1999 Ford Explorer Sport complaints

VEHICLE FAILS TO START ON OCCASION. THE ENGINE WILL TURN OVER, BUT WILL NOT CATCH. AFTER WAITING FOR SEVERAL HOURS OR A DAY, THE VEHICLE WILL ONCE AGAIN START. SOMETIMES, AFTER LETTING THE ENGINE TURN OVER MANY, MANY TIME, THE ENGINE WILL CATCH. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON JULY 14, 2004 ONLY A FEW WEEKS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE EXPLORER.*AK

I HAVE A 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WITH A STEP BAR THAT HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OF THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE. AFTER THE WINTER OF 2000 THE BARS HAS BEEN RUSTING MORE AND MORE THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO AS A CONSUMER. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE IT UNDER MY WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER THAT WEAR AND TEAR. THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE ATTENDED TO AS A SAFETY ISSUE. STEPPING ON A RUSTY BAR THAT WILL GIVE ANY TIME SOON CAN NOT BE GOOD FOR ANYONE WITH LITTLE KIDS.*AK

THE CAM SHAFT SYNCHRONIZER LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE TEETH TO BREAK OFF OF IT, THEREFORE NOT LETTING THE OIL PUMP WORK TO PUMP THE OIL TO THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE BEARINGS TO BE SCORED. *AK

ROLL OVER ACCIDENT INVOLVING 1992 FORD EXPLORER. *MR THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ALONG WITH HER GRANDSON AND LOST CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE DRIVING UNEXPECTEDLY, HIT A TREE AND THE MEDIAN, FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, LANDED ON THE ROOF AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *SC *JB

WHEN USING TURNING SIGNALS STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO SMOKE. NO FIRE REPORTED. *AK

THE FACTORY PRESSURIZED CYLINDERS THAT HOLD THE HOOD OPEN HAVE FAILED. I HAVE NARROWLY AVERTED INJURY WHEN THE HOOD CAME FALLING DOWN. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A POSSIBLE DESIGN DEFECT. I PLAN TO REPLACE THEM, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THE MANUFACTURER'S REPLACEMENT COULD BE SIMILARLY UNSAFE.*AK

BOUGHT VEHICLE FROM AMERICAN FORD IN HACKENSACK NJ CAR ALWAYS HAD A HUMMING SOUND IN THE FRONT THOUGHT ONLY TO BE TIRES TOOK CAR BACK TO FIX THREE TIMES WHILE I STILL HAD ORGINAL WARRANTY AND NOT ONCE DID ANYONE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE HUMMING. ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY SAY THIS PART IS NOT COVERED AND WAITED UNTIL NOW TO SAY, OH BY THE WAY YOU HAVE A BAD HUB AND IT WILL COST YOU 500.00 TO GET IT FIXED. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS PART WAS DEFECTIVE BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY OUGHT TO BE RESPONSIBLE IN FIXING IT. I ORIGINALLY TOOK THE CAR BACK THE 4TH TIME BECAUSE WHEN I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AGAIN WHEN PRESSING DOWN THE ACCELERATOR. *MR

POOR PERFORMANCE/DURABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. INCLUDES 5 RECALLS (TO DATE) AND THE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE AFTER ONLY 72,000 MILES OF OPERATION. OTHER PARTS NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING AT THIS TIME ARE THE RADIO, CRUISE CONTROL, AND BRAKE LIGHTS.*AK

PURCHASED A 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT IN OCTOBER 2003. THE VEHICLE HAD 59303 MILES ON IT WHEN WE PURCHASED IT. A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL. WE FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND IT TURNS OUT THAT IT IS FAULTY ELECTRICAL AND OUR AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY. APPARENTLY OUR BUMPER TO BUMPER EXTENDED WARRANTY (MINUS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR) DOES NOT COVER SAFETY ITEMS. THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED IT FROM WON'T HELP US. NOW WE ARE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE. *NM

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

VEHICLE 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT (2DR) VIN [XXX] THIS INVOLVES A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER HANDLES ON THE SIDE OF THE SEATS. FORD HAS ISSUED A RECALL (03S04) TO REPLACE THE "DRIVER SEAT RECLINER BOLT." HOWEVER, MY COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE RECLINER HANDLES WHICH FELL APART ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF OUR VEHICLE. ON BELOW DATE, MY WIFE EXITED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND USED THE HANDLE TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD SO OUR DAUGHTER COULD EXIT THE REAR SEAT AREA. THE HANDLE FELL APART IN TWO PIECES AND THE BACK PART OF THE SEAT FLEW FORWARD TO THE DASH. THE BACK PART OF THE SEAT WILL NOT HOLD A POSITION AND FREELY MOVES BACK AND FORTH INTO THE REAR SEAT AND FORWARD TO THE DASH RENDERING THE SEAT UNSAFE AND USELESS. ON 2/6/04, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SOUTH BAY FORD, 13900 HAWTHORNE BLVD, HAWTHORNE, CA 90250 PH 310 644-0211 FOR THE RECALL WORK. I ALSO ADVISED THEM THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAD COME FREE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY RELEASE HANDLE. I WAS CALLED LATER AND ADVISED IT WOULD COST OVER 400 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE FAULTY RELEASE HANDLES ON BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SEATS. THE SERVICEMAN INFORMED ME THE DRIVERS SEAT RELEASE MECHANISM WAS ALSO ABOUT TO FAIL. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FORD DEFINITLY HAS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE INVOLVING THEIR SEATS IN THIS VEHICLE. FORD HAS ALREADY ADDRESSED ONE SAFETY ISSURE INVOLVING THE RECLINING SEATS WITH THE RECALL INVOLVING THE FAULTY BOLT. THE BOLT WAS REPLACED IN ORDER TO PREVENT EXACTLY WHAT IS OCCURRING WITH THEIR FAULTY RECLINER

SMOKE COMING OUT OF STEERIING COLUMN. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR SIDE COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH. UPON IMPACT, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES FROM BROKEN WINDOW GLASS.*AK

RECALL REPAIRS CANNOT BE PERFORMED UNLESS THE RECLINING SEAT HANDLE CAN BE FIXED. ALTHOUGH THE INITIAL RECALL PROBLEM CAUSED THE HANDLE TO BE BENT, THE DEALER WANTS THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR IT. CONSUMER FEELS HE IS BEING GIVEN THE RUN AROUND TO GET THE VEHICLE FIXED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

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.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, MAKING DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE. VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL RECALL REPAIRS DONE, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*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

PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, BRAKE LIGHTS, SEAT HANDLES, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKS.*MR REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. BOTH SEAT HANDLES BROKE OFF. INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON, BRAKE LIGHTS ARE REPLACED TWICE A WEEK. DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK PROPERLY.*TS

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

ALL FOUR ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUTTER WHEN BRAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED AT NO COST. CURRENTLY AT 40,000 MILES THE ROTORS AND THE CALIPERS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, CAUSING A GRINDING SOUND WHEN BRAKING.*AK VEHICLE AT THE DEALER.*AK

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

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

MY DRIVER'S SEAT MADE A LOUD "POP" AND PROCEEDED TO RECLINE. THE PLASTIC SHIELD LATER FELL OFF THE RECLINING MECHANISM, REVEALING THAT THE FRAME FOR THE SEAT HAD FAILED AT THE WELD AND BUCKLED. THE SEAT WILL NOT SIT UPRIGHT. *JB

WHEN I WAS DRIVING ALONG, MY SEAT RECLINED. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT RECLINE TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION FOR SAFE DRIVING. *NLM

THE VEHICLES TIRES SEPARATED. *NLM

I WAS IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT AND MY CAR ALMOST ROLLED OVER. I HIT THE HIGHWAY RAILING AND MY CAR WAS DAMAGED PRETTY BADLY IN THE FRONT AND SIDE. THE CAR WAS NOT IN DRIVABLE CONDITION HOWEVER, NO AIRBAG CAME OUT. THREE MONTHS LATER MY AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY TURNED ON. THE LIGHT REMAINS ON.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK DECLINED BACKWARDS. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER HAVING POOR VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON/OFF ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT FOR THE THROTTLE IN THEIR VEHICLE AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 00 V 422 000, BUT THEIR VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE RECALL IS FOR THE TWO PREVIOUS YEAR VEHICLES. ALTHOUGH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS THE SAME SIZE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY A DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THAT THE CONSUMER VEHICLE IS" HAVING THE SAME DEFECT". TS

AIRBAG LIGHT REMIANS ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIR HARNEST SYSTEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

EXHAUST SYSTEM IS RUSTING THROUGH. DT

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACED 3 TIMES. MR

SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY CABLE BROKE AT UNKNOWN TIME AND SPARE TIRE FELL FROM CAR. CABLE SNAPPED, NOT CUT OR RUSTED. MR

FUEL PUMP IS ALLOWING VEHICLE TO DIE, BACK FIRE, AND/OR STALL WHILE TAKING OFF. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THE LAST TIME THEY DECIDED THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP NEEDING AN UPDATE INSTEAD OF THE PROBLEM BEING DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AS THEY SAID THE FIRST TWO TIMES. TS

CONSUMER HAD THE BOLT TO THE CV BOOT BREAK ON THE WAY TO THE SERVICE STATION CAUSING THE STEERING KNUCKLE TO GIVE AWAY WHICH AIDED IN CONSUMER LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER TRADE VEHICLE IN FOR A NEWER MODEL. *JG

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND NOT GO OUT. CONSUMER HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM ONCE ALREADY, AND THEN AFTER DOING IT AGAIN, DEALER HAD THE SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM REPLACED.*AK AIR BAG LIGHT ON FOR THE THIRD TIME. LOCAL DEALER REPLACED SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM FOR 2ND TIME. *TT

THE METAL IS CRACKING AROUND THE HINGE LOCATED ON THE REAR HATCH DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB *TT

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER IS NOT MAKING CONTACT WITH WINDSHIELD. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYING ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW, HE THEN PURCHASED ANOTHER TIRE EXACTLY LIKE THE BLOW TIRE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT ONLY THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH THE VD SERIAL WERE UNSAFE, ONE MONTH LATER AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE NOT TO PURCHASE ANY OTHER FIRESTONE TIRES, WHICH INCLUDED THE TIRES THAT CONSUMER OWNED,CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT, BUT WAS DENIED BY FIRESTONE STATING THAT CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED ANOTHER BRAND OF TIRE, HOWEVER FORD HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WILL REPLACE ALL FIVE FIRESTONE TIRES.*JB

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS. *JB