1999 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT 8:30 A.M. ON FEBRUARY 7, 2012. APPROXIMATELY 2:30 P.M., THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES THE PARKING LOT, JUST SITTING THERE BURNING, WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND ADVISED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 212,000.

THE SINGLE OVERHEAD CAMSHAFT (SOHC) V6 ENGINE MAY HAVE AS MANY AS FOUR TIMING CHAINS WITH ASSOCIATED TENSIONERS AND GUIDES. I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A RATTLING SOUND FROM MY ENGINE FOR YEARS AND IT USE TO COME AND GO, BUT NOW IT HAS GOTTEN WORST. I HAD NOTIFIED FORD MOTORS CORP., ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BACK ON 6-30-10 AND DIDN'T GET ANY HELP ON THIS MATTER, THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME THAT MY VIN# WASN'T COVERED. I RECENTLY FOUND THREE DOCUMENTS ON THIS PROBLEM, WITH A NHTSA # ON EACH DOCUMENT. ITEM NUMBER #630022, #620173 AND ARTICLE # 02-7-6. I HAVE ALSO BEEN BY A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE SAME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE FORD DEALERSHIP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE FIXED, AND IS HOPING TO CAN HELP.

I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH FORD BECAUSE I HAVE 1 1999 FORD EXPLORER XLT AND THE TIMING GUIDE IS GOING OUT AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS...I KNOW PEOPLE THAT NEVER HAVE TO REPLACE THEIR TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND IM REPLACING MINE FOR THE THIRD TIME... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A FIRE IGNITED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT EXPLODED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A JUNK LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST UNLESS THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE RPM'S INCREASED TO OVER 3,000 RPM'S. THE RPM'S WOULD NOT DECREASE UNTIL HE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IAC VALVE, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, HOUSING, AND THROTTLE PLATE. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR AND RESET THE COMPUTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,554.

1999 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ABOUT 5 TO 6 WEEKS GETTING A NEW ENGINE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR, AND RECALL REPAIR DONE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE A MONTH AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. *KB

I HAVE 1999 FORD EXPLORER-I LOVE MY CAR BUT-LAST YEAR I REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN COVER. DUE TO THE FACT THAT TEFLON COVER SOMEHOW BROKE AND WE BEING EATEN BY THE ACTUAL TIMING CHAIN..MY WARRANTY EXPIED IN AUGUST OF 07. WELL AROUND THE 10TH OF SEPTEMBER, MY CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING! WHY DO THEY GET BROKEN SO FAST AND EASILY? AND WHY IS THERE ONLY A 1 YEAR WARRANTY..ARE THERE ANY RECALLS OR NOTICES TO THE PUBLIC, SHOULD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM? ALSO ARE THERE ANY WAYS TO GET HELP FIXING THIS? IT COST ME OVER $2000.00 LAST TIME AND I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO SPEND LIKE THAT EVERY YEAR!!!PLEASE HELP. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STALLED IMMEDIATELY. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING CONSTANTLY. THIS WAS THE FIFTH OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER ON FOUR OTHER OCCASIONS, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE IDLE BYPASS VALVE WAS STICKING. THE VALVE WAS REPLACED EACH TIME, BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.

I WAS AT MY OFFICE WORKING WHEN MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CAME TO ME SAYING "MOMMY IT'S AN EMERGENCY, YOUR TRUCK IS SMOKING!" (I HAD BEEN AT THE OFFICE WORKING FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AFTER PICKING MY CHILDREN UP FROM SCHOOL.) I OPENED THE BACK DOOR TO SEE WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND SAW MY TRUCK ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I RAN BACK INSIDE THE TO CALL 911. A MAN HAD COME INSIDE THE OFFICE TO TELL US A TRUCK WAS ON FIRE, HE WAS ALREADY ON THE PHONE WITH 911. I MOVED MY CHILDREN TO THE FRONT OF THE OFFICE, YELLED FOR EVERYONE PARKED BY MY TRUCK TO MOVE THEIR VEHICLES, AND WENT OUTSIDE IN A PANIC. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AMR ARRIVED, THE FIRE HAD SPREAD TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE INTERIOR, THE GRILL (FRONT OF THE TRUCK) WAS MELTED, THE ENTIRE HOOD AND FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUCK WERE BURNED, THE ENGINE WAS MELTED, AND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD EXPLODED AND PARTIALLY MELTED. *JB

NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. REPAIRMAN SAID IT IS A TENSIONER IN REAR OF ENGINE AND IS COMMON PROBLEM IN THE EXPLORER. HE THOUGHT IT WAS UNDER RECALL. THIS REQUIRES ENGINE TO BE PULLED TO FIX WITH ONLY 85000 MILE ON ENGINE. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE STALLED. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE DIED IT EASILY RESTARTED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THERE WAS A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN # 01M112 THAT CONCERNED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THE TIMING CHAIN. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM MY ENGINE I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO LOOK AT IT AND THEY NEW WHAT IT WAS RIGHT AWAY IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND THE OWNER OF THE SHOP TOLD ME THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 4.0L ENGINES WITH THAT SAD WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL ON THIS PART THEY MAKE REPLACEMENT KITS JUST FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THIS LEAD TO MORE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK REPLACING THE CHAIN IN ALL IT'S COASTING ME ABOUT 800 DOLLARS SHOULD THIS BE A RECALL BECAUSE IF THE CHAIN WOULD HAVE BROKE THE MOTOR WOULD HAVE BENT THE RODS IN THE ENGINE AND WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED? *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT CALLED ABOUT THE CURRENT NHTSA INVESTIGATION DP05005 CONCERNING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING/THE SPARK PLUG. A SPARK PLUG WIRE BURNED AND IT MESSED UP THE EGR SENSOR. THIS OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2005 WHILE GOING OUT OF TOWN ,AND THEY NOTICED THE SPARK PLUG WIRE BURNED OUT AND BURNED A HOSE TO THE VACUUM HOSE AS WELL AS OTHER WIRES. THE VACUUM HOSE AND THE SPARK PLUG WERE REPLACED . THIS STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE EGR SENSOR WAS BAD ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, AND THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED . ALSO, IT SHOWED A VACUUM LEAK AND ON THE UPPER INTAKE PLATINUM. THEY FOUND A BUNCH OF CRACKS IN IT. THE UPPER INTAKE PLATINUM HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE WILL NOT START WHEN ON AN UPHILL INCLINE

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOCKED UP ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE CAM SHAFT LOCKED UP BECAUSE OIL WAS NOT CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE MOTOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH.*AK

I BOUGHT A 1999 FORD EXPLORER IN 02 FOR 17,292.44 IN 05 WE HAD TO PUT A NEW MOTOR IN FOR 5,502.47 NOW HERE WE ARE IN 06 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT TO REPLACE WILL COST US ANOTHER 2,900.00 SO HERE WE HAVE A FORD THAT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD WITH 22,794.91 IN IT AND STILL NOT RUNNING I CAN NOT FIND THE RIGHT PERSON TO TALK TO CAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. *JB

THE CRANKSHAFT SHEARED OFF DIRECTLY BEHIND THE HARMONIC BALANCER, THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 70,000 MILES, WILL REQUIRE MAJOR ENGINE WORK TO FIX. IT BROKE UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION CONDITIONS.*AK

I HAVE A 1999 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH A V-6 SOHC 4 LITER ENGINE. THE CAR HAS NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATED SINCE PURCHASE IN 2000, IT HAS CONSTANTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. I FOUND OUT FEBRUARY 16, 2005 THAT I HAVE A BROKEN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND IT COST OVER $1,000 TO FIX. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THERE ARE EIGHT FORD MODELS MANUFACTURED FROM 1996 THROUGH 2001 WITH THIS PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT TO CONSUMERS BUT ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE INTHE ATTACHED LINK, THEY HAVE EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TAXI COMPANIES THAT HAVE PURCHASED THE AFFECTED CARS. PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO.HTTP://WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM/MEDIAATTN.HTM THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE PETER DELVECCHIA. *JB

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