuilt. Part of the cost was covered under the extended warranty. Secondly, the seat belt in the middle row did not retract correctly. The dealer could not duplicate the problem. Therefore, no repairs were made to the seat belt. Thirdly, the left rear door actuator had to be replaced because the power locks were not working. Fourthly, the rear passenger child safety lock did not work properly. Once the child safety lock was deactivated, and the door handle was raised from the inside, the child safety lock activated. …
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! …
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the electrical system malfunctioned, the instrument panel would illuminate suddenly without warrant, the radio would engage independently, and the windshield wipers would activate without the keys being in the ignition. In addition, the contact stated that the windshield wipers would not engage while the vehicle was turned on. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized dealer who advised the contact that water was leaking into the vehicle through the windshield and the windshield would need replacing. The windshield was replaced yet the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure or diagnose where the leak was coming from. The vehicle was not repaired. …
Windshield leaking water causing erratic and unpredictable intermittent electrical failures in a 2001 Ford Expedition. Windshield wiper operation is effected by water intrusion into the fuse panel and gem as stated in Ford motor company advisory. When vehicle is placed into drive it operation of the windshield wipers is either non operational or only operational when vehicle is placed back into park. This a major safety issue which has been swept under the rug by Ford motor company. This issue has been documented by numerous complaint on this web site alone. But until someone is injured or killed well this issue come to light and action to correct the problem which effect many families that use these vehicles everyday rain or shine. These incidents have been going on for more than three years.
Opened my sun roof on Friday January 20, 2006 was a very nice day, it started to rain and the sun roof would not close stop at the dealership roundtree moore of lake city, and we try for about 15 minutes to close and could not. I left and put my vehicle in the garage, and took it to the dealership today Monday January 23, 2006, and they said the track got broken some how. We need to replace the whole window and it would cost me $1100.00 for a brand new one, I stated no way, that should have never broken, it must be a manufacturer's defect. I called Ford, and they stated no. I don't believe that something they put in most of their vehicles should break after 5 years.
Leaking windshield causing different systems to act unpredictably. Currently ac blower fan circuit blown (fixed 4x), cruise control dead after intermittently working (high potential of fatality if acceleration out of control). Radio comes on an off. Check engine light on continuously. Numerous codes showing up even after deleting. This problem has been occurring for years ( at least 4 years). The windshield has to be replaced as per technician but I strongly feel that Ford should just plug the leak for all the expeditions and navigators being affected by this. Others have had more serious problem - windows opening and closing automatically (no user action).
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.
Related recalls
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began August 20, 2001.
Window & Wiper complaints in other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2001 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2001 Ford Expedition, 7% of the model year's 578 complaints. The component named most often is windshield (19 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Expedition window & wiper problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-258 (motor, Aug 8, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford Expedition window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to windows, wipers & sunroof 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.