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2001 Ford Excursion Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2001 Ford Excursion has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Spark plug ejection from cylinder head.” Ford uses the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor (IOLM) to determine when oil changes are due based on actual driving load — not just mileage. Ford's published cap is 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever comes first. The schedule below reflects Ford's Normal service intervals; F-Series trucks and Super Duty have additional towing-specific items.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2001 Ford Excursion.

Reported to NHTSA

Spark plug ejection from cylinder head

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

27 NHTSA complaints · 2005-03 → 2015-09

“WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO-LANE COUNTRY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A LOUD EXHAUST SOUND STARTED COMING FROM THE ENGINE. A VISUAL INSPECTION REVEALED THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD BEEN BLOWN COMPLETELY OUT OF THE ENGINE AND THE COIL AND WIRE HAD BEEN DAMAGED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10322847
“2001 FORD EXCURSION: ACCELERATED AFTER TURNING A CORNER AND A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. HAD BEEN HIGHWAY DRIVING FOR 60 MILES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE ENGINE STILL RAN BUT DID NOT RUN SMOOTHLY. THE THREADS WERE DAMAGED AND A NEW PLUG COULD NOT BE INSERTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10162092
“I HAVE HAD TWO SPARK PLUGS EJECT FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD ON MY FORD EXCURSION. THE FIRST PLUG EJECTED ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO. ON THE 24TH OF FEBRUARY 2008 A SECOND SPARK PLUG EJECTED THE CYLINDER HEAD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10219317

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tire tread separation and blowout

TIRES

44 NHTSA complaints · 2001-08 → 2015-10

“I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD EXCERSION, WITH MY WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS, ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE LEFT REAR FIRESTONE STEELTEX AT TIRE BLEW OUT AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE TRED SEPERATING FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10126624
“CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED THEN THE TIRE BLEWOUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. THE DEALER WAS BEEN NOTIFIED (FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX AT, SIZE P265/75R16). *AK *SCC *NLM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10033541
“WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE, STEET TEX, AT#P265 75R16. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10031300

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake pull and warped rotors

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

8 NHTSA complaints · 2001-08 → 2003-12

“WHEN APPLYING BRAKES HARD, VEHICLE SWERVES LEFT OR RIGHT MAKING CONTROL VERY DIFFICULT. ON TWO OCCASIONS COULD NOT STAY IN LANE. HAVE HAD IT IN DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST 5 TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #763265
“WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE PULLS EITHER TO LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER TURNED ROTORS AND REPLACED BRAKE PADS, CHECKED WHEEL ALIGNMENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #894109
“THE ROTORS ON MY 2001 FORD EXCURSION KEEP WARPING AND REQUIRED PERIODIC TURNING AND/OR REPLACEMENT. AS OF 40,000 MILES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CALIPER & ABS SENSOR FAILED, SEIZING THE FRONT WHEEL AND CAUSING AND INCIDENT ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD. *JB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10014071

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic transmission second-gear shift failure

POWER TRAIN

10 NHTSA complaints · 2001-12 → 2005-04

“CONSUMER WAS UPSET THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 55,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AND TOWING A BOAT LOST SECOND GEAR. VEHICLE REVVED HIGH WHEN HE WAS IN FIRST GEAR. THEN IT WOULD SKIP SECOND GEAR AND GO INTO THIRD GEAR. ALSO, OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10087732
“WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEVER SHIFTED FROM SECOND GEAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC STATED VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10044765
“I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXCURSIONS, WITH ONLY 54,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE OVERHAULED DO TO A DEFECT THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT AND CHANGED IN NEWER MODELS THAT CAUSE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SKIP SECOND GEAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10032990

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Seat belt unlatching or failing to latch

SEAT BELTS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2001-06 → 2014-05

“DRIVER SEAT BELT UNLATCHES ON OCCASION AFTER BEING FULLY ENGAGED. SIMILAR TO THE SITUATION THAT RESULTED IN A RECALL IN 2001. WE DID TAKE THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME FOR THE RECALL. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10586863
“SAFETY BELT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF MIDDLE BENCH WILL NOT LATCH. THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE PART WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #767285
“SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE KEEPS COMING UNLATCHED. SEAT BELT HAS TO BE FORCED TO KEEP FROM COMING LOOSE. CONTACTING DEALER. *AK DEALER REPLACED. *SLC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #891259

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Camshaft position sensor failure with engine stall

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

9 NHTSA complaints · 2002-02 → 2011-06

“WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION ZONE ON A TWO LANE ROAD WITH CONCRETE BARRIERS, MY FORD TRUCK EQUIPPED WITH A 7.3L POWERSTROKE DIESEL ENGINE, SUDDENLY QUIT, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO COAST TO A STOP WITH NO ENGINE POWER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10189619
“DRIVING DOWN RURAL ROAD, 60 MPH IN OUR 2001 FORD EXCURSION DIESEL. ENGINE JUST DIED. NO BRAKES, LIMITED STEERING. TURNS OUT TO BE A PART CALLED A CPS (CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10147372
“CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP. *AK *JB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8003909

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Cruise control deactivation switch fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

6 NHTSA complaints · 2005-09 → 2018-06

“ON AUGUST 15TH I DROVE MY 2001 FORD EXCURSION TO GET A HAIRCUT IN THE MORNING. THEN ON THE WAY BACK I STOPPED AT LITTLE CEASERS PIZZA FOR MY KIDS. SOON AFTER THAT I CAME HOME AND PARKED MY 2001 EXCURSION IN MY BACK YARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10199753
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE SMELL OF SMOKE WAS PRESENT BUT NO OTHER INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED OFF THE ROAD WHERE A FIRE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS IMMEDIATELY EXTINGUISHED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10158147
“A PASSERBY KNOCKED ON OUR FRONT DOOR LETTING US KNOW OUR 2001 FORD EXCURSION PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WAS SMOKING. WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WHILE WAITING FOR THEM, DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES TO SHUT OFF ANY POWER TO THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10135667

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bags not deploying in collision

AIR BAGS

6 NHTSA complaints · 2002-05 → 2008-02

“WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH AS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8016014
“WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8017441
“FRONT IMPACT AT 40 MPH, VEHICLE ROLLED, THEN SLID INTO A DITCH. CONSUMER SUFFERED SPINE INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*JB *SLC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #8009030

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 7,500 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic Motorcraft oil per the IOLM, or every 7,500-10,000 miles. EcoBoost engines require full synthetic; Coyote 5.0L V8 specifies SAE 5W-30.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 10,000 mi

Rotate tires every 10,000 miles, or with every other oil change. F-150 4x4 owners should rotate every 5,000-7,500 miles to even out drivetrain bias wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid level every 10,000 miles. Front pads on F-150 and Explorer typically last 40,000-60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Ford specifies brake fluid replacement on an inspection basis, but moisture testing every 3 years is recommended. Replace if reading exceeds 3% water content.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. EcoBoost turbocharged engines are sensitive to airflow restriction — don't extend.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 150,000 mi

Ford 6R80, 10R80, and 8F transmissions use Mercon LV fluid rated 150,000 miles under normal service. Severe service (towing, plowing) drops this to 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD models)

Every 60,000 mi

On 4x4 models, replace transfer case fluid every 60,000 miles. Use Motorcraft XL-12 — do not substitute generic transfer case fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 100,000 mi

F-Series and Expedition: replace rear axle fluid every 100,000 miles, or 50,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip rear ends require friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs on Coyote 5.0L, EcoBoost 2.7L/3.5L, and 2.3L are rated 100,000 miles. EcoBoost engines: never exceed the interval — gap erosion causes coil failure.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

Motorcraft Orange (Dex-Cool compatible) coolant: first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000. Older trucks with Yellow Motorcraft coolant: 50,000 miles throughout.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 20,000 miles. On F-150, located behind the glove box; on Escape and Explorer, accessed from the passenger footwell.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

88 crashes 1990–2024

How the 88 occupant deaths break down

40

driver deaths

48

passenger deaths

88

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2001 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

17

complaints mentioning a crash

19

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2001 Ford Excursion reflects Ford's published service intervals and the Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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