VehicleVerdict

2000 Ford Explorer electrical system problems

The 2000 Ford Explorer has 86 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 7% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

86

Electrical System complaints

7%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Related recalls

00V072000Electrical SystemMarch 7, 2000 · 208,903 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES AND ALL-TIME 4-WHEEL DRIVE (A4WD) POWERTRAINS. THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE (GEM) COULD EXPERIENCE A CONDITION REFERRED TO AS "LOCK-UP" IN WHICH THE GEM CONTROLLED ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS (E.G., FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, 4X4 SYSTEM, ETC.) COULD NOT BE TURNED ON OR, IN SOME CASES IF THE FUNCTION IS ON, COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF.

Consequence

AN INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR IN THE GEM CIRCUIT.

What owners report

2000 FORD EXPLORER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SMOKE COMES FROM STEERING COLUMN WHEN USING LEFT TURN SIGNAL. TURN LIGHT WOULD FREEZE ON AND ACRID SMOKE COME FROM AROUND HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH AREA. THEN WILL BE OK FOR A WHILE AND COULD NOT RECREATE FOR MECH BUT STILL HAPPENS ON OCCASION UNEXPECTLY. WHERE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · February 6, 2003 · fire

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2000 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA has 86 complaints about the 2000 Ford Explorer electrical system — 7% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2000 Ford Explorer electrical system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the electrical system: 00V072000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.