Ford Explorer Complaints (2000)

1,026 consumer complaints on file.

#10130836August 30, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, AIR BAGS
DT: THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH SHORTED OUT. SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK AND THEN OTHER TIMES IT WOULD NOT WORK, AND FINALLY QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER. HAD IT REPLACED BY MECHANIC, HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED ON JUNE 1, 2005. *AK THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED AND CAUSED THE HORN TO ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128120August 24, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133054August 16, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BRACKET WELD BROKE FREE AND CAUSED MY SEAT TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT. I HAD BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE SEAT BACK RECALL. SOME TIME LATER I HAD NOTICED THAT THE SEAT FELT LOOSE. THE FASTENERS BROKE OFF THE END OF THE FRONT DRIVE ROD WHICH ALLOWED THE SEAT BRACKET TO SLIP OFF THE FRONT DRIVE ROD..WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALER TO EVALUATE THE SAID THAT THE WHOLE SEAT TRACK ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED A COST OF $586.00. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION I FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON WITH THESE VEHICLES. I NOTIFIED FORD AND AM WAITING A RESPONSE FROM THEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131675August 5, 2005
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
DT: CONTACT STATED NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER ASKED IF THERE WAS A COVERING TO PUT ON THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THERE WAS NOT. THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER DID PUT AN AFTER MARKET STEERING WHEEL COVER, BUT DID NOT HELP, IT WOULD ABSORB THROUGH THE COVER. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE WHEEL WAS GRIPPED. THE SERVICE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130509July 28, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON JULY 8,2005 I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXIT RAMP TO GET ON TO 435 AND I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS SPEEDING UP WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON IT. I THEN TRIED TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES AND THAT WOULD NOT WORK. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AT STATLINE AND MY CAR THEN WENT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT AND WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR IS NOW A TOTALED OUT AND I ONLY HAD IT FOR 7 MONTHS. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10125612July 25, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: 2000 FORD EXPLORER WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE. THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER SAW T HE VEHICLE ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY A FAULTY CIRCUIT BREAKER. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129747July 22, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ONLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAVE PREMATURELY WORN OUT. THE UPPER BALL JOINT MOVES FREELY WITH THE CAR'S VERTICAL MOTION RATHER THAN BEING RESTRICTED TO SIDE-TO-SIDE MOTION. THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAS ALSO FAILED. THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOWS NO SUCH WEAR. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM AND NO ACCIDENT CAUSED FROM IT-- YET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129008July 17, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE FIRE.ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO MY GARAGE BURNED DOWN.IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HOT SPOT ,THE POINT WHERE THE FIRE STARTED WAS WHERE MY 2000 EXPLORER WAS SITTING.IT HAS THE SAME SWITCH THAT THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED HAVE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129010July 17, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
I READ AN AP ARTICLE ABOUT THE NHTS INVESTIGATING "STUCK THROTTLES" FROM 2002 AND NEWER FORD EXPLORERS. I HAVE A 2000 XLT EXPLORER, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT USED 3 YEARS AGO. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE AND HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAYS THERE IS NO INFO ON THIS FROM FORD AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. FOR ME, THE STUCK THROTTLE HAS ONLY HAPPENED IN REVERSE AS I AM BACKING UP. THE THROTTLE WILL GO TO FULL THROTTLE BY ITSELF CAUSING THE CAR TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO FIRMLY HIT THE BRAKES WITH ALL MY MIGHT, SHIFT THE GEAR INTO PARK OR SHUT OFF THE CAR. MY POINT IN CONTACTING YOU IS TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AT LEAST GOING BACK TO 2000 WITH THE FORD EXPLORER AND TO HOPEFULLY FIND A CURE FOR THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128876July 15, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: CONTACT STATES 2000 FORD EXPLORER XLT FULLY LOADED VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 16 HOURS WITHOUT BEING MOVED. AT 5:00AM. ON 7-8-05 HER CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED ALONG WITH A LAPTOP COMPUTER. THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATED THE FIRE AND SAID THE FIRE SEEMED TO ORIGINATE FROM NEAR THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH PANEL. SHE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127196June 30, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1) SLIPPAGE IN 2-3 SHIFT OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAR WITH 63K MILES 2) PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; COSTLY REPAIR ($2700) 3) REQUIRED REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126963June 28, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL, SMOKE COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122514June 28, 2005
WHEELS
DT: 2000, FORD EXPLORER XLS, LEFT REAR WHEEL BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THE WHEEL PASSED THE CONSUMER AS THE VEHICLE WAS SWERVING TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER TOOK OUT 4 OR 5 CABLE BARRIERS, AND THEN BOUNCED BACK OUT TO THE INTERSTATE, THEN THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND HIT MORE CABLE BARRIERS, THEN, HIT ONE HEAD ONE AND THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE THIS. *AK THE LEFT REAR WHEEL (FACTORY ALLOY WHEEL) CAME APART AS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL. THE CENTER OF THE FACTORY ALLOY WHEEL WAS STILL BOLTED WITH ALL 5 LUG NUTS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED . *TT *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10126769June 27, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BOUGHT A SET OF CONTINANTAL TIRES FOR MY 2000 FORD RANGER. AFTER USING THE TIRES FOR SOMETIME (APPROX 40% WARE) I NOTICED A SLIGHT SHAKING WITH THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE SAME SHOP I GOT THE TIRES AND HAD THEM ROTATED AND THE FRONT END ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO GET WORSE. I WAS WAITING FOR MY NEXT DAY OFF BUT THE DAY BEFORE MY DAY OFF I WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH ON I-95 IN PALM BAY, FLORIDA AND THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPERATED. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IT DID TURN SIDEWAYS ON THE ROAD THREE TIMES AND AT ONE POINT I WAS UP ON ONLY TWO TIRES. UPON CHECKING I FOUND THAT ALL TIRES WERE INFLATED BUT THE TIRE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE HAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE. THAT SAME DAY I RETURNED TO THE TIRE SHOP AND HAD THE MANAGER LOOK AT THE TIRE. HE SAID THAT THE TIRE SHOULG NOT HAVE DONE WHAT IT DID WITH THAT SHORT AMOUNT OF MILES ON IT. HE SAID THAT FIRESTONE WOULD REPLACE THE TIRES AND REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE RIGHT REAR AREA OF MY TRUCK BED. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CALL THE THE FIRESTONE CLAMES OFFICER WHICH I DID ON THE MORNING OF 06-27-05. ALSO ON THAT DATE I WAS CONTACTED BY THE TIRE DEALER THAT FIRESTONE WOULD NOT HANDLE THE CLAME AS THE TIRES WERE "CONTINANTAL". I HAD TO CALL CONTINTAL AND THEY WERE NOT VERY HELPFUL. AFTER A VERY LONG CONVERSATION THEY FINALLY AGREED TO COVER A NEW SET OF TIRES WITH A 60% DISCOUNT. I GOT FIRESTONE TIRES. THEY ARE ALSO INSISTING THAT I SEND THEM THE DEFECTIVE TIRE FOR THEIR EXAMINATION TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK. I DO NOT THINK THAT I SHOULD SEND THE EVIDENCE OF THEIR DEFECTIVE TIRE TO THEM AND LOOSE CUSTODY OF IT. I ASKED IF SOMEONE IN FLORIDA COULD CHECK THE TIRE AND THEY SAID NO> I FEEL THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE, I FEEL THAT MY LIFE AND SAFETY WAS IN QUESTION AND I FEEL THAT CONTENTIAL TIRE COMPANY IS ATTEMPTING TO CONCEAL THIS BY TAKING, OR ATTEMPTING, TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE TIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123746June 27, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK PROPERLY WITH BOTH THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY OR THE UNLOCK LATCH ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES WHEN THIS IS ATTEMPTED THE DOOR OPENS. HOWEVER, THE LATCH IS STILL LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DON'S FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER AN EXPLANATION. THE CONSUMER STILL PLANS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK A NEW LATCH AND ACTUATOR WAS INSTALLED. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BUT THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL INFERIOR AND UNSAFE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126540June 24, 2005
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT WARING LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NO LONGER WORKING. INITIALLY THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY AND THEN GO OFF FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM THE DEALER STATED THE ONLY WAY FORD WILL INSTALL THE WIRING KIT 3L2Z-14B455-AB, THAT FIXES THE PROBLEM, IS IF THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50000 MILES ON IT. I HAD TO PAY THEM TO INSTALL THE FIX KIT, BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT WORK WITHOUT DOING SO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126535June 24, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND TOLD THEM THERE WAS A CLATTERING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, AND ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED, THE MOTOR WENT OUT. CONSUMER HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MERLE KELLY FORD IN CHANUTE, KANSAS TO HAVE THE DRIVETRAIN REPAIRED, BUT WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE DRIVETRAIN, AND ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THERE WAS A SPAN OF YEARS I BETWEEN THE TIME SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125879June 20, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
WHEN TURNING ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, IT ACCASIONALLY FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY AND SMOKE ARISES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE AND I WAS AFRAID I MIGHT NOT NOTICE AND MY CAR WOULD CATCH FIRE. UPON TAKING IT TO FORD TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED HOPING IT WAS SOME TYPE OF RECALL I MISSED, BUT IT WAS CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. AFTER REVIEWING A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT JEOPARDIZES SAFETY THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125982June 20, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000, FORD. CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRES STARTED IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN IT WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT LOST POWER PRIOR TO THE FIRE. IT WAS A FUEL FIRE BECAUSE IT HAD TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125573June 17, 2005
STEERING
ON A CLEAR, SUNNY MORNING IN PHOENIX I WAS MAKING A TURN ON THE AIRPORT EXIT RAMP LEADING TO THE 143 AT 35-45MPH. SUDDENLY I FEEL A CLUNK IN THE FRONT STEERING/SUSPENSION AND MY 4 DR, 4X4 2000 EXPLORER OVERSTEERS. I STRUGGLE TO KEEP THE EXPLORER STRAIGHT AND NOT ROLL OVER. I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING MECHANISM FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE I REGAIN TOTAL CONTROL. I STOP IN A EMERGENCY LANE AND VISUALLY INSPECT EXPLORER FRONT SUSPENSION/STEERING. I NOTICE FROM THAT POINT FORWARD THAT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH RESISTENCE WHEN I STEER AND THAT IT STEERS TOO EASILY. I BRING THE CAR IN TO THE FORD DEALER ON JUNE 16, 2005 AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THE DEALER ADVISES ME THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATES THAT IT IS COMMON ON THE EXPLORER TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS BECAUSE THE EXPLORER WEARS THEM OUT QUICKLY. MY EXPLORER ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES AND I'VE HAD IT FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS. I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET SINCE THIS INCIDENT THAT FORD EXPLORERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BALL JOINTS, THAT THEY COME WITHOUT A LUBRICATION NIPPLE AND THAT THEY TEND TO DRY OUT AND DETERIORATE!!! I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE I COULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED DUE TO THESE FAULTY BALL JOINTS. I AM AN EXCELLENT DRIVER AND I KEEP MY EXPLORER IN TIP-TOP CONDITION. PLEASE ACT BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE DOES LOSE CONTROL AND ROLLS OVER. I AM GETTING RID OF THIS VEHICLE AS SOON AS I CAN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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