1999 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING, PASSANGE SIDE SPINDLE AT THE POINT OF STEERING CONNECTION TO IT, BROKE CAUSING VEHICLE TO POOL AND PUSH ALL OVER THE ROAD OUT OF CONTROL. DEALER SAW NO PRIOR DAMAGE TO IT OR OTHER PART (TIRE, RIM, EXT.) AND STILL REFUSE TO COVER UNDER BUMPER-TO-BUMPER COVERAGE.

WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN, SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATION. *AK FORD RECALLED TWO COMPONENTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE REACHED HIGH TEMPERATURES DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. COOLANT WENT INSIDE THE ENGINE.*AK

CONSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT. DEALERS NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN I ATTEMPT TO USE MY TURN SIGNAL, SMOKE BEGINS TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. I THEN HAVE TO BLOW IT OUT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, MAKING IT HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING RAINY WEATHER. *AK

APPLICATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE ENGINE HAS COOLED, WOULD NEED TO APPLY ADDITIONAL FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BREAK THE BRIDGE. *LA

4- WHEEL DRIVE STICKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE MALFUNCTION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RAN INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH BRAKES LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS AND THE CALIPERS. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER.*AK

DASHBOARD GEAR POSITION INDICATOR HAS MISALIGNED. SHOULD BE: P,R,N,D,2,1 IS: R(PARK),N(REVERSE),D(NEUTRAL),2(DRIVE),1(LOW),----(LOW).*AK

1999 FORD EXPLORER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED HE/SHE HEARD A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND ALSO THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB *NM

WHEN RECLINING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBACK RECLINING BOLT DISCONNECTED FROM THE SEAT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH A SPARK BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE VEHICLE LOST CONSIDERABLE POWER AT THAT TIME. THE WINDOWS HAD TO BE OPENED DUE TO THE GAS FUMES.*AK

SEVERAL TIMES WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON THERE WAS A STREAM OF SMOKE THAT CAME UP FROM THE GEAR SHIFTER. ALSO, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS MISALIGNED. WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL, AND WHEN IS IN NEUTRAL IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS IN DRIVE. *AK *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SEAT RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS MECHANISM WAS OF POOR QUALITY. FORD HAD A RECALL ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BUT NOT THE PASSENGER SEAT. *JB

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE SHUTTERED FOR 10 SECONDS AND THEN IT SHUT OFF. MOST OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DO NOT WORK AFTER THE INITIAL START UP.*AK *MR

ON ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE & CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED. BY THE FIRE INVESTIGATORS IT WAS CONFIRMED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, FAULTY DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE ILLUMINATING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE TWICE BUT HAD NO SOLUTION, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BOLT FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE INTO THE REAR SEATS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK WHEN GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE HANDLE THAT RECLINED THE SEAT BROKE. *TS *NLM

03-V-281-000:THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE HIT A DEER HEAD ON, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER WENT TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN. VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW LATCH FOR THE HOOD.CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER. *AK

1--BAD ROARING NOISE IN LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA 2--RATTLING NOISE IN EXHAUST (MUFFLER) OUR VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP OVER 21/2 WEEKS MY WIFE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE THURSDAY8-28-03 SAME NOISE IN THE FRONT ALSO NEW RATTLING NOISE LEDFT FRONT END. NOISE IN BAD AT 55MPH LOTS OF PROMISES MADE BY MALOY FORD ALL TALK ALSO THEY WILL NOT RETURN MY CALL SALESPERSON THRU OWNER

I OWN A 1999 EXPLORER WITH 60000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH THE CONTROL ARM SINCE IT WAS ONE UNIT. WHY WERE SEALED BALL JOINTS THAT WERE PART OF THE CONTROL ARM BEING USED, UNLESS IT WAS TO RAISE THE FREQUENCY AND COST OF REPAIRS AT THE EXPENSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY . A BALL JOINT FAILURE AT ANY SPEED COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLES ROUTINELY GO WELL OVER 100,000 MILES WITH NON SEALED BALL JOINTS, AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. THIS WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION, ESPECIALLY SINCE CONSUMER BECAME AWARE THAT HIS PROBLEM IS BY NO MEANS AN ISOLATED CASE. HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THE LOCAL DEALER WAS DOING A LOT OF THOSE, AND THAT THEY WERE AWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM.*AK

WHILE PASSENGER WAS GETTING INSIDE OF VEHICLE BY PULLING ON THE UPPER HANDLE GRIP THE HANDLE SNAPPED, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO FALL TO THE GROUND.*AK

1999 FORD EXPLORER. TURN SIGNAL "MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH" SHORTS OUT, CAUSING SMOKE TO POUR OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD REGARDING THIS $300.00 REPAIR, THE SERVICE TECH SAID HE HAS SEEN IT BEFORE AND KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG.*AK THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND WE ARE NOW SCHEDULED TO GO IN FOR REPAIRS.

AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, AND DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH A COMMON PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. ON MORE THAN ONE OCASSION, THE MOTORS STOPPED WORKING, WORK INCORRECTLY, OR WORK ONE MINUTE AND FAIL TO FUNCTION THE NEXT. THIS LEADS TO THE LACK OF VISIBILITY TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE SOME SAFETY CONCERNS.*AK

I HAVE A EDDIE BAUER 199 FORD EXPLORER, AND THE AUTOMATIC FUEL PUMP SWITCH WILL JUST SWITCH OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER BEING PARKED. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURED AS OF YET, BUT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND I STARTED FEELING THE WHOLE TRUCK BOUNCE, I WENT TO THE TIRE SHOP TO FIND OUT. THE TIRE WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TREAD OR SPLITING DOWN THE MIDDLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND NOW A NEW ONE THAT WAS BOUGHT TO REPLACE ONE OF THE OLD ONES IS ALSO BEGINNING TO SEPARATE.*AK

ON 8/3/2003, ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING. ON 8/4/2003, CONSUMER SCREWED THE PEDAL DOWN TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. *AK

1999 FORD EXPLORER - GAS PEDAL SEPARATES FROM THE FIREWALL. WHEN DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE GAS PEDAL KEPT GETTING LOWER TO THE GROUND. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND THAT THE RIVETS WHICH HOLD THE GAS PEDAL INTO THE FIREWALL HAD BECOME SEPERATED AND MY GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS LYING ON THE FLOOR. *AK

SERVICE BULLETIN 00M12 FROM FORD CALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. TENSIONER WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. RETURNED TO FORD AND WAS CONFIRMED TO BE COMING FROM TENSIONER. WAS DIRECTED BY DEALER THAT THER WAS NO OTHER FIX FOR PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT CAUSE DAMAGE. WAS TOLD THAT IF PART FAILED FORD WOULD WARRANTY FOR 5 YRS OR 75,000 MILES. PART FAILED CAUSING TIMING CHAIN TO SLIP AND BREAK, CAUSING #6 CYLINDER PISTON TO STRIKE VALVE AND PUT HOLE IN PISTON. FORD NOW STATES THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSABLE AND WILL PROVIDE NO RELIEF FOR REPAIR. FORD DEALER ADVISES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BUT FORD MAKES FINAL DECISION. FORD'S FINAL POSITION IS THAT AGE/MILEAGE OF VEHICLE PROBLEM IS NOW MY PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS 1999 EXPLORER WITH 60,000 MILES WHICH MEETS BOTH OF THEIR CRYTERIA IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN. NOW FORD WANTS ME TO PAY $4500 FOR NEW MOTOR.*AK

I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD EXPLORER VIN #[XXX] FROM A WASHINGTON STATE FORD DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER 2002. THE VEHICLE HAD 54,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME, I HAVE PUT 7,000 MILES ON IT. THE REAR LIFTGATE BEGAN TO MAKE A CLUNKING/POPPING NOISE RECENTLY, AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. I TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER, PORT ANGELES FORD LINCOLN MERCURY, AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE SHEET METAL WHERE THE HINGES ARE MOUNTED IS TEARING AWAY FROM THE STRUCTURE AND THAT IT IS NOT A COVERED ITEM (I DID PURCHASE THE FORD WARRANTY PLAN), AND THAT I WILL NEED TO GO TO A BODY SHOP AND HAVE NEW STEEL PLATES WELDED IN PLACE AT MY EXPENSE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY, THE STEEL THAT WAS USED WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT USING THIS LIFTGATE, AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT FORD IS LIABLE FOR THIS. CAN YOU HELP ME TO CONFIRM THIS? I AM UNABLE TO USE THE LIFTGATE AT THIS TIME AS THE FORD DEALER SAYS THE LIFTGATE COULD FALL OFF, POSSIBLY INJURING SOMEONE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1999 FORD EXPLORER RECALL ON SEAT RECLINER CUSTOMER WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT OTHER CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEATING FOR THE 99 FORD EXPLORER AND IN AUGUST 2003 HE TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHO IN FACT PERFORMED THE REPAIRS AND NOW FOUR YEARS LATER THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED YET AGAIN BUT THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. * TR

BYPASS WIRING HARNESS FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. *AK

MY VEHICLES' OEM RADIO DISPLAY HAS SHORTED OUT AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS OF LIGHT USE. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE PARTICULAR RADIOS IN 1997-2001 MODELS OF THE EXPLORER. THE UNIT ALSO HEATS CD'S TO HIGH TEMPERATURES, MAKING ME THINK THAT IT EITHER WILL CATCH THE VEHICLE ON FIRE, OR MELT A CD. I HAVE TRIED CONTACTING MY DEALER FOR A SOLUTION, FORD FOR A SOLUTION, AND EVEN PIONEER ELECTRONICS, THE MANUFACTURER OF THE UNIT FOR A SOLUTION. NONE OF THESE ENTITIES WERE ABLE TO FIND AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THEY ALL STATED IT WAS THE OTHER'S ISSUE. I AM ACTUALLY CONSIDERING A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *LA

GAS PEDAL AND THE MOUNTING BRACKET FELL OFF. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOT DEFECT REPORT, THEREFORE, WE CAN'T FIX IT. *AK

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH/MOTOR FAILED FROM TIME TO TIME.*AK

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, UNIVERSITY FORD SERVICE REP SAID LIGHT ON MEANS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. SERVICE REP SAID IT WOULD COST $500 TO REPLACE WIRING HARNESS IT HAS A SHORT IN IT. I WAS TOLD EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THIS PROBLEMS.*AK

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 03504 CONCERNING SEAT RECLINER BOLT: THIS VEHICLE IS A PART OF A RECALL, BUT THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE RECLINER MECHANISM IS DAMAGED AND WANTS THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR REPAIRING THE MECHANISM. CONSUMER FEELS THAT BECAUSE THE BOLT BREAKING IS THE REASON THAT THE MECHANISM IS DAMAGED IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

ON JULY 13, 2003, I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 EXPLORER AND THE BOLT HOLDING THE SEATBACK UP SNAPPED AND THE SEAT FLOPPED BACK. I HAD MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. I SPOKE WITH FORD WHO TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO LOOK AT THE SEAT.*AK ALSO, THE CAR HAS A HISTORY OF STALLING WHILE MOVING. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TMES AND LUCKILY HAS NOT LED TO AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO FORD SEVERAL TIMES TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE UNTIL THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON. THEY APPARENTLY CAN NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE CAR'S COMPUTER SENSES A PROBLEM.

ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO, AFTER PARKING MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER (VIN [XXX], PURCHASED FROM HALL FORD, NEWPORT NEWS, VA ON DECEMBER 16, 1998), I ACCIDENTALLY DROPPED THE KEYS BETWEEN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND CENTER CONSOLE. THERE IS ADEQUATE ROOM TO SLIP ONES HAND BETWEEN THE TWO, SO I DID SO IN ORDER TO RETRIEVE THE KEYS. AS I WAS PULLING MY HAND BACK UP, I FOUND THAT THE HORIZONTAL PIECE OF PLASTIC ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CONSOLE WAS RAZOR-SHARP, AND HAD CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INJURY TO MY RIGHT HAND (PHOTO AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL DISFIGUREMENT, I WAS IN PAIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS, AND HAD TO USE ANTIBIOTICS TO BEAT BACK A RESULTING SECONDARY INFECTION FROM THE WOUND.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

COMPLAINED OF LOUS RATTLING NOISE IN ENGINE ON 7/07/03, AND AGAIN ON 09/29/04 AT A DIFFERENT FORD DEALER. THERE ARE MAJOR MECHINICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN CONCERN TO THE ENGINE CAM GUIDES, REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND LOWER BASLL JOINTS WORN, WHY WASN'T MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT RECALLED FOR THESE PROBLEMS OR GIVEN THE SAME TSB AS THE 1999 FORD EXPLORER?

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING LEFT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HAS A SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK

DRIVER SEAT RECLINE MECHANISM FAILURE, FRAME OF SEAT CRACKED, SEAT STUCK IN RECLINE. *AK

1999 FORD EXPLORER-INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OF VEHICLE STALLING OUT AND CUTTING OFF AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AFTER TAKING FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. MOST SERIOUS WAS WHEN EXITING AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED AND LOSING POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, AND THUS NEARLY LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. PROBLEM WAS ULTIMATELY DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY IDLE CONTROL VALVE. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT WHEN IT FIRST STARTED (NOVEMBER OF 2002), THE FORD DEALER COULDN'T DIAGNOSE IT UNTIL THE VALVE FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY (JULY OF 2003).*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS VEHICLE HAD ALREADY TWO FRONT COLLISIONS AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED, AND COULD NO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED, I HAVE A STICK SO I KEPT IT IN SECOND THEN IT STARTED AND I KEPT GOING THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW. MY OTHER PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL FLICK BACK AND FORTH ONCE OR TWICE AND STOP AND THEY ARE OFF THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT TEN TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK ,THE NEXT THING IS DURING HOT WEATHER WHEN YOU START THE TRUCK THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON FOR THREE OR FOUR MINUTES AFTER YOU START TO DRIVE EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS ARE CLOSED THAT IS NOT SO BAD BUT THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON TO . *JB

AS I WAS DRIVING 45 MPH THE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND TAKING THE CAR OUT OF CONTROL THESE TIRES HAS A RECALL BY FORD AND THESE WERE CHANGED BY FIRESTONE IN SEPT 2000..MY WIPES NECK HAS BEEN INJURED..THE TREAD IS GREAT BUT THE BET INSIDE LET LOOSE. *NLM