Two problems related to transmission failure have been reported for the 2001 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2001 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2001 Explorer.
For the second time, the vehicle's transmission failed, leaving the vehicle completely powerless while driving. The transmission also failed at approximately 70,000 miles in 2006, again while driving the vehicle in traffic. In both cases, I, as the driver, was nearly involved in accidents with other vehicles because of the complete loss of the transmission power train. The vehicle also gave no warning of the failure prior to these events. It is my understanding that this has been a long-standing design defect with Ford Explorers, with a high number of vehicles from the early 2000s suffering similar transmission failures. This is both dangerous and, I believe, a defect that could cause injury and/or death. . I also wish to add that this vehicle, which is 4 wheel drive and includes a factory installed towing package, has only occasionally been used for towing a boat (2x per year) and is seldom used in its 4 wheel drive capacity (only on snow covered roads 2-3 times per year). The vehicle has been well maintained. The cost of the repairs in each case was over $2,000.
Transmission failure- no warning-.