2000 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11654947

Incident

Apr 3, 2025

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

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.

NHTSA ID

11462086

Incident

Dec 13, 2021

Mileage

153,000 mi

THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION WHILE BOTH IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11055411

Incident

Dec 16, 2017

Mileage

112,727 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

SUDDEN ACCELERATION FROM STOP IN PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID

10825796

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING SLIGHTLY UPHILL IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, OFF EXIT 16 ON THE PALISADES PARKWAY, DUE TO A CONTROLLED STOP SET UP BY POLICE TO CHECK INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION. I SAW SMOKE AROUND MY VEHICLE, SO I LOOKED AT MY INSTRUMENT PANEL TO SEE IF MY CAR WAS OVERHEATING. MY INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHEN I LOOKED UP, AN OFFICER WAS MOTIONING FOR ME TO PULL OVER SAYING MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR, GOT IN THE BACK SEAT TO GET MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OUT OF HER CAR SEAT, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE QUICKLY GOT OUT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD TO GET FAR AWAY. TWO POLICE OFFICERS TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH EXTINGUISHERS, BUT WERE UNABLE TO GET THE HOOD OPEN. WE WERE OUT OF THE CAR NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES WHEN IT WAS ENTIRELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, BY THEN THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

NHTSA ID

10749616

Incident

Aug 16, 2015

TIMING CHAIN RATTLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659689

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

180,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10651387

Incident

Oct 12, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND AS SHE PROCEEDED TO WALK AWAY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

NHTSA ID

10481994

Incident

Oct 22, 2012

Mileage

173,000 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CONTACTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 179,000.

NHTSA ID

10448801

Incident

Feb 17, 2012

Mileage

179,000 mi

SPARKPLUG SUPER-HEATED AND MELTED LONGITUDINALLY DESTROYING THE OUTERMOST SPARKPLUG THREADS (7 THROUGH THE SEATING SURFACE OF THE SPARK PLUG). INNER MOST THREADS, THE ONES DEEPEST INTO THE HEAD WERE NOT DAMAGED. A SECOND PLUG WAS INSTALLED ALONG WITH A NEW SPARK PLUG WIRE AND WITHIN 20 MILES, THE SPARKPLUG WAS AGAIN MELTED BEYOND SALVAGE AND THE NEW WIRE BURNED UP. DUE TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SPARKPLUG, IT WAS ABLE TO BE REMOVED WITHOUT TOOLS AS THERE WERE NO THREADS REMAINING IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. FORTUNATELY THE FIRE DAMAGE (LIKELY FROM THE SPARK OF THE PLUG) WAS LIMITED ONLY TO DAMAGING THE SPARKPLUG AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRE LABLED #3. *TT

NHTSA ID

10444658

Incident

Jan 14, 2012

Mileage

188,604 mi

THIS IS TO REPORT A FIRE IN A 2000 FORD EXPLORER: ON FRIDAY, 25 NOV 11, 5 ADULTS (MY HUSBAND, 2 SONS, DAUGHTER-IN LAW, AND MYSELF) AND 2 DOGS, LEFT BETHLEHEM PA FOR OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS TRIP IN OUR 2000 FORD EXPLORER, PULLING A UTILITY TRAILER. THE INTENT OF THE TRIP WAS TO START AT A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM, CUT DOWN 3 CHRISTMAS TREES, HAUL THEM IN THE TRAILER AND CONTINUE WITH SEVERAL OTHER CHRISTMAS RELATED TRADITIONAL STOPS. MY HUSBAND, DROVE APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES NORTH TO BISSELS CHRISTMAS TREE HILL IN LEHIGHTON, PA. HE DID NOT USE CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE WE WERE PULLING THE TRAILER. THE TRIP WAS FINE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATIONS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT ALSO HAD NOT HAD ANY SERVICE DONE TO IT RECENTLY (A QUESTION FREQUENTLY ASKED TO US). HE PARKED THE VEHICLE ALONG AN EMBANKMENT AT THE TREE FARM AND WE ALL WERE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF GETTING OUT OF THE CAR WITH THE DOGS WHEN SOMEONE NEARBY YELLED TO US THAT OUR CAR WAS ON FIRE. SHE REPEATED IT AS WE LOOKED TO SEE WHO SHE WAS ADDRESSING. WE LOOKED AT OUR CAR AND SAW THAT UNDER IT, FIRE BALLS WERE HITTING THE GROUND FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD AND SMOKE WAS IMMEDIATELY POURING OUT OF THE ENGINE. WE ALL QUICKLY GOT AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. MY ONE SON IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AND MY OTHER SON RAN NEARBY TO TRY AND FIND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE SMOKE QUICKLY TURNED INTO A FULL BLOWN FIRE. THE COMPLETE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ALONG WITH THE EMBANKMENT NEARBY, WAS ABLAZE. THE MAHONING VALLEY POLICE CAME, THEN THE FIRE CAPTAINS, THEN 2 FULL FIRE TRUCKS FROM LEHIGHTON AND MAHONING VALLEY FIRE DEPARTMENTS. THEY QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED EVERYTHING, ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE WE LOST MY PURSE, JACKETS, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS VALUABLES THAT WERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE FRONT SEAT AND IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439771

Incident

Dec 24, 2010

THE 2000 FORD EXPLORER SUV BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AS THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED. AFTER PULLING OVER AND TURNING THE IGNITION OFF, WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. UNDERNEATH THE CAR, FLAMES WERE DRIPPING DOWN FROM THE TRANSMISSION. WE USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES ON THE GROUND, AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD. AFTER THE HOOD WAS OPENED, LARGE FLAMES WERE OBSERVED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED UNTIL EMPTY AND HAD LITTLE IMPACT. THE CAR BEGAN TO BURN QUICKLY AND THE FLAMES SPREAD FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE EMERGENCY SERVICES ARRIVED, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND COLLECTED WITNESS STATEMENTS. NO ONE WAS HURT IN THE INCIDENT AND THE FRAME WAS TOWED VIA AAA TO A NEARBY AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413364

Incident

Jul 16, 2011

Mileage

202,000 mi

MY FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALL I SAW WAS CLOUD OF SMOKE. THEN PEOPLE STARTED YELLING AND BLOWING THEIR HORN AT ME, THE UNBELIEVABLE, THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336226

Incident

Jun 13, 2010

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER . THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. SHE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FROM A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER OWNERS EXPENSE. WHEN IT WAS AT THE DEALER SHIP THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE APART WITHOUT THE DRIVERS PERMISSION. THE DRIVER CALLED AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THEY USED A DEFECTIVE ENGINE FOR THE 2000 FORD MODELS AND FOUND OUT AFTER A YEAR AND THAT'S WHY THE Y DISCONTINUED USING THAT SPECIFIC ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93104 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93300.

NHTSA ID

10282533

Incident

May 14, 2009

Mileage

93,104 mi

SPARK PLUG CLOSEST TO DRIVER DOES NOT SEAT AND COMES OUT. NOT A FULL BLOW OUT OF IT, BUT THE PLUG FEELS REAL LOOSE. I TRIED NEW PLUG BUT IT STILL FEELS LOOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266823

Incident

Mar 15, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THE HOOD. THE CONTACT QUICKLY REMOVED HER CHILDREN AND CHILD SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE. IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, THE HOOD BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE JUNKYARD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE COMPLETE COVERAGE. THE MIAMI MIDWAY POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT NUMBER PPOC9A02C02188. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10254084

Incident

Jan 2, 2009

Mileage

96,000 mi

AT 166,000 HEAD GASKET BLEW PLUS THERE WERE OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS. REPLACED WITH ANOTHER ENGINE. NOW TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. IT WILL GO INTO REVERSE FINE BUT WILL GO INTO DRIVE WITH PROBLEMS. IF VEHICLE IS COLD IT WILL GO INTO DRIVE FASTER THAN WHEN IT IS WARMED UP. AT WARM TEMP IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL TRIES OF SHIFTING FROM PARK BACK TO DRIVE OR WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES FOR IT TO DROP INTO DRIVE AFTER SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE LESS THAN 2 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251892

Incident

Sep 16, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC FOUND ANTIFREEZE IN THE OIL. NEW OIL WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE AND, ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED, ANTIFREEZE WAS FOUND IN THE OIL AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKET. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR A FAILED HEAD BOLT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10250507

Incident

Nov 29, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS OFFLINE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE CONDUCTING A FREE REPAIR FOR THIS FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE TIME HAD ALREADY EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER HONORING THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 06/17/08. *LJ UPDATED 06/17/08

NHTSA ID

10229126

Incident

Feb 17, 2008

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE FUEL LINE RUSTED AND DEVELOPED TINY PIN HOLES AND CRACKS. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALSO. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COST WOULD BE BETWEEN $400 AND $500 TO REMOVE THE TANK. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,100.

NHTSA ID

10215995

Incident

Jan 11, 2008

Mileage

34,100 mi

VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH IN DRIVE BUT OK IN PARK AND SMELL OF FUEL OR EXHAUST WAS IN CABIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. DEALERSHIP SAID VALVE WAS BURNED OUT AND THIS ONLY HAPPENS IF VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER OVERHEATED AND EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED A FULL AND CLEAN COOLANT LEVEL PRESENT. DEALERSHIP WANTS $1,800 TO FIX ENGINE WHICH ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210208

Incident

Nov 27, 2007

Mileage

68,000 mi