2000 Ford Explorer Body & Structure Problems

RUST AND CLEAR PAINT PEELING. DOOR HANDLES LOOSE UNABLE TO OPEN ALL 4 DOORS. I HAVE TO UNLOCK FROM REAR WINDOW TO ACCESS VEHICLE. UNCLEAR OTHER THAN DESIGN OF HANDLES. LEFT FRONT DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF. QUOTE OF $150 A DOOR TO REPAIR. WILL COST ME $600. VERY UNSAFE AND PROBLEMATIC. INCLUDING A LOSS IN VALUE.

MY DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. I WAS TOLD THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WAS THE PROBLEM AND WOULD COST OVER $600.00. THE DRIVERS DOOR CAN NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THE HANDLE BROKE, I HAVE TO LEAVE MY DOOR OPEN IN ORDER TO GET IN, THE FRONT PASSAGER DOOR AND THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR THE INSIDE. THE FRONT PASSAGER DOOR THE HANDLE ON THE INSIDE BROKE AS WELL AS THE HANDLE ON THE OUTSIDE, THE LOCK STICK FELL OUT. THE PASSAGER BACK DOOR IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET INTO MY TRUCK, THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL OPEN FROM THE INSIDE SOMETIMES. THIS IS A SAFTY HAZZARD. I CAN BE LOCKED INSIDE MY TRUCK WITH NO WAY OUT AND I AM LOCKED OUT OF MY TRUCK WHEN THE BACK DOOR STOP WORKING. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED SINCE SO MANY FORD DOORS ARE NOT OPENING.

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH WINDOW SCREWS BECAME CORRODED AND AS A RESULT, THE GLASS WINDOW WAS ONLY BEING HELD IN PLACE BY ONE SCREW. THE CONTACT WAS GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. KMJ

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. *TR

OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND THE UPPER SUPPORT PIN (RIGHT SIDE) OF THE LIFTGATE STRUT BROKE OFF AND THE LIFTGATE FELL RIGHT ON MY HEAD . YES IT HURT, AS THE THING IS QUITE HEAVY. IT APPEARS THAT THE PIN WAS JUST RUSTING AWAY, AND THE ONE ON THE LEFT SIDE DOESN'T LOOK HEALTHY EITHER. THE STRANGE PART IS THERE IS NO RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE LIFTGATE AND NO OTHER RUST ISSUES WITH THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE OPENED THE REAR DOOR OF THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE TOP HINGE WAS SEVERELY FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE REAR LIFT-GATE WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE METAL HINGES WERE CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE LIFT-GATE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO REOPEN IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

PURCHASED USED 2000 FORD EXPLORER IN 2007. LIFT GATE IN REAR HAS BEEN USED ON A REGULAR BASIS SINCE PURCHASE AND THIS PAST WEEKEND WHEN OPENING THERE WAS A LOUD BANG WITH THE LIFT GATE COMING DOWN ONTO MY BACK. THANKFULLY IT WASN'T MY WIFE OR CHILD THAT HAD OPENED IT AS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS STRUT HAD BROKE AS IT WAS HANGING THERE BUT AFTER CLOSER INSPECTION THE LIFT GATE BALL MOUNT HAD SNAPPED OFF. THERE IS SURFACE RUST ON THE OUTER PART OF THE BALL MOUNT AND CLIP THAT KEEPS THE STRUT ON THE MOUNT BUT THE BALL MOUNT WHERE IT SNAPPED IS CLEAN. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE IS REAR LIFT GATE WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY AND BECAUSE IT CAN'T CLOSE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AND GET VERY HOT. I REMOVED THE FRONT LIGHT BUT COULDN'T GET THE TOP OFF OF THE REAR INTERIOR LIGHT SO I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH MANY EXPLORERS. PROBLEM IS NO PART CAN BE PURCHASED AS THIS MOUNT IS WELDED ONTO THE BODY AT THE FACTORY. TWO SOLUTIONS ARE THAT FORD FIXES IT AT A COST TO THE CONSUMER OR THE CONSUMER JURY RIGS IT WITH DRILLING OUT HOLES IN THE STRUT AND FASHIONING A MEANS OF ATTACHMENT USING BOLTS AND SCREWS THAT CAN AND DO LOOSEN UP AND NEED TO BE TIGHTENED FREQUENTLY. A SEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT FORD HAS HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH LIFT GATE PARTS AND FAILURES ON OTHER YEARS OF EXPLORERS. *TR

UPON OPENING MY TAILGATE ONE DAY, THE LEFT SIDE LIFTGATE HINGE POPPED OFF. AS A RESULT, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD IS OUT OF PLACE, AND IS BARELY HANGING ON. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT I'D NEED TO GET THE REPLACEMENT PART (LIFTGATE HINGE) FROM FORD. A FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $300 TO REPAIR. *TR

4-DOOR VEHICLE TYPICALLY DRIVE TO WORK AND HOME BETWEEN 2002-2007. NO ONE TYPICALLY EVER SAT IN THE BACK, HOWEVER, IF ANY ONE DID SIT IN THE BACK THE COMPLAINED THE DOORS WERE DIFFICULT TO OPEN. MY THOUGHTS WERE USER ERROR AND THOSE DOORS ARE RARELY USED. AFTER MY SON WAS BORN IN SEPTEMBER 2007 I NOTICED THE DOORS WERE DIFFICULT TO OPEN, AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT I WOULD BREAK THE DOOR HANDLE. MY MOM, MY SON, WHO IS NOW 5, HAVE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME OPENING THE DOORS AND MY GRANDMOTHER IS NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS USING THE DOOR HANDLES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY TO WORK, I HEARD A LOUD BANG. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SEE WHY THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD LEAN DOWN. THEIR WAS NO FLAT TIRE. I DROVE THE CAR TO RIVERDALE AUTO SERVICE LLC IN THE BRONX, LOCATED ON WEST 230 TH ST. AN HOUR LATER THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY FRAME HAD SPLIT. I DID NOT BELIEVE THEM, I CALLED MY REGULAR MECHANIC, AND HE CONTACTED THEM TO GET CONFORMATION. HE INFORMED ME TO HAVE A FLAT BED TRUCK BRING THE CAR TO VILLAGE FORD OF PINE BUSH. I CONTACTED FORD FOR ANY RECALLS ON FRAMES SPLITTING. I WAS INFORMED BY E-MAIL AND PERSONAL TELEPHONE CALL THAT THIS IS VERY UNHEARD OF AND I SHOULD BRING THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER FOR SERVICE. IT IS NOW THREE WEEKS AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY CAR OR THE REASON WHY THE FRAME SPLIT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CROSS BAR SUPPORTS THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE AND KEEPS THE FRONT END IN BALANCE. WHEN CRACKED RIGHT SIDE WENT DOWN AS IF CONSUMER HAD A FLAT TIRE. UPDATED 09/25/07 *TR

I OWN A 2000 FORD SPORT EXPLORER. MY SEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE BROKE A BOLT. THE SAME BOLT THAT IS ON RECALL FROM THE 2002 FORD SPORT EXPLORER. IF I HAD A 2002 THEN IT WOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL, BUT SINCE IT IS A 2000, IT IS NOT COVERED. THE PROBLEM COSTS $200.00 (199.19) TO GET MINE FIXED. I THINK THIS IS UNFAIR SINCE OBVIOUSLY IT IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL ON FOR A NEW MODEL. MY SEAT WOULD NOT SIT UP STRAIGHT, AND IT IS THE EXACT SAME BOLT ACCORDING TO A SERVICE EMPLOYEE AT NORTH CENTRAL FORD IN DALLAS, TX. RECALL NUMBER CONCERNING THIS BOLT IS 3V281000. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAD TO BE LIFTED UP HIGHER THAN NORMAL TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THE DOOR WAS INOPERABLE FROM THE OUTSIDE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE DOOR HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFTGATE HATCH BRACKET SUPPORT BROKE ALONG THE BEARING HEAD. THIS FAILURE RESTRICTED THE USE OF THE REAR HATCH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP. HE RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS, AND PLANNED TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PERFORMED AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB UPDATED

THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. *AK *TS *NLM

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

VIBRATION FROM CENTER OF THE OF THE EXPLORER, THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE EVERY DAY . MY CONSERN IS THAT I DRIVE A LOT AND NIGHT VISION AFTER WATCHING THE REAR VIEW, SIDE VIEW MIRRORS AFTER A WHILE CREATES A VISUAL ADJUSTMENT PERIOD WHEN LOOKING BACK AT THE ROAD AT NIGHT IT IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM, THE DEALER TO DATE HAS NOT TAKEN IT OUT AT NIGHT AND AT THIS POINT THE FACTORY REP SAID IT WAS NORMAL. I HAVE DRIVEN THREE OTHER EXPLORERS AND ONE OF THEM ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY DO NO DRIVE HIGHWAY , SO THEY ARE JUST LIVING WITH IT. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE SHORT FRAME VEHICLES ARE NOTED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FACTORY REP SAID IT IT JUST THE WAY IT IS. NLM

POWER LOCK WAS ACTIVATED, CONTINUALLY LOCKING DOOR DUE TO A CHILD TOY LAYING ON THE SWITCH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

THERE ARE TWO SPOTS, ONE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND THE OTHER ON BACK DOOR WHERE CONSUMER COULD SEE THROUGH IN DAY LIGHT. *AK

THE UPPER HINGE ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR PRESENTS A DANGER TO A PERSON ENTERING THE FRONT DOOR. I WAS ASKED TO EXAMINE AN EXEMPLAR VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THE REAR DOOR HINGES WHILE THE FRONT DOOR WAS OPEN. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A REPORTED INCIDENT IN LOUISIANA. A CHILD WAS INJURED BY THE UPPER HINGE OF THE REAR DOOR WHILE ENTERING THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE CHILD'S MOTHER OPENED THE REAR DOOR AS THE CHILD CLIMED INTO THE VEHICLE. EVIDENTLY THE CHILD WAS USING THE EXPOSED REAR DOOR HINGE AS A GRIP. THE HINGE APPEARS TO BE THE SAME MODEL AS USED ON THE FORD RANGER PICKUP TRUCK. THE "STOP" WHICH LIMITS THE DOOR'S MOVEMENT IS A PIECE OF METAL THAT EXTENDS PAST THE PIN ON THE HINGE. THE "STOP" AND THE PORTION OF THE HINGE WHICH IS FASTENED TO THE FRAME HAVE THE SHAPE OF SCISSORS. THERE IS NO BODY PANEL TO LIMIT ACCESS TO THE REAR DOOR'S HINGE FROM THE OPENING TO THE FRONT OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE HINGE IF USED ON THE FRONT DOORS OF A VEHICLE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE. THE HINGE USED IN AN UNPROTECTED AREA PRESENTS A HAZARD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. SINCERELY, DOUGLAS FLEMING P.E. *AK