Steering
Filed Aug 8, 2003
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10032473
- Incident
- Jul 29, 2003
1999 Chevrolet Explorer
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Aug 8, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
Overview
Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Chevrolet Explorer, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and electrical categories. 9 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 2002 | 1 | 2 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 3 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 4 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 5 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags120.0%
- Brakes120.0%
- Electrical120.0%
- Exterior lighting120.0%
- Steering120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Brakes
Filed Apr 2, 2003
THE CALIPER BOLTS WERE MISSING, WHICH CAUSED A VIBRATION. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10015070
Airbags
Filed Sep 24, 2002
CONSUMER STATES; WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FLASH ON AND OFF. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND FIXED COUPLE TIME AN THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCCURING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
- NHTSA ID
- 8019348
- Incident
- Sep 22, 2002
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2002
AT 5MPH PUT ON TURN SIGNAL AND STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE A FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 8013751
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 27, 2000
IN GENERAL, HEADLIGHTS ARE AIMED TOO HIGH. I AIM MINE LOWER TO ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY BUT NOT THE TREES. THE STANDARD FOR HEADLIGHT AIM NEEDS TO BE REVISED TO LOWER SUBSTANTIALLY. IN ADDITION, THE ADVENT OF FOG LAMPS IS A DISSAPPOINTMENT. FIRST, THEY ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL. THEY BROADCAST LIGHT, RATHER THAN AIM IT IN A NARROW BEAM ALONG THE ROADWAY JUST OFF PAVEMENT HEIGHT. THEY DIRECT LIGHT UP INTO THE LINE OF SIGHT JUST IN FRONT OF THE GRILL, PLACING ADDITIONAL GLARE IN THE DRIVERS VIEW. SOME OF THESE "FOG LAMPS" ARE ALSO FAR TOO BRIGHT, PRODUCING MORE GLARE FOR ON-COMING DRIVERS THAN THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS. THE WORST OFFENDERS ARE DAIMLER-CHRYSLER MINIVANS AND MID-SIZED SEDANS, PLUS PONTIAC MINIVANS. THE AIM AND POWER OF THESE LAMPS-FOR-STYLE MUST BE CONTROLLED TO MINIMIZE THEIR EFFECT ON DRIVER VISION. SO, LOWER HEADLIGHT AIM, AND DIM THE GLARE FROM "FOG LIGHTS". THANK YOU.
- NHTSA ID
- 738377
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
17-NA-073
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
16NA260
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE MEDIA DISC PLAYER WITH THE LATEST CALIBRATIONS TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF THE REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM NOT OPERATING AS INTENDED IN COLDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AREAS DUE TO CALIBRATION CONCERNS.
Recalls
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Vehicle Recalls
99-08-51-007F
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; WHEELS
Refinishing Aluminum Wheels This bulletin updates General Motor's position on refinishing aluminum wheels. GM does not endorse any repairs that involve welding, bending, straightening o re-machining. Only cosmetic refinishing of the wheel's coatings, using recommended procedures, is allowed. Evaluating Damage In evaluating damage, it is the GM Dealer's responsibility to inspect the wheel for corrosion, scrapes, gouges, etc. The Dealer must insure that such damage is not deeper than what can be sanded or polished off. The wheel must be inspected for cracks. If cracks are found, discard the wheel. Any wheels with bent rim flanges must not be repaired or refinished. Wheels that have been refinished by an outside company must be returned to the same vehicle. The Dealer must record the wheel ID stamp or the cast date on the wheel in order to assure this requirement. Refer to Refinisher's Responsibility Outside Company later in this bulletin.
99-08-51-007F
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; WHEELS
Refinishing Aluminum Wheels This bulletin updates General Motor's position on refinishing aluminum wheels. GM does not endorse any repairs that involve welding, bending, straightening o re-machining. Only cosmetic refinishing of the wheel's coatings, using recommended procedures, is allowed. Evaluating Damage In evaluating damage, it is the GM Dealer's responsibility to inspect the wheel for corrosion, scrapes, gouges, etc. The Dealer must insure that such damage is not deeper than what can be sanded or polished off. The wheel must be inspected for cracks. If cracks are found, discard the wheel. Any wheels with bent rim flanges must not be repaired or refinished. Wheels that have been refinished by an outside company must be returned to the same vehicle. The Dealer must record the wheel ID stamp or the cast date on the wheel in order to assure this requirement. Refer to Refinisher's Responsibility Outside Company later in this bulletin.
PI0281D
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
Underbody Component Corrosion The following information may be helpful when addressing underbody component corrosion with customers. Some customers may comment that one or more of their vehicle's underbody components are showing some form of corrosion. This corrosion may be red in appearance (rust) if the component is steel, forged iron or cast iron. This corrosion may also be grey or white in color if the component is constructed of an aluminum alloy.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.