2000 Ford Explorer Engine

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that there were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE FOUR 02 OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE PERSISTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND AS SHE PROCEEDED TO WALK AWAY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CONTACTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 179,000.

SPARKPLUG SUPER-HEATED AND MELTED LONGITUDINALLY DESTROYING THE OUTERMOST SPARKPLUG THREADS (7 THROUGH THE SEATING SURFACE OF THE SPARK PLUG). INNER MOST THREADS, THE ONES DEEPEST INTO THE HEAD WERE NOT DAMAGED. A SECOND PLUG WAS INSTALLED ALONG WITH A NEW SPARK PLUG WIRE AND WITHIN 20 MILES, THE SPARKPLUG WAS AGAIN MELTED BEYOND SALVAGE AND THE NEW WIRE BURNED UP. DUE TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SPARKPLUG, IT WAS ABLE TO BE REMOVED WITHOUT TOOLS AS THERE WERE NO THREADS REMAINING IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. FORTUNATELY THE FIRE DAMAGE (LIKELY FROM THE SPARK OF THE PLUG) WAS LIMITED ONLY TO DAMAGING THE SPARKPLUG AND THE SPARK PLUG WIRE LABLED #3. *TT

THIS IS TO REPORT A FIRE IN A 2000 FORD EXPLORER: ON FRIDAY, 25 NOV 11, 5 ADULTS (MY HUSBAND, 2 SONS, DAUGHTER-IN LAW, AND MYSELF) AND 2 DOGS, LEFT BETHLEHEM PA FOR OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS TRIP IN OUR 2000 FORD EXPLORER, PULLING A UTILITY TRAILER. THE INTENT OF THE TRIP WAS TO START AT A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM, CUT DOWN 3 CHRISTMAS TREES, HAUL THEM IN THE TRAILER AND CONTINUE WITH SEVERAL OTHER CHRISTMAS RELATED TRADITIONAL STOPS. MY HUSBAND, DROVE APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES NORTH TO BISSELS CHRISTMAS TREE HILL IN LEHIGHTON, PA. HE DID NOT USE CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE WE WERE PULLING THE TRAILER. THE TRIP WAS FINE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATIONS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT ALSO HAD NOT HAD ANY SERVICE DONE TO IT RECENTLY (A QUESTION FREQUENTLY ASKED TO US). HE PARKED THE VEHICLE ALONG AN EMBANKMENT AT THE TREE FARM AND WE ALL WERE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF GETTING OUT OF THE CAR WITH THE DOGS WHEN SOMEONE NEARBY YELLED TO US THAT OUR CAR WAS ON FIRE. SHE REPEATED IT AS WE LOOKED TO SEE WHO SHE WAS ADDRESSING. WE LOOKED AT OUR CAR AND SAW THAT UNDER IT, FIRE BALLS WERE HITTING THE GROUND FROM WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD AND SMOKE WAS IMMEDIATELY POURING OUT OF THE ENGINE. WE ALL QUICKLY GOT AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. MY ONE SON IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AND MY OTHER SON RAN NEARBY TO TRY AND FIND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE SMOKE QUICKLY TURNED INTO A FULL BLOWN FIRE. THE COMPLETE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ALONG WITH THE EMBANKMENT NEARBY, WAS ABLAZE. THE MAHONING VALLEY POLICE CAME, THEN THE FIRE CAPTAINS, THEN 2 FULL FIRE TRUCKS FROM LEHIGHTON AND MAHONING VALLEY FIRE DEPARTMENTS. THEY QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED EVERYTHING, ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE WE LOST MY PURSE, JACKETS, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS VALUABLES THAT WERE ON THE FLOOR OF THE FRONT SEAT AND IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. *TR

MY FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALL I SAW WAS CLOUD OF SMOKE. THEN PEOPLE STARTED YELLING AND BLOWING THEIR HORN AT ME, THE UNBELIEVABLE, THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THE HOOD. THE CONTACT QUICKLY REMOVED HER CHILDREN AND CHILD SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE. IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, THE HOOD BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE JUNKYARD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE COMPLETE COVERAGE. THE MIAMI MIDWAY POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT NUMBER PPOC9A02C02188. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,000.

SPARK PLUG CLOSEST TO DRIVER DOES NOT SEAT AND COMES OUT. NOT A FULL BLOW OUT OF IT, BUT THE PLUG FEELS REAL LOOSE. I TRIED NEW PLUG BUT IT STILL FEELS LOOSE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER . THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. SHE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FROM A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER OWNERS EXPENSE. WHEN IT WAS AT THE DEALER SHIP THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE APART WITHOUT THE DRIVERS PERMISSION. THE DRIVER CALLED AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THEY USED A DEFECTIVE ENGINE FOR THE 2000 FORD MODELS AND FOUND OUT AFTER A YEAR AND THAT'S WHY THE Y DISCONTINUED USING THAT SPECIFIC ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93104 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93300.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS OFFLINE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE CONDUCTING A FREE REPAIR FOR THIS FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE TIME HAD ALREADY EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER HONORING THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 06/17/08. *LJ UPDATED 06/17/08

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC FOUND ANTIFREEZE IN THE OIL. NEW OIL WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE AND, ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED, ANTIFREEZE WAS FOUND IN THE OIL AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKET. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET OR A FAILED HEAD BOLT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE FUEL LINE RUSTED AND DEVELOPED TINY PIN HOLES AND CRACKS. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALSO. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COST WOULD BE BETWEEN $400 AND $500 TO REMOVE THE TANK. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,100.

VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH IN DRIVE BUT OK IN PARK AND SMELL OF FUEL OR EXHAUST WAS IN CABIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. DEALERSHIP SAID VALVE WAS BURNED OUT AND THIS ONLY HAPPENS IF VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER OVERHEATED AND EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED A FULL AND CLEAN COOLANT LEVEL PRESENT. DEALERSHIP WANTS $1,800 TO FIX ENGINE WHICH ONLY HAS 68,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. ON MAY 21, 2007, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUGS FAILED IN HER VEHICLE TWICE IN FOUR DAYS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND LOOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SPEED AND WEATHER WERE NOT FACTORS. THE PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

NO EVENTS LED UP TO THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE. OUR 2000 FORD EXPLORER WAS BEING DRIVEN AS A DAILY ROUTINE TRIP IN TOWN. THE CAR DIED AT A STOP LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR . THE CAR MADE A LOUD CLUNK. I DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT AND SHUT IT OFF. WE HAD A CERTIFIED FORD MECHANIC COME OUT TO LOOK AT THE CAR. HE WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS V6 ENGINE. HE STATED TO US THAT THE CRANKSHAFT FORD USED WAS A CAST IRON CRANK AND NOT A FORGED STEEL CRANK. WHAT HAPPENS IS THE CRANKSHAFT WILL DEVELOP CRACKS IN IT AND EVENTUALLY BREAK APART. HIS COMMENT WAS IT WAS A BAD IDEA AND BAD DESIGN BY FORD. THIS MECHANIC WORKED FOR FORD FOR 18 YEARS AND STATED THAT THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE WAS USED FROM 1995-2001 AND I BELIEVE HE SAID IT WAS A COLOGNE V6 .OUR 2 OPTIONS AT THIS POINT IS TO PUT IN A NEW MOTOR OR JUNK THE CAR. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2 DOOR. TWO WHEEL DRIVE. DEALER MAINTAINED AT 30000,60000,AND RECENTLY AT 90000 MILES .CURRENT MILEAGE IS 91000. OIL CHANGED EVERY 2 MONTHS REGARDLESS. MAINTENANCE RECORDS ARE ALL AVAILABLE. NO REASON FOR AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT LIKE A CRANKSHAFT TO CRACK AND RUIN THE CAR. *JB

2000 EXPLORER XLT WITH APPROXIMATELY 55000 MILES. TAKEN TO DEALER TO BE SERVED C FOR STALLING AND FAILURE TO RESTART WITH HIGH TEMPERATURE. DEALER REPORTED THAT ENGINE HDS COOLANT AND OIL MIXING AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED, $3500 COST. WHEN I OBJECTED, DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, AND THAT THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE TORN DOWN TO FIX , 2,000. . I OBJECTED AGAIN, AND DEALER DECIDED TO REPLACE GASKET, FLUSH OIL, COOLANT SYSTEMS, AND RETURN TO THE ROAD , $1100. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FUTURE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT IN ENGINE. I INVESTIGATED, AND FOUND SECRET WARRANTY SERVICE BULLETIN , NETS NUMBER 616816. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER COST OF REPAIR UNDER SB, DEALER REFUSED, CLAIMING THAT SB EXTENSION WAS OVER , ENDED DECEMBER 2006. THIS VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN THE LIMITED MILEAGE UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND OBVIOUS DRIVING RATES LESS THAN EXPECTED UNDER THE WARRANTY , ORIGINAL AND SECRET EXTENSION.. CUSTOMERS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS SECRET WARRANTY EXTENSION. ENGINE GASKETS, INCLUDING HEAD GASKETS AND MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE NOT OWNER SERVICED ITEMS, AND WERE EXPECTED TO LIVE AS LONG AS THE POWER PLANT. I EXPECTED FORD TO LIVE UP TO THEIR PRODUCT HYPE AND FIX THIS VEHICLE FOR FREE, INCLUDING COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT IF REQUIRED.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE RATTLED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED THE ENGINE BOLTS TIGHTENED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC BUT NOT A SERVICE DEALER.

OVER THE PAST THREE TO FOUR MONTHS MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER (6 CYLINDER W/ SOHC ENGINE) HAS DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. AT TIMES THE ENGINE WILL NOT START. WHEN IT DOES START IT WILL NOT IDLE AND DIES UNLESS THE RPM'S ARE MANUALLY HELD AT A HIGH ENOUGH LEVEL TO ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RUN. WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE WILL DIE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM A HIGHER GEAR TO A LOWER GEAR ALLOWING THE RPM'S TO FALL BETWEEN SHIFTS. THIS REQUIRES SHIFTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO RE-START WITH A LOSS OF ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKING FUNCTIONS. A FIRST IT SEEMED THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE DURING HOT DAYS. NOW THE PROBLEM OCCURS AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND DIFFERENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE CAR RECENTLY HAD THE FUEL SYSTEM SERVICED (ALONG WITH THE 65K RECOMMENDED SERVICE PACKAGE) AT A LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I WROTE TO CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE AND THEY SUGGESTED I FORWARD THIS INFORMATION. *B

EXPLORER WILL NOT START AFTER RUNNING THE CAR FOR A WHILE, THE FORD SERVICE CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, I BROUGHT IT ANOTHER GARAGE AND THEY IDENTIFIED THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE IS FAULTY, PAID 276.23 TO REPAIR. *JB

HEAD GASKET DEFECTIVE. COOLANT IS MIXING WITH THE OIL. $2000 REPAIR JOB. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE EMISSION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY THE SERVICE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR EMISSION PROBLEMS, AND THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETELY REMEDY THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED THE SAME EMISSION PROBLEMS RECURRED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE MANIFOLD GASKET, OXYGEN SENSOR, IDLE CONTROL SENSOR, AND OTHER EMISSION PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, FUMES WERE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, AND THE CONTACT WAS PLANNING TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. *AK

ON 20 MAR 2005 WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED TO THE SIDE TO CHECK THE PROBLEMS, EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL EXCEPT IT WAS IDLING ROUGH. I CALLED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY TO BRING IT IN. I BROUGHT IT TO THE FORD DEALER ON 21 MAR 2005. I WAS TOLD THAT AFTERNOON, THAT IT WAS THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. I CALLED THE DEALER ON 22 MAR TO CHECK AND SEE WHEN I COULD PICK IT UP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT BE READY BECAUSE THEY FOUND THE CYLINDER HEAD HAD A CRACK. I CALLED ON 23 MAR TO CHECK AND WAS TOLD BOTH CYLINDER HEADS WERE CRACKED AND THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE ENGINE MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR AN ADJUSTER FROM FORD TO MAKE A DETERMINATION TO SEE IF THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR JUST THE CYLINDER HEADS. IT IS NOW THE AFTERNOON OF 29 MAR AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE CYLINDER HEADS ARE ON BACK ORDER AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN MY CAR WILL BE READY. I CALLED FORD (800-392-3673) AND BASICALLY WAS TOLD SORRY NOTHING WE CAN DO THE CYLINDER HEADS ARE ON "NATIONAL BACK ORDER". IF THAT IS TRUE, THERE IS A GREAT DEMAND FOR FORD 4 LITER ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS. IIS THAT A RESULT OF A DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE OR THE CYLINDER HEADS. HAS ANYONE LOOKED INTO THIS? ALSO, DO NOT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET FORD MOVING ON MY PROBLEM?

CRANKS HAFT CRACKED AND CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. *AK

THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT ADJUST CORRECTLY WHEN DRIVING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SOLVED. *AK IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND AFTER BEING REPLACED IT STILL FAILED. AS OF YET THE CONSUMER HAS NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT OR BEEN INJURED BUT IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE IT DOES HAPPEN. *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DIED, THE COMPUTER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IDLE CONTROL SPEED SENOR AND A VALVE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED *JB