1999 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER IN 2003, MY DRIVER'S DOOR HAS ALWAYS GIVEN ME TROUBLE WHEN USING THE KEY TO UNLOCK IT. RECENTLY, THE LOCK STOPPED WORKING WITH THE REMOTE AND I WAS FORCED TO OPEN THE FRONT DOOR BY REACHING FROM THE BACK DOOR. AFTER USING THAT METHOD FOR A WHILE, MY INTERIOR HANDLE IS NOW PERMANENTLY BROKEN AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM EITHER SIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND AN INCONVENIENCE. *NM

1999 EXPLORER HOOD DOES NOT STAY OPEN WHEN LIFTED. *TS THE GAS LIFT SUPPORTS FAILED AND CAUSED THE HOOD TO COME CRASHING DOWN ON THE CONSUMER'S HEAD. THE HOOD CAUSED A GASH AND SWELLING ON THE CONSUMER'S FOREHEAD. *NM

RE: 1999 FORD EXPLORER IN NOVEMBER OF 2005, MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING TO KINGSVILLE, TEXAS ONE SATURDAY EVENING TO ATTEND A CHARITY FUNCTION. UPON OUR EXITING FROM THE HIGHWAY, WE PROCEEDED DOWN TWO CITY BLOCKS. AFTER WHICH, THE ACCELERATOR RACED UNEXPECTEDLY. I MANAGED TO HOLD DOWN THE BRAKE AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL STOP, ALL THE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AT ABOUT 4,000 RPMS. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I THOUGHT THAT THE FLOOR MAT MUST HAVE GOTTEN CAUGHT ON THE GAS PEDAL AND I REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT COMPLETELY. UPON MY RESTARTING THE ENGINE, IT IMMEDIATELY REVVED UP TO 4,000 RPMS AGAIN. THANKFULLY THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARKED POSITION. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE ENGINE BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS DANGEROUS TO TRY TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. I PHONED AAA AUTO CLUB AND HAD THEM SEND A WRECKER TO TOW THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, EDDIE YAKLIN IN KINGSVILLE, TEXAS. ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, I PHONED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE HAD FRAYED LEAVING IT IN THE OPEN POSITION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO GET THE TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE PROBLEM. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER FOR TWO REASONS: (1)TO NOTIFY YOU OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN THE INJURY AND/OR DEATH OF FORD CUSTOMERS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS. I AM ALSO SUBMITTING A COPY OF THIS LETTER TO THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD. I HAVE PERFORMED SOME RESEARCH AND IT APPEARS THAT FORD HAS HAD THROTTLE PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. SEE ATTACHED COPIES OF MY RESEARCH MATERIAL. (2)TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF CORRECTING THE DESIGN AND/OR MECHANICAL DEFECT OF THE THROTTLE CABLE. I HAVE ENCLOSED A COPY OF THE INVOICE DEPICTING THE SERVICE COSTS I INCURRED CORRECTING THE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE CABLE. *NM

1999 EXPLORER HOOD DOES NOT REMAIN OPEN DUE TO SUDDEN GAS LIFT SUPPORT FAILURE. *TS THE HOOD CAME CRASHING DOWN ON THE CONSUMER'S HEAD RESULTING IN A GASH AND SWELLING ON HER FORHEAD. *NM

GEM MODULE (VEHICLE GETS LOCKED INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR WILL NOT EXIT 4 WHEEL DRIVE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V06200. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HATCHBACK LIFT GATE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BALL JOINT ON THE BRACKET CRACKED AND BROKE DUE TO RUST. THE ENTIRE LIFT GATE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT HAS NOT BEEN MADE. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB

WIFE CAME HOME FROM WORK SICK. PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. THOUGHT ENGINE OVERHEATED. OPENED HOOD AND FLAME SHOT UP FROM BRAKE MASTER. FIRE DEPT REPORT SHOWS IT WAS CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS IS THE CRUISE CONTROL QUITS WORKING..OURS QUIT WORKING. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT DOES NOT RECLINE. IF THE SEAT IS ADJUSTED TO LEAN FORWARD, IT WILL NOT GO BACK. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SEAT TRACK IS BENT. UPDATED 2/24/2006 - THE SEAT WILL RECLINE BUT WILL NOT ADJUST. IT IS FROZEN ON THE TRACK AND AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER CANNOT REACH THE GAS PEDAL . *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD HAS ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND OFFERED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT DECLINED. *NM THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, AND HE WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONTACT FOR 2 HOURS OF LABOR TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT FORD SHOULD PAY FOR TWO HOURS TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE $200 TO HAVE IT FIXED FOR A SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK

ON STARTING THE ENGINE ON MY FORD EXPLORER, AN ALARM SOUNDED AND STATED A LIGHT MALFUNCTION. I CHECKED ALL THE LIGHTS AND THEY WERE OK. LATER, I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WITH MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON AND THE BRAKES APPLIED. I THEN NOTICED A PUFF OF SMOKE RISE FROM AROUND THE EMERGENCY LIGHT SWITCH FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I THEN NOTED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL WAS NOT WORKING. THE SMOKE STOPPED WHEN I TURNED OFF THE TURN SIGNAL BUT WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, THERE WAS ANOTHER PUFF OF SMOKE FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMB. *NM