2000 Ford Explorer Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. EVER SINCE AUGUST OF 2007, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE SWITCHING OUT OF GEAR INTERMITTENTLY. THE BRAKES, ROTORS, ALTERNATOR, MOTOR MOUNT, PULLEY ASSEMBLY, ALL THE BELTS, AND TIRES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. ON MAY 1, 2009, WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A SUBWAY STATION AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SWITCHED INTO REVERSE AND THE CONTACT ALMOST STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. AN OFFICER WITNESSED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED HIM TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,540.

O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND WOULDN'T CORRECT WITH THE BUTTON ON THE GEAR SHIFT. EXPLORER WOULD REV AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. MILEAGE HAS DROPPED FROM 21 TO 16 MPG WHICH OUTRAGEOUS. TOOK IT IN TO BE CHECKED EXPECTING THE SENSORS TO BE OFF BUT WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT, THE CONVERTER WAS BUSTED, METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION, WOULD NEED TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

TRANSMISSION IN THIS EXPLORER (VIN 'X') STARTED SLIPPING AT 55K MILES BETWEEN 2-3 SHIFT. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT BY FELLOW MECHANICS FOR $1200 TOTAL BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE. *TR

O/D LIGHT FLASHING. GRIFFEN FORD COULD NOT ID PROBLEM. UNACCUSTOMED TO HOW THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD HANDLE, I HAD NO IDEA HOW THE LOWEST GEAR RATIO SHOULD FEEL AND ASSUMED WHAT IT DID FEEL LIKE WAS NORMAL. AT 110,000 A/TRAN FAILED AND HAD TO BE REMANUFACTURED. USED PRIVATE SHOP. OUTSTANDING RE-BUILD AND THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT I NEVER HAD A LOW(EST) GEAR BUT DID AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. FAITHFUL CHANGE AND CLEANING OF TRANS FLUID, NO TOWING EVER, AND EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE RECORD DID NOT PREVENT A TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHICH IS EVIDENCE OF FORD POOR QUALITY CONTROL AT THE MANUFACTURING OR ASSEMBLY LEVEL. OBVIOUSLY NO ONE EVER PICKED UP THE FACT THAT THE LOW GEAR NEVER WORKED, NOT AT THE FORD FACTORY, AT THE DEALERSHIP, BY SALES, OR SERVICE, AND WAS NEVER PROPERLY ROAD TESTED. POOR REFLECTION ON FORD MOTOR CORPORATION. *TR

PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. SLIPS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. OVER DRIVE LIGHT IS FLASHING. TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP AND COST $300, DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE ODI WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY FLASHED. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS HAVING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 79,108. *AK

I WAS TOLD IN DEC 2004 BY MY MECHANIC THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING (MY VEHICLE HAD ONLY 32K MILES AT THE TIME), BUT BECAUSE MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER WAS TOO OLD, THERE WAS NOT ANY THING THAT I COULD DO OTHER THAN PAY FOR A REPAIR. REGARDLESS OF AGE, I DON'T THINK ANY TRANSMISSION SHOULD FAIL WITH ONLY 32K MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

VEHICLE UNDERWENT 95000 MILE INSPECTION WHICH INCLUDED CHANGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER IN OCT 06. IN FEB THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON RETURN FROM SHORT TRIP. LOCAL FORD GARAGE ADVISED THAT LIKELY CAUSE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION SEAL. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY TRANSMISSION LEAK ON DRIVEWAY, OR GARAGE FLOOR. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY UNTIL EVENING OF PROBLEM. IT WAS AS IF ALL FLUID WAS LOST AT ONCE BUT GARAGE CLAIMS THAT IT WAS PRESSURE LEAK? *JB

PREMATURE FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, 2000 FORD EXPLORER, TRANSMISSION IS THE SAME USED IN THE PINTO. VERY UNDER RATED FOR WHAT IT IS EXPECTED TO PERFORM. *NM

2000 FORD EXPLORER WHILE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY (PARKED- KEYS OUT AND IN MY POCKET) IT BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARD. I WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL JUST BEFORE IT WOULD HAVE ROLLED OF THE HILL AND INTO THE STREET. THEN IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. *NM

2000 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 54,000 MILES, REBUILT COST $1,350. CAR IS AT 128500 MILES AND TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AGAIN! CAR HAS NOT PILED TRAILER OR LOAD ON SYSTEM. FORD TRANSMISSIONS ARE JUNK! *JB

VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM 2ND TO 3RD HARSHLY & OD LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. DID NOT DO IT EVERY TIME IT WAS DRIVEN. CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD NO RECALLS WERE LISTED ON THIS TYPE PROBLEM. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FOR 2000 EXPLORER WITH SAME PROBLEM. TRANSY MECHANIC REPAIRED OTV VALVE ON TRANSMISSION, RESOLVED PROBLEM AT MY COST OF $350. SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG WHEN THIS MANY REPORTS ARE FILED FOR SAME ISSUE. VEHICLE ALSO WEAVES WHEN SPEEDS OF 60 MPH+ ARE REACHED AS IF WOULD ROLL OVER. SHOCKS DO NOT SEEM TO BE SET RIGHT, VERY ROUGH RIDE FOR SUCH A LUXURY FITTED OUT VEHICLE. FIRST FORD I HAVE EVER OWNED IN THE 30+ YEARS I HAVE DRIVEN...NOT HAPPY....I AM SELLING. GIVE ME A PONTIAC ANYDAY! FORD, TAKE OWNERSHIP! *NM

2000 FORD EXPLORER WITH 58,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. 'OD OFF' LIGHT FLASHES. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE VALVE BODY AND TORQUE CONVERTER. I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE MAJOR TRANNY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AT 60K. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ONLINE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN DRIVE THERE WAS NO REACTION, AND REVERSE WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN SECOND GEAR AND TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *NM

REAR PASSENGER TIRE SNAPPED OFF IN AUGUST OF 2005, REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE SNAPPED OFF IN DECEMBER 2005. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR THE ENGINE REVVED. IF HE KICKED THE VEHICLE INTO PASSING GEAR THE ENGINE REVVED EVEN MORE. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT IT WAS THE BLOW-OFF VALVE THAT BURNED OUT THE BANDS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE REPAIR SHOP DID REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. FORD HAD PREVIOUSLY ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS COMPONENT. *AK

OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE CAR SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND THEN IS FINE AFTER THAT. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF POSTS FROM ONLINE FORUMS WITH EXPLORERES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK

1) SLIPPAGE IN 2-3 SHIFT OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAR WITH 63K MILES 2) PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; COSTLY REPAIR ($2700) 3) REQUIRED REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND TOLD THEM THERE WAS A CLATTERING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, AND ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED, THE MOTOR WENT OUT. CONSUMER HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MERLE KELLY FORD IN CHANUTE, KANSAS TO HAVE THE DRIVETRAIN REPAIRED, BUT WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE DRIVETRAIN, AND ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THERE WAS A SPAN OF YEARS I BETWEEN THE TIME SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000, FORD. CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRES STARTED IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN IT WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT LOST POWER PRIOR TO THE FIRE. IT WAS A FUEL FIRE BECAUSE IT HAD TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. *AK

O/D LIGHT FLASHING, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 63K MILES. TRANSMISSION REPLACED, MECHANIC STATES KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION IN THIS 2000 FORD EXPLORER XLT

EXPLORER 4/4 EDDIE BAUER. EASTER DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY SMOKE CAME FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER ADVISED THAT GEARS HAD BURNED OUT AND REPAIRED. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN AND WAS REBUILT. FLUID WAS THROWN OUT ON TO THE HIGHWAY. ON THIRD FAILURE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ON SATURDAY THIS WEEK TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN PUNTA GORED FLORIDA AND IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. *AK

TRANSMISSION IN MY 2000, FORD EXPLORER SPORT HAS FAILED. UPON TAKING IT TO TRANSMISSION SHOP I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD MOTOR REDESIGNED THE TRANS, IN THIS MODEL YEAR, AND THEY ARE TRASH...., UPON REPLACING TWO VALVE BODIES THE TRANS IS BEING REBUILT AGAIN.*AK

ON 12-27-04 OUR 2000 FORD EXPLORER STARTED TO SHIFT POORLY AND THE OVER DRIVE LIGHT STAYED ON, THE LIGHT SHOWS THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO OVER-DRIVE. I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE TRANS. HAD A CRACK IN THE DRUM IN THE VALVE BODY OF THE TRANS. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED COST 2229.62 VEHICLE ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES. I LOOKED ON THE NET AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM TWO PEOPLE SAID IT OCCURRED TWICE SAME PROBLEM. TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 EXPLORER MY WIFE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE VERY CAREFULLY NEVER DOING ANYTHING BUT GOING TO WORK OR GOING GROCERY SHOPPING. I AM VERY MAD I THINK FORD IS MAKING A LOT OF JUNK THIS TRANNY FOR ONE. MAYBE FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS TRANNY. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN GOING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE THE PASSING GEAR WAS NOT WORKING. THE PASSING GEAR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE FIXED BY A DEALER AND IT COST HIM $800.00. THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS ABOUT 50 MPH, HE HIT THE PASSING GEAR AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO FIRST GEAR. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR MISS AS A RESULT. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY DID NOT REIMBURSE HIM ANY MONEY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION.*AK UPDATED 11/02/05. *JB