Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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).
The contact owned a 1999 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, and the brakes were depressed, the vehicle fishtailed crashed into a ditch and rolled two times. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained head, arm, and back, injuries and the passenger sustained head, neck, finger, and back injuries. Medical attention was sought. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
I have just replaced, for the 4th time, the front, drivers side, rubber brake line . The line seems to be to short. When making a right hand turn the line is pulled taunt to beyond it's length. It seems that the line is about 3 to 4 inches to short. Each time it has broken at the same place where the rubber line connects to the brake caliper. I still have two of the brake lines that leaked. I don't know how other explores brake lines have held up without leaking. I am going to replace the hose that is leaking , purchased from napa that is the same length as the others. I had a new one made to order with a 3 inch increase in length. The brake hose on the passengers side is the correct length. I have owned this car for 5 year and it has 187,000 miles driven. The date that this happen, below, was the first of three times it happened.
Consumer was driving on the freeway and set the cruise control at 75 MPH. However, the vehicle kept accelerating, although consumer had applied the brakes and the emergency brakes. Vehicle would not slow down. Had to circle the gas station 3 times before the vehicle would stop. The consumer stated that she ran 3 red lights before she could get the vehicle to come to a stop. The consumer slammed the vehicle into park going 50mph. Significant damage was done to the braking system. The consumer was injured. The mechanic told the consumer that the brakes caught fire and she was lucky the fire put itself out.
The consumer stated the cruise control became stuck. Consumer was driving on the freeway and set the cruise control at 75 MPH. However, the vehicle kept accelerating although consumer had applied the brakes and the emergency brakes. Vehicle would not slow down. Had to circle the gas station 3 times before the vehicle would stop. Significant damage was done to the braking system. The consumer was injured. The mechanic told the consumer that the brakes caught fire but the fire went out soon after.
I was stopped at an intersection waiting for oncoming traffic to slow down to turn, and the truck just takes off on its own. I tried pressing the brake pedal but as soon as it took off I was hit by another vehicle. After my truck was hit by the vehicle it took off again out of control on its own while I was trying to press the brake. Luckily the truck died on its own before hitting anything else.
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.
On 12/4/01 traveling approximately 55 MPH when I had to suddenly brake for a suddenly stopped car in front of me. I pressed the brake and no ABS deployed thus causing me to hit the car in front of me at near full speed. Upon impact of my front end with rearend of other car, my truck sustained major damage to the entire front end, including fender, punctured radiator, compressed both side panels, folded hood. It was not driveable at the time of the accident and had to be towed. The anti-lock brakes did not work and no air bag was deployed. I have sustained physical injuries related to failure of these two safety devices. The mechanic states the airbag sensor was smashed in accident. The dealer states my brakes were fully functioning. After I received my repaired truck, the anti-lock brakes did not work. I brought it back to the dealer they said they did work, I must be mistaken. …
We have a 2000 Ford Explorer bought new from holman Ford. The rear metal brake line that is mounted on the rear axle, connecting both rear brakes failed while driving on rte 42 in new jersey. The SUV was slowed down by driving on the median strip of the highway. This incident occurred at the height of morning rush hour. Upon inspection of the brake line, it was found that the line "rusted" through, letting brake fluid to rapidly spray out when the brakes were applied. The brake line is mounted to the rear axle by metal clips attached to the rear axle. At the center of the rear axle, the brake line failed, where it is fastened to the clip. The brake line is mounted this way by Ford. After many attempts to buy a new OEM brake line from Ford, Ford informed me that the part was discontinued. And for holman Ford, I will never by a car or anything from this dealership!! …
My brakes failed at a low rate of speed. I was driving my infant to day care at about 45 miles an hour. A car in front of me made a stop so I hit my brakes to slow down and nothing happened. The Explorer would not slow down. No ABS light, ,no loss of pedal,no vibration,nothing. I pumped the brake pedal and still nothing. I had to go into oncoming traffic and make a very sharp turn onto a side rd to avoid hitting the car in front of me. Because of this I almost hit an on coming car. After a few minutes the brake seemed fine again. I have heard of people having this problem before and to my knowledge, no cause has yet been found. Please look into this.
Both front rotors had severe rust/corrosion on the inner surface. Vehicle has 56,000 miles on it and was due for the first pad replacement. Rotors required replacement due to the depth of rust damage. Rust was not visible on the outside surface. I was not aware of the situation or the change in braking distances until the new rotors were installed. The new braking conditions is noticably improved. I have possession of both rotors and pads that were replaced. Repair was performed at a local Ford dealership. This vehicle has been continually driven and the rust/corrosion is not typical buildup from a lack of operation of the vehicle.
Brake complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2000 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 64 complaints about the brakes of the 2000 Ford Explorer, 7% of the model year's 952 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (24 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Explorer brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2000 Ford Explorer, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Ford Explorer brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 2 fires and 6 injuries and 1 death to brakes 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.