1999 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

THE SINGLE OVERHEAD CAMSHAFT (SOHC) V6 ENGINE MAY HAVE AS MANY AS FOUR TIMING CHAINS WITH ASSOCIATED TENSIONERS AND GUIDES. I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A RATTLING SOUND FROM MY ENGINE FOR YEARS AND IT USE TO COME AND GO, BUT NOW IT HAS GOTTEN WORST. I HAD NOTIFIED FORD MOTORS CORP., ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BACK ON 6-30-10 AND DIDN'T GET ANY HELP ON THIS MATTER, THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME THAT MY VIN# WASN'T COVERED. I RECENTLY FOUND THREE DOCUMENTS ON THIS PROBLEM, WITH A NHTSA # ON EACH DOCUMENT. ITEM NUMBER #630022, #620173 AND ARTICLE # 02-7-6. I HAVE ALSO BEEN BY A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE SAME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE FORD DEALERSHIP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE FIXED, AND IS HOPING TO CAN HELP.

NHTSA ID

10925918

Incident

May 15, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO CONSTANTLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE FOR IT TO BE OPERATED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THESE FAILURES, THE BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, AND OIL WERE CHANGED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000

NHTSA ID

10884377

Incident

Apr 2, 2016

Mileage

130,000 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

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

NHTSA ID

10553116

Incident

Nov 14, 2006

Mileage

87,000 mi

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT 8:30 A.M. ON FEBRUARY 7, 2012. APPROXIMATELY 2:30 P.M., THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES THE PARKING LOT, JUST SITTING THERE BURNING, WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450544

Incident

Feb 7, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IN THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND ADVISED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 212,000.

NHTSA ID

10443279

Incident

Dec 28, 2011

Mileage

212,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A FIRE IGNITED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT EXPLODED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A JUNK LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST UNLESS THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10349955

Incident

May 21, 2009

I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH FORD BECAUSE I HAVE 1 1999 FORD EXPLORER XLT AND THE TIMING GUIDE IS GOING OUT AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS...I KNOW PEOPLE THAT NEVER HAVE TO REPLACE THEIR TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND IM REPLACING MINE FOR THE THIRD TIME... *TR

NHTSA ID

10288879

Incident

Oct 14, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE RPM'S INCREASED TO OVER 3,000 RPM'S. THE RPM'S WOULD NOT DECREASE UNTIL HE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IAC VALVE, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, HOUSING, AND THROTTLE PLATE. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR AND RESET THE COMPUTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,554.

NHTSA ID

10254375

Incident

Dec 10, 2008

Mileage

124,554 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10213904

Incident

Oct 31, 2007

I HAVE 1999 FORD EXPLORER-I LOVE MY CAR BUT-LAST YEAR I REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING CHAIN COVER. DUE TO THE FACT THAT TEFLON COVER SOMEHOW BROKE AND WE BEING EATEN BY THE ACTUAL TIMING CHAIN..MY WARRANTY EXPIED IN AUGUST OF 07. WELL AROUND THE 10TH OF SEPTEMBER, MY CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING! WHY DO THEY GET BROKEN SO FAST AND EASILY? AND WHY IS THERE ONLY A 1 YEAR WARRANTY..ARE THERE ANY RECALLS OR NOTICES TO THE PUBLIC, SHOULD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM? ALSO ARE THERE ANY WAYS TO GET HELP FIXING THIS? IT COST ME OVER $2000.00 LAST TIME AND I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO SPEND LIKE THAT EVERY YEAR!!!PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10209598

Incident

Sep 10, 2007

NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. REPAIRMAN SAID IT IS A TENSIONER IN REAR OF ENGINE AND IS COMMON PROBLEM IN THE EXPLORER. HE THOUGHT IT WAS UNDER RECALL. THIS REQUIRES ENGINE TO BE PULLED TO FIX WITH ONLY 85000 MILE ON ENGINE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197720

Incident

May 19, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STALLED IMMEDIATELY. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING CONSTANTLY. THIS WAS THE FIFTH OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER ON FOUR OTHER OCCASIONS, WHERE THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE IDLE BYPASS VALVE WAS STICKING. THE VALVE WAS REPLACED EACH TIME, BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID

10175784

Incident

Dec 8, 2006

Mileage

90,070 mi

WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE(FORD EXPLORER 1999 SOHC V6) IS IN COLD WEATHER AND YOU START IT IT SEEMS TO MISFIRE OR ACT LIKE THERE IS AN AIR LEAK. I HAVE READ SEVERAL POST ON THE INTERNET AND PEOPLE SEEM TO SEE THIS PROBLEM ALOT ON CERTAIN YEAR FORD EXPLORERS. THE HAVE SAID THAT IT IS CAUSED BY AN AIR LEAK AROUND THE EXHAUST MANAFOLD THAT ONLY SHOWS UP WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD BECAUSE THE PART IS SHRUNK AND DOES NOT FIT BUT ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP THE PART EXPANDS AND ACTS AS IF THERE IS NO PROBLEMS. WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN WARM WEATHER YOU NEVER SEE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS FIXED ON MY CAR SINCE I PARK IN A GARAGE I RARELY SEE THIS.

NHTSA ID

10170321

Incident

May 10, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

I WAS AT MY OFFICE WORKING WHEN MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CAME TO ME SAYING "MOMMY IT'S AN EMERGENCY, YOUR TRUCK IS SMOKING!" (I HAD BEEN AT THE OFFICE WORKING FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AFTER PICKING MY CHILDREN UP FROM SCHOOL.) I OPENED THE BACK DOOR TO SEE WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND SAW MY TRUCK ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I RAN BACK INSIDE THE TO CALL 911. A MAN HAD COME INSIDE THE OFFICE TO TELL US A TRUCK WAS ON FIRE, HE WAS ALREADY ON THE PHONE WITH 911. I MOVED MY CHILDREN TO THE FRONT OF THE OFFICE, YELLED FOR EVERYONE PARKED BY MY TRUCK TO MOVE THEIR VEHICLES, AND WENT OUTSIDE IN A PANIC. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AMR ARRIVED, THE FIRE HAD SPREAD TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE INTERIOR, THE GRILL (FRONT OF THE TRUCK) WAS MELTED, THE ENTIRE HOOD AND FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE TRUCK WERE BURNED, THE ENGINE WAS MELTED, AND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE HAD EXPLODED AND PARTIALLY MELTED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168571

Incident

Sep 13, 2006

Mileage

115,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE STALLED. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE DIED IT EASILY RESTARTED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THERE WAS A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN # 01M112 THAT CONCERNED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THE TIMING CHAIN. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CAMPAIGN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10144828

Incident

Dec 8, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT CALLED ABOUT THE CURRENT NHTSA INVESTIGATION DP05005 CONCERNING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING/THE SPARK PLUG. A SPARK PLUG WIRE BURNED AND IT MESSED UP THE EGR SENSOR. THIS OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2005 WHILE GOING OUT OF TOWN ,AND THEY NOTICED THE SPARK PLUG WIRE BURNED OUT AND BURNED A HOSE TO THE VACUUM HOSE AS WELL AS OTHER WIRES. THE VACUUM HOSE AND THE SPARK PLUG WERE REPLACED . THIS STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE EGR SENSOR WAS BAD ACCORDING TO THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, AND THAT IT HAD TO BE REPLACED . ALSO, IT SHOWED A VACUUM LEAK AND ON THE UPPER INTAKE PLATINUM. THEY FOUND A BUNCH OF CRACKS IN IT. THE UPPER INTAKE PLATINUM HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10137923

Incident

Sep 16, 2005

VEHICLE WILL NOT START WHEN ON AN UPHILL INCLINE

NHTSA ID

10124256

Incident

Jun 3, 2005

Mileage

70,231 mi

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOCKED UP ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE CAM SHAFT LOCKED UP BECAUSE OIL WAS NOT CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE MOTOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH.*AK

NHTSA ID

10122140

Incident

May 23, 2005

I HAVE A 1999 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH A V-6 SOHC 4 LITER ENGINE. THE CAR HAS NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATED SINCE PURCHASE IN 2000, IT HAS CONSTANTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. I FOUND OUT FEBRUARY 16, 2005 THAT I HAVE A BROKEN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND IT COST OVER $1,000 TO FIX. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THERE ARE EIGHT FORD MODELS MANUFACTURED FROM 1996 THROUGH 2001 WITH THIS PROBLEM. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT TO CONSUMERS BUT ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE INTHE ATTACHED LINK, THEY HAVE EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND TAXI COMPANIES THAT HAVE PURCHASED THE AFFECTED CARS. PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO.HTTP://WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM/MEDIAATTN.HTM THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE PETER DELVECCHIA. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110699

Incident

Feb 16, 2005

Mileage

1 mi

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK OR STARTED WORKING ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED ON THE ROAD. AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY CAME ON AND OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID

10087166

Incident

May 16, 2000

Mileage

19,000 mi

WHILE AT A STOP SMOKE STARTED TO APPEAR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10073969

Incident

Apr 29, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL BEFORE PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE CONSUMER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. *AK THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 85 MPH AND DID NOT RESPOND TO THE CONSUMERS ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAD TAKEN 1/4 MILES TO STOP EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE MADE A BAD ACCELERATION NOISE THEN SHUT OFF. THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10066934

Incident

Mar 28, 2004

Mileage

47,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON DURING THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. TECHNICIAN REPLACED A CRACKED ENGINE HEAD/HEATER CORE/FOUR DIFFERENT SPARKS PLUGS/ GASKETS, AND FILLED AND CHANGED THE OIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10071836

APPLICATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE ENGINE HAS COOLED, WOULD NEED TO APPLY ADDITIONAL FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BREAK THE BRIDGE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10065649

Incident

Sep 14, 2003

Mileage

57,801 mi