2001 Ford Explorer Sport Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 7%of 188 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 30,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the brakes of the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, 7% of the 188 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 30,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My purchased new $30,000 2001 Ford 2 door Explorer Sport dies often causing no brakes or steering. In 2001, it died and rolled over with no steering or brakes when my wife was driving home, leaving her stranded upside down. Ford would not respond and local dealers would not or could not solve the problem. It still dies and all recalls were presumably done, including the firestone tires which were the best part of the vehicle. Numerous letters to Ford were never acknowledged. I would like to have a refund on this vehicle. Can you help me?”
NHTSA complaint #10568035, filed 2014-03, 1,500 miles“While driving on a heavily traveled road, driver 2 cars ahead of me came to a dead stop. Vehicle in front of me hit brakes hard, I also hit my brakes hard, on wet pavement. The anti-lock brake system did not kick in, and the brakes locked up.my car slid into the rear end of driver in front of me doing extensive damage to the front end of my vehicle. As I had just come through a traffic light, I was not going more than about 25 miles per hour. The wet pavement caused my car to skid quite a ways. …”
NHTSA complaint #10381949, filed 2011-02, 123,057 miles“I have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport, I have a problem with the ABS. The light has come on and I have changed brake pads and turned the rotors. It currenlt has 60,000 miles. I have been looking on variuos web-sites and this seems to be a systemic problem with explorers. Is there a problem with the ABS on explorers????”
NHTSA complaint #10032623, filed 2003-08, 60,000 miles“I have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. After driving for any period of time,(especially at highway speeds) when you apply the brakes they shudder violently. As you try to come to a stop at any time the brakes go in anti- lock mode and then give out!! You have to pump the brakes to get them to hold. It is very scary and dangerous situation. I had the brakes repaired at my Ford dealer (fette Ford, clifton nj) not that many miles ago. And they tell you they have never heard of this problem before and it's my bad driving habits causing the problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10316271, filed 2010-03, 85,000 miles“2001 Ford Explorer Sport, I have changed my brakes 3 times in one year. When I brake, it squeaks, very slow to stop, and shift to either side. Any bump will make the vehicle lose control, esp when traveling greater than 45 miles per hour.. True hazard.”
NHTSA complaint #10057121, filed 2004-02, 15,000 milesBrakes: other model years
Other parts of the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
33 complaintsBody and structure
30 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
26 complaintsEngine cooling
21 complaintsSeats
15 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsAir bags
13 complaintsTires
12 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsSeat belts
8 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology