2000 Ford Explorer Brakes Problems

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11654947

Incident

Apr 3, 2025

The contact owned a 1999 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, and the brakes were depressed, the vehicle fishtailed crashed into a ditch and rolled two times. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained head, arm, and back, injuries and the passenger sustained head, neck, finger, and back injuries. Medical attention was sought. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

NHTSA ID

11576621

Incident

Mar 9, 2024

Mileage

190,000 mi

BIG CONCERN WITH MY POWER TRAIN. THE BACK OF THE CAR HAS A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CLICKS LOUDLY WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN. GOING A FASTER SPEED SEEMS TO SOUND BETTER BUT ITS PRETTY SCARY.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. THERE ALSO IS A SENSOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I DON'T KNOW ITS NAME.. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED OUT AND RENDERED PASSABLE BUT I FEAR THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP SOMETIMES.IT FEELS UNSTABLE. I AM ELDERLY AND NEED A STABLE CAR TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11355228

Incident

May 15, 2020

I HAVE JUST REPLACED, FOR THE 4TH TIME, THE FRONT, DRIVERS SIDE, RUBBER BRAKE LINE . THE LINE SEEMS TO BE TO SHORT. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE LINE IS PULLED TAUNT TO BEYOND IT'S LENGTH. IT SEEMS THAT THE LINE IS ABOUT 3 TO 4 INCHES TO SHORT. EACH TIME IT HAS BROKEN AT THE SAME PLACE WHERE THE RUBBER LINE CONNECTS TO THE BRAKE CALIPER. I STILL HAVE TWO OF THE BRAKE LINES THAT LEAKED. I DON'T KNOW HOW OTHER EXPLORES BRAKE LINES HAVE HELD UP WITHOUT LEAKING. I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE HOSE THAT IS LEAKING , PURCHASED FROM NAPA THAT IS THE SAME LENGTH AS THE OTHERS. I HAD A NEW ONE MADE TO ORDER WITH A 3 INCH INCREASE IN LENGTH. THE BRAKE HOSE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE IS THE CORRECT LENGTH. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 5 YEAR AND IT HAS 187,000 MILES DRIVEN. THE DATE THAT THIS HAPPEN, BELOW, WAS THE FIRST OF THREE TIMES IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11033223

Incident

Oct 10, 2012

Mileage

167,000 mi

THE DAY OF THE FATALITY I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR AROUND 5 TO 10 MINUTES. I WAS ON AN UPGRADE,. (HOWEVER I HAD JUST RECENTLY HAD NEW BRAKES INSTALLED AND THE CAR WAS IN PARK). SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACK AT A FAST PACE KILLING THE BACK SEAT DRIVER THAT WAS IN THERE SEATBELT. AND INJURING MYSELF IN AN ATTEMPT TO HALT THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604614

Incident

Feb 23, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WAITING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN, AND THE TRUCK JUST TAKES OFF ON ITS OWN. I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT AS SOON AS IT TOOK OFF I WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER MY TRUCK WAS HIT BY THE VEHICLE IT TOOK OFF AGAIN OUT OF CONTROL ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS TRYING TO PRESS THE BRAKE. LUCKILY THE TRUCK DIED ON ITS OWN BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING ELSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471693

Incident

Aug 20, 2012

Mileage

180,000 mi

WE HAVE A 2000 FORD EXPLORER BOUGHT NEW FROM HOLMAN FORD. THE REAR METAL BRAKE LINE THAT IS MOUNTED ON THE REAR AXLE, CONNECTING BOTH REAR BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON RTE 42 IN NEW JERSEY. THE SUV WAS SLOWED DOWN BY DRIVING ON THE MEDIAN STRIP OF THE HIGHWAY. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE HEIGHT OF MORNING RUSH HOUR. UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE LINE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE LINE "RUSTED" THROUGH, LETTING BRAKE FLUID TO RAPIDLY SPRAY OUT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE BRAKE LINE IS MOUNTED TO THE REAR AXLE BY METAL CLIPS ATTACHED TO THE REAR AXLE. AT THE CENTER OF THE REAR AXLE, THE BRAKE LINE FAILED, WHERE IT IS FASTENED TO THE CLIP. THE BRAKE LINE IS MOUNTED THIS WAY BY FORD. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TO BUY A NEW OEM BRAKE LINE FROM FORD, FORD INFORMED ME THAT THE PART WAS DISCONTINUED. AND FOR HOLMAN FORD, I WILL NEVER BY A CAR OR ANYTHING FROM THIS DEALERSHIP!! THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447437

Incident

Aug 8, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE CAR WAS PURCHASED USED IN MARCH, 2011. THE BRAKE PROBLEM STARTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER BUT WAS HARDLY NOTICEABLE AND THEN OVERNIGHT THEY WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT. I HAD THEM CHECKED AT PEP BOYS TO VERIFY THAT THEY NEEDED REPLACING AND THEY SAID YES, IMMEDIATELY. I DID NOT HAVE AAA AT THE TIME AND COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR THE 50 PLUS MILES WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, SO THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT MY HOME. I HAVE A COPY OF THE PEP BOYS RECEIPT FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE BRAKES, AND ONE BRAKE PLATE THAT NEEDED REPLACING. I ALSO HAVE PICTURES OF HOW POOR THE CONDITION OF THE BRAKES WERE IN, AND I WAS SOLD THE CAR THIS WAY. ALSO, THE CAR DOORS DO NOT LOCK, AND THE DEALER SAID THEY HAD REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WITH A NEW MOTOR FOR THE LOCKS, BUT THE DOOR STILL DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR ADDITIONAL PARTS THAT PEP BOYS USED TO FIX THE PASSENGER, FRONT DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10435278

Incident

Aug 26, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HE ENGAGED THE BRAKES A SECOND TIME AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. HE SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH. HE STATED THAT USING THE SHIFTER SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN IN TIME FOR THE OTHER VEHICLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS DAMAGED BY RUST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,000.

NHTSA ID

10354908

Incident

Aug 10, 2010

Mileage

78,000 mi

THE BOLT TO BRAKE CALIPER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FELL OUT, CAUSING THE CALIPER TO FALL OUT AND THE WHEEL LOCK UP. IF I HADN'T HAVE BEEN AT A LOW SPEED IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS FOR ME, MY ONE YEAR OLD AND OTHER PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212353

Incident

Dec 18, 2007

Mileage

187,673 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10172230

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

Mileage

60,034 mi

2000 FORD EXPLORER ABS SYSTEM ENGAGING WHILE STOPPING CAUSING HARD BRAKING. *KB THE VEHICLE ABS ACTIVATES WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10165811

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

UPDATE TO ODI ID NUMBER 10080842 - SAME OWNER; BRAKE PEDAL MASTER CYLINDER JUST STARTED LEAKING AGAIN; HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY; YEAR 2000 VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 42,000 MILES ON IT; VERY COSTLY REPAIR TO HAVE TO DO EVERY 2 YEARS! *NM

NHTSA ID

10153232

Incident

Mar 17, 2006

Mileage

41,300 mi

2000 FORD EXPLORER DOES NOT COMPLETELY STOP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB

NHTSA ID

10148713

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT:THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONSUMER HAD A BRAKE JOB DONE BY THE DEALER AND THEY DID NOT ADJUST THE CABLES CORRECTLY FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. IT CAUSED THE BRAKES TO BECOME DAMAGED. THE DEALERSHIP INSISTED THAT CONSUMER NEEDED TO PAY ALL OVER AGAIN. *AK THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE CABLE A YEAR EARLIER WHILE PERFORMING BRAKE REPAIRS AND FORGOT TO RECONNECT THEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10128120

Incident

Jul 7, 2005

HELLO, WHILE RECENTLY REPLACING THE DISC BRAKE PADS ON THE REAR OF OUR 2000 FORD EXPLORER 4DR XLT 4WD (APROX 50K MILES), I NOTICED SEVERE CHAFFING IN MULTIPLE SPOTS OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLES JUST AFT OF WHERE THEY SPLIT FROM ONE CABLE INTO TWO ARMORED CABLES (LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL AREA). THEY CROSS OVER EACH OTHER AND DUE TO OBVIOUS VERTICAL SUSPENSION TRAVEL THEY WERE CHAFFING AGAINST EACH OTHER AND IT APPEARED ONE WAS ALSO CHAFFING AGAINST THE FRAME SOMEWHAT (THE LATTER I'M GUESSING OCCURS ONLY WHEN CARRYING A HEAVY LOAD). THE CHAFFING WAS SO BAD THAT IT HAD RUBBED ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE ACTUAL LEFT CABLE (APROX 50% OF THE CABLE DIAMETER)ALLOWING WATER ETC... KICKED UP BY THE WHEEL TO PENETRATE AND SEVERELY CORRODE THE CABLE. SOON AFTER I HAD REMOVED THE WHEEL, THE CABLE SNAPPED IN TWO DUE TO THE SUSPENSION BEING UNLOADED AND THE SEVERE CORROSION OF THE CABLE. I AM CURIOUS IF THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THIS OR IF YOU HAVE HAD OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER EXPLORERS. UNLESS MY VEHICLE IS MISSING CLAMPS ETC... THIS APPEARS TO BE A BAD DESIGN TO HAVE THE TWO CABLES TOUCHING THE WAY THEY DO. I HAVE TAKEN MULTIPLE DIGITAL PICTURES WITH THE SUSPENSION UNLOADED AND WITH THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE GROUND AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND THEM TO YOU. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE IF THE E-BRAKE WERE TO BE USED AT A DECENT RATE OF SPEED, ONE WHEEL BRAKING ACTION COULD OBVIUOSLY CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, NOT TO MENTION THE VEHICLE ROLLING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY DUE TO LOSS OF PARKING BRAKE ACTION. THE PARTS (CABLES) ARE AVAILAIBE AS THEY ARE STILL INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY INFO YOU HAVE. THANKS,*AK

NHTSA ID

10116076

Incident

Mar 27, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME STUCK. *JB CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING ALTHOUGH CONSUMER HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. HAD TO CIRCLE THE GAS STATION 3 TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKES CAUGHT FIRE BUT THE FIRE WENT OUT SOON AFTER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10114933

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

Mileage

73,000 mi

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING, ALTHOUGH CONSUMER HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. HAD TO CIRCLE THE GAS STATION 3 TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE RAN 3 RED LIGHTS BEFORE SHE COULD GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE CONSUMER SLAMMED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK GOING 50MPH. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKES CAUGHT FIRE AND SHE WAS LUCKY THE FIRE PUT ITSELF OUT. *TC

NHTSA ID

10109460

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

Mileage

73,000 mi

MASTER CYLINDER ON 2000 FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10105608

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

34,052 mi

WHILE REPLACING THE TIRES CONSUMER NOTICED THAT BRAKE LINE WORE OUT. AS RESULT, THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE ALSO WORE OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10092729

Incident

Sep 20, 2004

IN EARLY 2002 I NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FEELING SOFT AND PRACTICALLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NORMAL BRAKING AND THE PEDAL MADE A HISSING/VACUUM NOISE AT TIMES. FOR HARD BRAKING IT FELT LIKE THE SUV WOULDN'T STOP. I TOOK THE CAR FOR SERVICE ON 6/8/02 AT A FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH BLED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TOOK THE SUV BACK ON 11/9/02 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A VACUUM LEAK FROM THE POWER BOOSTER AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. PEDAL AND BRAKING WAS NORMAL AFTER THIS UNTIL RECENTLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FAILING AGAIN AS BEFORE. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. *LA

NHTSA ID

10080842

Incident

Jul 2, 2004

BOTH FRONT ROTORS HAD SEVERE RUST/CORROSION ON THE INNER SURFACE. VEHICLE HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS DUE FOR THE FIRST PAD REPLACEMENT. ROTORS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE DEPTH OF RUST DAMAGE. RUST WAS NOT VISIBLE ON THE OUTSIDE SURFACE. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE SITUATION OR THE CHANGE IN BRAKING DISTANCES UNTIL THE NEW ROTORS WERE INSTALLED. THE NEW BRAKING CONDITIONS IS NOTICABLY IMPROVED. I HAVE POSSESSION OF BOTH ROTORS AND PADS THAT WERE REPLACED. REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AT A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONTINUALLY DRIVEN AND THE RUST/CORROSION IS NOT TYPICAL BUILDUP FROM A LACK OF OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10066246

Incident

Apr 11, 2004

Mileage

56,000 mi

THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE DISC CORRODED AND CRACKED CAUSING MY FRONT BRAKES TO LOCK UP. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT BRAKE DICS ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AND OVERHAUL THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10064161

Incident

Mar 10, 2004

Mileage

63,750 mi

MY BRAKES FAILED AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. I WAS DRIVING MY INFANT TO DAY CARE AT ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR. A CAR IN FRONT OF ME MADE A STOP SO I HIT MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE EXPLORER WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. NO ABS LIGHT, ,NO LOSS OF PEDAL,NO VIBRATION,NOTHING. I PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STILL NOTHING. I HAD TO GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND MAKE A VERY SHARP TURN ONTO A SIDE RD TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. BECAUSE OF THIS I ALMOST HIT AN ON COMING CAR. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE BRAKE SEEMED FINE AGAIN. I HAVE HEARD OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO CAUSE HAS YET BEEN FOUND. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054262

Incident

Jan 16, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ABS WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10049804

Incident

Nov 12, 2003

Mileage

2,000 mi