RoadVitals

2000 Ford Explorer Sport Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
10
Latest Feb 19, 2014
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.
14%
of 71 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Ford Explorer Sport submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Feb 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE FOUR 02 OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE PERSISTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

NHTSA ID
10564963
Incident
Jan 30, 2014
Mileage
169,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 30, 2007

NO EVENTS LED UP TO THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE. OUR 2000 FORD EXPLORER WAS BEING DRIVEN AS A DAILY ROUTINE TRIP IN TOWN. THE CAR DIED AT A STOP LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR . THE CAR MADE A LOUD CLUNK. I DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT AND SHUT IT OFF. WE HAD A CERTIFIED FORD MECHANIC COME OUT TO LOOK AT THE CAR. HE WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS V6 ENGINE. HE STATED TO US THAT THE CRANKSHAFT FORD USED WAS A CAST IRON CRANK AND NOT A FORGED STEEL CRANK. WHAT HAPPENS IS THE CRANKSHAFT WILL DEVELOP CRACKS IN IT AND EVENTUALLY BREAK APART. HIS COMMENT WAS IT WAS A BAD IDEA AND BAD DESIGN BY FORD. THIS MECHANIC WORKED FOR FORD FOR 18 YEARS AND STATED THAT THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE WAS USED FROM 1995-2001 AND I BELIEVE HE SAID IT WAS A COLOGNE V6 .OUR 2 OPTIONS AT THIS POINT IS TO PUT IN A NEW MOTOR OR JUNK THE CAR. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2 DOOR. TWO WHEEL DRIVE. DEALER MAINTAINED AT 30000,60000,AND RECENTLY AT 90000 MILES .CURRENT MILEAGE IS 91000. OIL CHANGED EVERY 2 MONTHS REGARDLESS. MAINTENANCE RECORDS ARE ALL AVAILABLE. NO REASON FOR AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT LIKE A CRANKSHAFT TO CRACK AND RUIN THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10186532
Incident
Mar 29, 2007
Mileage
91,300 mi
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Oct 12, 2005

THERE IS A CUSTOMER COMPLAINT RECALL ON FORD EXPLORER SPORTS THAT FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS SAID INFORMATION WAS SENT OUT ON AND PEOPLE I TALK TO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION. I AM CURRENTLY HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AND WHEN TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP I AM TOLD YES THERE WAS AND FORD KNOWS THAT THE TENSIONER CHAIN IS BAD AND THEY HAVE A QUIET RECALL ON THEM AND MINE WAS COVERED BUT BECAUSE OF THE MILES ON MINE IT IS NOT AND FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT AND IN ALL VEHICLES NOT JUST A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE RATTLES AND DOES NOT WANT TO RUN WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS ACTUALLY TWO RECALLS ON THIS PART NOT JUST ONE AND I THINK FORD NEEDS TO FIX ALL THE VEHICLE NO MATTER WHAT MILES IS ON THE VEHICLE THE COVERAGE IS 6 YEARS 72,000 MILE I HAVE A 2000 WITH A LITTLE OVER 77,000 MILE ONLY 5,000 OUT OF THERE COVERAGE AREA AND I HAVE ALSO HAD TO PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE AND FORD KNOWS THAT THERE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS ALSO.

NHTSA ID
10139389
Incident
Oct 9, 2005
Mileage
72,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Nov 3, 2004

THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SMOKE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB THE KNOCKING WOULD ONLY OCCUR IN THE FALL AND WINTER MONTH'S. ON ONE OCCASION THE WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. *SC

NHTSA ID
10094213
Incident
Sep 17, 2004
Mileage
64,863 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2004

MY FORD YEAR 2000 IDLES ROUGH AND STALLS IN COLD WEATHER. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS DIRTY INJECTORS AND KEPT HAVING THEM FLUSHED WHICH TEMP. FIXED PROB. A MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT FORD WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE, FOR THEY DID ON HIS EXPLORER. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT I WAS OVER THE MILES AND THAT IT WAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL. WELL NOT ONLY AM I NOT SATISFIED, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY FACTOR AS WELL. WHAT IF A PULL OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION AND MY CAR STALLS. CROSSING A HIGHWAY AND MY CAR STALLS. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT FORD WOULD HAVE CARED MORE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THIS IS MY 3RD FORD AND I AM ONLY 30 YRS OLD. REGARDLESS, OF THAT FACT, THAEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR DRIVERS SAFE ON THE ROAD. *LA

NHTSA ID
10082288
Incident
Jul 20, 2004
Mileage
20,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 17, 2003

DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE AFTER OIL PRESSURE DROPPED OUT WITHOUT WARNING. ENGINE LOCKED UP BEFORE I COULD TRAVEL 1/4 MILE TO GET OFF ROAD. FORD MOTOR COMPANY OFFERED NO HELP SINCE ENGINE HAD 39000 MILES, 3000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10023224
Incident
Feb 18, 2003
Mileage
39,000 mi
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats
Filed Jan 22, 2003

TIMING TENSIONER WAS RECALLED. TENSIONER DAMAGED MY TIMING CHAIN, WHICH DAMAGED MY ENGINE. TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AFTER 31,000 MI, DASH LIGHTS AND GUAGES FAILED TO WORK CONSISTENTLY OR AT ALL BEGINNING 25,000 MI, REAR WINDOW WIPER NEVER WIPED PROPERLY, HEATER SWITCH BEGAN FAILING AT 36,000 MI. LAST DELIMMA WAS CATALYIC CONVERTER GOING OUT AT 60,000 MI. ALSO, AFTER REPLACEMENT OF TENSIONER, OIL CHANGE HAD BEEN DONE AT SAME TIME. 10 MILES AFTER LEAVING DEALERSHIP, GASKET FELL OFF AND LOST ALL OIL PRESSURE WHILE ENGINE WAS ON. I ASKED DEALERSHIP (COURTESY FORD, POUSLBO WA) TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE, THEY SAID "NO, IT'S FINE, DON'T WORRY." END RESULT, DUE TO ENGINE DAMAGE FROM RECALLED TENSIONER+ TIMING CHAIN, FORD AGREED TO TERMINATE LEASE EARLY. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A FORD AGAIN. TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. I CONTACTED THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE MANY TIMES ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THESE MATTERS, NEVER GOT A CALL BACK AS PROMISED. DEALERSHIP NEVER FOLLOWED UP ON MY COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS.

NHTSA ID
10003148
Incident
Jan 28, 2000
Engine
Filed Aug 13, 2001

THERE SEEMS TO BE A ROD KNOCKING IN THE VEHICLE. BUERGE FORD HAS SERVICED IT FOR THE NOISE BUT IT STILL KNOCKS. CONSUMER BELIEVES THEY WERE SOLD A FAULTY VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING NHTSA CAN DO.

NHTSA ID
9003710
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
BrakesElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Jun 13, 2001

THE BATTERY GAUGE OCCASIONALLY DROPS TO THE LOW END WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, IDLING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, WITH THE HEATER ON AND RADIO ON CAUSING THE DASH LIGHTS TO DIM BUT ONCE THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AIR COMPRESSOR, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE, THE HEADLIGHTS STAYED ON ALTHOUGH THE SWITCH WAS OFF, THE LIGHT ON THE STEREO IS INOPERATIVE, AT TIME THE VEHICLE WILL CRANK BUT NOT START THE DEALER REPLACED BY PASS VALVE, PCM AND DA PUMP BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE. NLM

NHTSA ID
561565
Body & structureDriver assistanceElectrical+5 more
Filed Nov 13, 2000

THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE STUCK AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *MJS

NHTSA ID
557468
Incident
Apr 11, 2000

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .