Problems · by component
2000 Ford Explorer steering problems
42 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Ford Explorer cite steering, 4% of all 1,078 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
42
4% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“SOMETIMES WHEN I HAVE MY TURN SIGNAL ON SMOKE WILL COME OUT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE EMERGENCY SIGNAL BUTTON IS ON TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYTIME I USE IT BUT IT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN. *TR”
“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.”
“TL*THE 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* 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.”
“TL*THE 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.”
Showing 6 of 42 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.