1999 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

1999 FORD EXPLORER GRAB BAR OVER THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT FELL OFF ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO PRESSURE APPLIED TO IT. *MR FOR SEVEN WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE TO CONSUMER HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO USE THE GRAB BAR TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF AN ANKLE INJURY. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT AT NO TIME DURING THOSE SEVEN WEEKS DID THE BAR FEEL LOOSE OR UNSTABLE. *NM

DT: VEHICLE'S METAL SPORT RUNNING BOARDS RUSTED IN TWO YEARS. THE OWNER FELT THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE OWNER NEEDED THE RUNNING BOARDS TO HELP HER GET IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND A BODY SHOP. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER CHECKED ON HAVING FIBERGLASS RUNNING BOARDS PLACED ON HER VEHICLE. THE METAL RUNNING BOARDS WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED. THE CONSUMER WANTS FORD TO REIMBURSE HER FOR THE NEW FIBERGLASS RUNNING BOARDS. *AK *JB

NORMAL, LIGHT USAGE (11,000MI/Y); SCHEDULED MAINTENANCES PERFORMED. 1. REAR AXLE SEAL(S) LEAKING. 2. FRONT PINION GEAR SEAL LEAKING. 3. PARKING BRAKE FLOODED WITH FLUID FROM 1 OR 2, NOT SURE. 4. EVAPORATIVE UNIT FOR AC DEFECTIVE, NEEDS REPLACEMENT. 5. LCD FOR CLOCK/AUDIO SYSTEM DEFECTIVE. 6. REAR WINDOW WIPER MOTOR FAILED TWICE. ------- MANUFACTURER ADMITS NOT USUAL WEAR/TEAR, BUT WON'T COVER ANY PORTION OF APPROX. $2000.00+ REPAIR COST, NOR EVEN PROVIDE "LOANER". *NM

1998 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL # 03V281000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SEAT HAS NOT FAILED, HOWEVER THE PASSENGER SEAT DID. *JB

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES PERIODICALLY. LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAYS THE WIRE HARNESS UNDERNEATH PASS SEAT DOES NOT HAVE A GOOD CONNECTION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. COST: APPROX $300. NOT ABLE TO REPLACE YET DUE TO FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

COMPLAINED OF LOUS RATTLING NOISE IN ENGINE ON 7/07/03, AND AGAIN ON 09/29/04 AT A DIFFERENT FORD DEALER. THERE ARE MAJOR MECHINICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN CONCERN TO THE ENGINE CAM GUIDES, REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND LOWER BASLL JOINTS WORN, WHY WASN'T MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT RECALLED FOR THESE PROBLEMS OR GIVEN THE SAME TSB AS THE 1999 FORD EXPLORER?

HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS BURNT. CAR WAS PARKED, NOT RUNNING OR LIGHTS ON. CAR FILLED FULL OF SMOKE. WAS LUCKY IT DID NOT SET THE CAR ON FIRE.

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. HE STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING HE NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. THIS DID HAPPENED THREE OR FOUR TIMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPER, AND HEADLIGHT DIMMER MODULE). HE HAS FOUND COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE.*AK THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH BURNT AND WAS REPLACED. *TT *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.

I HAVE THE SAME SWITCH FOR CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION ON MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER AND AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY I WILL HAVE A FIRE CAUSED BY ITS FAILURE. THIS FAILURE WAS REPORTED ON CNN ON JUNE 16, 2005. WILL THERE BE A RECALL?