2000 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

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

I READ AN AP ARTICLE ABOUT THE NHTS INVESTIGATING "STUCK THROTTLES" FROM 2002 AND NEWER FORD EXPLORERS. I HAVE A 2000 XLT EXPLORER, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT USED 3 YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE AND HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAYS THERE IS NO INFO ON THIS FROM FORD AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. FOR ME, THE STUCK THROTTLE HAS ONLY HAPPENED IN REVERSE AS I AM BACKING UP. THE THROTTLE WILL GO TO FULL THROTTLE BY ITSELF CAUSING THE CAR TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO FIRMLY HIT THE BRAKES WITH ALL MY MIGHT, SHIFT THE GEAR INTO PARK OR SHUT OFF THE CAR. MY POINT IN CONTACTING YOU IS TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AT LEAST GOING BACK TO 2000 WITH THE FORD EXPLORER AND TO HOPEFULLY FIND A CURE FOR THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION.

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

CONSUMER STATED THAT PARKED VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BY ANOTHER CAR TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 25-30MPH. CONSUMER'S DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. COLLISION CAUSED OVER $3500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. TS

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE AND LATER DISCOVERED, THE CALIPER WAS IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. MR THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE WHILE DRIVING . WHEN HE HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO REVERSE AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL IMMEDIATELY LOCKED UP AND THE TIRE RAPIDLY DEFLATED. WHEN THE WHEEL WAS REMOVED, TWO BOLTS IN THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS GONE. THE CALIPER ASSEMBLY WAS WEDGED INTO THE RIM AND TORE A HOLE 1-2 INCHES IN THE RIM OF THE WHEEL. *SCC *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HARD JERK, WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK THREE TO FOUR TIMES IN A ROW. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND COULDN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN CHANGING LANES AT 55MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

SPEED CONTROL SET AT 67 MPH. WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKE TAPPED. HIT "OFF" BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES AND APPLIED HEAVY PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL. ENGINE RACED TO 4000 RPM, ABS ENGAGED, VEHICLE SLOWED TO 55 MPH AND SPEED CONTROL DISENGAGED. SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE MOTOR STARTED RACING AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON UNDER LIGHT BRAKING, DEALER SHOWED ME THAT THIS HAPPENS ON OTHER VEHICLES HE HAD ON HIS LOT. DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIX, I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, FILE 1495490060, AND FORD REQUESTED THAT I TEST OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES, I DID, AND ONCE I CONFIRMED TO FORD THAT THE OTHER VEHICLES EXIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM FORD TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO AS THE OPERATION IS NORMAL. SINCE SEEING THE PROBLEM ON MY FORD EXPLORER I HAVE NOTICE THAT MANY FORD EXPLORERS STOPPED AT TRAFIC LIGHTS DO NOT HAVE ANY BRAKE LIGHTS ON. IS THIS THE SAME PROBLEM AS I AM SEEING? FORD DOES NOT APPEAR TO CARE. DT

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A TREE. BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. TS

STEERING KNUCKLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING 25MPH VEHICLE LOSS STEERING CONTROL AND HIT A TREE . DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. VEHICLE AT THE DEALER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

CONSUMER HAS HAD THREE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISIONS INSTALLED. THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH FUEL CONNECTOR WIRE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE DISCONNECTED AND CAR SHUT OFF.*AK THE ENGINE WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING AFTER START UP AT IDLE DUE TO IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. THE VALVE WAS REPLACED. *YH

PREMATURE FAILURE OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO EAT PADS.*AK

HESITATION AFTER STOPPING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK BOLT BROKE, AND BACK WENT ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE WOULD MAKE A TICKING SOUND. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE IS NO LONGER ANY GOOD. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH TOOK FEET OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAR SPEEDED UP TO ABOUT 95MPH, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK CONSUMER HAD TO USE BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES TO TRY AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING FULL THROTTLE PULLING THE VEHICLE THRU THE BRAKING EFFORT. CONSUMER DIALED 911 FOR HELP. CONSUMER WAS ADVISED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO AID IN THE SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO WIND OUT AT FULL FORCE. THE VEHICLES MOMENTUM PULLED CONSUMER THROUGH A RED LIGHT TO A SMOKING STOP. CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED THE TAPE AS EVIDENCE. *JG

I WAS TRAVELING ON I 69 NEAR INDIANAPOLIS, IN, WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT THE AREA WHERE TREAD MEETS SIDEWALL. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO SLOW AND GET OFF ROAD, NEARLY REAR ENDED BY A LARGE SEMI TRUCK FOLLOWING TOO CLOSLEY. THESE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT BY FORD MOTOR BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WITH FIRESTONE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE WITH THESE GENERAL TIRES BECAUSE OF THE BLOWOUT. I REQUESTED THE FORD DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH GENERAL TIRES TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES WITH NEW TIRES, BUT THEY REFUSED. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THEY REPLACED TIRES IN THESE SITUATIONS THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS. IT SEEMS THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH THEIR FINANCES THAN THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. I HAVE SINCE PURCHASED 4 NEW MICHELIN TIRES AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND FEEL MUCH SAFER. I WAS DISAPPOINTED WITH THE WAY I WAS TREATED IN THIS MATTER, IT WAS NOT THROUGH ANY FAULT OF MY OWN. THE DEALER EVEN SUGGUESTED THAT I MAY HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TIRES WHEN PARALLEL PARKING BY HITTING THE CURB, BUT I DO NOT PARALLEL PARK THIS VEHICLE AND I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. I THINK FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE $600 I SPENT SO I MAY DRIVE A SAFE VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF NEW TIRES. FORD REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH THE GENERAL TIRES AND DIDN'T WANT TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES LIKE SHE ASKED. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF THE BLOWOUT PROBLEMS WITH GENERAL TIRES. GENERAL AMERI 660 AS SIZE/D255/70R16, DOT NUMBER ADCU DB2 *SCC

THIS IS THE SECOND FORD EXPLORER I HAVE OWNED. I NEVER HAD A BRAKE JOB PERFORMED ON THE FIRST EXPLORER. ON THE 2000 EXPLORER (MY SECOND EXPLORER), THIS IS THE THIRD TIME MY VEHICLE HAS HAD ITS BRAKES REPAIRED. MY DRIVING HABITS HAVE NOT CHANGED DURING THE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS AT 21801MILES. THE SECOND REPAIR WAS AT 22490 MILES. THE THIRD REPAIR WAS AT 33575 MILES.*AK

WHILE CHILD WAS IN SEAT BELT ANCHOR AND LATCH GOT STUCK AND BELT TIGHTENED WHEN CHILD MOVED.*AK

THE GOODYEAR WAS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE WILDERNESS AT RECALLED BY FORD. THAT WAS DONE WHEN ODOMETER READ 9,720. JUST OVER 12% TREAD WEAR ON GOODYEAR. I BELIEVE ALL THE GOODYEARS ARE UNSTABLE AS FORD HAS DISCONTINUED (IN ONLY 1 YEAR) ROAD HAZARD COVERAGE ON ANYTHING BUT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

MY EXPLORER'S RADIO AND CLOCK WERE INTERMITTENTLY SHUTTING OFF, NO THEY ARE COMPLETELY OUT. TOOK INTO DEALER WHO SEEMED QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNWILLING TO FIX IT. GAVE ME THE NUMBER OF SOME RADIO REPAIR SHOP. I DIDN'T GO. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD FIX AT NO COST. ANYTHING I CAN DO? *NLM

TWO OF THREE EXPLORERS I TEST DROVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS ONE WHICH THE DEALER REPARED AND A 1999 MODEL WHICH I REPORTED TO THE DEALER. I ALSO HAD 2 IDENTICAL FAILURES ON A 1992 MERCURY SABLE WHICH FORD CREDITED AGAINST THE 1995 WINDSTAR I CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE SHOP FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE TRANSMISSION WOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY SHIFT INTO FORWARD. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER CONTACTED WORLD FORD AND THEY REFUSED ANY ADJUSTMENTS. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THAT THE DESIGN HAS BEEN CHANGED TO CORRECT IT. *JG

TRANDSMISSION FAILED, REPLACED BY DEALER, FAILED AGAIN, NOW CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP WITH ANOTHER FAILURE. *AK

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. *AK 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. *SCC

WHILE DRIVING AND PUTTING ON TURN SIGNAL, TURN SIGNAL FAILED AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM STEERING COLUMN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED SEVERE VIBRATION AND IMMEDIATELY THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FENDER. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND CHANGED OVER TO A SPARE TIRE TO CONTINUE HIS TRIP. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THERE WAS A THUMPING SOUND AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DEVELOPED A BULGE AND BECAME UNUSABLE. *TT *JB

CRUISE CONTROL STUCK - DEALER TREATING AS RECALL PER FORD RECALL #99S09 DEALING WITH STICKING CRUISE CONTROL. CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT RELEASE THROTTLE (BRAKES OR OFF SWITCH FOR CRUISE CONTROL) - VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL, STOPPED AND THEN ENGINE STOPPED. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN ERROR. THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO NEEDS TO RELINQUISH CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THROTTLE ONCE BRAKES OR OFF SWITCH ENGAGED. IT SEEMS TO BE A RE-OCCURENCE OF THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM OR AN EXTENSION OF THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM. VEHICLE BUILD DATE WAS 12/06/00, PER DEALER.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, CUT OFF AT ANYTIME, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.*AK

I WAS LUCKY. I JUST CAME HOME, PARKED CAR. WHEN I WENT INTO THE BACK SEAT AND TOUCHED THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SEAT IT COLLAPSED. IF I WERE STILL DRIVING I COULD HAVE CAUSED AND ACCIDENT AND BEEN POSSIBLY KILLED WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. THE BACK OF THE SEAT JUST COLLAPSED*AK

WHILE SITTING INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE. AND DRIVER WENT BACKWARDS TOWARD THE REAR SEAT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.JLG.

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

RADIO LIGHTS AND CLOCK JUST WENT OUT-WILL COME ON WHEN COLD---MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM --FORD SAYS REPLACE RADIO--FOR $650. PEOPLE HAVE DONE THIS AND STILL HAVE IT GO OUT AGAIN--RADIO LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS SHOULD WORK FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS. *AK

WHEN STOPPING THERE IS GRINDING NOISE. DROVE TO DEALER, WHO STATED THAT ROTORS WERE COMING APART. ROTORS CRUMBLE UP IN CONSUMER'S HAND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE HIT 5 FEET STONE WALL AT 25 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER HIT HER HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL AND SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMA/ BROKEN CHEEK AND NOSE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

WHILE AT LOW SPEEDS DURING TRAFFIC CONSUMER WAS REAR ENED AT 60 MPH, AND CONSUMER WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

RIGHT FRONT HUB BEARING CRACKED, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WHEEL WAS SLANTED TO THE GROUND. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *JG

WHEN PARKING VEHICLE ON AN INCLINE, GAS GAUGE WILL READ INCORRECTLY. ONCE VEHICLE IS MOVING AGAIN GAS GAUGE KEEPS READING INCORRECTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES. DEALER INSISTS THAT THIS IS HOW THE GAS GAUGE WORKS.*AK. ALSO THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES IF SHE FILLS THE GAS TANK UP, 150 MILES LATER IT WILL BE A HALF TANK, AND THEN IF SHE HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE NEEDLE WILL READ FULL, THE FUEL TANK SENDER, SENDING UNIT AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED.*JB

AFTER TAKEOFF DRIVER'S SEATBACK FELL BACK, BOLT HAD SNAPPED.*AK *MR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE USED WITH 16000 MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A VIBRATION AND RATTLING SOUND WHILE AT IDLE. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN WHEN THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS RUNNING, CAUSING THE IDLE RPM'S TO BE EVEN LOWER. AT THIS LOW IDLE SPEED OF AROUND 500-600 RPM, THE VIBRATION AND RATTLING OCCURS AND ONLY STOPS IF THE RPM'S ARE INCREASED. AND WHILE DRIVING RECENTLY WITH 32600 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE RPM'S SEEMED TO BE ABNORMALLY HIGH, RESULTING IN INCREASED BRAKING EFFORT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, AND AT STARTUP OF THE ENGINE, INITIAL IDLE SPEEDS OF UP TO 2500 RPM. ENGINE TEMPERTURE WAS ALSO NOTED TO BE ABOVE THE TYPICAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND COULD ONLY BE LOWERED BY SETTING THE HEATER & FAN ON HIGH TO REMOVE HEAT FROM THE COOLANT. NLM

TENSIONER WAS UNDER WARRANTY - BUT DAMAGE IS NOT ($1K) FORD IS NOT HELPING. *AK

I PROCEEDED INTO A NO-TOUCH CAR WASH ON 16 MAR 02, TEMP. WAS APPROX. 36 DEGRESS ABOVE ZERO, WHEN THE FIRST COAT OF SOAP HIT THE REAR WINDOW, THE WHOLE WINDOW IMPLODED INSIDE OF MY EXPLORER. THE CAR WASH DID NOT HIT THE VEHICLE JUST THE SOAP . *AK ERO

THE TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES 2 MINUTES AFTER BEING SHUT OFF. VEHICLE COMPLETELY TOTALED.*AK

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

VEHICLE SWAYS TO LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOP HEAVY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.