2000 Ford Explorer. Consumer writes in regards to recall states engine running without ignition key could start a fire. Consumer states thought dealership repaired recall problems. Vehicle exploded seven minutes after consumer exists vehicle.

- Middletown, NY, USA

Timing chain rattles.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

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.

- Taylorsville, NC, USA

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.

- Princeton, MN, USA

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.

- Bethlehem, PA, USA

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.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

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.

- Morristown, TN, USA

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.

- Miami, FL, USA

At 166,000 head gasket blew plus there were other engine problems. Replaced with another engine. Now transmission is going out. It will go into reverse fine but will go into drive with problems. If vehicle is cold it will go into drive faster than when it is warmed up. At warm temp it may take several tries of shifting from park back to drive or waiting several minutes for it to drop into drive after shifting out of park. Have only owned this vehicle less than 2 years.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

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. Updated 06/17/08

- Trenton, NJ, USA

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.

- Gansevoort, NY, USA

: 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.

- Butler, OH, USA

: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked in front of the residence, a noise was heard, then fire was noticed coming from under the hood. The contact called the fire department who extinguished the fire and reported the fire as electrical failure from the speed control system. The contact took pictures of the charred vehicle. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The dealership was contacted but never returned the call. The manufacturer was also contacted who informed her the vehicle was not included in any recall pertaining to the speed control system due to the VIN. The fire department had not determined what caused the fire, however, the consumer had read about reports where vehicle were catching on fire due to faulty cruise control switches. Updated 12/13/06. Updated 04/03/07.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

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.

- El Cajon, CA, USA

I have a 2000 Ford Explorer with 46,000 miles on it. I noticed a delay going into first gear on transmission. Took car to dealer and they repaired transmission to the cost of $2900. I am 61 years old and drive very little. I expected at least 100,000 miles from this vehicle before major problems. Dealer found elc trans diagnostic found internal wear. Found inter and od servo piston hard 2-3 shift valve sticking. R/R valve body. Pistons overhauled and flushed cooler lines.replaced control assembly, gasket, piston and rod, screen assembly, converter assembly & fluid.

- Boring, OR, USA

Head gasket defective. Coolant is mixing with the oil. $2000 repair job.

- Hanover Park, IL, USA

2000 Ford Explorer motor skips and races when started up.** answer required***. the vehicle ran rough and the gas mileage was poor. The vehicle was taken tot he dealer. The dealer cleaned the manifold but this did not rectify the problem. The vehicle was taken back to and independent mechanic who ran a diagnostic test. The test concluded that the fuel pressure regulator needed to be replaced and the manifold needed to be removed and cleaned. It appeared that the dealer never cleaned the manifold as they stated.

- Waverly Hall, GA, USA

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"

- Fort Monmouth, NJ, USA

Cranks haft cracked and caused engine failure.

- Port Chester, NY, USA

The consumer was driving when she heard a loud noise while turning into her driveway. The vehicle was smoking and caught on fire. The fire was put out with a garden hose. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The wheel bearings were found to be defective. On the next incident, the consumer took the vehicle to the mechanic to have the front end aligned, when the vehicle was inspected the ball joint fell off into the mechanic's hand July 8, 2004. All of the problems had been on the drivers side. There were also problems with the engine.

- Shreve, OH, USA