The 2000 Ford Explorer has 3 recalls, the most serious being a side airbag that can deploy without warning if the seatbelt is yanked sharply from its retractor while the ignition is on, posing a direct injury risk to the seated occupant.
Recalls 1 and 2 describe the same underlying defect: a side crash sensor calibrated in a way that interprets a hard, jerking pull on a locked seatbelt as a crash event, triggering the airbag to fire unexpectedly. This affects 4-door models equipped with side airbags. The third recall applies to Explorer Sport and Explorer Sport Trac trims and involves the wire-formed hood striker, the latch anchor the hood locks onto when closed. That part can develop fatigue fractures over time and break, allowing the hood to fly open at speed. A hood that flips up while driving can block the entire forward view, leaving the driver unable to see the road ahead.
At a glance
What can fail
The hood striker—a wire-formed metal part—can develop cracks from fatigue. If it fractures, the hood may suddenly fly open while driving, reducing visibility and risking a crash.
What the fix does
The hood striker will be replaced with a revised design that resists fatigue fracturing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The side crash sensor may trigger the side airbag to deploy when the seat belt is jerked out of its locked retractor while the ignition is on, potentially causing injury.
What the fix does
The side crash sensor will be replaced with a revised version designed to prevent unexpected airbag deployment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The side crash sensor can trigger the side air bag to deploy unexpectedly when the ignition is in the run position and someone jerks the seatbelt webbing out of a locked retractor.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the side crash sensors with a revised design that prevents unintended side air bag deployment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
