Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
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).
Tl contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact received a recall notice for the speed control assembly. The vehicle was repaired according to the recall remedy. Two weeks later, when the vehicle was started, the steering column began smoking. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was not inspected. The contact was informed that the recall repair did not cause the steering column to begin smoking. The vehicle would have to be left at the dealer for the steering column to be taken apart for further inspection. No repairs were made. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The NHTSA campaign id number was unknown. The failure mileage was 119,000 and current mileage was 119,065.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The vehicle was parked in the residence driveway, and caught fire. There were no prior warnings. The fire department extinguished the fire which originated underneath the hood in the engine compartment. The flames melted the siding of the house. The vehicle remained at the residence. The contact stated that the fire could possibly be related to the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 09V399000 (vehicle speed control). The contact was in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that there is a safety recall on his vehicle and he scheduled an appointment with the dealer for the recall repair. Once he arrived at the dealer, he was denied service because the vehicle was not purchased from that particular dealer. He stated that smoke was rising from the steering column. The vehicle was inspected by his local mechanic. The recall number was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 89,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact was driving 5 MPH and attempting a left turn with the left turn signal engaged when white smoke emitted from the steering column. The dealer was called and informed the contact that the multi function switch could potentially be the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was called and advised the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.
When turning the car steering wheel turns pops and clicks without tires or steering collum turning like it's broke off of the collum as well the car come out of park and rolls off wile car is off and in park with keys out shifters also very loose as the steering goes it first happend going down the highway and we just started drifting in and out if lanes with little control happens when cars off on moving or not nothing changes does seem to improve when it's in 4wd
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that smoke would emit from the steering column intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted and denied any assistance with the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 142,000 and the current mileage was 152,603.
My wife was driving my daughters 2000 Ford Explorer on texas 183 in austin texas when the steering wheel become very erratic and turned to the left over two lanes into the center concrete barrier. She had no control over the steering to straighten the vehicle. It seemed the vehicle anti-skid computer took control of the wheels.
While driving, sparks and smoke started coming through the steering wheel area after using the left turn signal there was an emergency button right above the steering wheel were the smoke came in.
My wife & I experienced a severe wheel vibration (oscillation) in the front end of our 2000 Ford Explorer on two separate occasions. The severity of the vibration almost made the truck uncontrollable. When the truck was taken to the service department and the service technician quoted it s a design flaw; you have air in the rack & pinion steering . The air apparently enters through the housing seals when the truck was being serviced after a fan belt tensioner ruptured and the truck had to be manually steered. The only way to remove the air from the housing was to run the vehicle for an undetermined amount of time until the air circulates with the power steering fluid through the system and escapes at the reservoir. This design flaw known by Ford motor company should have been a recall. …
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. …
Steering complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2000 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the steering of the 2000 Ford Explorer, 4% of the model year's 952 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion › rack (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Ford Explorer steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering 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 steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 7 fires and 6 injuries to steering 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.