1999 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET FALLS RIGHT OFF OF FIREWALL WHICH THEN THE VEHICLE LOOSES ALL ACCELERATION CAPABILITIES. ONLY THREE SPOT WELDS HOLD THIS BRACKET ONTO THE FIREWALL. THE SPOT WELDS SEEM INSUFFICIENT TO HOLD THE BRACKET ONTO THE FIREWALL. SOME WELDER EXPERTS STATE ON AUTO FORUMS THAT THE SPOT WELDS ARE NON-CONFORMING REGARDING THE REQUIRED DIAMETER OF A GOOD WELD. *TR

I OWN A 1999 FORD EXPLORER, WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN APRIL OF 1999. IN EARLY MAY OF 1999, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT FROM THE SIDE WALL (TWO 8-10 INCH RIPS, NOT A PUNCTURE) WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH SOUTH ON I-5 NEAR SAN ONOFRE POWER STATION IN CA( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE WHICH HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED 3 SIGNIFICANT DEFECTS. IT HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE 3 OUT OF 10 DAYS. NO DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH DOES NOT GO ON THE HIGH MODE, WHICH MAY CAUSE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVNG AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM,, BUT HAS NO SOLUTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT REMAIN ON; VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASION AND CONDITION REOCCUR.

WHILE IN USE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTION WHICH MAY CAUSE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN USE, WIPERS MAY ACTIVATE UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WIPERS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY. WON'T WORK IN THE HIGH MODE WHICH AFFECTS VISIBILITY, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. FORD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO YET BUT IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO ACTIVATE UNEXPECTEDLY. ALSO, USING THE TURN SIGNAL WIPERS WILL ACTIVATED. DURING HEAVY RAINSTORM, THE WIPER "HIGH" MODE IS INOPERATIVE WHICH CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND IS INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NO REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. FORD INSTRUCTED THE DEALER NOT TO REPAIR THE WIPERS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK *YC

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WITH THE WIPER SWITCH IN AND OFF POSITION. WIPERS WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS, STOP AND RESUME AGAIN. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WIPERS CYCLE WHEN TURN SIGNAL ACTUATED. WIPERS CYCLE FOR NO REASON. WIPERS WORK ON HIGH SPEED ONLY INTERMITTENTLY IF AT ALL. WIPERS ALWAYS WORK ON LOW AND INTERMITTENT SPEEDS.

PART ON ORDER FOR 6 WEEKS

RE: JACKSONVILLE, FL FATALITIES. BOTH INVOLVING FORD EXPLORERS WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255SBR15 )

MY EXPLORER HAS HAD THE SAME RECURRENT PROBLEM FOR 16 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 8 TIMES. THEY HAS NUMEROUS FIXES AND NONE OF THEM HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS TO BE GIVEN GAS AT START UP. AFTER START UP IT IDLES ROUGHLY AND HESTITATES UPON ACCELERATION FOR THE FIRST MILE OR SO. IT DOES NOT EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM EVERY DAY. AT THIS POINT FORD HAS TOLD ME THEY DO NO KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY GAVE ME A COPY OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 13335 WHICH STATES NO FURTHER REPAIRS ARE TO BE DONE AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SENT TO QSF FOR REVIEW. MEANWHILE MY VEHICLE DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY AND I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. HAVE OTHERS COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM? WHAT CAN I DO IN ORDER TO GET MY VEHICLE RUNNING CORRECTLY? PLEASE GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION WHICH IS AVAILABLE. THANK YOU. *AK

5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN MOVING FROM STANDSTILL, SHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR. PROBLEM WAS FIXED 1ST TIME AND HAS REOCCURRED 4 MONTHS LATER. LOCAL DEALER FIXED BOTH TIMES, REPLACING SAME PART BOTH TIMES. 2ND TIME, FACTORY RECOMMENDED OVERHAUL OF TRANSMISSION, DONE BY DEALER. PROBLEM APPEARS TO SURFACE IN 4 MONTH INTERVALS. NOW HAVE APPROX. 800 MILES ON LATEST FIX.

IN THE FIRST 25 DAYS I OWNED AND OPERATED MY EXPLORER, I EXPERIENCED 4 INCIDENTS OF BRAKE MALFUNCTION. IN ALL FOUR OF THE INCIDENTS, I WAS TRAVELING AT SLOW OR MODERATE SPEEDS. IN THE TWO INSTANCES WHERE THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING FORWARD, I WAS TRAVELING AT 15-25 MPH AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO SLOW AND NOT COME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. I DID NOT LOSE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND (DID NOT SLOW) TO MY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IN THE TWO INSTANCES WHERE I ENCOUNTED BRAKE FAILURE IN REVERSE, I WAS TRAVELING AT 5 MPH AND EXPERIENCED NO LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE. IN THE 4/24 INCIDENT, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK. AS I BACKED INTO THE SPOT AND ATTEMPTED TO SLOW BEFORE STOPPING, I BRAKED, BUT THE EXPLORER DID NOT SLOW OR OBVIOUSLY STOP. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR HASTILLY IN "DRIVE" TO AVOID HITTING THE PARKED CAR BEHIND ME. AGAIN, I WAS ONLY TRYING TO PARK AT 5 MPH OR LESS, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE LIKE THEY DO NORMALLY.

WHILE PARKED IN THE CARPORT THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE 4TH ONE THEY HAVE SEEN DO THIS. DEALER REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE.

DEALER DISCONNECTED SPEED CONTROL, AND DRIVER CAN'T TELL HOW FAST HE IS TRAVELING. *AK.ET.

APRIL 20,1999 CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE WITHOUT SPEED CONTROL CABLE WHICH WAS NOT TOLD TO CONSUMER DURING THE PURCHASE. ON MAY 28,1999 DEALER INSTALLED AN OLD SPEED CONTROL CABLE INTO THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CONSUMER KNOWING WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT / INJURY. HOWEVER, THE OLD CABLE WAS STILL INSTALLED, BUT THE DEALER INSTALLED THE NEW CABLE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH RECALL NOTICE (99V062000). *YC

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AT 5 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR REPAIR. EACH TIME MECHANIC REPAIRED IT, 2 MONTHS LATER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. *AK

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

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE POWER DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY COME ON AND OFF. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

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

THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS BEGIN RUNNING WITHOUT THE CONTROLS BEING ACTIVATED. THIS WILL HAPPEN 2-3 TIMES IN A 30 MINUTE DRIVING PERIOD AND CAN BE ASSOCIATED WITH USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, BUT ALSO OCCURING AT RANDOM INTERVALS. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND IT IS WAITING FOR PARTS. THIS CAUSES QUITE A DISTRACTION.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS RANDOMLY COME ON AND ALSO RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHEN IN USE. NO HIGH SPEED. VERY DANGEROUS. GEM MODULE REPLACED- TO NO AVAIL. *AK

THE WIPERS GO ON AT WILL; STOP AT WILL; RAINING OR NOT RAINING. INTERMITTENT. HAVE NO FAST WIPER SPEED OR WINDSHIELD WASHER. DEALER ORDERED PART (STICK FOR WIPERS/TURN SIGNAL). IT JUST CAME IN. I'LL SEE IF THAT FIXES THE PROBLEM.

THE NEW HEADLIGHT WHICH THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED, THE LOW BEA LIGHT IS TOO BRIGHT AND BLINDS OTHER DRIVERS. THIS MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. THE HIGH BEAM IS WAY TOO BRIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

WE ARE ONE OF THE APPARENT 1.5 MILLION VECHICLE OWNERS EFFECTED BY THE RANDOM OPERATION OF OUR WINDSHIELD WIPERS (FRONT). THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR WHILE USING OR JUST AFTER USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL.

UPON PICKUP OF VEHICLE AFTER RECALL REPAIR (00V-072), (99V-062), (99V-123), (99V-164) CONSUMER NOTICE A DENT AND SCRATCHED PAINT ON THE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. YH

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING 65MPH ALL OF SUDDEN THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF. NO WARNING. NO NOTHING. INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT, AND ALSO THE REAR WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED DEALER THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NOT ABLE TO FIND WHATS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND ABOVE VEHICLE WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THIS WANDERING IS WORSE UNDER WINDY CONDITIONS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE' HANDLING IS TYPICAL OF SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP OR REDUCE SPEED, THE VEHICLE STARTS VIBRATING FROM THE FRONT TO STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED IT. *AK

FUMES COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ARE SO STRONG THAT CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE PEDAL, BRAKES DO NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY. THIS HAPPENS DURING NORMAL BRAKING, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. BRAKE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

THE AIR BAG MODULE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & HAD IT ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. INFORMED CONSUMER NO AIR BAGS IN VEHICLE. NO PARTS WERE ORDERED FOR MODULE LIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER & THE MODUILE WAS INSTALLED. *AK

CONSUMER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

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

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY. VERY ERRATIC. COME ON/OFF BY THEMSELVES. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY IN THE RAIN. HAD WIPERS REPAIRED BY DEALER ONCE. NOW INFORMED MANUFACTURER IS REDESIGNING WIPER PART & WILL NOT REPAIR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 TO 70MPH FRONT WHEELS SHAKE AND VIBRATE. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS OUT OF THE DRIVER'S HANDS. DLR HAS SEEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES, AND CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS & WINDOWS INOPERABLE, ON ONE INCIDENT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED ALMOST RESULTING IN COLLISION IN BAD WEATHER CONDITION. *YC

DURING DECELARATION AT AN INTERSECTION, THE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. UPON INSPECTION DRIVER FOUND GLASS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AREA. WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WAS NOT ENGAGED AT THE TIME. OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE @70 DEGREES. SOME BURN MARKS FOUND ON SURROUNDING FRAME AREA AFTER ARRIVAL AT DEALERSHIP. NO FLYING OBJECTS OBSERVED HITTING THE WINDSHIELD BY DRIVER FOLLOWING AFFECTED VEHICLE.

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT OF A REAR FIRESTONE TIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00T-005, THE TIRE POPPED AND CAME OFF THE RIM INSTANTLY, THIS TIRE HAD THE VD SERIAL NUMBER SO THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

PE00020 ; AIRBAG MODULE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. THROTTLE WAS STUCK, AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED/T HOOD LATCH BOLTS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND AND THE FIRESTONE #ATX P23575 R15 DOT VDUL TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE, AND THEY PUT ON A WAITING LIST. *AK

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTIC E 99V062001 IN THE MAIL. CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE IN. MECHANIC DISCONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL & WAS DRIVER CHARGED. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REREPAIR CRUISE CONTROL WITHOUT OWNER PAYING FOR IT. *AK

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES 2 TIMES THEN 9 TIMES FOR FIVE SEQUENCES AND THEN REMAINS ON. THIS USUALLY OCCURS ON FIRST START IN THE MORNING BUT MAY NOT OCCUR ON SUBEQUENT STARTS. DEALER SERVICE RESET COMPUTER AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK REPLACED THE AIRBAG MODULE. IT HELPED FOR ALMOST A DAY BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK . I DON'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAG WILL WORK IF NEEDED.

WHENEVER TRUCK IS DRIVEN THERE IS A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE EXPLORER WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME DEALER STATED THAT THE CONDITION WAS A NORMAL CONDTION. SECOND TIME THE EXHAUST BOLTS WERE REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME THE EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED. THE TRUCK IS STILL BEING SERVICED FOR THE CONDITION. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. *AK

FIRESTONE DEALERS ARE NOT DOING THEIR BEST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ON A LIST OF 300 TO BE FITTED FOR TIRES. WENT OUT THE NEXT DAY AND BOUGHT NEW ONES AT THE STORE ACROSS THE STREET WITH MONEY I HAD TO BORROW!!!!!( DOT NUMBER: VDHL TIRE SIZE: P235 70R15 )

BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT STAY ON WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. LIGHTS COME ON, BUT GO BACK OUT WHILE BRAKES ARE STILL BEING APPLIED. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND SAID THAT IT IS NORMAL. *AK BRAKE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES AND POWER BOOSTER HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH NO REMEDIES, BRAKE PEDAL MAKES A POPPING NOISE WHEN RELEASED. MESSAGE CENTER, MILES PER GALLON, IS INACCURATE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. REAR SUSPENSION SQUEAKS AND GROANS OVER BUMPS, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS TOO MUCH ROLL STIFFNESS BUILT INTO SUSPENSION, ALIGNMENT CHECKED AND TOE SET DUE TO VEHICLE WANDERING. WATER LEAKS INSIDE DOOR FRAMES. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS RELUCTANT TO DOWNSHIFT UNLESS THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED FLAT TO THE FLOOR. INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROW MOUNTED TOO LOW. CONSUMER STATES SQUEAKS AND RATTLES SHOW UP ALL THE TIME IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, RATTLES IN DASH, DRIVERS DOOR AREA, AND B PILLAR. CD CHANGER JAMMED TWICE. LIMITED EMBLEM REPLACED TWICE. SPEEDOMETER READS TOO FAST. *SLC

WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING WIPERS NOT TO WORK IN THE "HIGH MODE," AFFECTING VISIBILIT WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. ALSO UPON TURNING ON TURN SIGNAL, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY. COMMON PROBLEM. PARTS ON BACK ORDER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

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.