1999 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT ONE WEEK APART. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS 32. THERE WAS NO BULGING NOTICED IN THE TIRES.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN FEB 2000 AND THE SECOND WAS MAY 26, 2006. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THIS OCCURRED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 3MPH. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE HIT THE SIDE OF A BUILDING THAT WAS ABOUT 15 FEET AWAY CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE THAT WAS ABOUT 15-20 FEET AWAY. EVEN THOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE NHTSA REGARDING THE FIRST INCIDENT. ONE YEAR LATER, THE NHTSA CALLED THE CONTACT TO SEE IF THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT IS FILING ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO ALERT THE NHTSA THE DEFECT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN. UPDATED 06/15/06 -

WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN INSIDE VEHICLE. CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF PART OF RECALL TO SPEED SENSOR SWITCH. FORD MOTOR CO. STATES VEHICLE NOT PART OF RECALL, DID NOT RECOMMEND ANYTHING. NO RESPONSE TO STEERING COLUMN SMOKING OR SMELLING OF BURNING ELECTRICAL WIRES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR, MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER LOST ALL POWER. MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR AND I WAS TRAVELING AT A CONSTANT SPEED. IT WAS VERY, VERY SCARY AND I WAS LUCKY TO STEER THE CAR INTO A TURNING LANE PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE LOSING ALL MOMENTUM AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE THE FUEL PUMP, BUT THEY DIDN'T SEEM TOO SURE ABOUT IT, WHICH WORRIED ME TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR IN THE EVENT THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, POWER WINDOWS AND IGNITION WARNING CHIME FAILED DUE TO THE GEM CIRCUIT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V072000, REGARDING THE FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

HERE IS THE COMPLAINT(S) SENT TO FORD MOTOR CO ABOUT MY 1999 EXPLORER: I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SEAT BREAKING. IT YIELDS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS REPEATED PROBLEM. I HAVE LOST THE USE OF MY CAR AND MONEY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IT IS CURRENTLY IN FOR THE SAME REPAIR AGAIN. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION IN THE PAST AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY HELP. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS IN WRITING AND LET ME KNOW MY OPTIONS. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. I THEN CALLED THEN AND THEN EMAILED THEM THIS FOLLOW UP:I CALLED THE NUMBER YOU REQUESTED AND SPOKE WITH JASON AND AM DISSATISFIED WITH ANSWER HE GAVE ME. HE DID SAY HE WOULD REPORT MY CASE TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT AS I BELIEVE THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR DRIVER'S SEATS ARE NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED AND ARE UNSAFE. MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM IS THAT THE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM BENDS AND THEN THE FRAME FRACTURES AND THEN THE SEAT CAN POSSIBLE SNAP OFF. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING. I AM A REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER BY PROFESSION SO I UNDERSTAND THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THIS ISSUE. YOUR ENGINEERS SHOULD CHECK THEIR CALCULATIONS AND/OR CHECK THE METALLURGY OF THE SEAT COMPONENTS. THERE IS NO REASON FOR A PROPERLY DESIGNED SEAT TO BREAK LIKE MINE HAS. PROBABLY NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE LACK OF STANDING BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT. *NM

BRAKE FLUID LEVEL DROP IN RESERVOIR CORRESPONDING TO BRAKE PAD WEAR, WILL RESULT IN AIR ENTERING BRAKE SYSTEM AND RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL EFFICIENCY, PRIOR TO FLUID LEVEL IN RESERVOIR REACHING THE MIN. LEVEL WHEN VEHICLE IS ON LEVEL GROUND. FLUID WAS FLUSHED/BLED BUT ANTI-LOCK LIGHT REMAINS ON AND BRAKE EFFICIENCY IS NOTICEABLY DETERIORATED. *JB

(1) DRIVER'S SEAT BACK LATCH BROKEN (2) COULD NOT ENTER, OR EXIT FROM, REAR SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE (3) FORD DEALER REPLACED LATCH TOTAL COST ABOUT $200. *NM

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD THEN THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT HAD BROKEN. WHEN THE CONTACT SITS IN THE SEAT, THE SEAT LEANS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.