1999 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGE WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED TO DO SO AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

1999 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION... WE HAD GONE OUT TO DINNER AND WHEN LEAVING THE PARKING SPACE IT SOUNDED AS IF WE RAN OVER A GLASS BOTTLE. MY HUSBAND LOOKED AROUND THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. I GOT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND IT FELT AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON (WAS NOT) AND WAS VERY HARD TO MOVE. WE RETURNED TO THE PARKING SPACE, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE GETTING READY TO CALL AAA FOR SERVICES. WE BOTH HEARD A "RELEASE" SOUND. HE TURNED ON THE VEHICLE, BACKED UP AND WE DROVE HOME VERY CAREFULLY. THE NEXT MORNING THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO THIS MYSTERY. THE BRAKES WERE FINE; HOWEVER, THEY FOUND THE FOLLOWING TO REPAIR: *SEALS TO BRAKES *REAR AXLE PINION SEAL *BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT END I WAS TOLD THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BALL JOINTS WERE COMPLETELY WORN DOWN AND THE TIRE WAS JUST WOBBLY HELD ON BY THE LUG BOLTS. WE RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN REVIEWING THE PAST RECALLS ON THIS TYPE VEHICLE. THIS COULD AND WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTREME HAZARD WITH PROBABLY EXTREME INJURY TO THE PERSONS INVOLVED. ALSO, IF YOU CAN PLEASE CHECK THE PAST HISTORY OF THE OWNERS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE KEPT THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED WITH ANY SUGGESTED RECALL ITEMS. THANK YOU, MARLENE MORGAN *LA *SC *JB

WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE(FORD EXPLORER 1999 SOHC V6) IS IN COLD WEATHER AND YOU START IT IT SEEMS TO MISFIRE OR ACT LIKE THERE IS AN AIR LEAK. I HAVE READ SEVERAL POST ON THE INTERNET AND PEOPLE SEEM TO SEE THIS PROBLEM ALOT ON CERTAIN YEAR FORD EXPLORERS. THE HAVE SAID THAT IT IS CAUSED BY AN AIR LEAK AROUND THE EXHAUST MANAFOLD THAT ONLY SHOWS UP WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD BECAUSE THE PART IS SHRUNK AND DOES NOT FIT BUT ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP THE PART EXPANDS AND ACTS AS IF THERE IS NO PROBLEMS. WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN WARM WEATHER YOU NEVER SEE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS FIXED ON MY CAR SINCE I PARK IN A GARAGE I RARELY SEE THIS.

THERE IS A SHORT IN THE AIR BAG WIRING SYSTEM CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ENGAGE WITHOUT PROVOCATION. FORD REPAIR PERSON AT HOLMES TUTTLE FORD IN TUCSON ARIZONA SAID PROBLEM WAS INHERENT TO THE 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHY HASN'T THE EXPLORER BEEN RECALLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WHY DO I HAVE TO BE ALERTED TO PROBLEM AFTER A REAREND COLLISION? *AK

WHILE AT A STOP SMOKE STARTED TO APPEAR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ,AND DROVE IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT A GEM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE'S POWER WINDOWS, 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND DOME LIGHT HAVE ALSO STOPPED WORKING. *NM

THE CONSUMER COULD NOT UNLOCK THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS, FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK *SC *JB

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

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE CONSUMER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND STAYED ON FOR TWO WEEKS. *SC *JB

THE WINDSHIELD IN MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER CAME LOOSE. ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT COME COMPLETELY OUT, IT WOULD NOT HAVE REMAINED INTACT IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. I HADS TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *AK

ON MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER, THE DRIVERS SEAT FRAME BROKE. SOMETIME PRIOR TO THE 2003 RECALL FOR THE BOLT FAILURE OF THE SEAT RECLINER ASSEMBLY, THE FRAME ALSO FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO RECLINE PARTIALLY EVEN THOU THE SETTING IS IN THE TOP POSITION. THE SEAT ALSO MOVES BACK AND FORTH WHEN HOLDING THE BACK REST, AND PUSHING ON IT. THE RECLINER RELEASE IS BENT, AND THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT IS NOW BROKEN ALSO BECAUSE THE SEAT IS SO BAD OUT OF POSITION. BUT THE RECALL BOLT WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER, HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE BROKEN SEAT FRAME.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET CAME DETACHED, CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR TO HANG FREELY AND FELL OFF, AND BECAME LODGED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL, ALMOST RESULTING IN A COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL BEFORE PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE CONSUMER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. *AK THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 85 MPH AND DID NOT RESPOND TO THE CONSUMERS ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAD TAKEN 1/4 MILES TO STOP EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE MADE A BAD ACCELERATION NOISE THEN SHUT OFF. THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THIS WAS THE REPLACEMENT TIRE FOR THE TIRE RECALL 01T016000. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION. GOODYEAR WRANGLER AP, AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE 265/70R16, DOT# UNAVAILABLE. GOODYEAR WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH, FLAT, SMOOTH ROAD, I FELT AND HEARD A "THUD" FROM LEFT FRONT AREA OF VEHICLE, FOLLOWED BY HIGH PITCHED SQUEEL, PULLED OFF ROAD AND DID A VISUAL CHECK & FOUND NOTHING OUT OF PLACE, OR ANY LOOSE OR MISSING PIECES.*AK PULLED BACK ONTO HIGHWAY, SLOWLY INCREASING SPEED, EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. AFTER 5 TO 6 MILES I HAD TO APPLY BREAKS HARD, VEHICLE PULLED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT AS I PULLED BACK TO RIGHT IT PULLED VERY HARD TO RIGHT W/ A GRINDING NOISE, HAD TO SLOW TO 30 MPH TO MAINTAIN CONTROL UNTIL REACHING A SERVICE FACILITY. UPON INSPECTION THE MECHANIC FOUND THE LEFT FRONT HUB BEARING HAD FAILED, HE EXPLAINED IT WOULD HAVE BECOME UNCONTROLABLE IF I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT. HUB BEARING WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW UNIT, OLD PART IS STILL AVAILABLE, I HAVE SEALED IN BOX REPLACEMENT CAME IN.

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE THIRD TIME. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM BROKE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS A YEAR AGO CONCERNING THE HIGH BACK DRIVER SEAT. *MR *LA

WELD THAT MOUNTS THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE FIREWALL FAILED. THIS ALLOWED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND BRACKET TO FALL TO THE CAR FLOOR WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WELDED THE BRACKET BACK TO THE FIREWALL AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO MYSELF.*AK

AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS ON 1999 FORD EXPLORER REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $550. TOLD BY DEALER IT WAS DEFECTIVE PER TSB 03-24-1.X4.5X. IT WAS REPLACED BEFORE WHEN UNDER WARRANTY FOR SAME DEFECT. TOLD BY DEALER NOT A SAFETY ISSUE SO FORD WOULD NOT COVER COSTS, BUT ALSO TOLD IF NOT REPLACED AIR BAG SYSTEM COULD FAIL.

RECALL 00V072000 CONCERNING ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE. ALSO, INTERIOR LIGHTS, AND THE 4X4 CONTROL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *AK

I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY U-HAUL THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER RENT A TRAILER TO ME TO BE TOWED BY MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER (4DR, XLT). I HAVE NOT BEEN ADVISED BY BY YOUR AGENCY OR FORD THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO USE AS A TOW VEHCILE. MY COMPLAINT IS AGAINST U-HAUL FOR ADOPTING THIS PRACTICE, AND AGAINST FORD FOR FAILING TO NOTIFY ME IF THIS VEHCILE IS NOT SAFE TO USE AS A TOW VEHCILE, WHCIH IS WHY I PURCHASED IT! I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN IGNORED BY THE NHTSA AND FORD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH STEERING WHEEL SWAYED AWAY FROM THE CONSUMER. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. CONSUMER WILL NOTIFY THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK WITH ADDED PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR THE PEDAL UNSTICKS AND THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THE PROBLEM CORRECTED BY THE DEALER. *TC

GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR IS MISALIGNED SINCE ABOUT SEPTEMBER, 2003. THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM INDICATING IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE ARE PROBABLY MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM BUT WHO HAVE NOT FILED A COMPLAINT. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IN EMERGENCIES THAT REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL OR REVERSE. IF YOU PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE POSITION INDICATED BY THE N=NEUTRAL INDICATOR, YOU ARE ACTUALLY PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE. THIS COULD CAUSE DEATH IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS WHERE PEDESTRIANS ARE NEARBY, OR DEATH TO OCCUPANTS WHEN AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION OF A MOVING VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL. THERE MAY ALREADY HAVE BEEN DEATHS RELATED TO THIS DEFECT. MOVING A TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL IS OFTEN A FIRST ATTEMPT TO DISENGAGE THE ENGINE AND POWER TO THE WHEELS.

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT COLLAPSED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE PASSENGER TO FALL BACKWARDS INTO THE REAR SEAT. THE CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *NM

ACCELERATOR PEDAL BRACKET CAME UN-WELDED CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR TO HANG FREELY CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLES SPEED ALMOST RESULTING IN A COLLISION.

SMOKE COMING OUT OF STEERIING COLUMN. *JB

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 RELEASE MECHANISM. THE RECLINER HANDLE FELL APART WHEN MY WIFE SIMPLY TOUCHED IT AND THE OTHER, ACCORDING TO THE SERVICEPERSON, IS ABOUT TO FALL APART. I WOULD HATE TO IMAGINE IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MATTER THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE. *AK UPDATED 07/27/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE (BELOW 32 DEGREES F)THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE REMOTE MECHANISM. ALSO, AFTER UNLOCKING THE DOORS THEY WILL NOT STAY LOCKED AFTER CLOSING. WHEN THE CONSUMER LEANS ON THE DOORS AFTER CLOSING THEM , THEY WILL OPEN. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE TIMES. *AK *NM

THE DOOR LOCKS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE(BOTH FRONT AND REAR) WILL FOR A PERIOD OF DAYS NOT UNLOCK WITH THE POWER LOCK OR THE KEY ON THE FRONT DOOR. THIS LEAVES THE PERSON SITTING ON THAT SIDE HAVING TO CRAWL TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO GET OUT. THEN AFTER A PERIOD OF DAYS SEEMS THAT IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE IS A SPRING IN EACH OF THE LATCHING MECHANISMS THAT WAS FOUND TO HAVE BROKEN.

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WENT OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK THE DRIVER STRAINED THE MUSCLES IN HER BACK AND SPRAINED HER LEFT THUMB. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS STILL IN THE OWNERS POSSESSION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE RIM. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNTIL IT WARMED UP. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED. BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES IF THE ARM REST IS TIPPED UPWARD TO GET INTO THE STORAGE AREA, HOT /COLD DRINKS WILL SPILL INTO THE REAR PASSENGER AREA. *AK *MR

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, CONSUMER FELT LOOSENESS AND A "BREAKING" SOUND WHICH LEFT HIS SEAT IN A RECLINED POSITION. *PH RECALLS 03S04 AND 03S03 WERE REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT WAS NOT REMEDIED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. RECALL# 1552880. *SC *JB

WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWING VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *PH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING A 5X 10 SINGLE AXLE TRAILER ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE *JB

SATURDAY, NOV , 3:00 PM. DRIVER (17), WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT XXXXXX & XXXXXXXXXX (XXXXXXXXX) AND SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF 1999 FORD EXPLORER WHICH JUMPED CURB AND SLAMMED INTO A TREE. NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED. APPARENT CAUSE: RIGHT REAR TIRE -- GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT -- SEEMED TO HAVE BLOWN TO PIECES. VEHICLE HAD TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES PRIOR TO INCIDENT ( FROM COLD START, SO NO SIGNIFICANT PRE-INCIDENT TRAVEL TIME). DRIVER HAD JUST STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND HAD TRAVELED LESS THAN 1/5 OF A MILE (EST) WHILE MAKING NORMAL LEFT TURN IN ROUTE HOME. POLICE AT SCENE ISSUED NO CITATION. DRIVER TAKEN TO E.R. AND RELEASED SUBSEQUENTLY. ONE WITNESS SAID TIRE WAS "ON FIRE." BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT WITH TREE. PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, TIRES APPEARED IN GOOD SHAPE, LEFT- REAR COMPANION TIRE IS SAME AGE, MODEL AND MILEAGE AS RIGHT-REAR. LEFT REAR IS AVAILABLE FOR INSURANCE ADJUSTER INSPECTION. VEHICLE IS AT COLLISION CLINIC INC., ON XXXXXX XXXX IN MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS (SMALL SUB-DIVISION ADJACENT TO XXXXX XXXX). ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY. TIRE WAS COMPLETELY WITHERED AFTER INCIDENT. NO PRECURSOR PROBLEMS WHATEVER WITH EITHER TIRES OR VEHICLE (OTHER THAN EARLIER RECALL WITH WHICH WE COMPLIED AND RECEIVED NEW TIRES). *LA , GEM

SIDE AIR BAGS ARE ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM REAR CENTER OF THE SEAT BACK. THIS PLACEMENT ALLOWS THE WIRES TO BE DAMAGED BY THE FEET OF THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT SETTING A TROUBLE CODE AND DISABLEING THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ! I AM A MECHANIC AND FOUND THIS ON AN EXPLORER I WAS WORKING ON TODAY.*AK

CONSUMER HAD ALREADY FIXED RECALL 03V280000. ORIGINAL INVOICE WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER IN MARCH 2003, BUT WAS STILL WAITING FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT. *AK

DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR THE NHTSA RECALL NHTSA 03V280000. DEALER STATED THIS RECALL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION.*AK

WHEN MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES, IT WENT INTO THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. AT THAT TIME, I COMPLAINED THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING NEAR THE RADIATOR. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES, IT WENT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION TROUBLES, AT WHICH TIME SEVERAL OF THE CLUTCHES IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR WAS RELEASED FROM THE DEALER ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, BUT WAS RETURNED APPROXIMATELY 12 HOURS LATER DUE TO HESITATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AND BECAUSE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS BLINKING OFF AND ON. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LATER THE CAR WENT BACK INTO THE SHOP, AGAIN FOR LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID NEAR THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK WHERE A TRANSMISSION FLUID LINE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE RADIATOR. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH EVERY COMPONENT INVOLVED WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS EXPLORER. *LA

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

2 1/2 DAYS OUR CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, SAID HEADS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG W/ THE #4 VALVE $350.00 FOR LABOR. $1600 TOTAL. A FEW MONTHS AGO WE HAD TO PUT A NEW RADIATOR ON THE EXPLORER $600.00, PURCHASED EXPLORER BRAND NEW ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES SUPPOSEDLY THE EXPLORER IS ONLY WORTH $6500.00 WE OWE $15000.00. THIS CAR IS USED ONLY TO GO TO AND FROM WORK, WE TOOK A 900 MILE TRIP TO SAN ANTONIO, TX (THAT IS ABOUT THE ONLY TRIP WE TOOK IN THIS EXPLORER, BESIDE VERY MINIMAL MILEAGE SMALL TRIPS. I THINK THIS EXPLORER IS A DEFECT. I AM ALSO UPSET THAT IS DOES NOT HAVE A "POWERTRAIN WARRANTY" TO COVER THESE DEFECTS THAT ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL AND SEEM TO BE RIDICULOUS THAT WERE HAVING TO FIX THEM WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY A 1999 AND HAS 60,000 MILES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. I ALSO THINK THAT THESE EXPLORERS HAVE LOST THEIR VALUE DUE TO THE FIRESTONE RECALL. THEY ARE NOT SAFE AND IT APPEARS TO BE A PIECE OF JUNK. *LA

THE RADIO DISPLAY HAS GONE OUT ON MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER MACH STEREO SYSTEM. (IT'S BEEN OUT FOR ABOUT A YEAR.) THE RADIO STILL PLAYS BUT THE DISPLAY IS UNREADABLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED AT THE INTERNET NEWSGROUP REC.AUTOS.MAKERS.FORD.EXPLORER. FORD CLAIMS THE FIX IS REPLACING THE RADIO AT A COST OF $600. THE RADIO WORKS FINE EXCEPT FOR THE DISPLAY THEREFORE AN ENTIRE RADIO REPLACEMENT AT $600 IS NEEDLESS AND WASTEFUL. AS A KNOWN DEFECT, SHOULDN'T THIS BE COVERED ABOVE AND BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD? *LA

FORD EXPLORER 1999 WITH 70,000 MILES HAS BURNING OF ANTI-FREEZE. WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALER NEED NEW LONG ENGINE BLOCK AND RADIATOR. THIS CAR HAS HAD ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND HAD COMPLETE TUNE UP, HOSES AND BELTS AND FLUIDS CHANGED AT RECOMMENDED INTERVALS INCLUDING 60,000 MILES. HAS NEVER OVERHEATED NOR BROKEN DOWN PRIOR TO THIS LEAK. WHEN ORIGINALLY BROUGHT TO DEALER, WAS TOLD PROBLEM WERE NEW HOSES WERE LEAKING. THIS "PROBLEM" WAS ADJUSTED BY MY MECHANIC AND IT STILL CONTINUED TO LEAK ANTIFREEZE. IN ADDITION, CAR WAS FINE UNTIL BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR RECALL WORK ON ON 10/1/03. ONCE TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE, THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE. *LA

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER XLS FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN SLIPPING INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND REPAIR. THE DEALER FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION AND SAID TO DRIVE IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE FLUSHING DID NOT WORK AND THREE DAYS LATER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT IS OVER THE MILEAGE LIMIT OF THE WARRANTY BY 4000 MILES. *LA

THE DOOR FAILED TO LOCK PROPERLY IF NOT MANUALLY PUSHED DOWN AND LOCKED. THE HATCHBACK DOOR WOULD POP OPEN IF NOT MANUALLY LOCKED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*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 70 MPH THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. DON'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND POLICE REPORT. *NLM