Two problems related to transmission slip out of gear have been reported for the 2001 Ford Excursion. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2001 Ford Excursion based on all problems reported for the 2001 Excursion.
Total failure of automatic transmission, without warning while driving. Transmission would not shift out of lower gears, creating extremely unsafe driving environment. Vehicle taken to transmission shop, diagnosed as having the "direct drum" break apart and overheat the internal mechanism of transmission. Owner of shop indicated that most vehicles have several warning lights/signals to warn of potential problems like this - my vehicle did not exhibit any such signs prior to the total failure of the transmission. The part in question is a aluminum casting, as such it has no moving parts. The fact that it failed is obviously due to a manufacturing defect or the improper selection and specification of material in its manufacture. The Ford dealer (where vehicle was purchased) indicated that the Ford motor CO. Would not participate in the re-impressing of over $2000 in repairs since it was not taken to a Ford dealer for repairs. All vehicles using this transmission should, in my opinion, be required to be inspected and repaired at the manufacturer's cost. Failure of this type at speed could have resulted in major injuries or death.
Automatic transmission produced a single loud "thunk" as it shifted from first gear into second gear while pulling away from a stop sign. The transmission shifted very hard, with a bump, into second gear. Drove truck the remaining one mile to residence. Next morning when it was cold the truck seemed to run ok. About 10 miles into my commute the truck would not shift out of first gear when accelerating from a complete stop. It was necessary to accelerate in first gear until about 2700 rpm then completely let off the throttle and then depress the throttle again to get the vehicle to shift up. This shift was very hard - jerked the vehicle- and made a loud "thunk". Once the vehicle was in second gear it shifted up to the other gears without a problem and was not a problem to drive - however the problem reappeared at every stop. Dealer replaced the transmission.