VehicleVerdict

2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac speed control problems

The 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has 26 speed control complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

26

Speed Control complaints

11%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Speed Control complaints by year

Explorer Sport Trac speed control complaints by model year26 complaints1997: 1 complaints1998: 1 complaints2001: 26 complaints2002: 19 complaints2003: 5 complaints2004: 8 complaints2005: 4 complaints2007: 4 complaints2008: 2 complaints2009: 1 complaints2010: 2 complaints
Explorer Sport Trac speed control complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

07V336000Speed ControlAugust 3, 2007 · 3,600,000 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

03V280000Speed ControlAugust 5, 2003 · 448,005 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL AND 4.0L SOHC ENGINES, IF THE STRAND COVER ON THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE BECOMES FLARED AT THE END, THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE MAY BIND WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS ACTIVATED.

Consequence

THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING FORCE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE BINDING CONDITION WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS DISENGAGED. BRAKING FUNCTION WOULD BE MAINTAINED THOUGH STOPPING DISTANCES MAY BE INCREASED.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

What owners report

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. ON JULY 9, 2007, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WITH NO PASSENGERS AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000. IT WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · July 9, 2007 · fire

Common questions

How many speed control complaints does the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have?

NHTSA has 26 complaints about the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac speed control — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac speed control?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the speed control: 03V280000, 07V336000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.