Problems · by component

2000 Ford Explorer power train problems

147 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Ford Explorer cite power train, 14% of all 1,078 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
147
14% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“BIG CONCERN WITH MY POWER TRAIN. THE BACK OF THE CAR HAS A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CLICKS LOUDLY WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN. GOING A FASTER SPEED SEEMS TO SOUND BETTER BUT ITS PRETTY SCARY.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. THERE ALSO IS A SENSOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I DON'T KNOW ITS NAME.. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED OUT AND RENDERED PASSABLE BUT I FEAR THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP SOMETIMES.IT FEELS UNSTABLE. I AM ELDERLY AND NEED A STABLE CAR TO DRIVE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2020Power train, Service brakesODI 11355228
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ROLLED WHEN PARKED ON A HILL ALTHOUGH IT WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT WAS HAVING MEDICAL ISSUES RELATED TO STRESS DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,275.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2020Power trainODI 11306314
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 2, 2019Steering, Power trainODI 11277708
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2016Power trainCrash reportedODI 10910441
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 24, 2016Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10876339
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2015Power trainODI 10749979

Showing 6 of 147 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: control module (tcm

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.27 OR 3.55 AXLE RATION. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE THAT COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO EXCEED THE DESIGN INTENT TOP SPEED. AT THESE EXTREME SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE COULD BE CAPABLE OF EXCEEDING THE SPEED RATING OF THE TIRE.

Power trainReported Nov 28, 2000NHTSA 00V395000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.