1999 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

THE REAR TAIL GATE WILL NOT OPEN, WHEN THE DOORS ARE LOCKED THE GLASS IS STILL UNLOCKED. THE REAR WIPER WILL NOT WORK EITHER. WHEN THE GLASS IS OPEN THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON. SINCE I CAN'T TELL WEATHER IT IS LATCHED SECURELY OR NOT, I AM AFRAID THAT IF EVER IN AN ACCIDENT IT MAY OPEN ON ITS OWN. THE DEALERS WANT A LARGE PAYMENT JUST TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT AND THEN MORE TO FIX IT. FORD HASN'T GIVEN ME ANY GUESS AS TO WHAT THE ISSUE IS OR WHAT CAUSED IT. IT JUST HAPPENED ONE DAY I WENT TO OPEN THE GATE AND IT WILL NOT OPEN. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL TO THE VEHICLE, AND IT CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL, ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STOPPING. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED THIRD DEGREE ROAD RASH BURN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THEIR BODY WHICH STARTED FROM THEIR SHOULDER TO THE THIGH AREA. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE SUDDENLY DRIVER'S SEAT BACK RECLINER BROKE. AS RESULT, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. *AK *SC

AIR BAG LAMP WOULD LIGHT INTERMITENTLY. (9/10/04 TOOK TO DEALER. LITE IS NOW OUT.) DEALER TRACED TO A WIRING HARNESS THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AT PRESENT THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 67,617 MILES. DEALER STATED THAT THIS MAYBE CORRISION OF CONTACTS. SOUNDS LIKE A DESIGN PROBLEM. 9/12/2004 LITE IS BACK ON STEADY. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT FORD HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE MERCURY MYSTIC. ([NHTSA RECALL NO. 99V243/FORD RECALL NO. 99S23]. COULD THIS BE THE SAME WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS INSTALLED IN SOME EARLY PRODUCTION EXPLORERS, BUT ESCAPE THIS RECALL AND NOW THE CONSUMERS ARE STUCK FOOTING THE BILL? GOING BACK TO DEALER TODAY (9/13/2004) FOR REPAIRS. ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS $300.00.*AK

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

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT CLEAR THE ENTIRE WINDOW, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT WAIT UNTIL THE TURN WAS MADE BEFORE GOING OFF. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SOMETHING MAY HAVE COME LOOSE WHICH CAUSED A GAS LEAK WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE WIPER AND TURN SIGNAL UNDER WARRANTY. *JB *NM

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

DRIVER SEAT FELL INTO THE BACK SEAT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SEAT. VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP AND THE SEAT FELL AGAIN. DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT WAS WORN OUT. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK OR STARTED WORKING ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED ON THE ROAD. AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY CAME ON AND OFF.*AK

VEHICLE FAILS TO START ON OCCASION. THE ENGINE WILL TURN OVER, BUT WILL NOT CATCH. AFTER WAITING FOR SEVERAL HOURS OR A DAY, THE VEHICLE WILL ONCE AGAIN START. SOMETIMES, AFTER LETTING THE ENGINE TURN OVER MANY, MANY TIME, THE ENGINE WILL CATCH. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT. FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON JULY 14, 2004 ONLY A FEW WEEKS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE EXPLORER.*AK