1999 Ford Explorer Electrical Problems

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE ELECTRIC TO GO HAYWIRE. THE OVERHEAD LAMP CLICKS ON AND OFF THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK DOESN'T WORK COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. SOME OF MY GAUGES WILL DECIDE NOT TO WORK SOMETIMES AND THEN OTHER TIMES WE'LL BE FINE. MY RADIO CLOCK DOES NOT WORK. ALL HAPPENS THE SAME WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR NOT WHETHER I'M PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING OR NOT. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT ANYTHING IT'S CAUSING THIS

NHTSA ID

11385724

Incident

Oct 24, 2020

Mileage

210,000 mi

THE ELECTRICAL ON MY VEHICLE IS BAD. MY RADIO LIGHTS FLASH, NONE OF MY DOORS OPEN FROM TE INSIDE AND ONLY ROLL DOWN WINDOWS FROM DIVER SWITCTH; GAS GAYGE ONLY READS EMPRY ALTHOUGH I J UST PUT 30 DOLLARS IN THE TANK.

NHTSA ID

10870925

Incident

May 25, 2016

Mileage

280,000 mi

STARTED DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND NOTICED HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM HAZORD SWITCH, STOPPED TO CHECK ONCE TRUCK WAS TURNED OFF SMOKE STOPPED STARTED TRUCK UP AGAIN AND WENT ON MY WAY SEVREL MILES FROM HOME SMOKE STARTED AGAIN, COULD NOT LOSE ANY MORE TIME SO I KEPT ON GOING WATCHING FOR ANY FIRE OR SPARKS. MADE IT TO WORK, AT END OF DAY GOT HOME WITH NO ISSUES, MY WIFE DROVE THE TRUCK ( EXPLORER ) LATER THAT EVNING AND SHE ALSO NOTICE SMOKE, WITH IN A FEW DAYS AFTER THIS HAPPEND I NOTICED IT AGIAN AND SOME OF THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED FLIKERING, THE ISSUE OF SMOKE HAS BEEN AN ON GOING THING BUT HAVE NOT SEEN ANY FIRE SO I KEEP DRIVING IT AND LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE NEW CAR FOR HER SAFTY, MY CONSERNS ARE, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID FOR FRON WINDOW STOPPED WORKING FROM THE FIRST SMOKEING ISSUE AND THEN DASH LIGHTS STARTED SHOTLY AFTER AND NOW I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIR BAG IS STILL WORKING AND THAT SEEMS TO BE A SAFTY ISSUE TO ME, I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THIS TRUCK UNTIL AFTER THE SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUM, AFTER THAT I AM HAVE NUTHING BUT ELICTICAL ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

10777956

Incident

Oct 18, 2006

Mileage

65,247 mi

I WAS AT WORK ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, 5/16 AND RECEIVED A VOICEMAIL AT 3:50PM FROM THE FIRE MARSHALL STATING MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER XLT BURNED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS TOTALED. I HAD NOT DRIVEN THE EXPLORER SINCE APPROXIMATELY 7PM THE NIGHT BEFORE AND HAD TAKEN MY OTHER CAR TO WORK. THE EXPLORER WAS JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, OUTSIDE THE GARAGE AND STARTED BURNING. A NEIGHBOR 2 HOUSES OVER SMELLED THE SMOKE AND SAW THE FLAMES AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED HE HAD SEEN THIS TYPE OF FIRE BEFORE DUE TO THE FORD CRUISE CONTROL RECALL PROBLEMS, BASED ON THE BURN PATTERN. I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND BOUGHT IT ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY KIND OF RECALL NOTICE. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET THAT THIS KIND OF THING COULD HAPPEN AND DID HAPPEN - THE MORE I READ ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IT'S HAPPENED TO THE MORE UPSET I GET, I'VE HAD NIGHTMARES SINCE FRIDAY SINCE MY HOUSE WOULD HAVE BURNED IF I HAD PARKED IT 1 FOOT CLOSER TO THE GARAGE -- WHICH I USUALLY DO, I HAD PLANNED TO GIVE IT TO MY STEPSON ON SATURDAY WHO WAS COMING TO VISIT FROM NY AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS FIRST CAR -- MY FIANCE' IS STRESSED OUT AND UPSET BEYOND WORDS I CAN WRITE HERE. NO EXCUSE FORD...SHAME ON YOU!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10592817

Incident

May 16, 2014

Mileage

118,600 mi

AFTER MAKING RIGHT TURN, ABS LIGHT CAME ON. INSTRUMENT DIALS STARTED JUMPING. VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START AFTERWARDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515434

Incident

Jun 6, 2013

Mileage

97,000 mi

THE POWER LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK ALL THE DOORS. THE ONLY DOOR THAT WILL UNLOCK IS THE FRONT PASSENGER. IF THE DRIVER DOOR SHUTS HARD IT WILL NOT OPEN BY THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE HANDLE. HAVE TO ENTER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501267

Incident

Dec 19, 2012

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BUT IT WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V072000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND COULD NOT FIND ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA ID

10399532

Incident

Apr 15, 2011

Mileage

220,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PLACING A NEW BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIS KEYS. HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE UP; THE KEYS WOULD TURN BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10384377

Incident

Feb 17, 2011

Mileage

200,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING ELECTRICAL WAS BURNING. I PULLED OVER INTO A STORE PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I OPENED THE HOOD AND BLACK SMOKE WAS POURING OUT. I ALSO SAW A SMALL RED FLAM SO I RAN INTO A DENTIST OFFICE THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE PARKING LOT TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. WHEN I REOPENED THE HOOD THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE CAR AND FLAMES WERE ABOUT 2 FEET HIGH. I USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER UNTIL AN OFFICER CAME AND THEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THEY THEN RAN THERE HOSE ON THE ENGINE A TO ENSURE THE FIRE WAS OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10344508

Incident

Jun 16, 2010

Mileage

156,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PROCEEDING FROM A COMPLETE STOP AT 10 MPH SMOKE BEGAN EMANATING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. HE CONTINUED VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. UPDATED 12/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10290772

Incident

Oct 10, 2009

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEM CONTROLLED ELECTRONIC FUNCTION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO STOP WORKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V072000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. AS OF OCTOBER 3, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,589. UPDATED 05/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 05/11/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10244308

Incident

Jun 4, 2008

Mileage

99,589 mi

I DRIVE IN THE AFTERNOON TO THE STORE. THEN I PARK MY CAR IN THE STORE PARKING. 30 MINUTES BEFORE I ARRIVED, HEARD IN THE STORE, THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THE OWNER OF A FORD EXPLORER. WHEN I CAME, MY CAR WAS IN FIRE. THE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVES AND FINISH THE FIRE. THE CAR LOST IN ALL THE PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228965

Incident

May 26, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ARRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE FIRE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. TWO EXPLOSIONS OCCURRED BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHAL ADVISED THAT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,999, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10223191

Incident

Apr 1, 2008

Mileage

89,999 mi

UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL REMAINED LIT SOLID ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SMOKE POURED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. SMOKE CONTINUED AFTER KEY WAS REMOVED IN "OFF" POSITION. WAS CONCERNED THAT FIRE WOULD START. DISCONNECTED BATTERY CABLE AND TOWED TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER INSPECTED AND REPLACED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS. DEALER SAID HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS CRACKED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10213073

Incident

Dec 27, 2007

Mileage

112,696 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL BLINKED FOUR TIMES AND THEN BECAME STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUMES COMING FROM THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,475 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,455.

NHTSA ID

10201967

Incident

Aug 25, 2007

Mileage

87,455 mi

ON JANUARY 31, 2006 AFTER ARRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 6 BLOCKS FROM MY HOME I NOTICED AN ELECTRICAL SMELL I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY MY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON MY HOME THAT I HAD NOT TAKEN DOWN THEN I FELT THE SIDING AND INSULATION OF MY HOME TO MAKE SURE THAT AN OUTLET WASN'T OVERLOADED OR HOT I EVEN CAME IN AND MOVE MY FURNITURE TO CHECK THE OUTLET CLOSEST TO THE DRIVEWAY AND DIDN'T FIND ANY SOURCE OF THE SMELL. MY BOYFRIEND WENT OUT AND REMOVED THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND SAID HE THOUGHT THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AT THAT TIME I JUST ASSUMED THAT POSSIBLY IT WAS A BRAKE PAD SMELL OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. THIS VEHICLE CONTAINED NO AFTER MARKET STEREO EQUIPMENT IT ONLY HAD A PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM. AFTER THAT INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES ROUND TRIP TWICE TO A LOCAL TOWN WITH NO VEHICLE PROBLEMS OR SMELLS. ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 1, 2007 I GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 6 BLOCKS TO WORK I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, GATHERED MY BELONGINGS EXITED THE VEHICLE, USED THE DOOR LOCKS TO SECURE THE VEHICLE CLOCKED IN AT 5:55 A.M. AND AT APPROXIMATELY 6:15 I WAS CALLED OUT OF MY WORK BY A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER TELLING ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, IT WAS NOTICED IN A SECURITY CAMERA BY DISPATCH, A FELLOW WORKER USED 3 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ON THIS VEHICLE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ONCE THEY ARRIVED THEY HAD TO USE SEVERAL BURST OF WATER TO BRING THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL, THE HOOD LATCH FAILED TO WORK SO THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE HOOD WITH AN AXE BECAUSE THE TIRE WELL WAS STILL GLOWING FROM THE FIRE, THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT AND IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178317

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

Mileage

13,000 mi

STEERING WHEEL KEPT LOCKING UP. IGNITION CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10164206

Incident

Jul 26, 2006

WHEN I USE MY TURN SIGNAL WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN OUT OF THE HOLE FOR THE HAZARD BUTTON. I CALLED MY DEALER WHICH INFORMED ME NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND AGREED MOST LIKELY IT IS THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. I CALLED THE FORD HOTLINE LISTED ON CAMPAIGN ID 00V07200 AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON ALSO STATED THIS VEHICLE HAS NO RECALL. WHAT IS FORD GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? SO IF THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT WILL COST $500 FOR A DEFECTIVE PARTS & LABOR THAT WAS RECALLED FROM A SPECIFIC BATCH BUT NOT FROM MY BATCH AND IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM IS THAT FAIR? WHAT IS MY RECOURSE? *NM

NHTSA ID

10162765

Incident

Jul 10, 2006

Mileage

101,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, POWER WINDOWS AND IGNITION WARNING CHIME FAILED DUE TO THE GEM CIRCUIT. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V072000, REGARDING THE FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10157025

Incident

May 8, 2006

Mileage

95,204 mi

GEM MODULE (VEHICLE GETS LOCKED INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR WILL NOT EXIT 4 WHEEL DRIVE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V06200. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151136

Incident

Feb 24, 2006

Mileage

79,000 mi

EXPERIENCING WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM.....WIPERS TURN ON WITHOUT ACTIVATING THE SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES I CAN'T TURN THEM ON WHEN ITS RAINING......A SAFETY PROBLEM. A MARCH 2000 RECALL #00V072000 DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN # THEREFORE FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. NEW MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH INSTALLED BY DEALER AT MY EXPENSE. RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE VEHICLES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141728

Incident

Oct 20, 2005

Mileage

40,100 mi

DT: NOTICED PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2002. THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BECAUSE THE LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAGS WAS ALWAYS ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. THIS HAPPENED SO OFTEN THAT IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC FOR THE BRAKES BECAUSE THEY WERE MAKING NOISE, AND HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER DOOR LOCK DOES NOT LOCK. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10137206

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSIDE OF THE CONTACT'S MOTHERS GARAGE THE NIGHT THAT MOTHER'S HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. THIS OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 14, 2003. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED BECAUSE THE HOUSE BURNED DOWN, AND WAS CURRENTLY DOING AN INVESTIGATION ON THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE INSURANCE COMPANY ALSO DID AN INVESTIGATION , BUT IT WAS LEFT UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED. COULD NOT EVEN TELL WHAT COLOR THE VEHICLE WAS. THERE WHERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON PRIOR TO THIS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING UNUSUALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED ABOUT THREE TO FOUR HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WHERE TWO DEATHS IN THIS FIRE AND ONE PERSON INJURED. THE FIRE WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED IN THE BACK PART OF THE HOUSE. IT HAS BEEN UNDETERMINED OF WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE KITCHEN APPLIANCES WERE INSPECTED AND NOT FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10137243

Incident

Feb 14, 2003

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. HE STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING HE NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. THIS DID HAPPENED THREE OR FOUR TIMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPER, AND HEADLIGHT DIMMER MODULE). HE HAS FOUND COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE.*AK THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH BURNT AND WAS REPLACED. *TT *NM

NHTSA ID

10124813

Incident

Jun 2, 2005

Mileage

72,741 mi

DT: CONTACT STATES THE INSIDE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK. ALSO, THE OUTSIDE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE REGARDING THE GENERIC ELECTRIC MODULE, BUT THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10124461

Incident

May 27, 2005