2000 Ford Explorer Electrical Problems

Driving at the correct speed limit swerved to avoid hitting deer that ran out into the road hit a covert had seatbelt on airbags came out before that something hit me in side of my right arm it hit my elbow so hard and fast my arm was flung outwards and upwards which broke out the passenger side window the top of my elbow is broken that gave me a large purple bruise I got 2 pretty good size gashes on my arm also one on the bottom of my forearm and on the back side of my arm. Refer to request 1500509 and Request 1500511.

NHTSA ID

11585274

Incident

Apr 28, 2023

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon pulling into a gas station, both white and black colored smoke began to emit from the vehicle without warning. Before the contact could fully react, the vehicle soon caught fire. The contact managed to pull away from the gas pumps as a gas attendant brought out fire extinguishers that they both used to exterminate the fire. The fire department arrived at the scene; however, the contact was unsure if a fire report was filed. The contact suffered minor scrapes and bruises as a result of the fire but did not seek medical attention. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained at the gas station. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 223,000.

NHTSA ID

11534005

Incident

Jul 24, 2023

Mileage

223,000 mi

MY OVERHEAD LIGHT MELTED SMOKED AND DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE AND NOW I'M HAVING TROUBLE W MY DASH LIGHTS FLICKERING AND MY AUTOMATIC LIGHTS DON'T EVER SHUT OFF

NHTSA ID

11350878

Incident

Aug 21, 2020

Mileage

155,000 mi

I AM DEEPLY DISGUSTED WITH YOUR SERVICE. I HAD FILED A COMPLAINT ONLINE AND ON THE PHONE ABOUT THE VEHICLE I HAVE SPECIFIED ON THIS ONLINE SYSTEM. THIS WAS DONE BACK IN 2011 AND FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE MANUFACTURE AND THE CA STATE DEPT. OF INVESTIGATIONS WITH DMV. I HAD ALSO SENT THE 20 PAGE OR SO COMPLAINT DIRECTLY TO A CA STATE SENATOR. I WAS SOLD A VEHICLE WITH A FIRE RECALL STILL IN EFFECT AND REGISTERED TO THE AUTO DEALER OF AUTO WEST GROUP. THE VEHICLE COME TO FIND OUT HAD WELL OVER 15 SAFETY RELATED RECALLS IN ITS HISOTRY. FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO AQUIRE COPIES OF WHAT I HAD SENT INTO YOUR DEPARTMENT, THE FTC, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE BUREAU OF AUTO REPAIRS. NOW I FIND THAT I AM BEING STONEWALLED AND BEING TOLD THINGS LIKE THEY NO LONGER HAVE ANY RECORDS OF THE PROBLEMS. I NEVER RECEIVED A REPLACMENT VEHICLE AND I WAS IN FACT A VICTIM OF FINANCIAL FRAUD ASSOCIATED WITH THE PURCHASING OF THIS VEHICLE. BANK OF AMERICA AND THE USED VEHICLE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALER. SINCE THIS TIME THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAD ENACTED A FEW NEW LEMON LAW PROTECTIONS. I AM CERTAIN THAT MY PAPERWORK AND COMPLAINT WRITE-UPS ASSISTED IN SERVING THE LEGISLATION. IT COULDN'T BE MORE APPARENT THAT I AM BEING HARASSED AS A WHISTLE BLOWER.. I HAVE RECEIVED NO INFORMATION OR FOLLOWUP LETTERS FROM ANY SOURCE. ALL OF THEM ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO PRETEND I DO NOT EXIST. THEIR HAS BEEN NO RESOLVE OF THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ID

10970791

Incident

Jan 29, 2008

Mileage

89,000 mi

2000 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL STATES ENGINE RUNNING WITHOUT IGNITION KEY COULD START A FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THOUGHT DEALERSHIP REPAIRED RECALL PROBLEMS. VEHICLE EXPLODED SEVEN MINUTES AFTER CONSUMER EXISTS VEHICLE. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10874080

Incident

Mar 14, 2016

BEFORE MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT MY OVER DRIVE WOULD FLASH THEN MY 4WHEEL DRIVE STOPPED WORKING. I HAD THE 4WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL I WENT TO SACRAMENTO. AFTER TAKING CARE OF MY EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FILLED ON A REGULAR BASIS. WHILE LEAVING SACRAMENTO STOPPED AT A CHEVRON TO FILL UP BEFORE HEADING BACK UP TO TAHOE. AS IM LEAVING THE GAS STATION ALL OF THE SUDDEN THERE'S A LOUD CRUNCH OF METAL SOUND COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR AND IT WONT KICK INTO ANY GEAR. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND AFTER READING THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ABOUT THEIR EXPLODERS DOING THE SME THING I FIGURED I WOULD COMPLAIN. IM TIRED OF BIG COMPANIES SCREWING THE LITTLE PEOPLE OVER WHO PURCHASE THEIR PRODUCTS WHEN THEY ARE PERFECTLY ABLE TO FIX IT. SHAME ON U FORD.

NHTSA ID

10717579

Incident

Mar 27, 2014

Mileage

147,000 mi

MY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A RECALL IN JUNE 13, 2006 FOR MY VEHICLE, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT BY FORD COMPANY. IT IS NOW THAT IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS WAS AN OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10626746

Incident

Jun 13, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

I CAME HOME FROM DROPPING MY SON OFF AT HIS SCHOOL SOCIAL. I HEARD SOME SPARKING NOISE. UNPLUGGED MY CELL PHONE CHARGER. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT FIRST. 1 MINUTE LATER I SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM MY HOOD. I JUMPED OUT THE CAR AND CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. GUYS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD PUT FIRE OUT. IT STARTED AROUND THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CORD THAT ATTACHES TO IT. LATER FOUND OUT IT IS CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I'M TRYING TO SEE WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. WASN'T INFORMED ABOUT RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597283

Incident

Jun 6, 2014

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10536987

Incident

Mar 1, 2009

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE FIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANY MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10500785

Incident

Aug 15, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIREWALL WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE AND PARTIALLY MELTED SHORTING OUT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE VEHICLE WAS WAS UNDER STEADY LOAD (3500 RPM) FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES PULLING OUT A STUMP. FIRE WAS UNDER HOOD AND WAS EXTINGUISHED WITHIN SECONDS WITH WATER. ENGINE RUNS BUT DASH WARNING LIGHTS PERIODICALLY APPEAR: ENGINE, ABS BRAKES, GAS CAP, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475752

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

167,000 mi

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE DRIVERS DOOR IT WOULD NOT OPEN , WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL , THE ACTUATOR WORKS BUT THE DOOR LATCH WOULD NOT OPEN AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF HAVING TO OPEN IT WITH THE KEYS I TOOK THE DOOR PANEL OPEN AND SPAY SOME WD-40 AND IT STARTED TO OPEN BUT AS TIME WHEN ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS HAVE STARTED TO DO THE SAME , THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS HAVE GOT JAM AND NOW BOTH DOORS ARE FAILING AT ONE POINT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR DIDN'T OPEN AND I HAD TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC TO GET IT TO WORK BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS AND NOW THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT OPEN IT GOT STOCK AND THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR HAS FALLEN OFF IT HAS BEEN SUCH A FRUSTRATING PROBLEM AND I WENT TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST FOR THE PARTS AND ITS GOING TO COST ABOUT $87.00 PER DOOR NOT INCLUDING THE LABOR AND IT VERY FRUSTRATING I WISH THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ALSO THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL I WENT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT FIX , AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL I HAVE CALL SEVERAL TIMES THEY SAY THEIR IS NO OPENINGS AND IT HAS NOW BEEN FOUR YEARS I HAVE GIVEN UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10466532

Incident

May 1, 2007

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING HER VEHICLE SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THEN VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT HAVE NOT FOLLOWED UP WITH THE CONTACT REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10422376

Incident

Aug 24, 2011

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF WHEN SHE ENGAGED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO SHUT OFF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE KNOB HAD BECOME ABNORMALLY HOT AND FELL TO THE FLOOR WHEN ENGAGED. SHE THEN OBSERVED A CHEMICAL COMING FROM THE KNOB CASING AND BLACK SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED NEAR A GASOLINE FUEL LINE AND THE VEHICLE THEN EXPLODED. THE STEREO WAS BLOWN OUT INTO THE STREET AND GLASS EXPLODED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. A SECOND VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED NEARBY WAS ALSO DAMAGED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURED WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10370564

Incident

Nov 25, 2010

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN WITH THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ENGAGED WHEN WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH COULD POTENTIALLY BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10362675

Incident

Oct 27, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH, SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AS THE CONTACT WAS MOVING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND ADVISED THE FIRE WAS SO SEVERE THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FIRE CHIEF RULED THE FIRE AS MECHANICAL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL CAMPAIGN IN ORDER TO PREVENT A VEHICLE FIRE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10336805

Incident

Jun 14, 2010

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE DOOR LOCKS CONTINUED TO FAIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/15/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOCKS HAVE FAILED ONE-BY-ONE. THE PASSENGER REAR AND DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCKS COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE TRUNK LOCK ALSO STICKS. UPDATED 09/02/10

NHTSA ID

10315143

Incident

Mar 9, 2009

MY FORD FOCUS 2000 HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS UP SO THAT I CAN PUT MY CAR KEY IN... BUT IT WILL NOT TURN. I WAS LEFT STRANDED AT A GAS STATION AT NIGHT, IF THAT ISN'T DANGEROUS THAN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. I PUT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BUT COST ALOT OF MONEY AND FROM WHAT I READ ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND EVEN WHEN FIXED IT STILL HAPPENING TO PEOPLE! WE NEED HELP, NO PERSON SHOULD BE LEFT STRANDED LIKE I WAS IT WAS SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10303353

Incident

Jan 28, 2010

Mileage

940,000 mi

2000 FORD EXPLORER XLS. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 25 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE RUNNING PROPERLY AND SMOOTHLY. SMOKE BEGAN BELLOWING FROM UNDER HOOD. STOPPED VEHICLE TO OPEN HOOD TO DISCOVER ENGINE FIRE. VEHICLE HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE WITH FULL DIAGNOSTIC LESS THAN A WEAK BEFORE HAND WITH NO ISSUES. VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF CURRENT RECALLS. BAFFLED AS TO THE START OF FIRE. MAINLY BURNED THE MAIN ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298900

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FUSE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED. SHE REPLACED THE FUSE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES WITHIN TWO MONTHS. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN FRONT HER HOME WHEN SHE HEARD THE VEHICLE ALARM GOING OFF. SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHUT THE ALARM OFF WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY. SHE FOUND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VENTS BEGAN TO MELT AND SHE THEN NOTICED FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED HOWEVER SHE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE THEY ARRIVED. THE DEALER ADVISED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL HOWEVER SHE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE PERTAINING TO POSSIBLE FIRES AND ONE RECALL PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR (SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V072000) HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE RECALLS. NO REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 125,149. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10288552

Incident

Oct 9, 2009

Mileage

125,149 mi

TOTAL BATTERY DRAIN WITHIN 48 HOURS OF CHARGE....ALTERNATOR CHECKS OK....BATTERY CHECKS OK....REGULATOR CHECKS OK... *TR

NHTSA ID

10277057

Incident

Jul 14, 2009

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS, THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE BATTERY IS ALWAYS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTO GARAGE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON APRIL 8, 2008 AND THEY STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT AND GLOBE WIRING WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS $800. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE DEALER INFORMED THEM THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER THE HOOD; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HIS VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V072000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS) AND HE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 05/19/08 *BF UPDATED 05/19/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10224207

Incident

Feb 23, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

AUG 2007, RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD MOTOR CO TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). SEP 2007, RECEIVED NOTICE FROM FORD MOTOR CO ADVISING OF PARTS SHORTAGE TO REPAIR DEFECT AND AUTHORIZING "AN INTERIM REPAIR OF DISCONNECTING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM" ON THE VEHICLE. ON SUBSEQUENT SERVICE VISITS AND ON MOST RECENT VISIT OF 3-MAR-2008, SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PART TO EFFECT A REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219968

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACTS WIFE NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE REARVIEW MIRROR AFTER SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE. SHE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRE CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE REPAIR, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NO LONGER ILLUMINATE AUTOMATICALLY. THE DEALER STATED THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,865 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 01/02/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10206021

Incident

Sep 20, 2007

Mileage

92,865 mi

SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN / TURN SIGNAL AREA, THAT COMES AND GOES. ON GOING PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197978

Incident

Jul 31, 2007