Model year
2000 Ford Explorer
NHTSA lists 9 recalls and 952 complaints for the 2000 Ford Explorer (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 2 recalls and 74 complaints under EXPLORER SPORT and EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are TIRES (142), POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (77), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (76). NHTSA lists 4 investigations. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 15–18 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,700–$4,450, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 952 complaints
- 2001 375 complaints
- 2002 3,295 complaints
- 2003 1,131 complaints
- 2004 1,304 complaints
- 2005 497 complaints
- 2006 630 complaints
- 2007 208 complaints
- 2008 148 complaints
- 2009 33 complaints
- 2010 115 complaints
- 2011 1,197 complaints
- 2012 829 complaints
- 2013 2,237 complaints
- 2014 1,684 complaints
- 2015 1,810 complaints
- 2016 2,462 complaints
- 2017 1,703 complaints
- 2018 734 complaints
- 2019 299 complaints
- 2020 1,241 complaints
- 2021 447 complaints
- 2022 271 complaints
- 2023 111 complaints
- 2024 21 complaints
- 2025 107 complaints
- 2026 42 complaints
- 2027 0 complaints
Recalls
09V399000 · Oct 13, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES…
07V336000 · Aug 3, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
03V281000 · Aug 5, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK…
03V280000 · Aug 5, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL AND 4.0L SOHC ENGINES, IF THE STRAND COVER ON THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE BECOMES FLARED AT THE END, THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE MAY BIND WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS ACTIVATED.
03V094000 · Mar 7, 2003
STRUCTURE
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE…
00V395000 · Nov 28, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.27 OR 3.55 AXLE RATION. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE THAT COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO EXCEED THE DESIGN INTENT TOP SPEED. AT THESE EXTREME SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE COULD BE CAPABLE OF EXCEEDING…
00V228001 · Aug 18, 2000
SEAT BELTS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT…
00V179000 · Jul 5, 2000
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4-DOOR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIR BAGS. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A REVISED LEVEL SIDE CRASH SENSOR THAT COULD DEPLOY THE SIDE AIR BAG IF THE IGNITION KEY IS IN THE "RUN" POSITION AND THE SEATBELT WEBBING IS FORCIBLY EXTRACTED FROM A…
00V072000 · Mar 7, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES AND ALL-TIME 4-WHEEL DRIVE (A4WD) POWERTRAINS. THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE (GEM) COULD EXPERIENCE A CONDITION REFERRED TO AS "LOCK-UP" IN WHICH THE GEM CONTROLLED ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS (E.G., FRONT…
Complaints
952 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 101, fire flag on 64, injury field 106, deaths field 4. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| EXPLORER SPORT | 1 | 71 |
| EXPLORER SPORT TRAC | 1 | 3 |
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE00044 | SEAT BELT WEBBING · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | Nov 3, 2000 | Feb 26, 2001 |
| EA01008 | SEAT BELT WEBBING · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | Feb 26, 2001 | Apr 25, 2002 |
| PE03020 | FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT · SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | May 21, 2003 | Sep 5, 2003 |
| DP05005 | SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | Sep 22, 2005 | Jan 4, 2006 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer 2WD · 4L · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 14 | 19 | 16 | — | — | $4,200 |
| Explorer 2WD · 4L · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 16 | 21 | 18 | — | — | $3,700 |
| Explorer 2WD · 5L · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 13 | 18 | 15 | — | — | $4,450 |
| Explorer 4WD · 4L · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 14 | 19 | 16 | — | — | $4,200 |
| Explorer 4WD · 4L · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 14 | 18 | 15 | — | — | $4,450 |
| Explorer 4WD · 4L · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 15 | 19 | 16 | — | — | $4,200 |
| Explorer 4WD · 5L · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 13 | 18 | 15 | — | — | $4,450 |
| Explorer 2WD · 4L · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline · FFV | 14 | 17 | 15 | — | — | $4,450 |
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Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2000 Ford Explorer at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.