Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My doors will not open. I was told the door lock actuator was the problem and would cost over $600.00. The drivers door can not open from the outside because the handle broke, I have to leave my door open in order to get in, the front passager door and the back drivers side door will not open from the outside or the inside. The front passager door the handle on the inside broke as well as the handle on the outside, the lock stick fell out. The passager back door is the only way to get into my truck, the drivers door will open from the inside sometimes. This is a safty hazzard. I can be locked inside my truck with no way out and I am locked out of my truck when the back door stop working. This should have been recalled since so many Ford doors are not opening.
Rust and clear paint peeling. Door handles loose unable to open all 4 doors. I have to unlock from rear window to access vehicle. Unclear other than design of handles. Left front door handle completely broke off. Quote of $150 a door to repair. Will cost me $600. Very unsafe and problematic. Including a loss in value.
In March of 2004, I took my 2000 Ford Explorer xlt for general service, the mechanic found that the front pinion seal, and torque converter seals leaking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs. Thank the lord that I took out and extended warranty on the vehicle when I purchased it sept, 2002. The repairs where completed, I also took it back to my mechanic to check and make sure the work was done. On 10/26/04 I took the vehicle back in again for work to be done and the mechanic again found the front pinion to be leaking, also found that the upper and lower ball joints were needed and that the power steering pump was chattering. Just some background information: the vehicle was originally owned by my sister, when I purchased the vechicle, she was turning in her 2 year lease. When I took the vehicle over it only had 11,681 miles on it. …
Purchased used 2000 Ford Explorer in 2007. Lift gate in rear has been used on a regular basis since purchase and this past weekend when opening there was a loud bang with the lift gate coming down onto my back. Thankfully it wasn't my wife or child that had opened it as they would have been injured. My first thought was strut had broke as it was hanging there but after closer inspection the lift gate ball mount had snapped off. There is surface rust on the outer part of the ball mount and clip that keeps the strut on the mount but the ball mount where it snapped is clean. The consequences of this failure is rear lift gate will not close properly and because it can't close the interior lights stay on and get very hot. I removed the front light but couldn't get the top off of the rear interior light so I had no choice but to disconnect the battery. …
While traveling and pulling a 21' trailer at 55 MPH and passing another vehicle, back of trailer fishtailed and caused vehicle to roll over and crash with driver and four passengers in vehicle. Driver and front passenger were injured. Consumer stated prior to towing with the Explorer, they towed with another vehicle that never gave any problems, the day of the accident the trailer was packed in accordance with manufacturer specifications, the trailer began to sway suddenly and violently, the swaying of the trailer caused the Explorer to start rocking out of control back and forth, consumer states he activated the manual over ride brake control on the electronic brake control box, and then tried to pull to the shoulder, this is when consumer lost control of vehicle and it jack knifed to the left and overturned, police report states that consumer ran off roadway, lost control and vehicle …
While driving on long island expressway to work, I heard a loud bang. I pulled to the side of the road see why the passenger side had lean down. Their was no flat tire. I drove the car to riverdale auto service llc in the bronx, located on west 230 th st. An hour later they informed me that my frame had split. I did not believe them, I called my regular mechanic, and he contacted them to get conformation. He informed me to have a flat bed truck bring the car to village Ford of pine bush. I contacted Ford for any recalls on frames splitting. I was informed by e-mail and personal telephone call that this is very unheard of and I should bring the car to a Ford dealer for service. It is now three weeks and I still do not have my car or the reason why the frame split under normal driving. …
2000 Ford Explorer went up in flames. Reported it right away to Ford and was given a case number. They told us to take it to a Ford dealer in the area. After months and months and months of getting no response we kept getting the run around then told that it had nothing to do with any defect. We recently got a recall letter from Ford for the exact thing that happened to this car causing it to go on fire and Ford will not respond. They say that the claim has been closed and that the original decision (which we never received) stands and they will not respond to us any longer. How can this be acceptable. See Ford safety recall #05s28 it is exactly what happened to the Explorer.
I own a 2000 Ford sport Explorer. My seat on the driver side broke a bolt. The same bolt that is on recall from the 2002 Ford sport Explorer. If I had a 2002 then it would be covered by a recall, but since it is a 2000, it is not covered. The problem costs $200.00 (199.19) to get mine fixed. I think this is unfair since obviously it is a problem that Ford motor company has already issued a recall on for a new model. My seat would not sit up straight, and it is the exact same bolt according to a service employee at north central Ford in dallas, tx. Recall number concerning this bolt is 3v281000.
4-door vehicle typically drive to work and home between 2002-2007. No one typically ever sat in the back, however, if any one did sit in the back the complained the doors were difficult to open. My thoughts were user error and those doors are rarely used. After my son was born in September 2007 I noticed the doors were difficult to open, at one point I thought I would break the door handle. My mom, my son, who is now 5, have an extremely difficult time opening the doors and my grandmother is not able to open the doors using the door handles.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when the rear lift-gate would not close. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for a diagnostic test and the technician stated that the metal hinges were cracked and had to be replaced. The technician was able to close the lift-gate and advised the contact not to reopen it. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 28,000.
Related recalls
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 harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began March 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Body complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2000 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the body & structure of the 2000 Ford Explorer, 3% of the model year's 952 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Explorer body problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-094 (structure, Mar 7, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Explorer body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 93,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 2 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.