Problems with 1999 Ford Explorer POWER TRAIN

There is a problem with the car shifting (it is a automatic) between 2000 and 3000 rpm's. it seems to be getting stuck and revving hard. i was told the valve body gaskets need to be replaced. the car only has 45, 000 miles. i was told that ford has discovered the fabric filter wasn't working and there is a new metal shield.*jb

On 17 february 2003, my husband left our residence in the ford explorer. after about 10 minutes on the highway, he started to hear strange noises. the automobile started to slow down and when my husband attempted to accelerate the gas pedal, the automobile just stopped. the car was then pushed to the side of the road and was towed to express auto service on 18 february 2003 due to the snow conditions. express auto service checked the transmission for proper operation and it was determined after a second visit to express auto that the 'transfer case" needed to be replaced. we were told that we could not drive the automobile unless this gets repaired because this is what made the car drive! the problem occurred after we engaged the 4wd from low to high due to driving in the snow. this should not have happened with this automobile being fairly new and purchase from purvis ford in fredericksburg, virginia. a new transfer case would have costs approximately $2100.00. due to budget constraints we received a used transfer case for approximately $1439.00. i am requesting a full investigation regarding this major malfunction with my automobile and a full reimbursement of the costs to repair the services done to the automobile. *nlm

The gear shift malfunctioned, which caused consumer to lose control of the vehicle and crashed into a window.*jb

Consumer states that while driving at any speed and no warning the vehicle will stall and it will be hard for the consumer to control the vehicle. dealer notified. ts

While driving vehicle will not go into overdrive. if consumer tries to go over 35mph vehicle will make a loud/disturbing noise. dealer notified.*ak

Transmission slipping during driving. dealer aware, tbs issued aug 1999, april 02 and sept 1999.*ak

The biggest problem i have now is my transmission, on august 1st, my explorer lost its reverse, it is now august 25, and i still do not have my car, they fixed it on aug 20, it broke that night, took it back aug 22, broke again and then took it back that night and now they still have it and dont know what is wrong with it. i told them all i want is a car, but they say they cannot give me one. why? i dont have a car, i lease the one i have, cant drive it, still have to pay for it, and they wont give me a loaner.

I started my vehicle and when i started to move noticed that the transfer case was in 4 wheel drive, low range. i did not put it in 4wd, i do not know why it was engaged. i attempted to return it to 2wd and nothing happened. i was forced to drive it at 10 mph to a garage. they were able to get the transfer case out of 4wd low, and into 4wd high range so i could drive it on the road. they also provided me with nhtsa recall information on the generic electronic module as it relates to electrically operated 4wd systems. the campaign number is 00v072000. when i checked with ford they said the recall doesn't cover my vehicle, even though exhibits symptoms of the problem specified in the recall, and matches all of the criteria in the recall i.e., make, model, year, engine, transmission, and date of manufacture. i am wondering why my vehicle isn't included in this recall, and what i can do to get it included in the recall. *ak

Vehicle had 4 electrical system failures. the battery was replaced four times under warranty. also when the vehicle is hot, the transmission does not shift positively from low to intermediate. *jg

vehicle has major vibration throughout body when it is idling. rpms fluctuate up and down between 1600 and 2300. dealer added an extra bracket to exhaust system to help stop vibration. vehicle would only rev hard when it was first started up. vehicle was not included in recall 00v395000/ manufacturer's recall 00546, but it was upgraded accordingly to help correct the problem before it got worse.*ak

Noise is coming from the differential while driving. dealer was notified. *ak the consumer feels that there is a design flaw in the front differential unit. the unit should not have failed so early in the life of the vehicle and after being used only sparingly. the noise still can be heard even after the repairs. *scc

Claimant states that the car was in park, engine off, and the emergency brake was engaged. claimant left keys in the ignition and procedeed to the rear of vehicle. after cleanng the tailgate area, claimant went to remove keys. at this point the vehicle rolled backwards down the driveway with claimant half in the car. vehicle hit husband's park car, and continued into the street where it struck a neighbor's mailbox, thus throwing the claimant from the vehicle. vehicle continued folling down a very steep hill and went over a curb where we believed the vehicle flipped over. claimant was taken to emergency room and was x-ray. fortunately, there were no broken bones. claimant easily could have been killed or seriously wounded by the vehicle. *ak

After vehicle has been started gears will not release from park. cause is unknown. please provide any more details.*ak

All wheel drive inoperative. vehicle dangerous and very unstable at highway speeds. problem is componded in poor weather conditions.

A/t slips from1st-2nd. at a stop and proceed to go transmission acts like its in neutral. happens after car is driven @20m and engine is hot. *ak

While driving in overdrive at 50 mph and going up an incline, vehicle vibrates erratically. problem has not been remedied. *ak o2 sensor failed and was replaced. fuel pressure regulator failed and was replaced. consumer stated that the dealer can not do anything to fix the problem, which seems to be a manufacturer defect.*yh *slc

While traveling at approximately 20 mph vehicle was making a rumbling noise, and vehicle was being pulled to right. consumer suddenly lost control of steering and brakes. consumer was able to bring vehicle to a stop. dealership examined vehicle, and determined that front wheel bearings have blown apart, and axle popped which resulted in loss of steering and brakes. please provide any additional information/attachments. *ak

Consumer has complained to dealer that steering wheel shakes out of control. steering makes dashboard rumble like front end has hydraulics. turning vehicle right or left, steering shutters hard. consumer would have to add a quart of power steering once a week. dealer found power steering leaking, and replaced rack and pinion and realigned vehicle. on 6-29-01, vehicle was taken back to dealer for still having the problem. dealer found nothing wrong with vehicle. problem has not been remedied. *ak the brake light switch was inoperative causing the brake lights to be inoperative, the brakes squeak and the dealer treated the pads with an anti squeak solution, the a/c blows out warm air due to a leaky compressor and o-ring, the torque converter failed causing the transmission to lock up, passenger side goodyear tire blewout while driving, the window on the right side shakes when going up or down. nlm

Transmission no longer able to be put in reverse, no prior warning. not taken to dealer yet. *ak

Automatic transmission is slipping in any gear. it doesn't shift gears correctly when accelerating. transmission only shifts correctly into 1st gear, and double shifts into 2nd and 3rd gears after letting off gas. transmission shifts sometimes from high to low, causing vehicle to pull. overdrive light intermittently would go on and off. was repaired at dealer. on 1-18-2001. dealer replaced multiple parts in transmission 02-15-2001, transmission locked up and wouldn't move.torque converter and pump with housing were replaced. on 6-29-2001, transmission was still pulling. dealer replaced a stuck evr valve and replaced it. *ak front and rear rotors warped, dealer replaced, abs light illumianted, dealer replaced rear speed sensor, brakes are noisy. passenger window shakes, dealer lubed tracks. motor makes rattling noise when being driven steadily. steering gets stiff and makes a whining noise. air conidtioner was repaired. goodyear tire blewout, this tire was a replacement for firestone recall 00t005. *slc

This explorer is equipped with awd system. during the incident the vehicle spun out on ice but the 4wd did not engage, so the front wheels had no truction. due to this i could not regain control before the vehickle smashed in ti the berrier and flipped over and rolled 180 degries. the vehicle is a total loss.*ak

This 99 ford explorer has had multiple problems, as listed. contacted manufacturer, they directed me back to the dealer. this is the most unreliable vehicle i have ever owned, and it's only 18 months old. *ak (tiresize: p23575r15)( dot number: tire size: p23575r15 )

The planetary gear on the transmission failed, two separate repairs of the transmission with the overdrive unit. *mjs

While traveling downhill with no acceleration, allowing the engine to provide some braking, the consumer noticed there was no braking from the engine and the transmission was replaced, the consumer was not satisfied with the repair because the transmission was replaced with a rebuilt one. nlm

Engine knocking replace and now the new engine is knocking truck is in the shop now . ford said that there is no warranty on the replace engine. ford knows that there is a problem with the engines in there ford explorer.*ak

In the 19 months that i have had my ford explore, it has had 3 recalls. about 4 mos ago i noticed a loud noise that seem to be coming from up underneat the car. you could hear it when at a stopped position but still in drive. i had the dealership check for it twice and they said they couldn't find anything. about 6 weeks ago i noticed a slight hestitation when on the highway when accelerating and it seemed to do it more over the last 2 weeks. july 2nd, my family was traveling home from new york and a noise began that could have been mistaken for something dragging underneath the car. we lost all acceleration, coasted off an exit, and the gears were useless and grinded when we tried to shift to park. the emergency brake was the only thing holding us there. i am still waiting for results from the dealership on the problem, but its definetely transmission related. i now fear for the safety of me and my 2 children in that vehicle. it seems like an accident waiting to happen. thank you for your time.*ak

Drive train-high pitched squeal/whistle noise from front end at speeds 20mph to 55mph. four attemps by the ford agency have been made but the noise still remains.there have been a total of 14 reports made to nhtsa for 1998 & 1999 for the same problem as i interpret some of the web site reports. no safety defec tlisted in summary. *ak

We have had a hood latch recall, cruise control recall, questions about a tire recall (firestone), power steering fluid leak, cv boot rip, wipers turning on with the turn signal, 1 engine replaced due to 0 psi oil at idle (did they really replace it or just say they did?) several independent re-evaluations after the "new" engine had even more noises, fuel injectors replaced, a mysterious clunking sound on the right side during left turns, ~5000mi after 1st engine "replacement" another ford repair center is now saying that the engine has 0psi at and we need another engine. we feel like this 99 explorer (with currently <35,000mi)is a lemon and we are tired of recalls, repairs, waiting for engines. we want a dependable car! we have taken immaculate care of the car, have had professionals do the work on it (usually ford dealerships) and yet we are afraid that the warrentee will run out and we will have an expensive problem or, worse, the car will fail and someone will get hurt! does this car qualify as a "lemon." if not what does? if so, what are our options? p.s. all of the mentioned problems are documented by ford dealership records that are in our possession.

The oil pressure gauge shorted out, the air bag wiring harness, front axle seals, brake caliper pads, brake line, power door lock assembly and multi function switch assembly were all replaced. *ts the timing chain, tensioner, idle air control, valve intake gaskets and the seats which ripped were also replaced. * jb

Pe00020, orginial equipment with 1999 ford explorer, tire size p23575r15. while driving the front end shakes very hard, and on all tires there are lumps forming and making a whistling noise. *ak there was a constant noise in the front of the vehicle, dealer has replaced the following to remedy the problem: drivesahft, lower control arms, left upper ball joint, lower steering shaft on two occasions, front shaft, lower ball joints, outer tie rod ends, power steering pump and rack, left upper ball joint and finally the arm bushing that was hitting the frame. brakes were pulsating, dealer machined the front rotors. there was a delay in starting the vehicle, dealer stated this was normal. radio had no display lights, dealer installed a new radio. the rear brake light burnt out, dealer replaced the bulb. the parking brake sometimes would not release, dealer could not duplicate the problem. the check engine light illuminated. the rear wiper was not cleaning, dealer replaced the wiper arm and blade. *slc

Ongoing intermittent problem with a squealing sound coming from front axle. vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on five occasions, and problem still reoccurring. vehicle is currently in the process of being bought back by the dealer as a lemon. *ak *ml

Engine block cracked, causing oil leakage. also, front axle seals blew out, and transmission leaked. truck was purchased new. the truck only has 300 miles. no repairs have been made on the truck. *ak

This truck has overdrive problems. when you put it in rev and then drive most times it will cut the overdrive off, but not all the time. rear passenger door will not open from inside. airbag light goes on and starts blinking then goes off for a while then back on. the power steering makes noise on a hard right or left turn.

Vehicles transmission does not hold on grades, vehicle in drive just taking foot off brake pedal. has happened on small as well as large grades mechanic told husband it was ok, that the veight of vehicle was causing concern diagnosis was normal operation i do not think this is true have owned fords in past none had this type of problem. i traded a 97 ford thunderbird for this vehicleit did not have this problem , i ownedthe t-bird for 2 years and it had 44,000 miles when i traded it for this explorer.

Diagnosed as transmission slip; at 15 mph, slips into neutral then back into drive; re-design of valve box due to bracket failure, vehicle is now waiting at dealer for newly designed part

Was driving vehicle in overdrive. light was blinking on/off. engine started to roar & then it stopped. vehicle was moving slowly when it happened. taken vehicle to dealer & was informed by mechanic new transmission is needed. *ak

Vehicle was placed in park, and when driver got out of vehicle, it started to roll. vehicle crashed into a commercial truck. dealer was contacted and problem cannot be duplicated. problem still exists. provide further information. *ak

All problems are electrical:wipers/washer failed-transmission shifted erratically-4wd failed to engage. after connector repairs, replacing 3 wire harnesses and pcm, problem has apparently been fixed--for now. wiper/4wd problems appear related to gem (general electronics module) and wiring harnesses. transmission shifting problems associated with pcm (powertrain control module). this problem occurred at 1150 and 2500 miles including 3 different visits to service dept. vehicle out of service nearly 3 weeks in 2 1/2 months of ownership.

Transmission was slipping, felt like it was in neutral. when it changed over there would be a real bad jerk. consumer contacted dealer . dealer said it would take 60 days to get a new transmission. *ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Windshield wipers are going on when not turned on. getting worse. also, speeds are not correct when are turned on. have already also had to have gear shift mechanism replaced do to failure, still sticks trying to take key out sometimes.

This is a brand new vehicle which has already experienced 3 significant defects. it has been out of service 3 out of 10 days. no defect listed in summary. *ak

5 speed automatic transmission slips when moving from standstill, shifting to 2nd gear. problem was fixed 1st time and has reoccurred 4 months later. local dealer fixed both times, replacing same part both times. 2nd time, factory recommended overhaul of transmission, done by dealer. problem appears to surface in 4 month intervals. now have approx. 800 miles on latest fix.

While driving at approximately 45-65mph, would hear noises from the rear axle, like a humming sound. the noise is more noticeable when acceleration had decreased. had contacted dealer, who was aware of problem. mechanic cannot locate cause of noise. *ak

Brake lights do not stay on when brakes are applied. lights come on, but go back out while brakes are still being applied. dealer has seen vehicle, and said that it is normal. *ak brake switch has been replaced 6 times and power booster has been replaced with no remedies, brake pedal makes a popping noise when released. message center, miles per gallon, is inaccurate and has been replaced, however consumer states it still does not work. rear suspension squeaks and groans over bumps, consumer states there is too much roll stiffness built into suspension, alignment checked and toe set due to vehicle wandering. water leaks inside door frames. automatic transmission is reluctant to downshift unless the accelerator is pressed flat to the floor. inside rear view mirrow mounted too low. consumer states squeaks and rattles show up all the time in the interior of the vehicle, rattles in dash, drivers door area, and b pillar. cd changer jammed twice. limited emblem replaced twice. speedometer reads too fast. *slc

I purchased this 99 explorer in february and already it has been in the shop several times for different defects including on the first day i bought the truck and took in home with 6 miles on it the transmission began slipping and eventually went out on the truck. since it was a saturday that this happened the truck sat till monday when the dealer had it towed back (i did notice transmission fluid on the ground).the dealer said this problem was due to a connector on the transmission fluid line not being sealed or tightened. i asked if there was damage to the transmission which they said it wouldn't be but this leads me to my next problem. the truck does not accelerate through the gears properly but ford says there is nothing wrong with after looking at it again. next it was in for the speed control cable which they sent a letter to me for but did not have the cable in stock and were suppose to disable the speed control until one came in. they did not disable it which was very hazardous safety wise. next the truck has been in because one of the speakers was blown and in fact after getting that one replaced the others sound just as bad as the blown one and the radio has never been turned past halfway. my latest problem is that my windshield wipers will come on sporactically at any time and stay on for about 30 seconds and i cannot turn them off seeing as i didn't turn them on. this happens about every 45 minutes to an hour. i have not been to the dealer about this because one i am very unhappy about the vehicle and am tired of finding another means for transportation while they fix my truck. i even asked for another truck but was told that there shouldn't be moe problems with the truck, this was after the transmission went on the first day i bought it. *ak

Consumer stated there have been numerous problems with the drive train, consumer began hearing an odd n oise in august 2000, and in april 2001, at that time dealer could not duplicate the problem, the dealership however did replace the driveshaft assembly, and the joint assembly spindle-arm, several months later the outer tie-rod ends were replaced, lower steering shaft which was leaking power steering fluid, the power steering pump and the rack and pinion, also parking brake does not release, and the cruise control cable was replaced, the check engine light illuminated.*ak *slc

Transmission would start to slip when traveling just 10mph. the rpms would be over 3 thousand. had vehicle checked at dealership & was informed transmission was stuck & that it's a factory defect, almost blew up. also, speedometer does not keep accurate speeds. if speed is increased,it would fail to work. this was referred to mechanic by manufacturer. *ak