RoadVitals

2000 Ford Excursion Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Sep 7, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 533 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Ford Excursion submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalVisibility
Filed Sep 7, 2010

WINDSHIELD WIPERS RUNNING IN INTERMITTENT MODE. STARTED TO SMELL AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED TO MOVE VERY SLOWLY. I TRIED TO TURN WIPERS TO ON-SLOW AND ON-FAST MODE AND THEY WORKED ERRATICALLY. I PULLED OFF ROAD AND STOPPED VEHICLE AND SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF DRIVERS SIDE ON OUTSIDE OF WINDSHIELD WHERE WIPER MOTOR IS LOCATED. I RAN FOR MY FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT DID NOT HAVE TO USE IT. WIPERS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING AT THIS TIME. I HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS AT THIS TIME AND I AM FILLING A COMPLAINT. I SEE THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 01V258000 THAT I BELIEVE INVOLVES MY VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY NOTED MY CONCERNS AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10354107
Incident
Sep 5, 2010
Mileage
153,453 mi
Visibility
Filed May 25, 2009

MY 2000 EXCURSION WAS PARKED IN THE YARD AND WE HAD JUST UNLOADED GROCERIES. THE 2 BOTTOM DOORS WERE CLOSED ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND THEN THE TOP DOOR/WINDOW WAS CLOSED NORMALLY AS WE ALWAYS DO AND THE WHOLE WINDOW JUST SHATTERED INTO 1000'S OF PIECES. MY HUSBAND JUMPED BACK WHEN THE GLASS STARTED FLYING AND FALLING SO NO ONE WAS INJURED. THIS HAPPENED ONCE....WINDOW IS STILL NOT REPLACED. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT. THAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF MARCH. TWO DAYS AGO, WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE, OVERNIGHT SOMETIME, THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW DID THE SAME THING AND SHATTERED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NOW I HAVE TWO WINDOWS GONE AND AM UNABLE TO USE MY CAR. THIS HAPPENED ON THE NIGHT OF THE 22ND INTO THE 23RD OF MAY 2009 THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN ENOUGH FOR VENTILATION. TEMP AGAIN WAS MODERATE, ABOUT 65-68. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. NOW I WONDER WHEN THE NEXT ONE WILL DISINTERGRATE AND THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN 10 YEARS OLD. I FEEL THE FORD COMPANY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THIS CAR IS NOT ABUSED IN ANY WAY AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10269871
Incident
Mar 28, 2009
Mileage
148,890 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 20, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXCURSION. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTIONED AND OVERHEATED. SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE WIPER AS WELL AS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V258000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR) AND WOULD NOT REPAIR IT FOR FREE, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,000. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REAR WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID
10239067
Incident
Aug 19, 2008
Mileage
80,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 15, 2008
Fire reported

WIFE DRIVING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, WIPERS UNKNOWINGLY FROZEN TO WINDOW AND WIPERS UNKNOWINGLY ON INTERMITTENT CYCLE, WIPERS FINALLY UNFROZEN AND MOVED, MEANWHILE SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN, SMELLING LIKE SOLDERING FUMES. TURNED OFF WIPERS AND SMOKE STOPPED. LATER, TESTED WIPERS, AND THEY WOULD NOT STOP. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER, AND HAD A PENDING RECALL REPAIRED, AT THE SAME TIME WE HAD TO HAVE THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED, AND WIPER MOTOR REPLACED. DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT GEM MODULE WAS FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY, BUT SMELLED LIKE IT WAS BURNT, AND MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED IN THE FUTURE. 7 DAYS LATER THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK AGAIN. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF PROBLEM, MOTHER AND CHILDREN DROVE INTO A BLIZZARD, AND FOUND THAT WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. LUCKILY IT OCCURRED IN A PLACE THAT WAS NOT BUSY, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SAFELY GET OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A RELATIVES DRIVEWAY. IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD HAD IT BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, IN DRIVING RAIN/SNOW/SLUSH. NOW I'M SURE THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE TELLING US THE GEM MODULE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, COMPLETING THE ENTIRE WIPER SYSTEM BEING FAULTY WITHIN 1 WEEK'S TIME FOR THE SECOND FAILURE ( ON 1/15/2008). QUESTION: HOW WOULD THE TECHNICIAN KNOW THAT IT SMELLED LIKE THE GEM MODULE WAS BURNT, UNLESS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM? HOW DOES THE ENTIRE WIPER SYSTEM, FROM CONTROL SWITCH, TO CONTROL MODULE, TO WIPER MOTOR GO BAD ALL AT ONCE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10215073
Incident
Jan 8, 2007
Mileage
120,600 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 27, 2007
Fire reported

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2000 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT TURNED THE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON DURINGN SNOWY CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF HE TURNED OF THE WIPERS WHEN HE EXITED THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES LATER HE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. BLACK SMOKE CAME THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. THERE WERE NO FLAMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE SMOKE CEASED, THE CONTACT TOOK THE WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR OUT AND NOTICED THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. A POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS WERE FILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10183665
Incident
Feb 25, 2007
Mileage
150,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 29, 2006

I HAVE A 2000 FORD EXCURSION. REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V258000:MOTOR. I HAVE CALLED MY FORD DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM/RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED IN MY TRUCK, BUT I TOLD THEM THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING. THE WIPER JUST STOPS ON INTERMITTENT MODE AND DOES NOT GO BACK TO PARK MODE. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE MOTOR REPLACED. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT REPLACED IT IS THERE RECALL PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR MORE THEN 2 1/2 YEARS NOW. CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME AN ANSWER. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME, JIM FENNELLI *JB

NHTSA ID
10156442
Incident
Jan 3, 2004
BrakesVisibility
Filed Feb 22, 2005

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT OPERATE DUE TO THE SPRING. ALSO, THE BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DUE TO THE BRAKE ROTORS. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP ACCORDINGLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10112904
Incident
Feb 22, 2005
Visibility
Filed Dec 29, 2004

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN 2001. NHTAS'S RECALL # 01V258000. RECENTLY THE WIPER COVER STARTED TO BURN, WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR AND SWITCH NOT TO WORK. *JB

NHTSA ID
10105525
Incident
Dec 26, 2004
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Oct 20, 2004

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A POLICE OFFICER THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS INOPERATIVE AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON BOTH PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10094132
Incident
Sep 10, 2003
Visibility
Filed Feb 20, 2003

I OWN A 2000 FORD EXCURSION THAT RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN A RECALL ISSUED BY FORD ON 8/3/2001 (REF: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 01V258000). NAMELY, THE INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNTION STOPPED WORKING, FOLLOWED LATER BY COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE WIPERS FOLLOWING SNOW AND ICE OBSTRUCTION. THE WIPERS ARE CURRENTLY COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND POSE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. I BROUGHT THE VEHICAL TO THE FORD DEALER THAT IT WAS PURCHASED FROM (CAPISTRANO FORD IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA) AND WAS TOLD THAT OUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL AND THAT IT WOULD COST NEARLY $500 TO FIX AND $88 TO DIAGNOSE. I FIND IT VERY DISTURBING THAT I OWN A VEHICLE WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL ADDRESSED IN THE RECALL WITH A KNOW SAFETY RISK, AND YET SOMEHOW IT IS NOT COVERED. OBVIOULSY THE PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL WAS MEANT TO ADDRESS. THE ONLY TWO CONCLUSIONS THAT I CAN DRAW FROM THIS ARE: (1) FORD'S COMPUTER SYSTEM IS SOMEHOW NOT PULLING UP OUR VIN NUMBER UNDER THIS RECALL, OR (2) THE RECALL WAS NOT BROAD ENOUGH AND NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED.

NHTSA ID
10007828
Incident
Feb 19, 2003
Visibility
Filed Jan 14, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED.*JB

NHTSA ID
10003840
Incident
Jan 14, 2003
Visibility
Filed Nov 20, 2001
1 injury reported

VEHICLE HAS THREE BACK DOORS. TOP ONE MADE OF GLASS, AND TWO BOTTOM ONES. BOTTOM ONE HAS TO BE CLOSED FIRST, THEN TOPPED WITH THE GLASS. BUT, SITUATION WAS DIFFERENT BECAUSE GLASS ONE WAS CLOSED FIRST, THEN BOTTOM SHATTERED GLASS INTO PIECES, INJURING CONSUMER AT THE TIME OF PICKING IT UP. *AK CONSUMER HAS SINCE FOUND THAT IF THE TOP DOOR IS DOWN, THE BOTTOM DOOR STRIKES THE EDGE OF HE GLASS SO QUICKLY AND SO FAR OVER, IT IS NOT SOMETHING ONE CAN PREVENT ONCE THE DOOR STARTS TO CLOSE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *JB

NHTSA ID
899339
Incident
Aug 30, 2001
Visibility
Filed Jun 29, 2001

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN SPRAYED WITH COLD WATER WHILE WASHING VEHICLE, WHEN NEW WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED INSTALLER SAID HE HAD SEEN OTHER S.D. FORD TRUCKS WITH SAME PROBLEM SEEMS LACK OF SILICONE ADHESIVE ALLOWS GLASS TO COME IN CONTACT WITH FRAME AND CAN ALLOW GLASS TO BE "ETCHED" BY FRAME AND WEAKENS AREA.ALL TRUCKS ARE MANUFACTURED AT SAME PLANT. *AK

NHTSA ID
747602
Incident
Jun 9, 2001
Visibility
Filed Mar 28, 2001

I CONTACTED THE FORD HOT LINE, THEY SAID THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION. THE BLURRED VISION IN THIER SIDE VIEW MIRRORS DOES NOT PRESENT A SAFETY ISUE AT "THIS TIME". I FEEL NOT BEING ABLE TO ADEQUATELY JUDGE THE DISTANCE OF OTHER VEHICLES ON THE SIDES OF SUCH A LARGE VEHICLE, AT NIGHT, DOES PRESENT A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT GIVEN THE SIZE OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
743217
Incident
Apr 7, 2000
Body & structureBrakesSuspension+1 more
Filed Oct 3, 2000

THIS VEHICLE SHAKES, RATTLES AND ROLLS CONSTANTLY , ALIGNMENT 3 SEPERATE TIMES, EXTREMELY HARD TOO STOP, NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH FRAME AND CHASSIS. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A DSB HEARING IN REGARDS TO FORD REPURCHASING VEHICLE AS PREVIOUSLY THEY DENIED REPURCAHE OF VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED ALL OF MY REPAIR ORDERS TO FORD FOR REVIEW AND I AM TOLD I WILL HAVE TO TESTIFY AT THE DSB HEARING AND HAVENT RECEIVED A DATE FOR SAME. THIS VEHICLE IS THE WORST TOO TRY AND CONTROL, STOP OR DRIVE DUE TO STEERING WHHEL SHAKES, FRAME STABILITY AND LACK THERE OF.

NHTSA ID
733343
Incident
Oct 26, 1999

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .