2000 Ford EXPLORER SPORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
71 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
66,556 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 42 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 71 complaints (15.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 16.9% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 8.5% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Seats | 5 |
| Tires | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 4 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Electrical System: 9; Seats: 5; Tires: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 29 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 6; 2002: 3; 2003: 13; 2004: 5; 2005: 13; 2006: 3; 2007: 9; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005295 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPLORER. HAVE HAD 2 TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY REPLACED, AIR INTAKE CONTROL VALVE REPLACED, FAULTY WITING FOR THE LAFT TAIL LIGHT REPLACE, IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, AIR BAG CONTACTS REPLACED, TURN SIGNAL ARM AND COTROLS REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032825 · 2003-08-14 (August 14, 2003)
MULTIPLE FAILURES REPORT FROM THE VEHICLE COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR FAILING TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR IS BARELY THREE YRS OLD WITH LOW MILEAGE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ALREADY FAILING. FORDS SERVICE EXPLANATION IS THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRES REGULAR TRANSMISSION CODDLING (SERVICE) TO MAINTAIN THE OVERALL LIFE OF THE TRANSMISSION. AND OF COURSE I'M JUST OVER THE MILEAGE FOR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY CONVERAGE. I UNDERSTAND FROM MORE THAN ONE REPUTABLE CAR SERVICE DEALERS THAT THE EXPLORER IS NOTORIOUS FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 51,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094213 · 2004-11-03 (November 3, 2004)
THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SMOKE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB THE KNOCKING WOULD ONLY OCCUR IN THE FALL AND WINTER MONTH'S. ON ONE OCCASION THE WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 64,863 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126963 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)
WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL, SMOKE COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115940 · 2005-03-28 (March 28, 2005)
ON EASTER SUNDAY MARCH 27 2005, MY FAMILY (3 YOUNG BOYS AND MY WIFE) LEFT MY MOMS HOUSE AT ABOUT 10:20 AM TO HEAD TO CHURCH, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, AND AS WE GOT OUT ONTO THE MAIN HIGHWAY ROAD ROUTE 360 HULL ST. MY WIFE SET ON THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ABOUT 60. SPEED LIMIT IS 55 AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS SHE NEEDED TO TAKE OFF THE CRUISE DUE TO ANOTHER CAR UPCOMING, WHEN SHE WENT TO GET OFF THE CRUISE IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL AND THE SPEED WENT BACK UP TO LIKE 80...AT THIS POINT MY WIFE AND I TRIED TO PRESS ON BRAKES, AND PRESS THE OFF …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176811 · 2006-12-22 (December 22, 2006)
MY CAR BREAK LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I JUST SO HAPPENNED TO TELL MY UNCLE AND HE GOT WORRIED SINCE I HAVE A 1 YEAR OLD. WE WENT TO A CAR SHOP TO GO FIX IT. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SIMPLY THE BREAK FUSE. WHEN THEY WENT TO REPLACE THE FUSE, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD NOT EVEN SEE. I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO EXPLODE SO I TOOK MY SON AND STARTED RUNNING. EVERYONE IN THE PARKING LOT STARTED RUNNING ALSO. THEY LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE CUT OFF SWITCH FOR CRUISE CONTROL WAS BURNING AND HE PUT IT OUT. …
Owner-reported narrative. 83,237 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250188 · 2008-11-30 (November 30, 2008)
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. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 68,112 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289701 · 2009-10-24 (October 24, 2009)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AT STEERING COLUMN: SMELL OF WIRES GETTING HOT AND SMOKE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10289701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082288 · 2004-07-20 (July 20, 2004)
MY FORD YEAR 2000 IDLES ROUGH AND STALLS IN COLD WEATHER. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS DIRTY INJECTORS AND KEPT HAVING THEM FLUSHED WHICH TEMP. FIXED PROB. A MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT FORD WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE, FOR THEY DID ON HIS EXPLORER. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT I WAS OVER THE MILES AND THAT IT WAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL. WELL NOT ONLY AM I NOT SATISFIED, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY FACTOR AS WELL. WHAT IF A PULL OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION AND MY CAR STALLS. CROSSING A HIGHWAY AND MY CAR STALLS. I W…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044627 · 2003-10-23 (October 23, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE FUEL PUMP SHUTOFF SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BURN TO THE GROUND. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044627 at NHTSA ↗