Page 7 of 20 · complaints 301–350 of 952

2000 Ford Explorer complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2000 record →

Steering › ColumnFire
Filed Mar 24, 200599,000 milesOH

WHILE DRIVING, SPARKS AND SMOKE STARTED COMING THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AREA AFTER USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY BUTTON RIGHT ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL WERE THE SMOKE CAME IN. *AK *SC *JB

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Mar 24, 200545,000 milesMI

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 20 MINUTES. THE LOCAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND INSPECTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICAL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 24, 2005PA

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 FORD EXPLORER TO WORK WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. IT COST $212.57 TO GET REPAIRED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP (VICTORY FORD). DEALERSHIP CALLED IT A "MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH".

Air Bags
Filed Mar 17, 2005IN

THE AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ON. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INFORMS THE CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT . OWNER WILL TAKE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Mar 16, 2005HI

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENABLED, CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PASS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. AFTER PASSING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 14, 2005101,000 milesNY

CRANKS HAFT CRACKED AND CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire1 injured
Filed Mar 8, 200573,000 milesCA

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING, ALTHOUGH CONSUMER HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. HAD TO CIRCLE THE GAS STATION 3 TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE RAN 3 RED LIGHTS BEFORE SHE COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE CONSUMER SLAMMED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK GOING 50MPH. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKES CAUGHT FIRE AND SHE WAS LUCKY THE FIRE PUT ITSELF OUT. *TC

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire1 injured
Filed Mar 8, 200573,000 milesCA

THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME STUCK. *JB CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING ALTHOUGH CONSUMER HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. HAD TO CIRCLE THE GAS STATION 3 TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKES CAUGHT FIRE BUT THE FIRE WENT OUT SOON AFTER. *NM

Electrical System
Filed Mar 5, 2005CO

NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH 2000 FORD EXPLORER XLS. WIPERS SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK, THE DSHBOARD GAUGES SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK (FUEL, OIL AND TEMP). IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERS NUMEROUS TIME BOTH IN AND OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS ACTUALLY STARTED WHEN THE VEHILCE WAS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OLD. NEVER HAS A DEALER BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. VERY FRUSTRATING. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Mar 4, 200570,000 milesIN

WHEN USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THE SIGNAL STOPS WORKING & SMOKE COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AROUND THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON AND FROM AROUND THE TURN SIGNAL ARM. THE SMOKE ALSO CAUSES VISABILITY PROBLEMS. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THERE IS A FIRE AND/OR DEATH AND FORD HAS MORE LAWSUITS ON THEIR HANDS!*AK

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Feb 22, 2005NC

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE MAKES A CLANKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE TAKES UP TO 2-5 SECONDS UPON CHANGING GEARS TO REVERSE. GOING UP HILL IT WILL DOWN SHIFT VERY HARD AS IF THE FLOOR BOARD IS BEING KNOCKED OUT. THE DIFFERENTIAL, AND REAR END WERE REPLACED. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › SwitchFire
Filed Feb 17, 2005PA

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASION THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL. CONSUMER STATES YOU COULD SMELL THE PLASTIC BURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM . THIS VEHICLE WA SNOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Feb 12, 2005110,000 milesMO

MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER RADIO LCD NO LONGER WORK THE RADIO WORKS FINE I JUST CAN NOT TELL WHAT TIME OR WHAT STATION ID NUMBERS ARE. *JB

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Feb 12, 200537,126 milesMI

IN MARCH OF 2004, I TOOK MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER XLT FOR GENERAL SERVICE, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE FRONT PINION SEAL, AND TORQUE CONVERTER SEALS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THANK THE LORD THAT I TOOK OUT AND EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED IT SEPT, 2002. THE REPAIRS WHERE COMPLETED, I ALSO TOOK IT BACK TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE THE WORK WAS DONE. ON 10/26/04 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN AGAIN FOR WORK TO BE DONE AND THE MECHANIC AGAIN FOUND THE FRONT PINION TO BE LEAKING, ALSO FOUND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NEEDED AND THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS CHATTERING. JUST SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION: THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY OWNED BY MY SISTER, WHEN I PURCHASED THE VECHICLE, SHE WAS TURNING IN HER 2 YEAR LEASE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE OVER IT ONLY HAD 11,681 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST REPAIRS WERE AT 37126 MILES, SECOND TIME MILES WERE 45721 MILES. I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL AREA'S ON THE VEHICLE THAT HAVE RUST. I CAN REMEBER A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE 3 MAJOR CAR COMPANIES TALKED ABOUT RUST NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. ONE OF THE PLACES WITH RUST IS ON THE RADIATOR SUPPORT. I JUST WONDER HOW FORD OR ANY OF OUR OTHER US CAR COMPANIES CAN EXPECT US TO KEEP BUYING INFERIOR PRODUCTS AND PAY ALOT MORE MONEY. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Feb 3, 2005CA

WHILE DRIVING, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCKED ON IT'S ON. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DRIVER HAS TO GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER'S DOOR TO GET INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Jan 27, 2005TX

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 17, 200556,469 milesOH

ON 12-27-04 OUR 2000 FORD EXPLORER STARTED TO SHIFT POORLY AND THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT STAYED ON, THE LIGHT SHOWS THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO OVER-DRIVE. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE TRANS. HAD A CRACK IN THE DRUM IN THE VALVE BODY OF THE TRANS. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED COST 2229.62 VEHICLE ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES. I LOOKED ON THE NET AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM TWO PEOPLE SAID IT OCCURRED TWICE SAME PROBLEM. TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 EXPLORER MY WIFE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE VERY CAREFULLY NEVER DOING ANYTHING BUT GOING TO WORK OR GOING GROCERY SHOPPING. I AM VERY MAD I THINK FORD IS MAKING A LOT OF JUNK THIS TRANNY FOR ONE. MAYBE FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS TRANNY. *JB

Air Bags
Filed Jan 14, 2005SD

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND REMAINED ON UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. *NM *SC *JB

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler
Filed Jan 2, 2005CA

FRONT SEAT HEATER BURNED PADDING MATERIAL AND LEATHER SEAT LINER. THE BURN HOLE WAS 2" IN LENGTH AND ABOUT 1/2" DEEP INTO THE CUSHION PADDING. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Jan 2, 200534,052 milesTX

MASTER CYLINDER ON 2000 FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Dec 29, 2004MI

PURCHASED FORD EXPLORER 2000 IN SEPT OF 04. FIRST THE CRUISE WENT OUT. FRONT TIRES LOOSES AIR ABOUT ONCE A WEEK HAVE TO FILL. STARTS HARD AND WILL NOT IDOL IN MORNINGS SPECIALLY WHEN COLD OUT SIDE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON TWICE, PURCHASED AT SEELYE WRIGHT KIA IN KALAMAZOO MI. CANNOT GET DEALER TO FIX VEHICLE. *NM

Air Bags › Side/Window
Filed Dec 29, 2004SD

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V179000; FORD ISSUED AN AIR BAG RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VIN IS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *JB *SC

Air Bags
Filed Dec 27, 200458,000 milesTX

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. VEHICLE DID NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH ANYTHING. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Dec 21, 2004OK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH AT 10 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/Cooler
Filed Dec 21, 2004IL

FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO DECEMBER 5TH, 2004, THE HEAT ELEMENT IN MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER DRIVER SEAT WOULD BECOME PAINFULLY HOT UNDER THE LEFT LEG NEAR THE TORSO TO THE POINT WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE MANUALLY TURNED OFF EACH TIME. IT WAS TURNED OFF AS IT BECAME PAINFUL, AND WE WERE CONCERNED WE WOULD BECOME BURNED AND WOULD THE SEAT CATCH ON FIRE. MY OTHER CONCERN FOR THIS IS SOMEONE, SUCH AS A DIABETIC, WITH NEUROPATHY WOULDN'T FEEL THE INTENSITY OF THE HEAT AND BECOME BURNED. 2) APPROX 2 WEEKS AFTER THE INITIAL EVENT THE SEAT LIGHT WILL COME ON BUT NO HEAT IS PRODUCED. WHY DID IT TAKE 2 WEEKS FOR THE ELEMENT (ASSUMED) TO BURN OUT? 3) THE CAR IS SCHEDULED TO GO TO AN INDEPENDANT MECHANIC AS I DO NOT TRUST FORD TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THE DEALER IS NOT CONCERNED THAT MY DRIVER AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AT WILL FOR DAYS OR WEEKS AT A TIME. THEY RECALLED THE 98 AND 99 MODELS FOR A TENSIONER PULLEY PROBLEM AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE '00 BUT THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $500 FOR THE REPAIR......MOST DEFECTS I TOOK IN FOR WARRANTY REPAIR REMAIN UNFIXED, (MOSTLY ELECTRICAL IN NATURE) INCLUDING A REAR WIPER THAT RARELY GOES ON, RADIO STATIONS AND CLOCK DISPLAY THAT OCCASIONALLY CAN BE SEEN AND A REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE THAT AFTER 5 ATTEMPTS (FORD WENT AGAINST THEIR ENGINEER RECOMMENDATIONS TO DO A RECALL) WILL UNLOCK WITH POWER LOCK BUT THE UNSUSPECTING OR IN A HURRY WILL JUST ABOUT RIP A HAND OFF TO GET IT OPEN.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Nov 29, 2004MD

WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE IT WILL NOT MOVE. CONSUMER HAS TO FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY DOWN BEFORE IT WILL MOVE.*AK

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Nov 15, 2004TX

1) INADEQUATE DRIVER'S SEAT LATCH - DRIVER CANNOT POSITION SEAT BACK PROPERLY; 2) RUNNING BOARDS RUSTING WITHOUT CAUSE; 3) ROOF RACK PEELING WITHOUT CAUSE, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS; FORD DEALERSHIPS CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THE RUNNING BOARD IS RUSTING OR THE REASON FOR THE ROOF RACK PEELING. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Nov 8, 2004CA

CRUISE CONTROL STICKS AND CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN SPEED. APPLICATION OF BRAKE, PRESSING COAST OR OFF SWITCH DOES NOT RELEASE OR STOP CAR FROM ACCELERATING. ONLY WAT TO STOP RUNAWAY ACCELERATION IS TO SHUT OFF IGNITION. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRD THREE TIMES OCTOBER 3RD, 16TH AND 25TH. THE DEFECTIVE CABLE WAS PART OF A FORD PROGRAM AND WAS REPLACED SEPTEMBER 5, 2003 AND FAILED AFTER THIRTEEN MONTHS.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2004105,000 milesCO

9 MONTHS OF SERVICE VISITS FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON WITH NO APPARANT CAUSE EXCEPT ONCE; CAR WOULD RIDE ROUGH AND SOMETIMES FELT LIKE IT WOULD STALL; TWO CRACKED ENGINES WOUDL CAUSED THE CAR TO NOT RUN IN THE MIDDLE OF A TRIP; HAD TO REBUILD THE CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS. *AK

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Hose, Piping, and Connections1 injured
Filed Oct 29, 200481,451 milesTX

MY 2000 V8 FORD EXPLORER EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS AND SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERABILTY, WHICH LED TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND INABILITY TO TURN A CORNER - AND VEHICLE RAN ACROSS TRAFFIC INTO FIELD ON OTHER SIDE OF ROADWAY. THE POWER STEERING HOSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECAME UNFASTENED DUE TO EVERYDAY VIBRATION, AND MOVED INTO A POSITION WHERE IT WAS RUBBING AGAINST ONE OF THE BELT PULLEYS (THE ONE NEAREST THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR). THIS CAUSED THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO RUPTURE, WITH IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I FEEL FORTUNATE TO HAVE MY WIFE STILL ALIVE AFTER THIS EPISODE OF POOR DESIGN. IF NOT FOR A SMALL BREAK IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC, SHE MAY WELL HAVE BEEN KILLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE A RIGHT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. SINCE THIS OCCURRED TODAY, I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Oct 22, 200444,430 milesIN

1) DRIVING THE VEHICLE NORMALLY IN EVERYDAY CONDITIONS. 2) THE VEHICLE DID NOT IDLE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS RELEASED, THE ENGINE DIED OUT LOSING ALL POWER, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. 3) THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND GASKET WAS REPLACED, PART # YU3Z-9F715-AA, OLD PART IS AVAILABLE.*AK

Tires › Tread/BeltCrash
Filed Oct 20, 200467,000 milesAZ

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THIS CAUSED A ROLL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 13, 200420,000 milesNJ

PURCHASED EXPLORER XLT WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. REPEATED PROBLEMS HOLDING GEARS, LACK OF POWER. TWICE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHICH WERE INCONCLUSIVE. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND EVENTUALLY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. NO PROBLEMS FOR FIRST EIGHT MONTHS WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT NOW WHEN TRAVELLING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE OVERDRIVE DIS-ENGAGES CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER. UPON RE-START OF CAR, PROBLEM SUBSIDES. THE CAR WAS EXAMINED AT THE DEALER TWO MORE TIMES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE AND NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash3 injured
Filed Oct 6, 200462,000 milesWA

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH.UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THREE PERSONS WERE INJURED, AND ONE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. A PRIVATE VEHICLE TRANSPORTED THE OTHER TWO. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *TC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Sep 20, 2004VA

WHILE REPLACING THE TIRES CONSUMER NOTICED THAT BRAKE LINE WORE OUT. AS RESULT, THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE ALSO WORE OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

Child Seat
Filed Sep 10, 2004AR

WHILE PLACING THE CHILD INSIDE THE CAR SEAT THE BOTTOM OF SEAT SHEARED OFF. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CATCH THE BOTTOM BEFORE HITTING THE FLOOR. THIS PUT THE CHILD IN DANGER. *AK

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Aug 20, 200419,000 milesOH

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHILE TURNING INTO HER DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. ON THE NEXT INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE THE FRONT END ALIGNED, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED THE BALL JOINT FELL OFF INTO THE MECHANIC'S HAND JULY 8, 2004. *LA ALL OF THE PROBLEMS HAD BEEN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. *SC *JB

Electrical System
Filed Aug 19, 200479,965 milesOH

WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL SMOKE COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 16, 2004SC

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER SWERVED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND HIT A GUARDRAIL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE WHICH HAD PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF HER. THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED DURING THE COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER NECK, HEAD AND HIP. THE VEHICLE RECLINER BOLT WAS RECALL AND REPLACED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT (RECALL # 03S04). *AK *NM

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Aug 11, 2004MA

THE TURNING LEFT SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

Exterior Lighting
Filed Aug 7, 200459,000 milesMA

THIS IS FOR A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHEN I TURN THE LEFT SIGNAL ON, EVERY FEW DAYS, THE SIGNAL LIGHT WILL STICK AND SMOKE WILL COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE HAZARD SWITCH. FORD REFUSES TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A FAULT IN THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH WAS RECALLED ON SEVERAL EXPLORERES (JUST NOT SPECIFICALLY MINE).*AK

Electrical System
Filed Jul 26, 200481,692 milesCA

THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. *NM THE HARNESS WIRES ALL SHORTED AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASH. THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED. THE SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES FAILED. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. THE RADIO BLINKERS AND LIGHTS FAILED. A BURNING SMELL CAME FROM THE DASH FREQUENTLY. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. *NM

Electrical System
Filed Jul 19, 200415,000 milesCO

LIGHTS FOR RADIO AND CLOCK HAVE GONE OUT- PERIODICALLY COME ON FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN DISAPPEAR. LIGHTS ARE OFF 99% OF TIME- FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR TWO YEARS. IT WAS RECOMMENDED I REPLACE THE RADIO AT MY EXPENSE, BUT I HAVE HEARD OF A NUMBER OF OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM- I THINK IT IS A DEFECT OF AN EXPENSIVE RADIO. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 19, 200443,000 milesNY

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION ON 2000 FORD EXPLORER.*MR COMPONENT'S WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 43000 MILES. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD EXPLORER THE CONSUMER HAS OWNED WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER SEEKS SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 15, 200440,000 milesNJ

CAR WOULD NOT START WITHOUT PRESSING GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. ONCE STARTED HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO PREVENT IT FROM STALLING. *LA

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jul 13, 200470,600 milesGA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED LNTERMITTENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Jul 12, 2004FL

IN EARLY 2002 I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FEELING SOFT AND PRACTICALLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NORMAL BRAKING AND THE PEDAL MADE A HISSING/VACUUM NOISE AT TIMES. FOR HARD BRAKING IT FELT LIKE THE SUV WOULDN'T STOP. I TOOK THE CAR FOR SERVICE ON 6/8/02 AT A FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH BLED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TOOK THE SUV BACK ON 11/9/02 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A VACUUM LEAK FROM THE POWER BOOSTER AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. PEDAL AND BRAKING WAS NORMAL AFTER THIS UNTIL RECENTLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FAILING AGAIN AS BEFORE. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. *LA

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 2, 200482,000 milesSC

WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER SAW A BLINKING OVER DRIVE LIGHT ON DASH BOARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jun 28, 2004CA

CONSUMER NOTICED REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, EVEN IF THE CHILD PROOF LOCKS ARE OFF. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Jun 24, 2004PA

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT FAILED TO STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER, DEALERSHIP PERFORMED HIGH BACK SEAT RECALL 03V281000 REPAIRS. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE SEAT, AND INDICATED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL BOLT THAT WAS REPLACED. IT MAY BE THE RACKET ASSEMBLY OR ONE OF THE SEAT FRAMES. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2000 Ford Explorer → · Every Explorer year → · How the figures are calculated →