Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 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.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
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.
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
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
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
NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A GAP BETWEEN MY LIFTGATE WINDOW AND MY LIFTGATE WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARCKING SPACE. I FOUND THAT THE POST PULLED OUT OF THE PASSANGER SIDE OF LIFTGATE WINDOW HINGE LEAVING A SMOOTH HOLE IN HINGE AND METAL IN GROVES OF POST. HAD NO OPTIONS BUT TO LEAVE WINDOW ATTACHED BY ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE HINGE AND THE LATCH AT THE BOTTOM OF WINDOW. DID NOT HAVE PROPER TOOLS TO REMOVE FOR SAFER DRIVING. *TR
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.
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.
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
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.
CONSUMER LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT AND SHREDDED CAUSING CONSUMER TO REPLACE TIRE WITH SPARE. *TS THE TIRE BLEWOUT PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND DOOR AJAR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LEFT SIDE WHEEL BEARING SHOT AND THE RIGHT SIDE WAS GOING BAD. REAR BRAKES SHOT. *NM
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
IN MARCH OF 2004, I TOOK MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER XLT FOR GENERAL SERVICE, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE FRONT PINION SEAL, AND TORQUE CONVERTER SEALS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THANK THE LORD THAT I TOOK OUT AND EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED IT SEPT, 2002. THE REPAIRS WHERE COMPLETED, I ALSO TOOK IT BACK TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE THE WORK WAS DONE. ON 10/26/04 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN AGAIN FOR WORK TO BE DONE AND THE MECHANIC AGAIN FOUND THE FRONT PINION TO BE LEAKING, ALSO FOUND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NEEDED AND THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS CHATTERING. JUST SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION: THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY OWNED BY MY SISTER, WHEN I PURCHASED THE VECHICLE, SHE WAS TURNING IN HER 2 YEAR LEASE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE OVER IT ONLY HAD 11,681 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST REPAIRS WERE AT 37126 MILES, SECOND TIME MILES WERE 45721 MILES. I ALSO HAVE SEVERAL AREA'S ON THE VEHICLE THAT HAVE RUST. I CAN REMEBER A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE 3 MAJOR CAR COMPANIES TALKED ABOUT RUST NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. ONE OF THE PLACES WITH RUST IS ON THE RADIATOR SUPPORT. I JUST WONDER HOW FORD OR ANY OF OUR OTHER US CAR COMPANIES CAN EXPECT US TO KEEP BUYING INFERIOR PRODUCTS AND PAY ALOT MORE MONEY. *JB
VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2000 FORD EXPLORER. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE WIPER MOTOR AND THE POWER WINDOW/DOOR ASSEMBLY WHICH SQUEALED AND RATTLED. *SC
THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. *AK *TS *NLM
DEALER REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT, BUT AN ENGINE NOISE WAS STILL HEARD WHILE DRIVING . ALSO, WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING WHEN RAINING OR WASHING THE VEHICLE.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TOP HINGE OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. *PH *JB
VEHICLE SWAYS TO LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOP HEAVY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS INHERENTLY UNSAFE BECAUSE A RAPID TURN OR ANY INVASIVE MANEUVER COULD RESULT IN ROLLOVER. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING AND PULLING A 21' TRAILER AT 55 MPH AND PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, BACK OF TRAILER FISHTAILED AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND CRASH WITH DRIVER AND FOUR PASSENGERS IN VEHICLE. DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER WERE INJURED. *AK CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO TOWING WITH THE EXPLORER, THEY TOWED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT NEVER GAVE ANY PROBLEMS, THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT THE TRAILER WAS PACKED IN ACCORDANCE WITH MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS, THE TRAILER BEGAN TO SWAY SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY, THE SWAYING OF THE TRAILER CAUSED THE EXPLORER TO START ROCKING OUT OF CONTROL BACK AND FORTH, CONSUMER STATES HE ACTIVATED THE MANUAL OVER RIDE BRAKE CONTROL ON THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL BOX, AND THEN TRIED TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER, THIS IS WHEN CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND IT JACK KNIFED TO THE LEFT AND OVERTURNED, POLICE REPORT STATES THAT CONSUMER RAN OFF ROADWAY, LOST CONTROL AND VEHICLE OVERTURNED, THE REPORT ALSO STATES THAT THE CAUSE WAS CARELESS DRIVING, THE CONSUMER STATES THIS IS UNTRUE AND THAT THE CAUSE IS THE STRUCTURAL AND DESIGN FLAWS OF THE EXPLORER, TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC
A LOUD CLANKING NOISE ORIGINATING FROM FRONT RIGHT SUSPENSION AREA,DUE TO A LOOSE CONTROL ARM. CJ
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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