1999 Ford Explorer complaints

GAS CAP DOES NOT SEAL,CAUSING A VAPOR LEAK IN FUEL TANK

DOOR HANDLE INSIDE REPLACED, LATCH WOULD NOT UNLOCK. *MJS

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE WHILE IN A OFF MODE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE PARTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OUNDER WET OR SLUSHY CONDITIONS FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO RIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FRONT RIGHT ROTOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY BY THEMSELVES WITH SWITCH IN OFF POSITION, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO DRIVER. *AK

CAR ACCELERATOR LOCKED AND ACCELERATED FROM 62 MPH TO ABOUT 73 MPH. BRAKE UNABLE TO SLOW CAR FOR AN EXTENDED DISTANCE (ABOUT A MILE). HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO GET CAR TO FULL STOP. VERY SIMILAR TO RECALLS DESCRIBED IN REGIONAL RECALL FORD 95S29, NO. 96S59, NO. 97S65, NO. 97S67 NO. 97S96. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS START AUTONOMOUSLY, RUN FOR A FEW CYCLES AND STOP. *AK

WHILE CLIMBING ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS CONSUMER ENCOUNTERED IC EON THE ROAD. CONSUME RENGAGED THE SWITCH TO 4-WHEEL DRIVE, AND NOTICED A ROARING NOIS EIN FRONT END FOLLOWED BY OCCASIONAL JERKS. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM, AND INSTRUCTED CONSUMER TO READ THE MANUAL. CONSUMER INFORMED MANUFACTURER THAT THIS CONSTITUTED A SERIOUS HAZARD PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP ,DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AIRBAG. SINCE THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG, DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE AIRBAGS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE COLLISION WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT THAT DESTROYED BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAG SENSORS,. BOTH AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLIUMINATED ON THE DASH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS DUE TOTHE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL BECAME HARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THIS TRUCK HAS OVERDRIVE PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REV AND THEN DRIVE MOST TIMES IT WILL CUT THE OVERDRIVE OFF, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME. REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND STARTS BLINKING THEN GOES OFF FOR A WHILE THEN BACK ON. THE POWER STEERING MAKES NOISE ON A HARD RIGHT OR LEFT TURN.

THE TRANSMISSION FAILS ON HILL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE IN DRIVE OR ROLL FORWARD WHILE IN REVERSE. NLM

RUNNING LIGHTS ARE BEING USED IN THE EVENING AND ARE TOO BRIGHT FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORD EXPLORER IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. PONTIAC CARS ARE JUST AS BAD. THIS IS NOT ONLY A NUSANCE, IT IS A POTENTIAL HAZZARD BECAUSE IT BLINDS ONCOMING DRIVERS. HOW CAN LA

WHEN DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE ON THEIR OWN, WITHOUT THE SWITCH BEING TURNED ON. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN EITHER ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WILL MAKE A POPPING SOUND AND MOVE (SHORT DISTANCES). THE MANUFACTURER HAS CLAIMED IT HAPPENS ON ALL 1999 EXPLORER MODELS (EDDIE BAUER VERSION) WITH ELETRONIC SEATS. I AM WORRIED THAT THE SEAT COULD BE DESIGNED INCORRECTLY AND POSSIBLY MOVE FORWARD DURING AN ACCIDENT SINCE IT WILL MOVE DURING NORMAL ACELERATIONS AND DECELERATIONS.

WIPERS WILL COME ON WITH SWITCH IN OFF POSTION. WASHERS WILL NOT WORK WHEN WIPERS ARE ON BUT WILL SLOW WIPER SPEED. WIPER SPEED WILL NOT CHANGE FROM SLOW TO FAST WITHOUT JIGGLING THE SWITCH. WIPERS WILL CHANGE SPEED WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL. I AM CONCERNED THEY WILL FAIL COMPLETELY AND AM AWARE OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I FINALLY GOT MINE FIXED SO THAT THEY DON'T TURN ON SPARADICALLY. *AK

USED THE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER (FOR THE 1ST TIME) AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED! IT DID THIS ALL BY ITSELF, NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP & FORD CUST.SRVC. SAY "SINCE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE IT IS NOT WARRENTIED"!?! SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE, NOTHING "HIT" THE WINDOW!! I HAVE HAD SEVERAL MINOR ELECTRICAL ODDITIES (IE: WINDSHIELD WIPERS & CIG.LIGTER MALFUNCTIONING), WONDERING NOW IF THERE IS A CONNECTION W/REAR-DEFOGGER?? I DID TAKE PICTURES BEFORE REMOVING THE GLASS (IT WAS SLOWLY CRUMBLING, ONE BUMP AND IT WOULD HAVE FALLEN INTO BITS), BUT FORD DOESN'T WANT TO SEE "ANYTHING" THEY TOLD ME TO TURN IT OVER TO MY INSURANCE, BUT IT'S NOT AN INSURANCE PROBLEM, IT'S A CAR PROBLEM! AGAIN, NOTHING HIT THE WINDOW. FORD HAS SIMPLY BRUSHED ME OFF. ANY ASSISTANCE OR INFORMATION YOUR OFFICE MIGHT HAVE WOULD BE "GREATLY APPRECIATED".

AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS FAILED (SHOWN BY SENSOR LIGHT BEING ON) FOUR TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM TO PREVENT IT FROM RECURRING.

DEFOGGER ISN'T WORKING WHICH MAKES ALL WINDOWS FOG UP. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD GO ON OR OFF ON BY THEMSELVES. WOULD SOMETIMES STOP IN MIDDLE OF OPERATION. VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START IF STEERING WHEEL IS NOT IN CORRECT POSITION. THE SIGNAL LEVER WILL NOT OPERATE PROPERLY IF THE WHEELS ARE SLIGHTLY TURNED. *AK

(1) VIBRATION ON APPLYING BRAKES - CAR SHUDDERS AND THERE IS A NOISE THAT SOUND LIKE METAL HITTING METAL. HAVE BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER TWICE. SITUATION IMPROVED, BUT NOT ELIMINATED(B) VIBRATION AT 60MPH- VIBRATION STARTS AT ABOUT 55MPH AND IS MOST PRONOUNCED AT 60. CAN FEEL VIBRATION IN THROTTLE AND STEERING WHEEL. VIBRATION GREATER WHEN ENGINE UNDER LOAD LIKE WHEN GOING UP A GRADE. HAVE MADE APPT. TO HAVE DEALER CHECK THIS( C) WHISTLING NOISE- PEOPLE STANDING IN STREET TOLD ME THAT A WHISTLING SOUND EMANATED FROM CAR. MADE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE DEALER CHECK THIS. THUS FAR DEALER HAS BEEN VERY DILIGENT IN TRYING TO ADDRESS AND ELIMINATE PROBLEMS. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILS TO LATCH PROPERLY. THE LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE. THE LATCH PLATE WILL NOT STAY IN BUCKLE. WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE AT TIME OF FAILURE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK

HAD HEARD A HIGH PITCH SQUEALING NOISE. BRAKES BECAME MUSHY. HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE, BRAKES STILL MUSHY. FINALLY NO BRAKES AT ALL. A BOLT FELL OUT OF BRAKE PADS. ENTIRE BRAKES SYSTEM BECAME DAMAGED. *AK

CAR HAS BEEN IN REPAIR FACILITY 4 TIMES SINCE 10/14/99 FOR FAILURES. THE FAILURES OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS DISABLED AND SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR SOMEONE IN COLD WEATHER CLIMATES (ESPECIUALLY REMOTE AK) AND IF EMERGENCY ROAD ACTION IS NEEDED (NO ANTI-LOCKS OR POWER STEERING IF ENGINE IS OFF). SITUATION IS BEING FORWARDED FOR AK LEMON LAW PERSUANT TO AK STATUTE 45.45.300. CURRENTLY, FORD ENGINEERS AND LOCAL REPAIR EXPERTS CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION, FEEL FREE. *AK

NO SUMMARY

SUSPENSION MAKES THE TRUCK BOUNCE LIKE A PING PONG BALL WHILE DRIIVNG AT ANY SPEED. FORD HAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE TRUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE WOULD GO INTO RAPID ACCELERATION AND THE RPMS WOULD GO WAY UP. THE TRUCK WOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD EVEN WHEN APLLYING THE BRAKES. THE TRUCK WOULD ONLY STOP WHEN THE DRIVER PUTS THE TRUCK IN PARK AND COMPLETELY TURN TRUCK OFF. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK WAS A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE. *AK

THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS SHUT DOWN DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THIS FAILURE MAY BE THE CAUSE OF OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. THE AIRBAG CONNECTORS WERE CRACKED UNDER PASSENGER SEAT CAUSING FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 4-5 TIMES. *YC

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT MANUAL OPRERATION OR WHEN THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE OPERATED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLES TRANSMISSION DOES NOT HOLD ON GRADES, VEHICLE IN DRIVE JUST TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE PEDAL. HAS HAPPENED ON SMALL AS WELL AS LARGE GRADES MECHANIC TOLD HUSBAND IT WAS OK, THAT THE VEIGHT OF VEHICLE WAS CAUSING CONCERN DIAGNOSIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION I DO NOT THINK THIS IS TRUE HAVE OWNED FORDS IN PAST NONE HAD THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I TRADED A 97 FORD THUNDERBIRD FOR THIS VEHICLEIT DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM , I OWNEDTHE T-BIRD FOR 2 YEARS AND IT HAD 44,000 MILES WHEN I TRADED IT FOR THIS EXPLORER.

VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE (A PASSENGER CAR) IN THE LEFT REAR QUARTER (AT THE REAR TIRE). VEHICLE WAS BEING ACCELERATED AT THE TIME TO ATTEMPT TO AVOID PENDING COLLSION. UPON IMPACT ACCELERATOR STUCK; SUV ACCELERATED ACROSS TWO LANES OIF TRAFFIC & PLOWED INTO A DIRT EMBANKMENT. COLLISION WITH EMBANKMENT WAS HEAD ON. THIS SECONDARY COLLISION IS CAUSE OF DAMAGE TO SUV LEADING TO IT BEING TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. SUV DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKES DURING SHORT ACCELERATION PERIOD BETWEEN INTIAL IMPACT (FROM OTHER VEHICLE) AND FINAL IMPACT WITH THE EMBANKMENT.

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-65MPH, WOULD HEAR NOISES FROM THE REAR AXLE, LIKE A HUMMING SOUND. THE NOISE IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATION HAD DECREASED. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, WHO WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. MECHANIC CANNOT LOCATE CAUSE OF NOISE. *AK

RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE# 99S-18 FOR HOOD LATCH SECONDARY; CALLED FOR A APPOINTMENT / REPORTED FOR APPOINTMENT, WAITED TWO HOURS, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND THEY WOULD CONTACT THEM WHEN PARTS WERE MADE AVAILABLE; NO WORDS WERE RECEIVED AT THIS TIME. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WITHOUT TURNING THE SWITCH ON AND WHEN YOU NEED THEM WORKING THEY WORK ONLY IN LOW SPEED. THEY COME ON WHILE DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS, OR JUST COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER SEEN CAR IN JUN-1999, 4 MONTS LATER PROBLEM STIL EXIST.DEALER CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM.

THE REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND AM CURRENTLY ON MY THIRD REAR VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THIS IS THE UPGRADED AUTO-DIMMING MIRROR. THE VIBRATION GETS SO BAD THAT I CAN'T SEE ANY DETAILS OUT OF IT, AND PROLONGED DRIVING RESULTS IN HEADACHES. THE PROBLEM EXISTS AT SPEEDS ABOVE 25 MPH.

THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL SUDDENLY TURN ON WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED BY THE USER. THEY WILL MAKE ONE PASS ACROSS THE GLASS. I KNOW THAT THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY.

SINCE MARCH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE REPEATEDLY GONE ON WHENEVER THEY FELT LIKE IT. THE SAFETY ISSUE COMES INTO PLAY WHEN YOU HAVE THEM ON REGULAR SPEED AND WANT TO HAVE THEM GO FASTER AND THEY DO NOT SOMETIMES WORK FASTER OR THEY ARE GOING FASTER AND SLOW DOWN TO REGULAR SPEED. THEY HAVE AT TIMES NOT GONE ON AT ALL. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAY WERE WAITING FOR A REPLACEMENT GEM MODULE. I ALSO CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AND THEY SAID THEY WERE WAITING FOR A FIX. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY LONG WAIT FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED REPLACEMENT IN FIRST WEEK OF OPERATION. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS SPRAYED ONTO AND INTO SEVERAL OTHER COMPONENNTS. HAZARDOUS CONDITION. ENVIRONMENT CONTAMINATED.

ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED, CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE. ALSO, FRONT AXLE SEALS BLEW OUT, AND TRANSMISSION LEAKED. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 300 MILES. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE ON THE TRUCK. *AK

THE VALVE TRAIN IN THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP WHEN CHANGING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND MANUFCTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ENGINE NOISE NOTICED ON SECOND DAY OF OWNERSHIP. NOISE HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR LOW SPEED. ALSO, A METAL FLAPPING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. MY EXPLORER HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THEY HA IT OVERNIGHT AND SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T HEAR THE NOISE. THE SECOND TIME FORD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN AND WE WERE CALLED BY THE DEALER TO BRING IT IN AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY SAID THEY HEARD THE NOISE AND WERE GOING TO COME UP WITH A FIX OR REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME WITHIN 90 DAYS AS TO WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. I HAD TO CALL THE DEALER IN 90 DAYS AND THEY SAID FORD WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WILL NOT AFFECT THE LONGEVITY OR PERFORMANCE OF THE ENGINE. IS THERE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS. PLEASE ADVISE

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONTINUALLY FAIL DURING USE IN THE RAIN, POOR VISIBILITY. MJS

WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE CABLE GOT STUCK, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE BRAKES SLOWED DOWN THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL REVS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

REPORTING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SUN ROOF LEAKING INSIDE VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEMS STILL UNRESOLVED. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMAYION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEAE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON WHILE IN OFF MODE. ALSO, WIPERS WOULD WORK ONLY IN A SLOW SPEED OR INTERMITTENTLY WORK. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON WHEN IN ON/OFF POSITION, AND WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS. THEY DON'T ACTIVATE WHEN TURNED ON, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK