Problems with 1999 Ford Explorer POWER TRAIN

Transmission started slipping. neutral is actually reverse over drive is neutral 2nd is od 1st is 2nd past 1st is 1st gear. when i move power lamp to off my headlights turn off. all of this haopened when i turned my vehicle on or when i was driving.

I almost turned on a one way street and needed to back up so i put it in reverse and something gave and my son and i were stuck with cars coming at us . we had to push the car back in heavy traffic . so when i got home and troubleshoot the problem i see alot of the same problem with the transmission. i believe this ford explorer transmission is a defect and needs to be recalled. *tr

Went to back out of my driveway and nothing. i can go into drive but i am running at 3000-4000 rpm while doing 20-30mph. seen the other thousands of ford explorer owners with the same issues. *tr

My ford explorer "o/d off" light flashes and it has problems shifting into 2nd and 5th gear. from what i understand my transmission could go out at any minute, costing thousands to repair. if i am driving on a crowded highway or merging this could be dangerous. i have read countless complaints on other websites. this is a common problem and ford needs to recall these transmissions before someone gets killed *tr

I have owned my 1999 ford explorer for about 1 year. about 2 months ago i noticed a delay with the transmission engaging when shifting into drive or reverse. then about a month ago it started having trouble shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear and very soon after that my over drive light comes on intermittently and blinks which makes the vehicle sluggish like i am towing something. upon researching this problem i have found that i am only one of thousands or more that have this same issue between the years of 1995 - 2004. also finding out that this is anywhere from a $2000 - $5000 fix. from my research and i don't seem to be alone. this should be a ford recall. *tr

The reverse in the transmission went out without any warning. how does this happen? not taken to dealer yet. probably is not worth it. probably will have to get another car. at least for now. i pretty much use the car only after work now since i started taking public transportation for the last 2 years. came home, drove the car from the train station, (about 1/4 of a mile) went into the house to drop off my workbags, came back out, started the car, put it into reverse and heard a loud ping. put the car back in park and tried reverse again and the car would not move. go figure. tried going forward and the car moved. neighbor came out and said that he heard the ping and that the pin broke when i tried reverse. advised that i would need to get either a new car or a new transmission, because it cannot be corrected otherwise. needed to get another car for now, because not sure if it may be worth it to get a new transmission for an 11 yr old vehicle. just replaced a timing belt, tensioner and pulley just 2 1/2 months before that. now repairs are starting to add up just to keep it running and the car looks virtually looks like it is only about 5 years old. would understand better if it was slipping, but again, no prior warning. one day it worked fine and the next day it was not. *tr

Transmission problem,failure and sliping,of my ford explorer 1999... *tr

Transmission failure reverse gear at 115k miles in july 2010. *tr

Transmission slipping while trying to enter on ramp on busy highway sounds trivial however endangering lives of occupants of many vehicles. *tr

1999 ford explorer- reverse went out in transmission, then after spending 1500. to get that fixed , worked good for awhile, now the o/d light flashes and won't kick into overdrive, now i am told i need a new transmission. this vehicle only has 110,000 miles should not be on it's 3rd transmission fix.. very disappointed ! *tr

1999 ford explorer sport 112,750 miles. car fine tuesday night. upon leaving driveway wednesday morning, reverse was gone, but forward gears fine--no noise, no leaks. vehicle has been maintained. upon leaving to drive to get it diagnosed for repair, noises occurred, then fluid leaked. a component blew a hole in transmission case. transmission needed replacement. upon researching this problem, i found tens of thousands of similar complaints for this vehicle--mostly 2002 models, though all years were represented. many experienced similar problems prior to 50,000 miles of use. apparently this vehicle is called "exploder" by repair shops and ford dealership service departments. a problem of this magnitude clearly needs addressing,, and it is obvious that the ford motor co. will not do it, as they have been aware of this problem for years and have made no modifications to prevent it from happening--it seems that they simply do not care to take the time, money and effort [mostly the money, i'm sure] to remedy this problem--they just will not care unless forced to--and you are the only ones who can force them to do something. i am looking into starting a class-action suit presently. please do not make it necessary to continue.... *tr

Front end differential bearings freezing up. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. the contact noticed that whenever she places the vehicle into drive, it functions as if it was in neutral. the vehicle will not operate while in the normal driving gear. the dealer has not diagnosed the vehicle. the contact did not notice any differences beforehand. the current and failure mileages were 80,000. updated 10/16/08 *bf updated 10/20/08. *jb

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. whenever the contact attempts to place the vehicle into drive, it functions as if it is in neutral. the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the contact did not notice any differences beforehand. the current and failure mileages were 72,204.

Ford explorer 1999... o/d blinking, transmission missed 2nd or 3rd gears, fixed couple times including switches, solenoid,etc. the mechanic suggest to replace transmission, but not guarantee that will fix it. *tr

My truck began revving for no reason, it only happens below 40 mph. it doesn't always happen and happens more when it is cold outside. a few weeks back, i couldn't drive forward, i had to back up and then it finally decided to go forward. i just took the truck in and had a number of things checked and replaced. i was told that the transmission is going and it is just a matter of time. i don't understand why ford is not doing anything about the problems with their transmissions. i do not have money to throw away on a new transmission, especially with the price of gas. please fix these problems. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. while constantly attempting to shift the vehicle into drive, it failed to properly shift into gear. as a consequence, the vehicle drifts into neutral. the contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic and was informed that the transmission may need to be replaced. she is in the process of contacting an authorized dealer to have the vehicle inspected. the failure mileage was 95,000 and current mileage was 118,000.

Transmission failure 1999 ford explorer 1. transmission started slipping, after a transmission flush at the valvoline oil change company. mileage on vehicle approx 75000 miles when service was completed. 2. catastrophic failure of transmission, resulting in complete transmission rebuild at cost of $3000.00. *tr

O/d light stared flashing and it wouldn't shift out of the lower gear. paid around $1400 to have some bands replaced in the trans and the computer flashed. now has a hesitation between 30 and 40 mph. transmission issue. *tr

1999 ford explorer caught fire. consumer states that his vehicle was in the shop for about 5 to 6 weeks getting a new engine transmission and radiator, and recall repair done. the vehicle caught fire a month after the repairs were made. *kb

A few months a ago my suv started to make a tapping noise from the engine especially when it was cold. it has progressively gotten worse and is now all the time. i had the suv checked by a mechanic and was told it was the timing chain. and he would not fix it because it was too involved and was not worth it. plus it would cost me $1500+. he even contacted ford and was told that it was a 'problem' and that the dealership that i bought the car from won't even touch it! i was told by a ford representative to 'drive it til it dies' and i got my money out of it. there is nothing else wrong with my suv, not even rust. i can't believe that ford knows that the timing chain in this vehicle is a problem and refuses to fix it. please help! *tr

Same 2-3 shift problem. especially when cold...gas it on the on-ramp, all of a sudden it "pops" out of gear and you're hoping someone doesn't slam into the side of your vehicle. after my last near death experience, i took it to the dealer, they said it was a valve body gasket that was missing? (where did it go?) they said they installed the upgrade kit and put in a new gasket, said it worked better. about 4 months later (when it got cold), it started again. work & parts are supposed to be under warranty, but the dealer "thinks" it might be something else. my complaint is, 4 months ago i paid $900 for them to fix what is a common problem with their product, the exact same problem is happening again and they are looking for ways to get more money out of me, or worm their way out of fixing what i've already paid them to fix. the technician suggested it might be an internal leak, the torque converter, then suggested i might want to replace the tranny. my response was you had it torn apart last time, you didn't fix the problem, why should i trust you now? i don't subscribe to the theology of "repair through attrition". this is a serious problem that ford should address or be sued for. *tr

1999 ford explorer transmission o/d light flashing. transmission has not failed yet, but it won't be long. i am writing to add my voice to the ten's of thousands of unhappy ford customers who have had the same problem for a decade of ford transmissions that no one seems to want to hear about or help us with. *tr

The overdrive light on my 1999 ford explorer(104,510) began flashing today and the transmission is not shifting properly. *nm

Just like countless other ford explorer owners i am experiencing overdrive malfunction and slipping between 2nd and 3rd gear. it seems that all years of explorers are affected by this flaw. there are numerous stories of service advisers at dealerships admitting there is a design flaw with these transmissions. there numerous incidents of people paying $3000 to have the transmission rebuilt, only yto have it recur days, weeks, months later. everyone of us has the same exact symptoms as well as the completely random onset of the issue. ford needs to recall these cars and do right by their customers. *tr

The overdrive light in my 1999 ford explorer (105,000 miles) began flashing today & the transmission is not shifting properly.*jb

On july 9, 2006 while my family and i were traveling on a highway our 1999 ford explorer xlt just died. fortunately we were not killed. when we had the car towed home (over 30 miles) the mechanic said the crank shaft was snapped in half. we had no warning before hand. no noise, no lights on the dash, no smoke, nothing. i called ford and complained and they were very unsympathetic to me. i also own a 2003 ford explorer limited which i have also had a few problems with. very dissatisfied with ford. until now i have only owned ford explorers but i guess i will have to start investing in a more reputable company. *nm

Transmission failure, twice. first @ 90,000 miles, second @ 115,000 miles. *tr

Gem module (vehicle gets locked into 4 wheel drive or will not exit 4 wheel drive nhtsa campaign id number: 99v06200. *jb

While backing up on level ground, after hearing a loud bang, my explorer lost reverse. contacting a reputable transmission shop, they told me mine will be the 10th explorer trans they will be rebuilding this week. they also say to never tow with this vehicle. *nm

Dt: the contact has a 2005 chalet, when going on vacation yes the axle broke. the trailer was being towed at 55-60 mph. when the axle broke it caused damage to several parts of the travel trailer and tire. there was smoke damage from the tire and structural damage to the cabinets and under carriage. the rear axle that broke was the only axle on the trailer. there was no damage to the vehicle that was towing the trailer. the trailer was towed to the dealer, and there has not yet been a determination about the repairs. upon the vehicle owners inspection, they discovered that the axle was covered with rust and had many cracks. the police were called, but no police report was filed since there was no accident. *ak

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

In my 99 ford explorer 4x4, the front differential failed costing $2500 in damages. although there was no accident the vehicle was unsafe to drive and the 4x4 system was not operating. we had no idea , the dealer caught it during a service check. *jb

I have a 1999 ford explorer and the reverse went out in it. the rest of the other gears work. it will cost 1500.00 to fix thru a transmission dealer. i contacted a recently retired ford mechanic who works out of his garage now. he told me this reverse is a part in the transmission that can be replaced without a total rebuild. he said last month when he left the dealer, the part was on back order from ford for 3 weeks due the extent of it being a serious problem in the 99-00 ford explorers. i contacted ford customer service and they wont fix it because it is not on a recall list right now. can you please check into this and let me know how i go about getting this fixed through ford? thank you. *ak

While driving at 65 mph, the driver heard a loud noise coming from the front. the driver stepped on the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to accelerate. the driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove it to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the driver that the transmission needed to be replaced. please provide further details. *la

I purchased my 1999 ford explorer in may of 2004 and within a month, i began experiencing problems with my transmission. more specifically, the vehicle would loose power while driving, the transmission could be heard shifting and also shifting movement was felt while driving. i took the vehicle back to rio valley in espanola, new mexico where i paid cash ($8700.00) and was told that i did not purchase the warranty and my vehicle needed a new transmission and it would cost me $3200.00 to have it repaired. i complained and was told that my gasket was sealed with a sealant that went in to my gaskets and damaged my solenoid. i has just taken it for a transmission oil change and thought well that could be, however, after talking to the owner of hindi's oil stop, i felt certain that this was not the cause. rio valley ford did clean out the transmission a couple of times and charged me $340.00 and i was told that this was basically going to have a band-aid effect and i would ultimately need to get my transmission fixed. it was getting me around for awhile but lately the same shifting noises and feelings i had heard and felt are recurring. my overdrive light also goes of and on continuously sometimes while i am driving the vehicle. *jb

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

While driving in inclement weather windshield wipers failed. this caused poor visibility to the driver. consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle ,and drove it to a private mechanic, who determined that a gem module needed to be replaced. *ak the vehicle's power windows, 4 wheel drive and dome light have also stopped working. *nm

While driving at 70mph, flat, smooth road, i felt and heard a "thud" from left front area of vehicle, followed by high pitched squeel, pulled off road and did a visual check & found nothing out of place, or any loose or missing pieces.*ak pulled back onto highway, slowly increasing speed, everything seemed fine. after 5 to 6 miles i had to apply breaks hard, vehicle pulled abruptly to the left as i pulled back to right it pulled very hard to right w/ a grinding noise, had to slow to 30 mph to maintain control until reaching a service facility. upon inspection the mechanic found the left front hub bearing had failed, he explained it would have become uncontrolable if i continued to drive it. hub bearing was replaced with a new unit, old part is still available, i have sealed in box replacement came in.

Gear shift indicator is misaligned since about september, 2003. there are other complaints about this problem indicating it is a common problem. there are probably many people who have experienced the problem but who have not filed a complaint. this is a potentially dangerous problem in emergencies that require you to immediately put the transmission into neutral or reverse. if you put the transmission into the position indicated by the n=neutral indicator, you are actually putting the car into reverse. this could cause death in certain situations where pedestrians are nearby, or death to occupants when an attempt is made to move the transmission of a moving vehicle to neutral. there may already have been deaths related to this defect. moving a transmission to neutral is often a first attempt to disengage the engine and power to the wheels.

When my 1999 ford explorer had approximately 60,000 miles, it went into the repair shop to have the transmission replaced. at that time, i complained that there was transmission fluid leaking near the radiator. about 6 months later, when the vehicle had approximately 70,000 miles, it went back to the repair shop for transmission troubles, at which time several of the clutches in the transmission had to be replaced. the car was released from the dealer on a friday night, but was returned approximately 12 hours later due to hesitation of the vehicle when driving and because the overdrive light was blinking off and on. approximately three weeks later the car went back into the shop, again for leaking transmission fluid near the radiator. the radiator has had to be replaced due to a crack where a transmission fluid line came into contact with the radiator. there seems to be a problem with every component involved with the transmission on this explorer. *la

The transmission in my 1999 ford explorer xls failed completely while driving. the transmission had been slipping intermittently for a couple of weeks when shifting from first into second gear. i took it to the dealer for service and repair. the dealer flushed the transmission and said to drive it for a couple of days. the flushing did not work and three days later the transmission failed. this is the second time the transmission has failed in this vehicle. the first transmission was replaced under warranty but the dealership will not pay for the replacement of this transmission because it is over the mileage limit of the warranty by 4000 miles. *la

4- wheel drive sticks, causing vehicle to be malfunction.*ak

Dashboard gear position indicator has misaligned. should be: p,r,n,d,2,1 is: r(park),n(reverse),d(neutral),2(drive),1(low),----(low).*ak

Several times when vehicle was turned on there was a stream of smoke that came up from the gear shifter. also, gear shift indicator was misaligned. when vehicle was in reverse it looked like it was in neutral, and when is in neutral it looked like it was in drive. *ak *nlm

Nar 06/19/2003. *mr after following the owners manual guidelines in transporting trailers on ford vehicles. the consumer towed the trailer, and the vehicle slipped into neutral. the consumers was unable to restart the vehicle. the vehicle was towed and the mechanic determined the transmission had burned out because the vehicle was in overdrive. *jb

I purchased my explorer about 1 year ago. i have had nothing but problems with it since i bought it. just in the last 3 months it has been in the shop at hometown motors at least 4 or 5 times. and everytime they get it in they charge me a hundred dollar deductable plus what the warranty won't cover. i had to pay 1300.oo for my warranty and i have had to pay almost 700.00 since then on the work for everything going wrong with the explorer. i have all of my receipts being gathered . who can i get ahold of to tell them about this lemon that i bought. i cannot afford for this to keep going on.i still owe the car company almost 300 dollars from last week when my explorer was in the shop for almost 2 weeks. please email me back and tell me everything i should do to get this problem fixed. i really appreciate it.

The transmission went out at 50,000 miles. *tt

When the vehicle was at a stop, with the gear in drive, the vehicle intermittently lurched forward without warning. the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. *jb

While driving on 2 lane road (puddles of water, a little hilly) both the 4 wd low and 4 wd high indicator lights flash together three times for a second or two at two separate times. shortly after, the front end dipped down and the back end came forward and i almost lost control of the vehicle. almost had a head on collision and took a bit of maneuvering to get the truck straight due to the wet areas of the road. i called ford that night and they agreed that if the 4 wd "kicked" in it would have caused the loss of control. took it to the towson ford the following morning. they did a test drive and check for codes - nothing showed up. this has not occurred since - but i am still hesitant because of the safety issue. not sure what to do now. *nlm