TroubleCAR
83
Trouble

2000 Ford Explorer

Complaints: 952Avg mileage: 82,360 miSince: Oct 1999
4 deathsCrashFire106 injured

Problem Areas

Tires
142
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
77
Vehicle Speed Control
76
Tires:Tread/Belt
62
Electrical System
42
Air Bags
35
Engine and Engine Cooling
29
Engine: Gasoline
27
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
27
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
24

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

POWER TRAIN
140,000 miJun 19, 2014PITTSBURGH, PA
1 deathCrash2 injured

THE DAY OF THE FATALITY I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR AROUND 5 TO 10 MINUTES. I WAS ON AN UPGRADE,. (HOWEVER I HAD JUST RECENTLY HAD NEW BRAKES INSTALLED AND THE CAR WAS IN PARK). SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACK AT A FAST PACE KILLING THE BACK SEAT DRIVER THAT WAS IN THERE SEATBELT. AND INJURING MYSELF IN AN ATTEMPT TO HALT THE VEHICLE. *TR

TIRES
Aug 23, 2000JACKSONVILLE, FL
1 deathCrash2 injured

DRIVER WENT ONTO SHOULDER THEN BACK ONTO PAVEMENT, LOST CONTROL, TIRES DEBEADED AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DEATH OF BELTED PASSENGER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )

AIR BAGS
180,000 miOct 24, 2012SPRINGDALE, AR
1 deathCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH AND CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS KILLED. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE CRASH BUT AFTER REVIEWING SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE CRASH SITE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SECOND VEHICLE WERE NOT INJURED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
Jan 7, 2000WADSWORTH, OH
CrashFire

WHILE TURNING ONTO A SIDE ROAD AT NIGHT, CONSUMER ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS BLOCKING THE ROAD WITH NO LIGHTS ON. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS HELPING SOMEONE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TRIED TO SWERVE AND RAN INTO THE OTHER DRIVER'S LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY SMELLED A FUNNY SMELL. GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND ABOUT MINUTE LATER NOTICED A TRICKLE OF FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. TWO MINUTES LATER, THE WHOLE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT IMPACT. *AK *ML

AIR BAGS
Apr 25, 2024Saint Clair, MO
Crash1 injured

Driving at the correct speed limit swerved to avoid hitting deer that ran out into the road hit a covert had seatbelt on airbags came out before that something hit me in side of my right arm it hit my elbow so hard and fast my arm was flung outwards and upwards which broke out the passenger side window the top of my elbow is broken that gave me a large purple bruise I got 2 pretty good size gashes on my arm also one on the bottom of my forearm and on the back side of my arm. Refer to request 1500509 and Request 1500511.

SERVICE BRAKES
190,000 miMar 11, 2024Stockton, CA
Crash1 injured

The contact owned a 1999 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, and the brakes were depressed, the vehicle fishtailed crashed into a ditch and rolled two times. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained head, arm, and back, injuries and the passenger sustained head, neck, finger, and back injuries. Medical attention was sought. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

AIR BAGS
Feb 17, 2022Billings, MT
Crash1 injured

I was driving slowly (35mph), regular speed limit on that road is 60. Roads were snowy and icy, another vehicle driving extremely fast for the road conditions, started to swerve head on in to my lane, I swerved to avoid a head on collision. In doing so, I hit ice, started doing a 360, the front end and the drivers side door of my vehicle hit an irrigation ditch where it goes under a street, it caught my vehicle on the drivers side and I started rolling. I rolled 3 or 4 times and finally landed right side up. My roof was caved in and resting on the top of my head, shoulder and neck. However, none of my airbags deployed ( see pictures), even though I hit the irrigation ditch head-on. Vehicle can be inspected if needed. The vehicle is totaled as they had to cut the doors off to extract me. I have left head, shoulder, neck, abdomen and leg soft tissue damage since I kept slamming in to the steering wheel with no protection since my air bags did not deploy. I did have my seatbelt on.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
204,000 miJul 20, 2015MOKELUMME HILL, CA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS AND THE TACHOMETER INCREASED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE REVERSING FROM BEING PARKED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FROM A LOW SPEED TO OVER 40 MPH CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), AND 03V280000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,000. MA 10/15/2015 UPDATED 11/30/2017*CN

AIR BAGS
Feb 5, 2015LOS OSOS, CA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO CRASH INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EMITTED METAL, GLASS, AND FIBERGLASS FRAGMENTS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER, FACE, MOUTH, LEFT ARM, AND BREAST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/01/2015*LJ UPDATED 9/20/2017*CN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Dec 4, 2014ATLANTA, GA
Crash1 injured

200 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAD A SPEED CONTROL MODIFICATION, DUE TO A RECALL. *SS. THE CONSUMER STATED A WEEK LATER, HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED OVER. *JB

SEAT BELTS
57,000 miApr 22, 2009MAINER, TX
Crash1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AN ONCOMING VEHICLE BROADSIDED THE DRIVER SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL ONCE AND IT LANDED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO KEEP THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED. NO ONE WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE BUT THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AND THE PASSENGER WAS THROWN AROUND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS PRESENTED A SAFETY RISK AND DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY DURING THE CRASH. NO ONE OTHER THAN THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. SHE FRACTURED 5 RIBS ON HER LEFT SIDE AND HAD A HIMATOMA ON HER RIGHT ARM. BOTH PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AT SPEAKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 57,000. UPDATED 05/08/09 *BF UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO STAY LATCHED. UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
160,000 miJul 14, 2008ALTUS, OK
Crash2 injured

IN AVOIDANCE OF HITTING A COW, I ROLLED MY FORD EXPLORER AT LEAST 3 TIMES AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, FRONT NOR THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF WERE FORTUNATE TO COME OUT WITH MINOR INJURIES. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE HAVE NOT YET OFFERED TO SETTLE. *TR

STEERING
80,000 miDec 13, 2007PITTSBURGH, PA
Crash1 injured

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTERS 2000 FORD EXPLORER ON TEXAS 183 IN AUSTIN TEXAS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECOME VERY ERRATIC AND TURNED TO THE LEFT OVER TWO LANES INTO THE CENTER CONCRETE BARRIER. SHE HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING TO STRAIGHTEN THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMED THE VEHICLE ANTI-SKID COMPUTER TOOK CONTROL OF THE WHEELS. *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7,500 miNov 28, 2006SAN MATEO, CA
Crash1 injured

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 58 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR SIDE IMPACT COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES MADE MOSTLY BY THE SEATBELT THAT WAS WORN DURING THIS ACCIDENT. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT TOOK PICTURES, AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION AND REPAIRS. NO REPAIRS HAD CURRENTLY BEEN MADE.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT
100,000 miNov 16, 2005GREENFIELD, CA
Crash2 injured

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THIS, IN TURN, CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE BOUNCED BACK AND FORTH, SENDING THE OCCUPANTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE, UP AND DOWN, ALMOST CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVER TURN. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT HIT THE PAVEMENT , CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE OR THE TIRES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS LOCATED ON THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. NO POLICE REPORT TAKEN.*AK

STEERING:COLUMN
Oct 20, 2005RANCHO CORDOVA, CA
Crash1 injured

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING FAILURE ON HIS 2000 FORD EXPLORER WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE AFTER THE STEERING WHEEL CAME LOSE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FORD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. FORD SENT SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE , AND THEN TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER READ IN THE NEWS PAPER THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE 2000 EXPLORER FOR STEERING PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HIS ATTORNEY. THE VEHICLE IS BEING STORED AT THE FAMILY HOME IN CASE SOMEONE MAY NEED TO INSPECT IT. EVERY TIME THAT CONSUMER SPEAKS TO FORD, THEY KEEP TELLING HIM THAT HE WERE NOT GETTING ANY MONEY.*AK WHEN THE CNOSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, HE SWERVED AND THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 28, 2005GRANDVIEW, MO
Crash1 injured

ON JULY 8,2005 I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXIT RAMP TO GET ON TO 435 AND I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS SPEEDING UP WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON IT. I THEN TRIED TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND THAT WOULD NOT WORK. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AT STATLINE AND MY CAR THEN WENT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT AND WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR IS NOW A TOTALED OUT AND I ONLY HAD IT FOR 7 MONTHS. *JB

WHEELS
108,000 miJun 28, 2005WILLIAMSTON, SC
Crash1 injured

DT: 2000, FORD EXPLORER XLS, LEFT REAR WHEEL BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THE WHEEL PASSED THE CONSUMER AS THE VEHICLE WAS SWERVING TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER TOOK OUT 4 OR 5 CABLE BARRIERS, AND THEN BOUNCED BACK OUT TO THE INTERSTATE, THEN THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND HIT MORE CABLE BARRIERS, THEN, HIT ONE HEAD ONE AND THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE THIS. *AK THE LEFT REAR WHEEL (FACTORY ALLOY WHEEL) CAME APART AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL. THE CENTER OF THE FACTORY ALLOY WHEEL WAS STILL BOLTED WITH ALL 5 LUG NUTS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED . *TT *NM

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
57,000 miMay 13, 2005BLAKESLEE, PA
Crash1 injured

WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO A POLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SC *JB

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Dec 21, 2004MANNFORD, OK
Crash2 injured

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

Other Explorer Years

Other Ford Models