2001 Ford Explorer Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
14 -16 City / 19 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
203 -215
Seats
5 -6
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Lynn M
My 2001 ford explorer sport.
Gas mileage is not the best but its reliable and still runs great after 18 years. Purchased it used off a resale site looking for a larger car with a metal frame. I have gotten into many car accidents and wanted to make sure I would be safe. Purchased this 2001 ford explorer sport and have fallen in love with it ever since. Very reliable just not the best gas mileage.
accountCircle joshua H
2001 ford explorer review
My 2001 ford explorer has been nothing but good it has power room reliability comfort you can haul just about anything in it iv also used it for traveling and it does great overall it's a great vehicle
accountCircle Dave C
The front and rear heat and a/c it is easy to keep all passengers comfortable.
My Ford Explorer is the most reliable and economical vehicle I have owned in a long time. Handles all terrains and all weather conditions on the road with ease. Would definitely consider purchasing another one. Comfort, access, temperature controls are top notch!
accountCircle Patrick b
Engine light is on and it has shock problems.
It has ice cold air,and it's a great ride it gets to wear I won't to go and back,but I have the engine light on and I don't know why.
accountCircle Robert M
Very reliable but cant get a trailer from U-Haul.
The vehicle has been very reliable and low-maintenance. There is an issue with trying to rent a trailer from U-Haul. Never had any issues with the 4-wheel drive.
accountCircle valerie w
Not the latest year but a very dependable car with lots of room; perfect amount of trim.
Bless fords. The only brand I would now consider. So dependable. There have been no problems. So very comfortable seating; no engine problems;
accountCircle Abby H
Being safe and gas mileage.
I love it and feel safe in it. Especially because it is so big and makes it easy to run errands and get the kids in the car.
accountCircle Tracie A
It has transmission problems and it's a pretty common problem
Transmission issue. Door handles breaking all the time otherwise I love it. It drives smooth and accurately

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Christina S
Make sure you have the remote key to lock the vehicle
Small,transmissions don't last long and fuel pumps don't last long
accountCircle Danielle C
Do not pull the handles to hard because they will brake.
I really do not like that fact it only has two doors considering it is a larger vehicle. It is not ideal for children. It has a high rolling rate and that terrifies me. You feel absolutely ever single bump in the road as you drive. It is not that comfortable. But at the end of the day I gets us from point A to point B and that is all I really need it to do.
accountCircle Valerie C
My car is a rust bucket that is falling apart. I would never recommend this vehicle to anyone.
Every week something breaks on it. It's not reliable at all. I have had to repair the muffler 4 times in 3 years. It is comfortable but rusts so easily and falls apart. Every Ford I have ever had is junk. I will never buy another
accountCircle alyssa H
Ford explorers are not long lasting cars.
The worst part is that it only has two doors. You have to move the seats every time someone tries to get in the back, which means you have to adjust driver seat every time. The wheel bearings go out quite often too and that is not a cheap fix. The doors have a keypad for easy access without keys and the code works for a few days then has to be changed again. I live in a rural area and there are lots of gravel roads that are not friendly to these cars.
accountCircle Emily B
It has been an interesting truck.
My car was a hand me down so it is not without issues. Everything is slowly falling apart on me. The air conditioner does not work right. The thing that moves my seat does not work right. My license plate has come off. And a few other problems I could probably name.
accountCircle Danilo C
Stability, cost of parts, powertrain.
Suspension. Shocks. Power-lacks. I would care to modify all conditions listed. Not for go but for show and response. Specially strength of suspension and reliability-broke down twice in less than one year. Would always rely on stability, power, flexibility (ability to universal change i.e. Parts and power train. Would not trust on long over 25 miles distance. Turning radius fair but would prefer more modern customized.
accountCircle Shannen A
It's been a good car but it's ready to be retired.
It's been a good vehicle but it's falling apart. A Lot of miles on it, so I'm getting ready to purchase a new one. It currently has over 225,000 miles on it.
accountCircle Landon W
The truck is very top heavy and gets about 16 mpg.
Has decent power. Very problematic.It is Very top heavy. A true gas guzzler. The four wheel drive works well.

Ford Explorer Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base Sport
203 HP 17-18 MPG 5 Seats
car
Base
203 HP 17-18 MPG 5 Seats
car
XLS
210 HP 17-17 MPG 5-6 Seats
car
XLT
215 HP 17-17 MPG 5-6 Seats
car
Eddie Bauer
215 HP 17-17 MPG 5-6 Seats
car
Limited
215 HP 17-17 MPG 5-6 Seats
Photos may not match model

2001 Ford Explorer Owner Reviews

4.12
161 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 42%
4 stars 37%
3 stars 16%
2 stars 3%
1 star 2%
accountCircle Jacob Y on April 1, 2021
Tough, dependable, and rugged.
The vehicle performs wonderfully, despite being 18 years old. It is the perfect size for someone who needs to occasionally haul something, but not large objects and not very often. It seems to get better gas mileage than my previous vehicle, despite both being SUVs. Perfect for winter conditions, as I have never had to fear snow and ice like with some previous cars. The only issues are electrical. The driver side switches are the only ones that work.
accountCircle Kimberly L on March 26, 2021
It is paid for, and even though it is an older auto, it still drives wonderfully.
I love the fact that it is very roomy and comfortable, like an SUV, while also having the functionality of a pick up truck. My only complaints come with the fact that it is old. . . Normal wear and tear of a high mileage automobile.
View All Reviews (161) chevronRightAlternative

Ranks #6 Full Size SUV by Owners

The 2001 Ford Explorer has an average owner rating of 4.28 out of 5 which ranks it #6 of 8 other Full Size SUVs.

1
car
2001 Chevrolet Suburban
4.47
2
car
2001 GMC Yukon
4.43
6
car
2001 Ford Explorer
4.12

Ranks #1 Full Size SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2001 Ford Explorer has a combined MPG of 19 which ranks it #1 of 7 other Full Size SUVs.

1
car
2001 Ford Explorer
19 MPG
2
Tie
car
2001 Dodge Durango
17 MPG
2
Tie
car
2001 Toyota Sequoia
17 MPG

Is The 2001 Ford Explorer A Good Car?

Yes I have had my car for at least 3 years and haven't had a problem with it at all.I wish all the cars I had ever had ran this good .
Sandra S.
Yes, very reliable. I've kept up on maintenance and some part replacements. The engi runs fine after 122000 miles.
Tyler K.
Yes it is a good vehicle it gets us to where we need to go. How many characters are needed when the question is 'is the 2001 Ford Explorer a good vehicle' the answer is one word and only needs to be... Read More
Lauren S.
Yes, it is very good. It's durable. Very easy to drive. it's spacious. I like that I can fit all my friends in it and I can easily fix the problem
Rachael V.
Yes the parts are very easy to get at my local AutoZone. Overall the only problem is power window buttons on driver side.Occasionally runs hot.
Allison A.

How Reliable Is The 2001 Ford Explorer?

No I keep up regular maintenance on my car. So no problem as of yet. But the tires are not cheap at all.
Blue T.
No, I have kept up with maintenance. Starts up every time. Very reliable. Only replaces windshield wipers this year.
Jessica S.
The vehicle is reliable and has the normal problems of regular maintenance of a vehicle of over 103,000 miles so it has had to have replacements of certain parts and responsible care.
Toni S.
Like any other car it's not perfect. It can be hard to drive in the winter when the weather is not very good. Sometimes if you don't change the tire is can be hard to drive
Luz M.
Yes it is reasonable and I take it on road Trips often. It runs hot but that is easily fixed. It runs pretty good to have high mileage.
Mary M.

Is The 2001 Ford Explorer A Good Value?

I paid three hundred dollars for it and spend a few more hundred dollars registering it and buying accessories
Eric S.
2,000 for my Ford it is paid for so I owes me nothing really. Three years and 2 grand is not bad at all but my standard. Because cars can be expensive
Darlene A.
This model discontinued but it was a great value initially. The cost to operate is average over any period of time
Russell W.
We bought it used in 2014 and it was a good deal. I will not go into how much we spent and do not think you really need to know that.
Brittany L.
I think it costs around 5,000. I did not pour sease the car myself. It was my sister's car that I borrowed
Roxanne S.
I got mine for a lil less than 7,000 from a used dealership. I think it's an excellent value. Spacious and rides good on highway. Good for family.
Gina G.

Related Articles for 2001 Ford Explorer

From the Vehicle History blog

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Ford Explorer Cargo Space

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cost for a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport trac transmission replacement?

Answer: Replacing the transmission in Your 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is somewhat expensive and difficult to undertake. It can easily cost You between $850 and $1480 for parts alone. If You choose instead to have it...

What's the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport trac transmission type?

Answer: The 2001 Ford Explorer sport trac transmission type iS5-speed automatic or 5-speed manual. The transmission is one of the most important parts of the vehicle. You will come into problems at some point. The...

What might cause my 2001 Ford Explorer check engine light to come on?

Answer: There are a whole bevy of reasons You might have the check engine light (CEL) illuminate on Your 2001 Ford Explorer. The best thing to do here is find out what diagnostic trouble code is being thrown...

What is the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport trac starter relay location?

Answer: The starter relay in a 2001 Ford Explorer is found in the Power Distribution Box which is located on the driver side of the engine bay to the left of the brake master cylinder. The relay is in position 49 which...

What is the 2001 Ford Explorer Sport trac oxygen sensor location?

Answer: The 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac O2 sensors are located in the exhauSTSystem. There's going to be one before the catalytic converter and one after the catalytic converter.All cars that were manufactured...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety