Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Ford Explorer Sport owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Transmission failure. I have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport 2wd. At 109000 miles one day I was driving it on the freeway, and I noticed that the o/d light is flashing. I tried to turn it off, but it wouldn't. I exited from the freeway an I parked the car at the nearby gas station trying t o find out what was the problem. I turned the engine off for a few minutes,and then I turned it back on,and the o/d light went off. I thought it was finished, but it wasn't. I started driving for about 10 minutes the o/d light came back on, and the transmission shifts hardly from one gear to another. The next day I took the car to the transmission shop to check what is going wrong. From my house to the shop about 25 minutes drive, the o/d light started flashing. …
I have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport which I bought new. I have always maintained it properly and I babied the vehicle. I have replaced many parts on it in the last three years from ball joints to hub assemblies many expensive repairs. Now it is making noise in the rear end and my mechanic has informed me that the rear end May go at any time. I have researched this and find that many other Ford owners are experiencing the same problem but it is not considered a recall. I am not in the financial situation at this time to have this repaired and it is my feeling with so many people having this problem with their explorers it should be considered a recall. …
Ford is a complete rip off and sold me a lemon I will never ever buy or recommend a Ford in my life all we've had is problems... We just brought our Ford Explorer to mt. Vernon Ford in ny and they told us they will check out what the problem is and if we decide for them not to fix it there our charge is 85.00 dollars and if we fix it there they will put it towards the repair and told us the problem we are having is from not maintaining the car how dare they make such a statement I have always taken care of my cars I have a Nissan with 130,000 miles I haven't even changed the clutch still original well we decided not to have the repairs done there and when we got there they charged up over 130.00 dollars I am disgusted and I am going to report Ford to the bbb and every complaint center that I can... …
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle is equipped with a button to push to place the vehicle into overdrive. However, it goes into overdrive on its own causing the vehicle to jerk badly. It is an intermittent problem that occurs during cold weather. To disengage the overdrive, the vehicle must be turned off and restarted. The dealership was consulted. During cold weather when the vehicle is in overdrive it goes out of overdrive and jerks. The vehicle, speed and rpms drop, and overdrive off light flashes. Contact had to pull off the roadway and turn vehicle off and restart for vehicle to start inoverdrive as normal. Contact came close to being rear ended. The vehicle would remain in overdrive unless the contact clicked button on shift column to take it out of overdrive or if in overdrive to resume back to overdrive. …
I have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport that the 4x4 control module constantly malfunctions. This is a common problem that is widespread and could cause major accidents by losing control of the vehicle during operation in the winter months on snow/ ice. If you research this you'll find the problem existed from when these were new vehicles and Ford has no resolution to fix this problem other than replace it with another defective part. Ford's diagnostic computer doesn't even recognize there is a failure in the system creating an even larger danger since here's no way to trace the problem when taken in for service. There should be a recall issued immediately. Ford and motorola have designed and installed a defective part that can kill people if not fixed and has probably caused hundreds of accidents already. …
2001 Ford Explorer Sport 4x4 has 2-3 shift failure causing car engine RPM to rise severely without shifting transmission into 3rd gear. This first happened while getting on the highway leaving me hopelessly in the right lane as traffic rapidly approached from behind, I was fortunate to be able to get onto the shoulder. I have come to find out today that this has been and continues to be a well known problem by Ford for years which has yet to be addressed! There is even a tech service bulletin for this problem! Besides ripping off consumers for outrages recurring repair costs, this is a real safety issue. Is it going to take someone getting severely hurt before something is done.
I have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, which I was told uses the same faulty transmission as the 2002 Explorer. Like many the o/d light started flashing and now the estimate is around $3000 for the dealer to install a transmission. Only have 76,000 miles. Ford knows about the problem as they have various tech bulletins. They are just trying to avoid the cost of a recall. This is the second Ford I had fail around this mileage with transmission problems. The dealer could care less I never thought I would say this but I will never buy a Ford again! They need to do what's right here, do a search online and you wont believe how many people have exactly the same issue!
I own a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. Recently, it appears that if I am going a steady speed or leaving from a complete stop, the car goes into over drive. This happens to me a min. Of 5 times a day. The button does not work for the over drive, so each time this happens, I have to pull over and turn the car off and back on again. Sometimes the od goes on minutes after I turn the car off and on again. I have not taken it to get fixed because the mechanics have told me it is signs of the transmission failing. I am a college student and can not afford to pay out of pocket 3,000 when the car is only worth 6,000 at best.
When I started from a stop light it took off fine but shifting from 1st to 2nd and then into 3rd the engine raced but would not accelerate. I pushed the o/d off and it seemed to fix the problem. Then over the next few days it became more frequent to the point that I am afraid to pull out into traffic. I worry that I will be hit by not gaining speed to get going. Also merging on the freeway is frustrating and unsafe. The o/d light flashes on and off all of the time now. This has happened over the coarse of a week. This is an automatic transmission 2wd.
2001 Ford Explorer Sport with automatic transmission, 105,000 miles. "o/d off" light blinking after driving for a few minutes. Engine always revs high between gear shifts, especially between first and second, even before the light starts blinking. Changed transmission fluid and filter, but that didn't help. Only occasionally towed small trailer, but mostly just daily driving. Numerous blogs on this subject, so the problem appears to be widespread!
Transmission complaints in other Explorer Sport years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, 14% of the model year's 188 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford Explorer Sport transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, though it has 5 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 Explorer Sport transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 105,000 miles.
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.