Is the 2001 Ford Excursion a bad year?
209 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Excursion years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2001 Ford Excursion are in line with other Excursion years. Tires stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2001 Excursion owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 41,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| TiresSTANDS OUT | 57 (27%) | 35k–56k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 20 (10%) | 41k–77k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 13 (6%) | 27k–62k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 49 (23%) | 88k–124k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 13 (6%) | 71k–138k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 12 (6%) | 61k–120k miles · ahead | — |
| Suspension | 14 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 41,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 209 complaints: 17 mention a crash · 19 mention a fire · 9 report an injury.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Dec 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Multiple times over the last several months my 2001 Ford Excursion with a 7.3-LITER diesel engine has cut out intermittently.
I have had two spark plugs eject from the cylinder head on my Ford excursion. The first plug ejected about three months ago.
The spark plug blew out of the engine. This causes damage to the head and blow the ignition coil to bits. After looking online this appears to be a very common problem.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 41,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2001 Ford Excursion: 7
The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn. A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Certain federal-mogul replacement wheel hub assemblies with the brand names: national, carquest p/nos. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, and 515060, shipped between january 23, 2006, and december 20, 2007, sold for light duty and medium duty trucks. Wheel separation can result in a vehicle crash.
On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with 7.3L diesel engines, the camshaft position sensor located on the engine of the vehicle may function intermittently, possibly resulting in an engine stall. In the event of an engine stall, a crash could result without warning.
On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat. Overheating could result in smoke or burn and an underhood fire.
Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. The inflator canister in the driver air bag module may have an inadequate weld near the igniter. In the event of a vehicle crash, the driver air bag may not deploy as intended, potentially resulting in reduced occupant protection, or a burn injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
NHTSA defect investigations: 7
Engine stalling
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Engine compartment fires
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Neighbouring years
2000 Excursion: 530 complaints, keep it · 2002 Excursion: 129 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Excursion year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2010 · All Excursion years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2001 Ford Excursion a bad year?
209 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Excursion years. At 41,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford Excursion?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: tires (57), transmission and drivetrain (20), brakes (13), engine (49), electrical system (13).
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford Excursion have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 09V-399), Wheels (NHTSA 07E106000), Engine (NHTSA 07V-553), Speed control (NHTSA 06V-286) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.