2000 Ford Explorer Speed Control & Cruise Problems

No incidents. However, cruise control and rear window wiper are both inoperable.

WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL COMMANDED CONSIDERABLY MORE THROTTLE ON AN INTERSTATE AT 60MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY TOOK OFF AT VERY HIGH SPEED (85+MPH AND ACCELERATING WHEN I FINALLY SHUT THE IGNITION OFF). I ATTEMPTED TO DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL VIA OFF SWITCH AND USING THE BRAKES TO NO AVAIL. I SHUT THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF AND COASTED TO THE SHOULDER SAFELY. ATTEMPTED A RE-START, AND THE ENGINE APPEARED TO START AT FULL THROTTLE. I RAISED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE THROTTLE CABLE RETAINING HAD BROKEN, AND THE CABLE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN PUSHED OUT OF ITS BRACKET BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO'S FORCE. ONCE OUT OF ITS BRACKET AND PUSHED TO NEARLY FULL THROTTLE, THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING HAD HOOKED ON THE BRACKET (SEE ATTACHED IMAGE), PREVENTING A RETURN TO IDLE FROM NEARLY FULL THROTTLE. THE PLASTIC RETAINING TABS ON THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD EVIDENTLY BEEN BROKEN BY THE LONG-TIME FORCE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL, POSSIBLY AGGRIVATED BY YEARS HEAT FROM THE ENGINE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN, DEPENDING ON TINY PLASTIC TABS AS THE ONLY BLOCK TO SUCH SUDDEN, UNCOMMANDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT DEFECTIVE, BUT HAD INSTIGATED THE CONDITION MY BREAKING THE THROTTLE CABLE RETAINING TABS OVER TIME. THE ATTACHED PHOTO SHOWS THE DISPLACED THROTTLE CABLE, WITH THE SPRING HOOKED ON THE BRACKET, HOLDING THE THROTTLE NEARLY FULL THROTTLE. THIS COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN A HIGH SPEED CRASH. AS A RETIRED AIR FORCE FIGHTER PILOT AND AIRLINE CAPTAIN, I REMAINED CALM AND WORKED THE PROBLEM STEP BY STEP TO A SAFE CONCLUSION, BUT A LESS DISCIPLINED DRIVER IN DIFFERENT TRAFFIC COULD HAVE LED TO A DIFFERENT AND TRAGIC CONCLUSION. A SECOND PHOTO SHOWS THE CABLE END MISSING THE RETAINING TABS. A THIRD SHOWS THE TINY PLASTIC TABS ON A NEW CABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS AND THE TACHOMETER INCREASED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE REVERSING FROM BEING PARKED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FROM A LOW SPEED TO OVER 40 MPH CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), AND 03V280000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,000TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS AND THE TACHOMETER INCREASED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE REVERSING FROM BEING PARKED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FROM A LOW SPEED TO OVER 40 MPH CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), AND 03V280000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS AND THE TACHOMETER INCREASED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE REVERSING FROM BEING PARKED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FROM A LOW SPEED TO OVER 40 MPH CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), AND 03V280000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,000. MA 10/15/2015 UPDATED 11/30/2017*CN

200 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAD A SPEED CONTROL MODIFICATION, DUE TO A RECALL. *SS. THE CONSUMER STATED A WEEK LATER, HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING, AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FLIPPED OVER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH ERRONEOUSLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE AND THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. AS THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE TO EXIT THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A MOMENT OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND AT 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN UP TO 60 MPH. SMOKE WAS ALSO COMING FROM THE BRAKES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO SLOW IT DOWN AND TURN IT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 01/24/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS SINCE REMOVED THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO UNIT THAT ATTACHED TO THE THROTTLE BODY UNIT. UPDATED 01/25/12

ON MONDAY MY FUTURE SON-IN-LAW WAS DRIVING MY FORD EXPLORER AND EXPERIENCED THE CRUISE CONTROL REFUSING TO DISENGAGE WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. HE TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY BRAKING AND BY TURNING IT OFF. NEITHER WORKED. HE TRIED TO SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL ONLY TO HAVE THE ENGINE REV TO HIGH RPM, SO HE PUT IT BACK IN GEAR AND FORCED TO CAR TO STOP USING THE BRAKES FIGHTING THE ENGINE. PROBABLY RUINING THE BRAKES IN THE PROCESS. I RECENTLY HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED AS RELATING TO A RECALL CONCERNING THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE SWITCH WAS NOT REPLACED AFTER A VISUAL INSPECTION. *TR

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

MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER XLT CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE, WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVE WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, THE SMOKE GOT MUCH WORSE. MY DAUGHTER AND I GOT OUT OF THE EXPLORER JUST AS IT WAS CATCHING FIRE. WE CALLED 911, THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE WHOLE INCIDENT IS UNBELIEVABLE, WE ARE SHOCKED. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER INFORMED ME THAT IT WASN'T UNCOMMON AND MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL. I BOUGHT MY EXPLORER IN INDIANA, BUT HAVE MOVED TO TENNESSEE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL, I'M STILL WAITING ON MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET BACK WITH ME. *TR

2000 FORD EXPLORER SELF IGNITED AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 4 HOURS. ALSO CAUGHT CAR ON FIRE THAT WAS IN DRIVEWAY AHEAD OF IT, LANDSCAPING, TV CABLE AND OUTSIDE CORNER OF HOUSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 20 MINUTES WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND ASSISTED IN EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL PARKED IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY. HE SENT THE MANUFACTURER SOME REQUESTED DOCUMENTS. FORD EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL OCCURS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 79,000. UPDATED 11/26/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/01/08. *JB

RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD ON MY CRUISE CONTROL 8 MONTHS AGO. I GOT A NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007 TELLING ME TO GET IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A REPAIR. IT IS NOW APRIL OF 2008 AND I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH BOTH THE LOCAL DEALER HALDERMAN FORD OF ALLENTOWN,PA AND THE TOLL FREE NUMBER OF FORD FOR RECALLS. BOTH LOCATIONS TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA OF THE AVAILABILITY OF REPAIR PARTS. ALMOST 8 MONTHS LATER???? AND STILL NO PARTS TO REPAIR THIS. AND TO THINK THAT I SHOULD NEED ANOTHER VEHICLE, I WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO CONSIDER FORD AFTER BEING TREATED THIS WAY. *TR

IN JANUARY 2008 I TOOK MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER TO COURTESY FORD, IN ALTOONA, PA TO HAVE THE RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS, SO THEY ORDERED THEM AND DISCONNECTED MY CRUISE CONTROL TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE TO DRIVE. ON FEBRUARY 26, I CALLED AND WAS TOLD MY PART HAD ARRIVED. WHEN I TOOK IT IN, THEY DISCOVERED THAT ONLY ONE OF TWO REQUIRED PARTS HAD ARRIVED, AND THEY COULD NOT REPAIR MY CRUISE CONTROL. I LEFT ON A BUSINESS TRIP THE FOLLOWING DAY. I WAS TO RETURN ON MARCH 7, 2008 AND MY GIRLFRIEND AND THREE DAUGHTERS WERE DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT TO PICK ME UP. ABOUT 40 OR 50 MILES INTO THE TRIP SHE NOTICED THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PULLING UP A HILL WELL AND THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGHLY. SHE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT THIS POINT, THE EXPLORER HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A MOMENT, THEN SAW THE SMOKE GETTING WORSE. SHE AND MY DAUGHTERS GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SHE CALLED 911 FOR HELP. OTHER DRIVERS STOPPED TO ASSIST, BUT WHILE SHE WAS ON THE PHONE THE EXPLORER BROKE INTO FLAMES, STARTING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE EXPLORER AND MY BELONGINGS WERE DESTROYED, BUT LUCKILY EVERYONE GOT OUT SAFELY. MY DAUGHTERS SAID THAT THEY COULD SEE FLAMING LIQUID (MELTED PLASTIC OR BRAKE FLUID) DRIPPING ONTO THE GROUND UNDER THE CAR WHILE IT WAS BURNING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. SHE NOTIFIED FORD AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE SWITCH. SHE NOTIFIED FORD AGAIN IN DECEMBER OF 2007 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL APRIL OF 2008. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,889.

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! *TR

I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM FORD ON A RECALL FOR THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS) IN AUGUST OF 2007. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO ARRINGTON AND BLOUNT (PLACE OF PURCHASE) TO ADDRESS THE RECALL IN EARLY NOVEMBER. THE SWITCH WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, THE WIRE TO THE SWITCH WAS TIED TO FIXTURE AND I WAS TOLD TO CALL THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL... IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 5 MONTHS AND SEVERAL CALLS TO 770-963-1831, ALWAYS SPEAKING TO THE SERVICE DEPT AND STILL NO PART... THE REASON FOR THIS NOTE IS LAST WEEK I CALLED ON MONDAY 3/17/08 AND I WAS TOLD SOME PARTS HAVE ARRIVED AND I SHOULD GET THERE ON TUESDAY MORNING 3/18/08 - WHICH I DID...ONLY TO FIND OUT STILL NO AVAILABLE PART... KARIM ABDULLAH. *TR

I RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST 2007. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART REQUIRED WAS ON ORDER WITH AN ANTICIPATED ARRIVAL DATE OF LATE OCTOBER 2007. I THEN RECEIVED A POSTCARD TELLING ME I COULD HAVE A "TEMPORARY" FIX OF HAVING MY CRUISE CONTROL COMPLETELY DISABLED. AS OF THIS DATE, I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THE PART MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY 2008. I HAVE A LENGTHY COMMUTE, I PAID FOR AND DO USE MY CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. I DON'T THINK 6 MONTHS IS "TEMPORARY" AND WOULD LIKE MY VEHICLE PROPERLY FIXED IN A REASONABLE TIME. SIX MONTHS IS NOT REASONABLE FOR A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

2000 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, AFTER BEING PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY NOT RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30-45 MINUTES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2007. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE CONTROL SWITCH DEACTIVATED. HE IS HANDICAPPED AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE AND WOULD LIKE THE REPAIR TO BE MADE IMMEDIATELY. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, CURRENT MILEAGE, AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE.