1999 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls

1999 FORD EXPLORER - AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS ON; WILL NOT DEPLOY AIRBAGS. FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS IT NEEDS A "CLOCK SPRING" A COIL OF WIRE LIKE A STATOR WHICH BURNED AND CAUSED A SHORT IN THE AIRBAG WIRING. ACCORDING TO FORD, THIS WILL ALSO CAUSE THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL TO MALFUNCTION. FORD WANTS $300 TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEVICE IN WHICH THERE ARE NO WEARABLE PARTS. IT IS A MIS-ENGINEERED COMPONENT THAT SHOULD REQUIRE A RECALL TO FIX. THIS COULD VERY WELL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO SOMEONE BY NOT D…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000593 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002494 at NHTSA ↗

SPARK PLUG WIRES FAILING. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 35000 MILES. RESULTED IN SEVERE VEHICLE BUCKING, MISFIRING, STALLING, LOSS OF ACCELERATION, AND UNPREDICTABLE ENGINE PERFORMANCE. 3 OCCURRENCES TO THREE DIFFERENT PLUG WIRES WITHIN 300 MILES

Owner-reported narrative. 35,684 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002819 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS TOLD BY ALDERMAN FORD THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON MY FORD EXPLORER WERE IN A FAILURE CONDITION AT 53000 MILES--"UNSAFE TO DRIVE". THIS CAR HAS HAD NORMAL DRIVING USE. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD'S CHOICE OF "SEALED BALL JOINTS" WAS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE-PRONE BALL JOINTS, AND THAT THIS IS "NORMAL". ARE ALL EXPLORERE USERS IN THIS ENDANGERED POSITION? IF SO, IS A RECALL NECESSARY? IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN CHECK HOW MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE BAD JOINTS? MY 91 EXPLORER WENT 135000 MILES WITHOUT BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. BALL JOINT FAIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 53,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002955 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS W/ THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. FIRST, MY WIPERS WOULD RANDOMLY TURN ON. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM. NEXT, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON WHEN IT WAS REALLY COLD. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. NEXT, THE WIPERS COULD NOT REACH FULL SPEED. AT 35,000 MILES, WE FORCED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE MFS UNDER WARRANTY. FINALLY, AT 59,000 MILES, WHITE SMOKE STARTED SPEWING FROM THE MFS. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP, I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THE MFS REPLACED. WHEN I COMPLAINED, THE DEALERSH…

Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003534 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE ENGINE SURGED FOWARD.*DT *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004382 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION IS NOT ACTING LIKE IT IS SUPPOSE TO. EVERY TIMEE CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES PASSENGER SIDE WILL MAKE A REAL HARD NOISE. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FIXED FIVE TIMES, AND IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT BRAKE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006032 at NHTSA ↗

LIFTGATE LOOSE, IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006303 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-03-07 (March 7, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES AND ALL-TIME 4-WHEEL DRIVE (A4WD) POWERTRAINS. THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE (GEM) COULD EXPERIENCE A CONDITION REFERRED TO AS "LOCK-UP" IN WHICH THE GEM CONTROLLED ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS (E.G., FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, 4X4 SYSTEM, ETC.) COULD NOT BE TURNED ON OR, IN SOME CASES IF THE FUNCTION IS ON, COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF.

Consequence: AN INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR IN THE GEM CIRCUIT.

Reported: 2000-11-28 (November 28, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.27 OR 3.55 AXLE RATION. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE THAT COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO EXCEED THE DESIGN INTENT TOP SPEED. AT THESE EXTREME SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE COULD BE CAPABLE OF EXCEEDING THE SPEED RATING OF THE TIRE.

Consequence: OPERATING THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE MAXIMUM SPEED RATING COULD LEAD TO A TIRE FAILURE WHICH AT THESE SPEEDS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE.

Reported: 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL AND 4.0L SOHC ENGINES, IF THE STRAND COVER ON THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE BECOMES FLARED AT THE END, THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE MAY BIND WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS ACTIVATED.

Consequence: THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING FORCE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE BINDING CONDITION WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS DISENGAGED. BRAKING FUNCTION WOULD BE MAINTAINED THOUGH STOPPING DISTANCES MAY BE INCREASED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.

Consequence: THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT UPPER BOLT WITH A METAL SPACER AND BOLT. IN ADDITION, SEATS WITH TUBULAR BACK FRAMES WILL HAVE THE FULLY THREADED LOWER RECLINER BOLT REPLACED WITH A PARTIALLY THREADED BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Reported: 1999-03-30 (March 30, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.

Consequence: IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.

Reported: 1999-05-18 (May 18, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE TO THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) CONNECTION COULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE LINE TO LEAK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE TO THE FRONT WHEELS, INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLARE NUT ON THE BRAKE LINE.

Reported: 1999-06-29 (June 29, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY CORRODE AT THE LATCH PIVOT AND STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH IS EITHER NOT ENGAGED OR IS RELEASED, A HOOD FLY-UP COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY HOOD LATCH WITH COMPONENTS THAT ARE COATED PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY FOR IMPROVED LATCH PIVOT CORROSION PROTECTION.