Problems · by component

2001 Ford Expedition structure problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Expedition cite structure, 4% of all 609 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
25
4% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“On the second row seat, passenger side door will not open using the door handle with the child safety switch in lock or unlock position. It will open from the outside handle. This is a safety concern. In case accident happen or fire in the vehicle occurs, the second and third row passengers can not get out of the vehicle fast enough for their safety. This has not work for over a year now.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2023StructureODI 11531805
“I SENT THIS REQUEST TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY-I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON BOTH REAR DOORS ON MY 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. THE DOORS LOCK BY THEMSELVES AND CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. I CANNOT FIND ONLINE WHERE FORD SAYS IT IS A MALFUNCTION AND HAS NO RECORD OF ANY COMPLAINTS. HERE IS A LINK WITH QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS. HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/FORD-EXPEDITION/TO442ERNK9KCQVKVB#COMMENTS. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS. IF NOT, THERE NEEDS TO BE. OTHERWISE, I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS DANGEROUS IF THE EXPEDITION IS IN AN ACCIDENT AND ANYONE IN THE BACK SEAT CANNOT ESCAPE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2013StructureODI 10548630
“APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MINUTES AFTER I GOT HOME FROM WORK MY 2001 FORD EXPEDITIONS CATCHES ON FIRE. WE, MY WIFE AND 3 KIDS HERE A LOUD PRESSURE SOUND GO OFF OUTSIDE. NOT SURE WHAT WAS GOING ON, WE RUN TO THE FRONT DOOR AND AS MY WIFE OPENS THE DOORS SHE SCREAMS THAT THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE. WE RUN BACK INSIDE, SHE CALLS 911 AND I TAKE KIDS SAFELY THROUGH THE BACK YARD. I GOT BACK INSIDE THE HOUSE AND OPEN THE GARAGE DOOR AND FIND THE ENTIRE ONE CAR GARAGE FILLED WITH SMOKE. LUCKILY, NEIGHBORS GRAB THE HOSE AND ONE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FLAME REACHED THE GARAGE DOOR AND FRAME INCLUDING GUTTERS AND ROOF TILES. THANKFULLY TO THE NEIGHBORS THE ENTIRE HOUSE DID NOT CATCH ON FIRM SAID, THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT THE SCENE. THE LOUD PRESSURE SOUND WE HEARD WAS THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLOW OUT. APPARENTLY, THE FIRE HAD STARTED SEVERAL MINUTES PRIOR TO US HEADING THE SOUND. CONSIDERING THE GARAGE WAS FILLED WITH THICK DARK SMOKE, IT MAY HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES SINCE THE FIRE STARTED. IT WAS THE SCARIEST MOMENT OUR LIVES. EVER SINCE OUR FAMILY HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME, ANY LITTLE SOUND WE HEAR OUTSIDE WE'RE ALERTED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2013Structure, Unknown or other, EngineFire reportedODI 10525690
“WINDSHIELD LEAKING DUE TO FAULTY SEALANT. HAVE ALL KINDS OF SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE NOW. WATER LEAKS DIRECTLY INTO GEM MODULE WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TURNING ON AND OFF ALL FUNCTIONS OF MY FORD EXPEDITION. THINGS JUST RANDOMLY START AND STOP WORKING BY THEMSELVES, INCLUDING CRUISE CONTROL, FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, WIPERS, AND HEATER BLOWER. SOME STAY ON EVEN AFTER KEY IS REMOVED LEAVING YOU STRANDED. THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS FIND SOMEONE FOR A JUMP START. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2011StructureODI 10373828
“WAS CLOSING REAR LIFT GATE ON OUR 2001 FORD EXPEDITION THE STRAP ATTACHING MECHANISM BROKE CAUSING ME TO FALL BACKWARDS ON THE TO PAVEMENT STRIKING THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND SCRAPING MY ELBOW. THIS CAUSED ME TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2010StructureODI 10373650
“WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN HEAVY RAIN WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. COULD NOT SEE 2 FEET INFRONT OF ME, SO I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER ON A BUSY ROAD. PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK, AND WIPERS STARTED WORKING. PUT BACK IN DRIVE AND THEY STOPPED. FINALLY THE RAIN SLOWED ENOUGH FOR ME TO DRIVE WITH OUT THE WIPERS, VERY UNSAFE! WHEN I GOT HOME, I TURNED THE KEY OFF, PULLED THEM OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE HEATER KEPT RUNNING. I HAD TO TURN IT TO OFF POSITION. LIGHTS ON GAUGE CLUSTER WERE FLICKERING TOO. OPENED DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND RADIO STAYED ON. HAD TO MANUALLY TURN THAT OFF AS WELL. SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, SO I QUICKLY UNHOOKED THE BATTERY. CAME BACK A COUPLE HOURS LATER, CONNECTED BATTERY, NOW VEHICLE WONT START! WILL TURN OVER, BUT WONT CRANK. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY DIFFERENT FORD VEHICLES! PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY WINDSHIELD, ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE CAB, BEHIND THE DASH, AND GET WATER ON THE GEM AND FUSEBOX, CREATING CORROSION. THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE VERY UNSAFE! POSSIBLE FIRE FROM ELECTRIC SHORT, POSSIBLE INJURY/DEATH FROM WIPERS QUITTING WHILE DRIVING. FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2010Electrical system, Visibility, StructureODI 10301857

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Structure

Free remedy

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

StructureReported Mar 7, 2003NHTSA 03V094000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.