The 2000 Ford Explorer Sport has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 137,700 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STRUCTURE00V3940002000-11-28137,700 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH STEEL HOODS AND CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SHEET MOLDING COMPOUND HOODS. A WIRE FORMED HOOD STRIKER COULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURES. IF THE HOOD STRIKER FRACTURES, THE HOOD COULD FLY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Consequence
A HOOD FLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED COULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD STRIKER.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
9
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5
SEATS
5
1injuries
TIRES
5
2crashes2injuries
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
4
3fires1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
AIR BAGS
2
Total complaints102
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“I got into my car to go to lunch from my place of employment with my ceo. When I sat down the seat fell back and the seat back would not catch again. I took my life into my hands driving home that evening. Contacted our local ford dealer where we purchased the car, they said the part was no longer…”
“I got into my car to go to lunch from my place of employment with my ceo. When I sat down the seat fell back and the seat back would not catch again. I took my life into my hands driving home that evening. Contacted our local ford dealer where we purchased the car, they said the part was no longer…”
“This was a terrible event... My car was aimed down my 300 ft driveway. I don't believe at that point or if it was stuck I didn't know the accelerator was stuck but I soon realized something was wrong. As I headed to new albany high school for water class the explorer went faster and faster on rt…”
“This was a terrible event... My car was aimed down my 300 ft driveway. I don't believe at that point or if it was stuck I didn't know the accelerator was stuck but I soon realized something was wrong. As I headed to new albany high school for water class the explorer went faster and faster on rt…”
“2000 ford explorer, o/d light began flashing, car sputtered, driving down the road, car would not go at all as though it was stuck in neutral. Will not go in gear. No drive, no reverse, nothing. Towed to transmission repair shop, $1800. To replace transmission. *tr”
“Lower and upper ball joint making terrible noise, I did grease but still have noise. *tr”
“Smoke coming out of steering column when turn signal engaged. Took to dealer and told ignition switch had signs of a hot point and was melting. Had ignition switch replaced at a service station, however, they said they saw no visible signs of damage. *tr”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
InvestigationDP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
InvestigationDP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 Ford Explorer Sport as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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