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

8.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,210
Average Mileage:
96,050 miles
Total Complaints:
33 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (15 reports)
  2. fixed at repair shop (10 reports)
  3. replace transmission (8 reports)
2000 Ford Explorer transmission problems

transmission problem

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2000 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #33

Jan 082010

Explorer XLS 4.0L Ohv

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

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

The Ford transmission sucked. Its a pain in the butt not being able to travel and explore because I can't rely on leaving the state with my car!

- lacross3104, Fort Worth, TX, US

problem #32

Mar 122014

Explorer XLS 4,0 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

I had seen others with the same problem and the frustration they had to go through because of Ford not acknowledging their mistake. Transmissions should not go out at these low miles.

- crea, belleville, IL, US

problem #31

Mar 222013

Explorer XLT 4.0L Sohc

  • Automatic transmission
  • 195,000 miles

My Explorer which i owned since 2004 when I purchased used with low miles the transmission failed when I

notice the overdrive light started blinking and the started to slip. It's scheduled to be repaired by my mechanic

at the cost of $1,780. Now it gets better back in 2007 the engine had to be replaced when the timing chain jumped and bent the valves now that was caused by fords great idea of a plastic chain guide plastic what are they kidding ? what a disgrace of a designed. I'm amazed of the amount of complaints that explorers have received especially the transmission. My mechanic was surprised the amount of years I got of the transmission. I will never by another explorer again. Has anyone ever filed a class action lawsuit against ford ?

- jcollora, West Caldwell, NJ, US

problem #30

Feb 282011

Explorer ES 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,000 miles

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

This is my wife's vehicle, the 2nd Ford we have owned. The previous was a 1998 Ford Ranger pickup. When she had problems with it, quite often she was told that because she was a woman, she didn't understand the vehicle and it was "all in her head". My wife started complaining about the transmission at the 50,000 mile checkup. Was told by service writer that the transmission was a sealed system not needing service until 100,000 miles. Problems got worst and at the next oil change she again told them about the slipping and hard shifting. Their response again was that it was a sealed system and these were no big deal, nothing to worry about. The problems again got worse and because it was almost at the end of the 5 year warranty we told them about the problems but they couldn't find anything wrong.

When the car's "check transmission" light went on, we had it towed to the dealership. They did find a problem, the sump pan was filled with shredded metal and it needed a new transmission ($4800.00!!). It is just 1 month out of warranty and they offered no help towards the cost. How can a transmission shred itself in 1 month? This was a long term problem which should have been acted on back at the 50,000 mile mark. As yet we don't know what we are doing because we can't afford this and we feel that the dealership is responsible for the repair as it failed during the warranty period.

- Jerry P., Bensalem, PA, US

problem #29

Jan 012012

Explorer 2.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 132,000 miles

RPMs accelerate, starts out in 3rd gear, O/D off light flashing

- Christine L., Alamogordo, NM, US

problem #28

Jun 152011

Explorer XLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,570 miles

THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS!!! BEEN TAKEN CARE OF REGULAR OIL CHANGES, NEW TORE, BATTERIES LIKE NEW IT IS 2000 AND ONLY HAS 89,570 MILES.

ALL OF A SUDDEN TH O/D STARTED FLASHING AND IT LEFT ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, NOT FORWARD NOT BACKWARD. THERE ARE A MILLION COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BUT I CALLED FORD MOTOR AND THEY DO NOT STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT THEY SAID FIX IT AND IF THERE IS A RECALL AT SOMETIME SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS, TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST FORD ON A TOW TRUCK AGAIN SO THEY CAN GIVE YOU A DIAGNOSTIC, HOW MUCH WILLTHAT RUN ME??? THEY DON'T KNOW DEPENDS ON THE DEALER, YES I AM RICH I TOLD THEM.

- moraimag, Ardmore, OK, US

problem #27

Aug 042011

Explorer LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 186,000 miles

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

The O/D light flashed, the engine skipped sputtered, and it stalled when I put on the gas. Then the car just would not go any more at all. The transmission stopped working while driving down the road.

- caltuck, Charlotte, NC, US

problem #26

Jan 202006

Explorer XLS 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,900 miles

Purchased this 2000 ford explorer used with 55,000 miles. Luckily I purchased an extended warranty at the time of purchase that covered the drivetrain until the vehicle reached 95,000 miles. The transmission went out at 94,500 or so miles in jan/feb 2004. Here we are in oct. 2010, with 143,000 miles, and the transmission is starting to slip and mis-shift once again! Not to mention rear interior door handles and locks that no longer work! I'm done with American cars (which aren't actually even made here)!

- sergios, Lynnwood, WA, US

problem #25

Sep 132009

Explorer V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

The OD light started flashing and the transmission started slipping. I had my five year old daughter in the car and she was terrified. I did make it home and my husband looked at this and could not find the transmission dip stick. We checked the manual and found there is no dip stick. My husband and a mechanic friend of his said they had NEVER heard of such and it must be another way for Ford to get these vehicles back into the dealership for service. I have been the main driver of this vehicle and have enjoying driving it but now I just want to get rid of it and NEVER buy Ford again. The vehicle has 86,000 miles and a transmission should last a lot longer than this.

- Paula E., Brentwood, TN, US

problem #24

May 202009

Explorer Sport 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,000 miles

I don't think I will ever buy another Ford. Barely 80k miles and the transmission dies. Luckily I was able to ease it over to a repair shop where I found out that it would be 2300 dollars to fix. The O/D light was flashing too. I'm told the overdrive, which I've never used caused the whole thing to fail.

- William B., Cayce, SC, US

problem #23

Apr 032009

Explorer Sport 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

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

What a piece of crap! I didn't even get to 100,000 miles. I feel completely ripped off! What a bunch of crooks! My next vehicle will be a foreign import or a Saturn. I think American car companies are a bunch of lazy, over-paid, crooks who don't deserve to be bailed out. They deserve to fail just as they create their cars to perform!

- catbarak, Brooklyn, NY, US

problem #22

Mar 012009

Explorer XLS 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

I have a 2000 Explorer and I have heard of 5 other Explorers, same year, having the same transmission failure.

- jemery, Meredith, NH, US

problem #21

Jan 102009

Explorer XLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles

So all of a sudden, out of no where, my transmission misses 3rd gear. It came with out any warning. Luckily I was about 1mile away from home. I took my pos exploder to 3 different mechanic shops and not one of them could figure out how to check the tranny fluid. Get frickin design ford!! So I got it into a transmission shop today...where the guy informs me that he has had 5 (yes I said 5) 02 exploders and/or mountaineers in his shop in the last week! all for tranny failures! Isn't that wonderful! But it gets better...I called the local ford dealership and talked to the mechanic there and he says to me "I don't know what your talking about ma'am, I can't recall ever having a 02 ford explorer in here that had a transmission problem, but you really should take your vehicle to a dealership, not an independent shop." I should have told him to kiss my ass, but I didn't. So, after all these complaints and issues with exploder transmissions, ford still does not do any recalls or offer any kind of compensation. And then people wonder why ford is going under?? I will never buy another ford again and I wouldn't recommend that you don't either.

- Trisha S., Midland, MI, US

problem #20

Mar 152002

Explorer XLT 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles

My transmission went out of this dung heap before the thing was off of warranty. That was one of numerous problems that I had with the thing even before the warranty expired. The stereo had to be replaced almost immediately and the driver's door never sealed properly even after several attempts by the dealer to fix it. I bought this thing brand new and I will tell you that I will never ever purchase a Ford or Ford related vehicle again. It blew one head gasket and I'm sure that it has blown a second one. The spark plugs keep fouling out and it overheats. The stabilizer bars underneath had to be replaced and the plugs and spark plug wires have been replaced numerous times. The O2 sensor has gone out at least 3 times and I'm thinking 4 is more accurate. The transmission has now gone out for the second time. It has 137,000 miles on it and has been taken care of. I have never towed anything with it and it hasn't been driven hard. I contacted Ford's "customer care" division and they told me that Ford would do nothing about it. Recently, I saw a couple trying to leave a store parking lot in their Ford Exploder and one of the rear wheels kept locking up on them. I thought, "I share your pain, buddy! I made the mistake of buying a Ford, too!" I have always been very conscious of buying American made vehicles due to loyalty to American workers and American companies. Thanks to Ford ingenuity, I no longer feel that loyalty. I have a friend who drives a Honda SUV and has over 175,000 miles on it. Other than routine maintenance, she hasn't had to do anything to it. Nothing. I tell everyone that I come into contact with to never buy a Ford. They're whining now because they're not making it financially. During all of this bailout hoopla, I contacted one of my U.S. senators to tell him that I opposed the bailout. I also told him that with the discussion about the "Big Three" CEOs going to Washington in their private jets the first time and then in an ACT of contrition carpooled in a hybrid the second time that they should have taken my Explorer. They'd have never made it. I doubt that they would have even gotten out of Detroit with it. Fortunately, a very sweet little lady backed into my driver's door about a year ago and the door had to be replaced. It finally seals up and I don't freeze to death in it during the winter months! Ford has long known that they have had transmission problems with the things. Add my name to the class-action lawsuit!

- donewithford, Sioux Falls, SD, US

problem #19

Dec 012008

Explorer 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 107,000 miles

ok so many f you have already herd the story well all i have to say is..seriously ford is the wackest fu(king car company ever always finding ways to screw you over and taking advantage. its bull$hit. "I hate ford" my trans was supposedly bran new it had 4miles yes FOUR miles on it from the dealer so i get it home about109 miles later it wont go into 3rd and the o/d light is blinking. so i very very fu(kin slowly cruse back to the a week later, mind you and what to they say well we cant be responsible for any off road use because i had some mudd from my job site on it any ways i fixed it but..excuses are like a$$holes they always stink and nobody likes them

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z60/ds70chevynascarlo/Ford.jpg

- cozart, We, CA, US

problem #18

Oct 282008

Explorer XLT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,000 miles

Well first let me say I love my truck (Dora) she hasn't given me much of a problem since I bought her used in 04. I of course had minor repair problems like brakes and taillights and things of that nature but nothing over a couple hundred bucks. That is until the other day when I backed out of the driveway to go to work and there was the noise, anyone who has ever had a transmission go out knows the noise. Anyway I dont like taking her to Ford dealerships because they all suck. So I go to several mom and pops, they suck to so right now my car is at AAMCO. They seem to be taking their time doing things right but its still gonna cost upwards of 1800 to fix. Ford should really fix this problem. With the Explorer being the top selling SUV in the country you would think they would put quality parts inside it. ATTENTION everyone with an Explorer, service your vehicle two times more often than suggested or go get a Chevy.

- J B., Lexington, KY, US

problem #17

Jun 202007

Explorer 4DR LX 4x4 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,000 miles

O/D Light coming on. took to repair shop to get codes and drop the trans pan. Paid $300 for changing fluid/ filter plus new plug wires (told me that could be why it is "skipping"). O/D light still flashing on and off. Trans slips between 2nd and 3rd. I believe O/D is out? Trans shop says $2500 to fix.

- R B., Acworth, GA, US

problem #16

Oct 202005

Explorer Eddie Bauer V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

The O/D light started flashing until the engine was restarted and once in a while the engine would rev between gears without engaging. Several times after backing up it would not go into gear and would just rev up and go nowhere. The transmission shop said that sometimes it only costs 600 or so if you take it in early enough but the bill was close to 3000 because the thing ground itself to pieces quickly once it started downhill. The transmission guy said there is a kit upgrade that has much better quality hydraulic parts that will last longer, but no one tells you about this until it costs you 3000 for a complete rebuild. He went on to say that he gets a lot of Rangers and Explorers in with this problem. The torque converter ate itself 30K miles later and cost 1800 even with a 30% discount, what a piece of junk.

- Stanley W., Kirkland, WA, US

problem #15

Feb 112008

Explorer 4DR XLT 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

HI, I BOUGHT A 2000 EXPLORER FROM A PRIVATE SELLER SINCE MY WIFE NEED NEW CAR. I PAID $4500 FOR THIS TRUCK AND THE MAN SAID IT DRIVES GOOD SO I TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OKAY. I PAID FOR THE TRUCK AND MY WIFE WAS SO EXCITED CAUSE IT LOOKS SO NICE AFTER DRIVING FOR 20 MINS. IN THE FREEWAY THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT START FLASHING BUT THE TRUCK SEEMS TO DRIVE FINE. BUT I WAS TRYING TO PUSH THE SWITCH NOTHING HAPPEN SO BEFORE I WENT HOME I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP AND HAD IT CHECK OUT, THEY TEST DRIVE THE TRUCK AND BROUGHT IT BACK AND HOOK IT UP ON A SCANNER CODE THEY FOUND WAS #2 AND #5 GEAR INCORRECT RATIO. AFTER THAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION FOR $1800. THIS HAPPEN ALL IN ONE DAY OF BUYING THE TRUCK. I KNOW IM NOT GETTING MY MONEY BACK CAUSE IT WAS A PRIVATE SELLER. NOW IM STUCK WITH THIS TRUCK AND NEED TO COME UP WITH A $1800 TO GET IT FIX. THEY SAID IF I KEEP ON DRIVING IT THIS WAY I MAY DAMAGE SOME MORE STUFF INSIDE THE TRANS. I HOPE THAT FORD WOULD COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR THIS. CAUSE I OWN A 99 F-150 EXT. CAB 4X4 OFF ROAD AND IM GETTING MY TRANSMISSION TUNE UP REAL GOOD BECAUSE OF THIS F!@@##$ PROBLEM ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. I USED TO LOVE FORD, I GREW UP AROUND THEM CAUSE MY DAD ALWAYS OWNED FORD'S. BUT NOW, I HOPE KARMA WOULD TAKE CARE OF THEM.........WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND. BELIEVE THAT!!!!!

- Richard A., Mt. Clemens, MI. 48043, US

problem #14

Jan 012007

Explorer Sport 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 108,000 miles

It began with the transmission slipping between first and second gear. The tachometer would shoot up until it caught 2nd gear. This happened a few times, so I took it in for service. They ran fresh transmission fluid through it and replaced the previous fluid and put some expander on the O-rings. It fixed the problem for awhile, but then the problem returned after less than 750 miles. I finally got it in for service this winter and finding parts for it was awful. It was estimated to take a week, but a sensor that needed to be replaced could not be found anywhere and took an additional week. I'm two weeks into the repair, and it's estimated that it will be finished in another day. Hopefully everything goes well and its fixed. I've always driven conservatively and never ran it hard, but after seeing all the other complaints, I now know that this one isn't user error. It's the product of cheap parts on Ford's behalf. I see a class action suit coming in the near future.

- Christopher B., Saint Peters, MO, US

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