Vehicle is stuck in 4-wheel low animal going to 4 wheel high or auto I

- Pollock Pines, CA, USA

The vehicle is subject to sudden unexplained acceleration while both in motion and stationary.

- Alameda, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle failed to shift into gear and accelerated independently without warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 176,000.

- Lynchburg, VA, USA

When the cruise control commanded considerably more throttle on an interstate at 60mph, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly took off at very high speed (85+mph and accelerating when I finally shut the ignition off). I attempted to disconnect the cruise control via off switch and using the brakes to no avail. I shut the ignition switch off and coasted to the shoulder safely. Attempted a re-start, and the engine appeared to start at full throttle. I raised the hood and found the throttle cable retaining had broken, and the cable assembly had been pushed out of its bracket by the cruise control servo's force. Once out of its bracket and pushed to nearly full throttle, the throttle return spring had hooked on the bracket (see attached image), preventing a return to idle from nearly full throttle. The plastic retaining tabs on the throttle cable had evidently been broken by the long-time force of the cruise control, possibly aggrivated by years heat from the engine. This is a dangerous design, depending on tiny plastic tabs as the only block to such sudden, uncommanded vehicle acceleration. The cruise control was not defective, but had instigated the condition my breaking the throttle cable retaining tabs over time. The attached photo shows the displaced throttle cable, with the spring hooked on the bracket, holding the throttle nearly full throttle. This could easily have resulted in a high speed crash. As a retired air force fighter Pilot and airline captain, I remained calm and worked the problem step by step to a safe conclusion, but a less disciplined driver in different traffic could have led to a different and tragic conclusion. A second photo shows the cable end missing the retaining tabs. A third shows the tiny plastic tabs on a new cable.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

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 204,000tl* 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.

- Mokelumne Hill , CA, USA

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

- Mokelumme Hill, CA, USA

200 Ford Explorer. Consumer states vehicle had a speed control modification, due to a recall.. the consumer stated a week later, her daughter was driving, and lost control of the vehicle and flipped over.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

2000 Ford Explorer went up in flames. Reported it right away to Ford and was given a case number. They told us to take it to a Ford dealer in the area. After months and months and months of getting no response we kept getting the run around then told that it had nothing to do with any defect. We recently got a recall letter from Ford for the exact thing that happened to this car causing it to go on fire and Ford will not respond. They say that the claim has been closed and that the original decision (which we never received) stands and they will not respond to us any longer. How can this be acceptable. See Ford safety recall #05S28 it is exactly what happened to the Explorer.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

I came home from dropping my son off at his school social. I heard some sparking noise. Unplugged my cell phone charger. I didn't know what it was at first. 1 minute later I saw smoke and flames coming from my hood. I jumped out the car and called fire department. Guys from the neighborhood put fire out. It started around the brake master cylinder. The cord that attaches to it. Later found out it is control deactivation switch. I'm trying to see who's responsible for repairing the vehicle. Wasn't informed about recall.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

The problem started with the drivers door it would not open, with the remote control, the actuator works but the door latch would not open after several weeks of having to open it with the keys I took the door panel open and spay some wd-40 and it started to open but as time when on the rear passenger doors have started to do the same, the child safety locks have got jam and now both doors are failing at one point the rear driver side door didn't open and I had to take it to a mechanic to get it to work but the problem still persists and now the front passenger door does not open it got stock and the handle to open the door has fallen off it has been such a frustrating problem and I went to find out how much it would cost for the parts and its going to cost about $87 per door not including the labor and it very frustrating I wish they do something about it also their was a recall for the cruise control I went to the dealer to get it fix, and they disconnected the cruise control I have call several times they say their is no openings and it has now been four years I have given up.

- Pleasanton, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact was driving 60 mph when the vehicle accelerated to 90 mph erroneously. The contact applied the brakes and the engine rpms increased excessively. The vehicle would not decelerate and the contact shifted into neutral in order to regain control of the vehicle. The engine was turned off as the failure occurred, causing the steering wheel to seize. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. As the contact started the vehicle to exit the dealer, the vehicle abnormally accelerated and crashed into a tree. There were no injuries and the vehicle was destroyed. The contact's insurance company was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 105,000.

- Okmulgee, OK, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport. The contact stated the vehicle had a moment of sudden acceleration. When the contact engaged the accelerator pedal and at 20 mph the vehicle started to accelerate on its own up to 60 mph. Smoke was also coming from the brakes because the vehicle would not slow down. The vehicle had to be placed in neutral in order to slow it down and turn it off. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer to determine the cause of failure. The current mileage was 115,000. Updated 01/24/12 the consumer stated he has since removed the cruise control servo unit that attached to the throttle body unit. Updated 01/25/12

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

On Monday my future son-in-law was driving my Ford Explorer and experienced the cruise control refusing to disengage while traveling at 70 mph. He tried to disengage the cruise control by braking and by turning it off. Neither worked. He tried to shift it into neutral only to have the engine rev to high RPM, so he put it back in gear and forced to car to stop using the brakes fighting the engine. Probably ruining the brakes in the process. I recently had my vehicle serviced as relating to a recall concerning the speed control deactivation switch. The switch was not replaced after a visual inspection.

- Metairie, LA, USA

2000 Ford Explorer has a delay in shifting on transmission, O/D off light flashing and car winds out in between gears... very costly so far and extremely dangerous!!!!!!!!!

- Colonie, NY, USA

My 2000 Ford Explorer XLT caught on fire for no apparent reason. My daughter and I were at a friend's house, we were in the process of backing out of the drive when smoke started coming from under the hood. I pulled the car off to the side of the road and put it in park and turned off the engine, the smoke got much worse. My daughter and I got out of the Explorer just as it was catching fire. We called 911, the car was a total loss. The whole incident is unbelievable, we are shocked. My insurance adjuster informed me that it wasn't uncommon and mentioned something about a recall on the cruise control. I bought my Explorer in Indiana, but have moved to Tennessee. I never received a recall, I'm still waiting on my insurance company to get back with me.

- Pigeon Forge, TN, USA

2000 Ford Explorer self ignited after being parked for 4 hours. Also caught car on fire that was in driveway ahead of it, landscaping, tv cable and outside corner of house.

- Wake Forest, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. After being parked for 20 minutes with the engine shut off, the front end of the vehicle burst into flames in the engine compartment. The fire department arrived and assisted in extinguishing the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle is still parked in the contact's driveway. He sent the manufacturer some requested documents. Ford explained that there was a recall on that vehicle for the cruise control, which was the cause of the fire. The contact stated that the recall repair had previously been performed; however, the failure still occurs. The vehicle was destroyed. The NHTSA campaign id number was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 79,000. Updated 11/26/08. Updated 12/01/08.

- Twin Bridges, MT, USA

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. While driving at an unknown speed, smoke appeared from the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and they disconnected the vehicle speed control. The dealer never mentioned if the smoke was due to the recall notice the contact received in August of 2007 for the vehicle speed control. He called several dealers during that nine month period, but there are still no parts available. The recall number was unknown. The current mileage was 111,000 and failure mileage was 96,000.

- Boston, MA, USA

2000 Ford Explorer with a possibility of a fire hazard. Consumer stated that Ford does not have the parts to repair this problem. Consumer would like this problem solved in a timely manner.

- Troy, NY, USA

August 2007 I received a letter from Ford Motor Co. Notifying me of a defect in the speed control deactivation switch in my 2000 Ford Explorer. September 2007 I had the nearby dealer disconnect the switch per notice. As of today, April 16, 2008, the speed control has not been repaired in a "reasonable time". each time we call the dealer, we get the same answer "the part has not been received yet". I've driven 7 months without use of the speed control in my vehicle. I would really like to know when Ford intends to get this part out to their dealers so that this problem can be fixed properly. This is ridiculous having to wait this long for a part that Ford has known about for a while.

- Painted Post, NY, USA