FaultScore

FaultScore report

2000 Ford Explorer Sport problems

Owners have filed 102 complaints about the 2000 Ford Explorer Sport with NHTSA between 2000 and 2014. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 8 worst.

C

FaultScore 58/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford Explorer Sport.

How this is worked out

The numbers

102

Complaints

6

Crashes reported

10

Fires reported

6

Injuries reported

65,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

19%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 44 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 32 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 44
Against the median year of the Ford Explorer Sport. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
21.6% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 32
19% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2000 compares with every other Ford Explorer Sport

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

0 crashes, 3 fires · median 63,000 mi

Median failure at 54,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 12 11.8%

Median failure at 68,431 miles

Seats 10 9.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 105,377 mi

Suspension 10 9.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 65,000 mi

Acceleration & Cruise Control 9 8.8%

0 crashes, 5 fires · median 104,118 mi

Tires 6 5.9%

2 crashes, 0 fires

Airbags 5 4.9%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 75,056 mi

Steering 4 3.9%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 71,931 mi

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 3 2.9%
Lights 3 2.9%

Median failure at 18,000 miles

Body & Structure 3 2.9%
Brakes 3 2.9%

Median failure at 136,000 miles

Seat Belts 2 2.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 2 2.0%

1 crashes, 1 fires · median 35,000 mi

Other & Unspecified 1 1.0%
Equipment & Accessories 1 1.0%

Median failure at 72,000 miles

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 1.0%

Median failure at 51,109 miles

Wheels 1 1.0%

Median failure at 50,990 miles

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Automatic Transmission 11 34.4%
Engine 5 15.6%
Recliner 4 12.5%
Cruise Control 4 12.5%
Upper Ball Joint 2 6.3%
Lower Ball Joint 2 6.3%
Gasoline 2 6.3%
Column 2 6.3%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 1 1.9%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 6 11.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 7 13.2%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 18 34.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 6 11.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 10 18.9%
150,000+ miles 5 9.4%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Dec 2000 peak 10 Feb 2014

NHTSA investigations into the 2000 Ford Explorer Sport

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

DP05005 Opened 22 Sep 2005 Closed 4 Jan 2006 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN A...

Recalls on the 2000 Ford Explorer Sport

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

00V394000

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH STEEL HOODS AND CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SHEET MOLDING COMPOUND HOODS. A WIRE FORMED HOOD STRIKER COULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURES. IF THE HOOD STRIKER FRACTURES, THE HOOD COULD FLY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.

Risk: A HOOD FLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED COULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 125,000 miles Riverside, CA Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER COMPLETELY BURNT , ENTIRELY GUTTED. I HAVE PICTURES.

NHTSA complaint #10290513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,000 miles Texas City, TX Fire

STEERING:COLUMN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT ONCE THE SWITCH FAILS, IT COULD CATCH FIRE. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE SWITCH IS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA complaint #10230162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunny Isles Beach, FL Crash 1 injured

TIRES

2000 FORD EXPLORER TURNED OVER FOUR TIMES. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER. HE STATED THAT NO ONE HAS HELPED HIM WITH TRYING TO HAVE ACTION TAKEN AGAINST FORD. *KB INFORMATION TAKEN FROM PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. THE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10210585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Prineville, OR Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I STARTED MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT ON JANUARY 30 FOR A FEW MINUTES TO WARM IT UP, BEFORE I DROVE TO WORK. I RAN BACK INTO THE HOUSE FOR APROX 4 MINUTES, WHEN I CAME BACK OUT THE FRONT OF THE EXPLORER WAS IN FLAMES, IT TOTALLY BURNED BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT COULD GET THERE TAKING OUR BARN WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #10205450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55 miles Louisville, KY Crash

SUSPENSION

2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. BOTH MY SON AND WITNESSES STATE THAT MY SON WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT (55 ON A RURAL 2 LANE ROAD) WHEN A SMALL DIP IN THE ROAD CAUSED HIM TO FISHTAIL AND FLIP ONTO HIS ROOF. THANK GOD HIM AND HIS FRIEND HAD ON THE SEAT BELTS AND WERE ABLE TO CRAWL OUT OF THE CAR UNHARMED. I DID NOT KNOW THIS PROBLEM EXISTED WITH THE FORD EXPLORER. MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO WARN PEOPLE ABOUT THIS DEFECT! THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED! THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #10200720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 56,250 miles Mérida - Venezuela, 00 Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

EL PASADO DOMINGO 10 DE JUNIO DEL 2007, SIENDO LAS 4 P.M. ESTACION Y APAGU UN VEHCULO FORD EXPLORER 2000 ELITE, PLACAS LAH-530, SERIAL DE CARROCERA: [XXX], DE MI PROPIEDAD SIN NINGUNA SEAL QUE INDICARA QUE ALGO NO ESTABA FUNCIONANDO BIEN. A LAS 6 P.M. ME DAN EL AVISO QUE LA CAMIONETA SE ESTABA INCENDIANDO. EFECTIVAMENTE CUANDO FUI OBSERV GRAN CANTIDAD DE FUEGO BAJO EL CAP QUE CONSUMI TODAS LAS PARTES ADYACENTES AL MOTOR. FUNCIONAROS DEL CUERPO DE BOMBEROS SE HICIERON PRESENTES EN EL SITIO Y LOGRARON APAGAR EL FUEGO ANTES QUE SE EXTENDIERA AN MAS. UN PROBLEMA SIMILAR SE HA PRESENTADO EN VEHCULOS FORD Y QUE HAN SIDO LLAMADOS A REVISIN POR FALLAS EN UN SWITCH DE CONTROL DE VELOCIDAD AUTOMTICO. AUNQUE MI VEHCULO NO APARECE DENTRO DE LOS RECLAMADOS SI APARECE DENTRO DE LOS QUE TIENEN UN SWITCH IGUAL O SIMILAR POR LO QUE TODO INDICA QUE ESTA FUE LA CAUSA DEL INCENDIO Y LA COMPAA FORD DEBERA RESPONSABILIZARSE POR ELLO. SPANISH, NOT UNDERSTOOD. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #10193431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 169,000 miles Billerica, MA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE FOUR 02 OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE PERSISTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

NHTSA complaint #10564963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Port Orchard, WA

SEATS

I GOT INTO MY CAR TO GO TO LUNCH FROM MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WITH MY CEO. WHEN I SAT DOWN THE SEAT FELL BACK AND THE SEAT BACK WOULD NOT CATCH AGAIN. I TOOK MY LIFE INTO MY HANDS DRIVING HOME THAT EVENING. CONTACTED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, THEY SAID THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. THEY NEVER INFORMED US OF A RECALL. UNTIL EXPLORING THE INTERNET TODAY 10-25-2013 WE DID NOT REALIZE THERE WAS A RECALL AT ALL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 03V281000/NHTSA ACTION #PE03020 OF AUGUST 5-2013. NOW WE CAN NOT LOCATE THE PART.

NHTSA complaint #10549604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Port Orchard, WA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

I GOT INTO MY CAR TO GO TO LUNCH FROM MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT WITH MY CEO. WHEN I SAT DOWN THE SEAT FELL BACK AND THE SEAT BACK WOULD NOT CATCH AGAIN. I TOOK MY LIFE INTO MY HANDS DRIVING HOME THAT EVENING. CONTACTED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, THEY SAID THE PART WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. THEY NEVER INFORMED US OF A RECALL. UNTIL EXPLORING THE INTERNET TODAY 10-25-2013 WE DID NOT REALIZE THERE WAS A RECALL AT ALL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 03V281000/NHTSA ACTION #PE03020 OF AUGUST 5-2013. NOW WE CAN NOT LOCATE THE PART.

NHTSA complaint #10549604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 136,998 miles Johnstown, OH

POWER TRAIN

THIS WAS A TERRIBLE EVENT... MY CAR WAS AIMED DOWN MY 300 FT DRIVEWAY. I DON'T BELIEVE AT THAT POINT OR IF IT WAS STUCK I DIDN'T KNOW THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK BUT I SOON REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AS I HEADED TO NEW ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL FOR WATER CLASS THE EXPLORER WENT FASTER AND FASTER ON RT 161... THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT ALLOW A DOWN SHIFT AT ALL AFTER THE FIRST TIME OR TWO... I MAY HAVE BLOWN IT OUT... THE SUV WENT FASTER AND FASTER AND IN 3RD GEAR IT WAS REVVING SO HARD... WHEN I COULD I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF... I LET IT COOL AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE EXPLORER BUT IT WOULD HAVE RED WARNING LIGHTS WHEN I STARTED IT IN NEUTRAL AS IT REVVED SO HIGH... I PUSHED IT INTO GEAR AND WHEN I GOT TO THE TWO RED LIGHTS I TURNED THE KEY OFF... ONCE I STOPPED IN THE INTERSECTION AND ABOUT 8 CARS WERE HONKING AT ME. I HAD TO DEAL WITH FIVE TRAFFIC INTERSECTIONS. WHEN I GOT HOME I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND FOUGHT THE WHEEL TO GET TURNED INTO THE DOWNSWING OF MY DRIVEWAY... I RACED AROUND MY HOUSE TO FACE OUT AND TURNED OFF THE KEY... THE EXPLORER WAS SMOKING AND "LAID RUBBER" AND TORE OUT GRASS IN MY HOUSE... IT ALMOST SKIDDED INTO MY POND. I THINK THE CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT AND THE BRAKE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AS I HAD TO BRAKE ALL THE WAY HOME... I TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL IF THAT WAS IT DURING MY TERROR RIDE BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT... THE BRAKES COULD NOT STOP THE SPEEDING VEHICLE, THE GEARS WERE LOCKED WHILE THE SPEED ACCELERATED SO THERE WAS NO DOWNSHIFTING, THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT CHANGE SPEED WHEN I PULLED IT UP WITH MY HAND OR TOE OF MY SHOE...

NHTSA complaint #10453903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 136,998 miles Johnstown, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THIS WAS A TERRIBLE EVENT... MY CAR WAS AIMED DOWN MY 300 FT DRIVEWAY. I DON'T BELIEVE AT THAT POINT OR IF IT WAS STUCK I DIDN'T KNOW THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK BUT I SOON REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG. AS I HEADED TO NEW ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL FOR WATER CLASS THE EXPLORER WENT FASTER AND FASTER ON RT 161... THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT ALLOW A DOWN SHIFT AT ALL AFTER THE FIRST TIME OR TWO... I MAY HAVE BLOWN IT OUT... THE SUV WENT FASTER AND FASTER AND IN 3RD GEAR IT WAS REVVING SO HARD... WHEN I COULD I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF... I LET IT COOL AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE EXPLORER BUT IT WOULD HAVE RED WARNING LIGHTS WHEN I STARTED IT IN NEUTRAL AS IT REVVED SO HIGH... I PUSHED IT INTO GEAR AND WHEN I GOT TO THE TWO RED LIGHTS I TURNED THE KEY OFF... ONCE I STOPPED IN THE INTERSECTION AND ABOUT 8 CARS WERE HONKING AT ME. I HAD TO DEAL WITH FIVE TRAFFIC INTERSECTIONS. WHEN I GOT HOME I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND FOUGHT THE WHEEL TO GET TURNED INTO THE DOWNSWING OF MY DRIVEWAY... I RACED AROUND MY HOUSE TO FACE OUT AND TURNED OFF THE KEY... THE EXPLORER WAS SMOKING AND "LAID RUBBER" AND TORE OUT GRASS IN MY HOUSE... IT ALMOST SKIDDED INTO MY POND. I THINK THE CLUTCH IS BURNED OUT AND THE BRAKE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AS I HAD TO BRAKE ALL THE WAY HOME... I TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL IF THAT WAS IT DURING MY TERROR RIDE BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT... THE BRAKES COULD NOT STOP THE SPEEDING VEHICLE, THE GEARS WERE LOCKED WHILE THE SPEED ACCELERATED SO THERE WAS NO DOWNSHIFTING, THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT CHANGE SPEED WHEN I PULLED IT UP WITH MY HAND OR TOE OF MY SHOE...

NHTSA complaint #10453903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 186,000 miles Charlotte, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2000 FORD EXPLORER, O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING, CAR SPUTTERED, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, CAR WOULD NOT GO AT ALL AS THOUGH IT WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. WILL NOT GO IN GEAR. NO DRIVE, NO REVERSE, NOTHING. TOWED TO TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, $1800. TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10420829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 192,000 miles Odesssa, FL

SUSPENSION:FRONT

LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINT MAKING TERRIBLE NOISE, I DID GREASE BUT STILL HAVE NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10405935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Roseville, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING,POWER WINDOWS NOT WORKING, DOME LIGHT NOT WORKING, FOG LIGHTS NOT WORKING AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND AUTO NOT WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #10358354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Fargo, ND

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SMOKE COMING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURN SIGNAL ENGAGED. TOOK TO DEALER AND TOLD IGNITION SWITCH HAD SIGNS OF A HOT POINT AND WAS MELTING. HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AT A SERVICE STATION, HOWEVER, THEY SAID THEY SAW NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10354026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 135,900 miles Issaquah, WA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THREE YEARS AGO IT HAD JUST A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IN IT. LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED IT I HAD TO HAVE A 2ND REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN IT WHEN MY O/D LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. JUST YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY(I-5 IN SEATTLE, WA) WHEN MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AND I HAD TO COAST ACROSS 3 LANES OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC TO COME TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER BUT THE SITUATION COULD HAVE ENDED VERY DIFFERENTLY. I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE AND AM FINDING THAT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUES THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCE! IT MAKES ME SICK THAT FORD HAD YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10324998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Riverside, CA Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER COMPLETELY BURNT , ENTIRELY GUTTED. I HAVE PICTURES.

NHTSA complaint #10290513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Itasca, IL

SEATS

THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT, WITHOUT WARNING, RECLINED COMPLETELY. MECHANIC BELIEVES THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT FRAME IS BROKEN. CURRENTLY USING THE REAR SEAT TO PROP UP THE DRIVER'S SEAT UNTIL A REPLACEMENT SEAT CAN BE FOUND.

NHTSA complaint #10289711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roanoke, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AT STEERING COLUMN: SMELL OF WIRES GETTING HOT AND SMOKE.

NHTSA complaint #10289701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Tuscaloosa, AL

SEATS

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BOTTOM FRAME FAILED IN A NON MOVING AREA. THIS CAUSE THE BACK OF THE SEAT TO FALL BACK AS THE HINGE FOR SEAT TILT CAME OUT OF THE TOP DUE TO THIS FAILURE. THANK GOD I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY OR WE WOULD HAVE HAD A WRECK. STRUCTURAL STEEL IN A SEAT FRAME SHOULD NOT FAIL IN AN 8 YEAR OLD CAR. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN A WRECK ON THE SEAT ABUSED. THE DRIVER WEIGH 200 LBS OR LESS.

NHTSA complaint #10253530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,112 miles Laguna Hills, CA

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER STATES A "SHORT" IN WIRING LOOM, NEEDS TO REPLACE WITH A BETTER CONNECTOR FOR $1100. DEALER WARNS ME THAT WHILE LIGHT IS "ON" AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE IN A CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #10250188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,000 miles Texas City, TX Fire

STEERING:COLUMN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT ONCE THE SWITCH FAILS, IT COULD CATCH FIRE. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE SWITCH IS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA complaint #10230162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Palm BAY, FL

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. SHE STATED THAT SHE HEARD A CONSTANT BEEPING NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTROL PANEL CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THIS COULD RESULT IN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE AIRBAGS. THE BEEPING NOISE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. AS OF MAY 19, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10228216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Oley, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION IN THIS EXPLORER (VIN 'X') STARTED SLIPPING AT 55K MILES BETWEEN 2-3 SHIFT. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY FELLOW MECHANICS FOR $1200 TOTAL BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10217549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 114,300 miles Saint Peters, MO

SEATS

THE FRONT DRIVERS' SEAT FRAME NEAR THE SEAT-BACK ADJUSTMENT LEVER BROKE WHILE DRIVING, FORCING THE DRIVERS SEAT-BACK TO PLUMMET BACKWARDS ALARMING THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS SITTING ON THE DRIVERS SEAT IN THE REAR. THEY COULD'VE BEEN CRUSHED. THE ONLY EVENT LEADING UP TO THE SEAT FRAME BREAKING WAS PUTTING ALL MY WEIGHT INTO THE SEAT, AS IT IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT.

NHTSA complaint #10215283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manhattan, KS

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

GEAR SHIFT FELL OFF WHEN TRYING TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY. THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THANK HEAVENS WE WERE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND NOT ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10213626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Melbourne, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON 2000 FORD EXPLORER FOR DEFECTIVE SPEED CONTROL UNIT THAT CAN CAUSE FIRES IN AUG.'07 AND SEP'07. CALLED LOCAL DEALER OCT.07, NO PART AVAIL WAS TOLD AVAIL IN DEC.'07 WHEN TO DEALER IN DEC.'07 IN PERSON WAS NOW TOLD PART NOT AVAIL. UNTIL "MAYBE" MARCH 2008. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!

NHTSA complaint #10212845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunny Isles Beach, FL Crash 1 injured

TIRES

2000 FORD EXPLORER TURNED OVER FOUR TIMES. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER. HE STATED THAT NO ONE HAS HELPED HIM WITH TRYING TO HAVE ACTION TAKEN AGAINST FORD. *KB INFORMATION TAKEN FROM PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. THE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10210585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 136,000 miles Lilburn, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE VEHICLE WHEN ENGAGED. AS OCTOBER 23, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #10206624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Prineville, OR Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I STARTED MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT ON JANUARY 30 FOR A FEW MINUTES TO WARM IT UP, BEFORE I DROVE TO WORK. I RAN BACK INTO THE HOUSE FOR APROX 4 MINUTES, WHEN I CAME BACK OUT THE FRONT OF THE EXPLORER WAS IN FLAMES, IT TOTALLY BURNED BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT COULD GET THERE TAKING OUR BARN WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #10205450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Clara, CA

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

1) DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSE. 2) FORD ISSUED A RECALL CLAIMING A DEFECTIVE DRIVER SEAT BOLT 3) TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, DEALERSHIP CONFIRMS THE RECALLED BOLT IS BROKEN AND THE CAUSE OF THE SEAT FAILURE. FORD WANTS $460.00 TO REPLACE THE RECALLED BOLT. WHY DOES FORD EXPECT ME TO PAY FOR A RECALL. 4) SEAT WILL NOT STAY UPRIGHT AT ALL SINCE THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE INSPECTION.

NHTSA complaint #10201835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.