There are 50 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2000 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
BIG CONCERN WITH MY POWER TRAIN. THE BACK OF THE CAR HAS A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CLICKS LOUDLY WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN. GOING A FASTER SPEED SEEMS TO SOUND BETTER BUT ITS PRETTY SCARY.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. THERE ALSO IS A SENSOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I DON'T KNOW ITS NAME.. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED OUT AND RENDERED PASSABLE BUT I FEAR THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP SOMETIMES.IT FEELS UNSTABLE. I AM ELDERLY AND NEED A STABLE CAR TO DRIVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ROLLED WHEN PARKED ON A HILL ALTHOUGH IT WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT WAS HAVING MEDICAL ISSUES RELATED TO STRESS DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,275.
VEHICLE IS STUCK IN 4-WHEEL LOW ANIMAL GOING TO 4 WHEEL HIGH OR AUTO I
THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION WHILE BOTH IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT *TR
THERE APPARENTLY IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION DUE TO ALL THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE AND FOUND THIS TRANSMISSION HAS HAD PROBLEMS FOR MANY YEARS WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE (LESS THAN 150,000) AND PEOPLE FOLLOWED THE SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS PER FORD MANUFACTURER. JUST ANOTHER FAILURE OF THE GOVERNMENT NOT PROTECTING THE CONSUMER BUT BIG BUSINESS DUE TO JOBS AND TAXES... I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS VEHICLE PER RECOMMENDATIONS SINCE PURCHASE AT 62,000 MILES. TO REACH THIS MILEAGE AND THIS OCCURS AS IT HAS TO EVERYONE ELSE, HAS BEEN A TOTAL FAILURE ON THIS MANUFACTURER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD OF LASTED A LOT LONGER THAN WHAT I HAVE READ IN MANY COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE... *TR
BEFORE MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT MY OVER DRIVE WOULD FLASH THEN MY 4WHEEL DRIVE STOPPED WORKING. I HAD THE 4WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL I WENT TO SACRAMENTO. AFTER TAKING CARE OF MY EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FILLED ON A REGULAR BASIS. WHILE LEAVING SACRAMENTO STOPPED AT A CHEVRON TO FILL UP BEFORE HEADING BACK UP TO TAHOE. AS IM LEAVING THE GAS STATION ALL OF THE SUDDEN THERE'S A LOUD CRUNCH OF METAL SOUND COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR AND IT WONT KICK INTO ANY GEAR. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND AFTER READING THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS ABOUT THEIR EXPLODERS DOING THE SME THING I FIGURED I WOULD COMPLAIN. IM TIRED OF BIG COMPANIES SCREWING THE LITTLE PEOPLE OVER WHO PURCHASE THEIR PRODUCTS WHEN THEY ARE PERFECTLY ABLE TO FIX IT. SHAME ON U FORD.
THE DAY OF THE FATALITY I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR AROUND 5 TO 10 MINUTES. I WAS ON AN UPGRADE,. (HOWEVER I HAD JUST RECENTLY HAD NEW BRAKES INSTALLED AND THE CAR WAS IN PARK). SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACK AT A FAST PACE KILLING THE BACK SEAT DRIVER THAT WAS IN THERE SEATBELT. AND INJURING MYSELF IN AN ATTEMPT TO HALT THE VEHICLE. *TR
2000 FORD EXPLORER . . I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM DEALER AND I AM DILIGENT WITH UPKEEP. TRUCK HAS 75000 MILES AND RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BETWEEN 2 ND AND 3 RD GEAR WITH THE RPMS INCREASING TO OVER 5000 RPMS BEFORE IT WILL SHIFT. THE O/D LIGHT STARTS TO FLASH. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING ONTO HIGHWAYS BECAUSE THE TRUCK BASICALLY HESITATES BEFORE IT FINALLY ACCELERATES. NOT TOO HAPPY WITH FORD RIGHT NOW! *TR
NOTICED A STEEL PIN APPROXIMATELY 1.25" LONG BY 5/32' DIAMETER ON THE FLOOR BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN. THEN NOTICED ABSENCE OF TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER DETENT. IN OTHER WORDS, THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO LOW AND BACK AGAIN WITHOUT PULLING THE LEVER FORWARD. THE PIN IS SPLINED AT ONE END. *JS
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... *TR
WHILE BACKING UP INTO MY DRIVEWAY, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A LOAD NOISE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I BARELY GOT THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY MOVING IT FORWARD WHEN ANOTHER LOAD NOISE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THAT THE REVERSE BAND IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILS CAUSING THIS CONDITION. THROUGH READING ON YOUR OWN WEBSITE, THERE ARE OTHER 2000 FORD EXPLORER OWNERS (EXPLODER AS FORD MECHANICS CALL THEM!!!!) WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE WILL NEED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP ABNORMALLY ONCE IN THIRD GEAR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VALVE BODY SEPARATOR PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
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. *TR
2000 FORD EXPLORER 4.0L SOHC. O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL, WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PRESSED. WHEN I STARTED TO ASCEND THE NEXT HILL I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO 4TH (OVERDRIVE) AND I HAD TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE POWER TO GET UP THE HILL. BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO REPLACE MY 1999 FORD ZX2 WHICH RAN GREAT MINUS THE FACT THE SUB-FRAME HAD COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT BETWEEN THE DRIVER SEAT AND THE REAR STRUT MOUNT. I'M SURE YOU WILL GET COMPLAINTS WHEN THOSE START BREAKING IN HALF ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
2000 FORD EXPLORER,TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP,LOCK UP IN OVERDRIVE,PLACE IN REVERSE CAR LURCHES FORWARD.THE O/D OFF LIGHT FLASHES ENGINE RPMS ARE VERY HIGH.THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT KEEP HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS 4.0 ENGINE AND THE 5R55E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO MY FAMILY AND TO THE PUBLIC YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT TYPE OF REACTION WILL COME OUT OF THIS TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS 100,000 MILES ON IT. TAKEN TO AAMCO THEY QUOTED $2300.00 FOR REPAIRS. MY WARRANT COMPANYCOMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SERVIVES (C.A.R.S)WILL ONLY PAY FOR A SALVAGE YARD TRANSMISSION.THESE TRANSMISSION WERE ONLY MADE FRO A SHORT TIME. ANY TRANSMISSION FROM A SALVAGE YARD WILL HAVE THE OPERATING PROBLEMS. WHILE AT AAMCO A CUSTOMER BROUGHT HIS 1999 EXPLORER IN HIS TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BY AAMCO FEB OF THIS YEAR.IT IS STUCK IN OVERDRIVE AND WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. WARRANTY COMPANY SENT A USED TRANSMISSION TO THE AAMCO SHOP AT 4210 RED BLUFF ROAD PASADENA TEXAS,IT WAS INSTALLED,TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE AND SET A COMPUTER CODE OF TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE ALONG WITH SOLENOID FAILURE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS TURNED LOOSE A VERY UNSAFE TO THE PUBLIC THEY MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND MADE TO REPAIR THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. *TR
2000 FORD EXPLORER [XXX] XLT 4 DR 4X4 OHV "X" VIN 4.0 OHV ENGINE. 2 RE-BUILT 5R55E TRANSMISSIONS. BOTH TIMES PO-741 CODES TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SYSTEM STUCK OFF. HAD TO START IN LOW AND SHIFT TO DRIVE TO MOVE THRU GEARS. NO REVERSE UNLESS YOU GUN ENGINE THEN SLOWLY MOVES IN REVERSE SOMETIMES. RE-BUILT AT 113K AND AGAIN AT 195,000 MILES. SOMETIMES NO GEAR WHEN DRIVING. HAVE TO SWITCH OVERDRIVE OFF TO GAIN TRACTION. TRANS FINALLY QUIT AGAIN. DANGEROUS CONDITION. FORD DEALERS TELL ME NOTHING EXTRAORDINARY. HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SO MUCH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH ALL THE SUVS AND SEDANS I'VE OWNED. I BELIEVE A SAFETY RE-CALL IS IN ORDER. IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT RETAIL SHOPS REFER TO THE FORD EXPLORER AS THE FORD "EXPLODER". *TR
VEHICLES TRANSMISSION SLIPS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO GEARING. UNSAFE CONDITIONS EXISTS WHILE TRYING TO USE POWER TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. WHEN VEHICLE KEY IS SWITCHED OFF THEN ON AGAIN, TRANSMISSION RESETS UNTIL NEXT EVENT OF POWER LOSS. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026