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2000 Ford ExplorerProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 952 owner complaints about the 2000 Ford Explorer, most often about the tires. It is covered by 9 safety recalls.

2000 Ford Explorer
47
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.1× the Explorer median · #14 of 34 years by complaints
Safety recalls9Free fix at dealersOwner complaints952239 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage63kTires, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 16, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2000 Ford Explorer has problems

952 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Tires21727
Power train13312
Vehicle speed control11329
Engine and engine cooling9011
Electrical system7828
Air bags6229
Suspension6212
Service brakes, hydraulic568
Visibility450
18 other systems24948

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

9 recalls

2000 Ford Explorer recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control: cables

Recall 03V-280 · Aug 5, 2003 · 448,005 vehicles

Risk. THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING FORCE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE BINDING CONDITION WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS DISENGAGED.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Front assembly: recliner

Recall 03V-281 · Aug 5, 2003 · 1,552,880 vehicles

Risk. THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 5 more recalls
–no report yet

Automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Recall 00V-395 · Nov 28, 2000 · 100,500 vehicles

Risk. OPERATING THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE MAXIMUM SPEED RATING COULD LEAD TO A TIRE FAILURE WHICH AT THESE SPEEDS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers

Recall 00V-072 · Mar 7, 2000 · 208,903 vehicles

Risk. AN INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Power train

13 owners mentioned a cost

$1,350median

Middle half: $800 – $2,300

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2000 vs. every other Explorer year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Explorer median. How we score

'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2000 Ford Explorer safety ratings

2000 Ford Explorer 4-DR. 4x4 w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2000 Ford Explorer side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2000 Ford Explorer, and the recalls they led to.

  1. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  2. SEAT BELT WEBBINGEA01008 · closed Apr 25, 2002
    No recall
  3. SEAT BELT WEBBINGPE00044 · closed Feb 26, 2001
    No recall
  4. FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENTPE03020 · closed Sep 5, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-281
In owners' words

What Explorer owners report

Recent tires complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 FOR EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH DEFINITY DAKOTA A/T TIRES, SIZE: P235/75 R15 A/T (NA). WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER TIRE BEGAN TO SHRED. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO VISIBLE INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED; HOWEVER, A…
Complaint 10903362 · Sep 2, 2016 · 89,870 miles
2000 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO FROM THE MIDDLE LANE INTO THE LEFT LANE AND HIT A WALL. *MC OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *TR
Complaint 10190054 · Apr 30, 2007
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
Complaint 10172230 · Oct 17, 2006 · 60,034 miles

Own a 2000 Explorer?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.