1999 Ford Explorer complaints

LIFTGATE LOOSE, IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH. *AK

TRANSMISSION IS NOT ACTING LIKE IT IS SUPPOSE TO. EVERY TIMEE CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES PASSENGER SIDE WILL MAKE A REAL HARD NOISE. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FIXED FIVE TIMES, AND IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT BRAKE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. TS

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS W/ THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. FIRST, MY WIPERS WOULD RANDOMLY TURN ON. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM. NEXT, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON WHEN IT WAS REALLY COLD. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. NEXT, THE WIPERS COULD NOT REACH FULL SPEED. AT 35,000 MILES, WE FORCED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE MFS UNDER WARRANTY. FINALLY, AT 59,000 MILES, WHITE SMOKE STARTED SPEWING FROM THE MFS. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP, I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THE MFS REPLACED. WHEN I COMPLAINED, THE DEALERSHIP REFERRED ME TO THE FORD COMPLAINT LINE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS UNACCEPTABLE

I WAS TOLD BY ALDERMAN FORD THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON MY FORD EXPLORER WERE IN A FAILURE CONDITION AT 53000 MILES--"UNSAFE TO DRIVE". THIS CAR HAS HAD NORMAL DRIVING USE. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD'S CHOICE OF "SEALED BALL JOINTS" WAS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE-PRONE BALL JOINTS, AND THAT THIS IS "NORMAL". ARE ALL EXPLORERE USERS IN THIS ENDANGERED POSITION? IF SO, IS A RECALL NECESSARY? IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN CHECK HOW MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE BAD JOINTS? MY 91 EXPLORER WENT 135000 MILES WITHOUT BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. BALL JOINT FAILURE AT SPEED IS DANGEROUS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

SPARK PLUG WIRES FAILING. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 35000 MILES. RESULTED IN SEVERE VEHICLE BUCKING, MISFIRING, STALLING, LOSS OF ACCELERATION, AND UNPREDICTABLE ENGINE PERFORMANCE. 3 OCCURRENCES TO THREE DIFFERENT PLUG WIRES WITHIN 300 MILES

NAR 2/10/2003. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE DEALER SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR SEAT BELT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT USED THAT FREQUENTLY. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN TOLD THE SEAT BELT COULD NOT BE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL.*JB

1999 FORD EXPLORER - AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS ON; WILL NOT DEPLOY AIRBAGS. FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS IT NEEDS A "CLOCK SPRING" A COIL OF WIRE LIKE A STATOR WHICH BURNED AND CAUSED A SHORT IN THE AIRBAG WIRING. ACCORDING TO FORD, THIS WILL ALSO CAUSE THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL TO MALFUNCTION. FORD WANTS $300 TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEVICE IN WHICH THERE ARE NO WEARABLE PARTS. IT IS A MIS-ENGINEERED COMPONENT THAT SHOULD REQUIRE A RECALL TO FIX. THIS COULD VERY WELL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO SOMEONE BY NOT DEPLOYING THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE 30/40 COMPLAINTS JUST IN THIS WEB SITE ALONE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO ESCALATE THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FORD PRODUCE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE? FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS....

CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#99V06200 CRUISE CONTROL. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED. TS

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WENT OUT CAUSING LOW VISABILITY. PH

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE RAIN THE WINDSIELD WIPER MOTOR WENT OUT CAUSING LOW VISABILITY. PH

CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER REAR SHOULDER BELT TORE IN HALF WHILE CHILD WAS RESTRAINED IN SEATING POSITION.TS VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST FINANCIALLY.*TT *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT THE THROTTLE WILL STICK CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

CONSUMER WAS MAKING A 3PT TURN. WHEN TRUCK WAS PLACED IN DRIVE GEAR THEN ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO HOUSE. PH

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED ON JULY 15, 2002, HOWEVER WHILE ON HER WAY HOME THERE WAS STILL A RUBBING/GRINDING NOISE, CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON JULY 23, 2002 BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING NOISE, BUT THE TECHNICIAN STATED HE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, CONSUMER RETURNED AGAIN BECAUSE THE NOISE HAD BECOME WORSE, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED OR NOT AND WAS VERY APPARENT AT 30 MPH, CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP STATING THAT THEY HAD POSSIBILY RUINED THE BEARINGS WHEN THE ROTORS WERE BEING TURNED, CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE ROTORS WERE IMPROPERLY MACHINED AND IF THEY WERE TO RE-CUT THEM IT WOULD TAKE THEM OUT OF REGULATION THICKNESS, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ROTORS, BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT NEEDED UNTIL THEY WERE MACHINED IMPROPERLY.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BUTTON SNAP AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, CONTACTED DEALER , WAS INFORMED THAT AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK IN AN ACCIDENT,BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. MR CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A BOLT THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE SEAT WAS ABLE TO RECLINE ALL THE WAY BACK, ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PH 09-DEC-2002

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS PLACED ON, AND STAYED ON FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND STOPPED BLINKING, BUT THE ARROW(LEFT) WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER SUGGESTED IT WAS A FUSE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TS *SCC *NLM

TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO WORK. SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. POSSIBLE FIRE RISK? DT

HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS OVER APPROX 3 WEEK PERIOD. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER WHO INSPECTED CAR AND SAID PROBLEM IS PROBABLY A GASKET IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH FAILED. ALSO SAID THIS IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT HE COULD PROBABLY GET FORD TO PAY ABOUT 70% OF REPAIR COST, LEAVING ME TO PAY ABOUT $125. IF THIS IS A COMMONLY OCCURRING SAFETY PROBLEM, THEN FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND PAY FOR COMPLETE REPAIR COSTS. MY CAR WENT FROM HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS TO FINALLY HAVING THE MOTOR DIE AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN STOPPING, DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILING. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768032

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY ONLY BY OTHER VEHICLE LIGHTS. POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH AUTO LAMP SWITCH IN VEHICLE. AFTER VEHICLE SAT FOR A WHILE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND DASH SWITCH AND TURN ON LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK AT 65 MPH. MR

DEALER WAS TO REPLACE ALL FIRESTONE TIRES ON VEHICLE UNDER FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL. THEY REPLACED ONLY FOUR (4) TIRES, THEY DID NOT REPLACE SPARE TIRE, WHEN ASKED ABOUT THIS THEY SAID RECALL PROGRAM WAS OVER. IF THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THESE TIRES IT WOULD APPEAR THIS IS AN ACCIDENT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN! HAVE CHECKED OTHER VEHICLES IN PARKING LOTS AND HAVE FOUND GOODYEAR OR MICHELIN TIRES MOUNTED BUT SOME SPARE TIRES WERE STILL FIRESTONE! SHOULD FORD MOTOR COMPANY BE ASKED TO CHECK RECALL VEHICLES TO SEE IF TIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED OR IS IT REALLY TOO LATE? MR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE OWNER PURCHASING TRUCK ACCUMULATING SEVERAL MILES. HE HAD THE "ALL RSPR ASY AIR BAG" REPLACED. NINE MONTHS LATER,SAME SITUATION ACCURRED DEALING WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYING ON. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.AK

GAS PEDAL BRACKET BROKE AND DISMOUNTED FROM VEHICLE. BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER , COULD RESULT IN A COLLISION.*AK

THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE KEEPS FREEZING UP, KEEPS MAKING THE VEHICLE STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP, COST AROUND $77.00 TO REPLACE, SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MPH BOTTOM BOLT THAT HOLDS DRIVERS SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FOLD BACK. CONSUMER HAD BARELY SURVIVED THIS INCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO OVERDRIVE. IF CONSUMER TRIES TO GO OVER 35MPH VEHICLE WILL MAKE A LOUD/DISTURBING NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON, ENGAGING WITHOUT OWNER TOUCHING CONTROLS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER HAD LIFTED TAILGATE. WHILE CONSUMER WAS STANDING UNDERNEATH TAILGATE IT FELL DOWN, HITTING CONSUMER ON THE HEAD. BOTH HYDRAULIC HINGES WERE LEAKING OIL. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALER.*AK

ONGOING ENGINE STALLING PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING/ SLOWING DOWN, AND ACCELERATING FROM A STOP POSITION. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT ROTORS WERE PITTED (RUSTED FROM INSIDE OUT). AS ROTOR PITTING GOT WORSE, IT CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR. DAMAGED TO BRAKE PADS. *AK CONSUMER PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AS BEING DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE METAL BEING USED IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS CAUSED THE ROTORS TO RUST. *YH

WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED, AND THEN VEHICLE SHUT OFF. IT WAS HARD TO GET VEHICLE BACK STARTED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING GAS PEDAL FELL OFF. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING DURING DRIVING. DEALER AWARE, TBS ISSUED AUG 1999, APRIL 02 AND SEPT 1999.*AK

SEAT BELT LATCH ON REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT GO INTO BUCLKLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK

I WAS ON THE MOTERWAY {UK} TOWING A CARAVAN I WAS DOING 45/50 MPH TRUCK PAST ME BY AND MADE US SWAY I GAINED CONTROL AND THEN THE CAR&CARAVAN STARTED BOUNCING. CARAVAN PARTED FROM THE CAR AND THEN WE FLIPPED OVER ON TO THE PASSINGER SIDE AND THEN ROLLED ONTO THE ROOF ACROSS 3 LANES. *AK

TRUCK IS SUBJECT TO VIBRATION WHEN DRIVEN HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SEVERAL COMPONENTS THAT RELATE TO CONTROL AND STABILITY WERE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP WITH NO CHANGE INCONDITION. OWNER IS CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING CONTROL WITH NO WARNING.*JB

WHILE IN MOTION, THE COMPLETE ACCELERATOR UNIT DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE FIREWALL INNER BODY OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALER THEY COULD NOT REPAIR VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO ANOTHER REPAIR FACILITY, THEY INFORMED CONSUMER THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN NOR HAVE THEY EVER REPAIRED A JOB IN THIS MANNER. WHEN THE DETACHMENT TOOK PLACE IT LEFT CONSUMER WITHOUT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THIS MATTER. *JG

THROTTLE STICKS ON INITIAL START UP.SIMILAR TO RECALL#00V422000 ON EARLIER MODELS. THIS YEAR HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED YET. DEALER CLEANED OUT THROTTLE, STATED OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT STICKING OF GAS PEDAL ON INITIAL START UP.*AK

CD PLAYER FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING THE MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BROKE. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THE SEAT WAS FIXED. AFTER A FEW DAYS LATER IT BROKE AGAIN, THIS TIME NOT ONLY THE MECHANISM, BUT THE PLASTIC SIDE COVER AND THE SEAT COVER WERE DAMAGED. CONSUMER STATED THERE MAY BE A DESIGN DEFICIENCY OF THE MECHANISM OR A MANUFACTURER DEFICIENCY OF THE ENTIRE SEAT. *YH

THIS IS THE SECOND DESCRIBED COMPONENT THAT HAS FAILED. THE FIRST FAILED AROUND 12000 MILES. THE COMPONENT FAILURE RESULTS IN THE ENGINE FAILING TO IDLE. IN ORDER TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING AT SPEEDS BELOW 30MPH IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE OTHER ON THE BRAKE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. FAILING TO KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND MAINTAINING AT LEAST 500RPM WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE GEARING ARRANGEMENT OF MY EXPLORER CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL AT SPEEDS BELOW 30MPH WITHOUT USING BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP. WHICH MEANS THAT I MUST KEEP MY FOOT ON THE ACELERATOR AND BRAKE AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. MY INITAL FAILURE OF THE FIRST OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON AN OPEN STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR APPROACHING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO STILL CONTROL THE STEERING AFTER LOSS OF THE POWER-STEERING AS A RESULT OF THE STALLED ENGINE. I ASKED MY DEALER IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN DEFECT OF THIS COMPONENT OR WAS FORD GETTING PARTS FROM A BAD SUPPLIER. ESPECIALLY, SINCE MY VEHICLE NOW HAS THE THIRD SUCH UNIT INSTALLED. HE DIDN'T KNOW BUT THEY HAD REPLACED SEVERAL UNITS. I ASK THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL THE SAME QUESTIONS BUT THEY STATED THAT AS FAR WERE CONCERNED THE NUMBER OF FAILURES FOR THIS PARTICULAR COMPONENT HAD NOT REACHED A POINT TO BE A "CONCERN". WELL UNFORTUNATELY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF SAFETY, I THINK WHEN THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, DRIVER'S SEATBACK REST COLLAPSED COMPLETELY BACKWARD. DEALER NOTIFED AND NOTICE THAT BOLT WAS SHEARING OFF. *AK CONSUMER ADDS SEAT BOLTS SNAPPED IN HALF CAUSING SEAT BACK TO COLLAPSE AND DRIVERS HANDS WENT OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND FOOT HIT THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE OUT OF CONTROL. *TT

WHEN PUTTING ON TURN SIGNAL SIGNAL STARTED TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

THE REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE AT 46,000 MILES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE MOTOR FOR A NOMINAL CHARGE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE REASON FOR THIS CONSIDERATION WAS THE HIGH FREQUENCY OF FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT. THE DATE OF THIS REPLACEMENT WAS JULY 26, 2001. THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR FAILED TODAY, JUNE 30, 2002, AT 64,000 MILES. I WAS IN A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM AT THE TIME AND WAS UNABLE TO VIEW TRAFFIC TO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND REQUEST THAT THE PROBLEM BE INVESTIGATED AND THAT FORD INITITATE A RECALL TO REPAIR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET TO 60 MPH, NEITHER THE BRAKES NOR OFF BUTTON WOULD DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ACCELERATOR CABLE HAD DISCONNECTED AT THE THROTTLE. *YD

THROTTLE BODY/LINKAGE, ETC, FAILS AND CAUSES PEDAL TO STICK. WHILE DRIVING, TRUCK WILL SURGE FORWARD OR STALL WITH NO WARNING. PEDAL MAY ALSO NOT DISENGAGE, REDUCING SPEED WHEN RELEASED. *AK DEALER FOUND STICKING IAC VALVE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. DEALER FOUND LEAKING INTAKE SEALS AND REPLACED. *TT

AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK *TT

VEHICLE HAD 4 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO WHEN THE VEHICLE IS HOT, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT POSITIVELY FROM LOW TO INTERMEDIATE. *JG