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CarComplaints.com Notes: Well, it's not a 2002, so it's got that going for it.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,303 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2000 Ford Explorer miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2000 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #24

May 132021

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Just following. Instructions for recall issue with this make and model

- Hartford, CT, USA

problem #23

Jan 012018

Explorer

  • 170,000 miles
Vehicle is stuck in 4-wheel low animal going to 4 wheel high or auto I

- Pollock Pines, CA, USA

problem #22

Oct 312018

Explorer

  • miles
The passenger door stopped locking, one of the seats belts is missing the cover to click the belt

- Ossining, NY, USA

problem #21

Aug 162015

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving slightly uphill in stop and go traffic, off exit 16 on the palisades parkway, due to a controlled stop set up by police to check inspection and registration. I saw smoke around my vehicle, so I looked at my instrument panel to see if my car was overheating. My instrument panel indicated nothing was wrong. When I looked up, an officer was motioning for me to pull over saying my car was on fire. I quickly pulled over, turned off the car, got in the back seat to get my 1 year old daughter out of her car seat, and exited the vehicle. My wife quickly got out of the passenger seat and exited the vehicle. We were told to get far away. Two police officers tried to put out the fire with extinguishers, but were unable to get the hood open. We were out of the car no more than 5 minutes when it was entirely engulfed in flames. Fire trucks arrived approximately 10 minutes later, by then the car was completely destroyed.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #20

Oct 292003

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 36,000 miles
I purchased the Ford Explorer XLT in October 2000 and within three years the transmission went of service. I took the vehicle to Ford company to see whether or not the vehicle was able to be repaired under the warranty and I was told that the vehicle was not under warranty because it over 36,000 miles and three (3) years has elapsed. I then took the vehicle to amaco co. To repair the vehicle with my personal expenses at $2,000. They provided at one (1) year 12, 000 miles warranty. Within two years the transmission went out again and I had to take it to another transmission company because I did not have a warranty anymore. I took the vehicle to a auto shop to service the transmission again and was given after the repair an one (1) year warranty at 12,000 miles. Three years later the transmission went out again in 2014 and now I had to have the vehicle repair for transmission failure. Now again the vehicle was repaired and given a one (1) year warranty at 12, 000 miles. Now we are in 2015, the transmission is requiring repair for the fourth time. This vehicle has been a lemon from the beginning first with the Firestone tires and now with the transmission. I cannot afford to repair this vehicle, it is at 293,500 miles. I have contacted Ford company several times to no resolution. Ford company has indicated that the vehicle is not under warranty and that there is nothing they can do. They indicated that the national highway and safety must deem the vehicle to be a lemon, have sufficent customer complaints and move forward to have a national recall. Based on internet findings the year 2000 to 2004 of Ford explore's has had many issues with the transmission. Ford company has refused to perform a "goodwill" gesture on repairing this lemon. This is unacceptable that now I have replaced and repaired this transmission three (3) times within the span of 8 years.......updated 12/10/15

- Roosevelt, NY, USA

problem #19

Mar 272014

Explorer

  • 147,000 miles
Before my transmission went out my over drive would flash then my 4wheel drive stopped working. I had the 4wheel drive switch replaced and everything was fine until I went to sacramento. After taking care of my eddie bauer Explorer having the transmission flushed and filled on a regular basis. While leaving sacramento stopped at a chevron to fill up before heading back up to Tahoe. As im leaving the gas station all of the sudden there's a loud crunch of metal sound coming from under my car and it wont kick into any gear. Had to have it towed and after reading the thousands of complaints from other owners about their exploders doing the sme thing I figured I would complain. Im tired of big companies screwing the little people over who purchase their products when they are perfectly able to fix it. Shame on U Ford.

- South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA

problem #18

Oct 112007

(reported on)

Explorer 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Customer states that Ford unplugged the cruise control and did not fix it. She stated that they will not have the part until December.

- Randolph, AL, USA

problem #17

Aug 012007

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles
Dealer letter stating to take to local dealership to have recall fixed. Letter was sent in August and each time I've taken my vehicle to be repaired, which has been at least three times, there were no parts available. It's now October 4, 2007 and I called to check on the status of parts and the dealership says mid November to early December. My question is this, if my car catches on fire because they never get parts, will Ford replace my vehicle at their cost?

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #16

Jul 252006

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,200 miles
On July 25 my 2000 Ford 4WD Explorer XLT caught on fire (per finding of bexar county fire inspector) sitting in my garage and destroyed the vehicle, garage, all its contents and all the surrounding trees and landscaping. The car had been driven 5 miles about 30 minutes before the fire started. There was no Ford recall on the Explorer and there still isn't.

- Helotes, TX, USA

problem #15

Feb 012005

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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".

- Reinholds, PA, USA

problem #14

Sep 082003

(reported on)

Explorer

  • 63,074 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving 35 mph the spare tire that was mounted underneath the vehicle fell off into the road and vehicle ran over it. The dealer has been contacted.

- St. Ann, MO, USA

problem #13

Mar 302003

Explorer 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles
When I bought my 2000 Ford Explorer XLT 4dr the radio display on the mach rds cd/tape radio did not light up. The dealer said he fixed it and indeed it worked for about five minutes after I drove off his lot. I did some research into this problem and have discovered that it is a common problem with this type of oem radio. Supposedly, fixes are available from technicians advertising on ebay or at this internet site: www.shareamemory.com/radio/ (the radio pictured at this site is exactly the one I have). I am a qualified electronics technician and discovered the details of the suggested do-it-yourself repair from an internet news group. I followed the procedure to reflow the solder joints on the smt resistors and common grounds on the diplay driver board but it did not fix the problem. I quess I will be sending my radio off for "questionable" repairs from one of those ebay technicians gettting rich off of Ford's poor quality radio. This is a known common problem, yet the Ford Motor Company refuses to recognize it as such and make the neceassary repairs free of charge (or even at a reasonable cost).

- New Ipswich, NH, USA

problem #12

Feb 122003

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,000 miles
Leakage around the back window.

- Canton, GA, USA

problem #11

Jul 162002

Explorer

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving and with no warning, the left rear tire sidewall started to separate, causing a tire blowout. Dealer notifed. Size P235 175R15, dot6#M6hlfnwr2801. The vehicle started to sway to the left-2 times. The consumer's husband then started to decelerate, and on the third time the left rear tire exploded. The vehicle was very difficult to control, and damage was done to the panel(vent peelings), and the tires/rims needed to be replaced. (other) problems in detail are as followed: The wheel/tires were out of round, there was a vibration from the drive shaft, steering/excessive tire wear, and the engine thermostat is sticking.

- Edinburg, TX, USA

problem #10

Dec 132001

Explorer

  • miles
Engine check light comes on frequently. Ford says is normal and over 100 things could cause it. Service people say loose gas cap or fill while running could cause. Charged $86 to run test to determine nothing is wrong.gas cap might have been left loose after fill...Ford has a significant, frequent problem with engine light and should be responsible to take care of these nuisance instances without charge to customers...especially while under warranty.

- Wayzata, MN, USA

problem #9

Dec 152000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
When starting vehicle temp gauge does not read, check gauge & engine light come on. Must wait at least 5 mins for temp to come up. Reported to fmc they state normal must wait for warm up before driving.

- Hockessin, DE, USA

problem #8

Dec 162000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Bought car new 1/2000. 5/2000 noticed sidewalls turning brown and very bad handling on road bumps. Shortly thereafter noticed that on dirt roads (normal country road driving, not off-road) car tended to slide out on corners, and jerk to side if bump not symmetrical. Brought to Ford's attention, told them I thought the suspension was incompetent. When the recall was announced, bought Michelin tires. They have not turned brown, and the safety/handling was immensely improved. Something is wrong with the Firestone tires, which I still have, and the Explorer suspension. (dot number: Vdcu 1px tiresize: 255/70R16)

- Belmont, MA, USA

problem #7

Oct 252000

(reported on)

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
Shortly after purchasing the vehicle the left rear window began leaking during the rain. After two repairs the luggage rack was replaced and the seals around the windows were replaced. The tail light casings began to collect water after the second repair. After close inspection the case surrounding the tail lights were rusted. I have had the vehicle at the dealership 4 times for the leaking and it has not been fixed. Water is gettiing into the electrical system of the vehicle through the tail lights. I have also taken the truck in 3 times for a grinding noise when braking. The dealer reported that it was an issue with the rotors and the problem was fixed. The brakes continue to grind during braking at slow speeds as well as fast braking. The lights and windows in the back of the vehicle are leaking to the point that the vehicle smells musty because of the water leaks. The dealer will not do anything about the water damage or the leaking. I am concerned that this will short out the electrical system on the vehicle and possibly result in a fire. I have asked for a representative from Ford to inspect the vehicle and the dealer refuses. I have also contacted the customer assistance center for Ford Motor Company. Please provide assistance with this issue.

- Fraser, MI, USA

problem #6

Aug 182000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
1st failure: Transmission would not downshift. Engine check engine & O/D lights on. Dealer replaced all electronic trans components + valve assembly. 2nd failure: 2 months later transmission slipping, would not engage any gear. Fluid leaking apparently from cooling line.

- Kingman, AZ, USA

problem #5

Jun 162000

Explorer 4WD

  • miles
While driving SUV up steep grade, it started to sputter. When crossiing 4 lane highway, it stalled and the "check engine light" came on. Restarted and continued to stall several times. Finally after several start / stalls it quit completely and would not restart. Took to nearest (was 2 hours from home) Ford dealership and found nothing wrong with it after it finally would start. I don't feel safe in this SUV at all. I have to 2 small children and am afraid to take another vacation in it!

- Clarksburg, WV, USA

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