Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
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.
WHILE DRIVING 60 MILES AN HOUR DURING RUSH HOUR THE GAS PEDAL DISAPPEARED. THE BRACKET THAT ATTACHES TO THE FIREWALL BECAME SEPARATED AND I LOST ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE SOMEHOW TO GET ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND PARK ON THE SHOULDER OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY AS SHE REFUELED THE VEHICLE DAILY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
1999 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE ON HIS VEHICLE. *TGW RECALL # 06E056000. *JB
FIRE STARTED FROM CAR TO OUR HOUSE. CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO OUR HOUSE AND ALMOST KILLED OUR CAT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. ALSO, THE HOOD ON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT OPEN. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE KEY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR, MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER LOST ALL POWER. MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR AND I WAS TRAVELING AT A CONSTANT SPEED. IT WAS VERY, VERY SCARY AND I WAS LUCKY TO STEER THE CAR INTO A TURNING LANE PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE LOSING ALL MOMENTUM AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE THE FUEL PUMP, BUT THEY DIDN'T SEEM TOO SURE ABOUT IT, WHICH WORRIED ME TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR IN THE EVENT THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN! *NM
THE INTERIOR OF THE FUEL TANK DEVELOPED RUST, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE ROAD. TAKEN TO SHOP FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK.*AK *TC
1999 FORD EXPLORER FUEL LINE LEAKING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE FUEL LINES THAT EXTENDS OVER THE VALVE COVER AND INTO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM IS LEAKING FUEL. CONSUMER COULD SMELL THE GAS ODOR AND PULLED OVER TO STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. *TT *NM
ENGINE STALLS OUT WHEN YOU LET OFF GAS HAS DONE IT THREE TIME FIRST TIME TOOK IT DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG SECOND TIME DID IT COMING OF INTERSTATE RAMP THAT WAS FUN THEY REPLACE PART IN FUEL SYSTEM (SOME THING ABOUT IDLE SENSOR?). MY WIFE'S AND SISTER'S 2000 RANGER ALSO DID IT. *AK
ENGINE STALLS OUT WHEN YOU LET OFF GAS HAS DONE IT THREE TIME FIRST TIME TOOK IT DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG SECOND TIME DID IT COMING OF INTERSTATE RAMP THAT WAS FUN THEY REPLACE PART IN FUEL SYSTEM (SOME THING ABOUT IDLE SENSOR?). MY WIFE'S AND SISTER'S 2000 RANGER ALSO DID IT. *AK
THE FUEL TANK WAS LOOSE AND WAS CAUSING THE FUEL SENDING UNIT TO FAIL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. *AK....THE FUEL TANK WA SNOT LOOSE. THE BAFFLE PLATE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK BECAME UNATTACHED, SLIDING BACK AND FORTH, WHICH IN TURN ALSO RUINED THE GAS TANK FUEL SENDING UNIT. AFTER INQUIRING OF FOR DEALERSHIP, THEY ADMITTED THAT THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF THE SLIDING BAFFLE PLATE SEVERED THE ELECTRICAL WIRES TO THE FUEL TANK GAUGE SENDING UNIT. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW TANK/FUEL PUMP, AND SENDING UNIT. *AK
THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER DOES NOT CLEAR THE ENTIRE WINDOW, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT WAIT UNTIL THE TURN WAS MADE BEFORE GOING OFF. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SOMETHING MAY HAVE COME LOOSE WHICH CAUSED A GAS LEAK WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE WIPER AND TURN SIGNAL UNDER WARRANTY. *JB *NM
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 HAVE A EDDIE BAUER 199 FORD EXPLORER, AND THE AUTOMATIC FUEL PUMP SWITCH WILL JUST SWITCH OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER BEING PARKED. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURED AS OF YET, BUT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
THE FORD MANUAL FOR THE 1999 FORD EXPEDITION STATED THE CONSUMER SHOULD STOP FUELING AFTER THE AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF OF THE SERVICE STATION PUMP STOP FUELING TWICE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT OVER FILLING THE TANK COULD CAUSE A CARTRIDGE FILTER IN THE FILLER NECK TO MALFUNCTION. *AK *JB
THE AIR BAG (SRS) LIGHT ILLUMMINATES WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER HAS APPEMPTED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM ON SEVERAL OCCASION YET THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. NLM
THIS IS THE SECOND DESCRIBED COMPONENT THAT HAS FAILED. THE FIRST FAILED AROUND 12000 MILES. THE COMPONENT FAILURE RESULTS IN THE ENGINE FAILING TO IDLE. IN ORDER TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING AT SPEEDS BELOW 30MPH IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE OTHER ON THE BRAKE WHEN COMING TO A STOP. FAILING TO KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND MAINTAINING AT LEAST 500RPM WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE GEARING ARRANGEMENT OF MY EXPLORER CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL AT SPEEDS BELOW 30MPH WITHOUT USING BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR COMING TO A STOP. WHICH MEANS THAT I MUST KEEP MY FOOT ON THE ACELERATOR AND BRAKE AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. MY INITAL FAILURE OF THE FIRST OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON AN OPEN STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR APPROACHING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO STILL CONTROL THE STEERING AFTER LOSS OF THE POWER-STEERING AS A RESULT OF THE STALLED ENGINE. I ASKED MY DEALER IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN DEFECT OF THIS COMPONENT OR WAS FORD GETTING PARTS FROM A BAD SUPPLIER. ESPECIALLY, SINCE MY VEHICLE NOW HAS THE THIRD SUCH UNIT INSTALLED. HE DIDN'T KNOW BUT THEY HAD REPLACED SEVERAL UNITS. I ASK THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL THE SAME QUESTIONS BUT THEY STATED THAT AS FAR WERE CONCERNED THE NUMBER OF FAILURES FOR THIS PARTICULAR COMPONENT HAD NOT REACHED A POINT TO BE A "CONCERN". WELL UNFORTUNATELY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF SAFETY, I THINK WHEN THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A VEHICLE ENGINE STALLING WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT OR AROUND 30MPH AND YOU CAN LOSE OR GREATLY REDUCE YOUR ABILITY TO STEER YOUR VEHICLE. MY REASON FOR CONTACTING YOU IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT FORD HAS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT ESPECIALLY WHEN I NOW HAVE THE THIRD SUCH UNIT INSTALLED AFTER TWO PREVIOUS FAILURES WITHIN A TOTAL OF 58,549 MILES. ALSO, WHEN THE MECHANICS WHO SERVICE THE VEHICLE STATE THAT THEY THINK THE FAILURE IS THE RESULT OF EXCESSIVE HEAT NEAR THE LOCATION.
THROTTLE BODY/LINKAGE, ETC, FAILS AND CAUSES PEDAL TO STICK. WHILE DRIVING, TRUCK WILL SURGE FORWARD OR STALL WITH NO WARNING. PEDAL MAY ALSO NOT DISENGAGE, REDUCING SPEED WHEN RELEASED. *AK DEALER FOUND STICKING IAC VALVE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. DEALER FOUND LEAKING INTAKE SEALS AND REPLACED. *TT
"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME, BUT CAR APPEARED TO RUN/PERFORM NORMALLY. WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON, I WAS LOW ON FUEL. HAD DEALER CHECK, REPORTED TAHT I NEEDED NEW FUEL PUMP, THERE WERE LEAKS AT INTAKE GASKETS & COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE ABOUT $1,200. SECOND SCAN BY ANOTHER AUTO SHOP COULD NOT GET THE SAME COMPUTER "CODES" AS DEALER. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS RESET. ON 1/24/2002, WHEN FUEL TANK WAS VERY LOW, "CHECK ENGINE" CAME ON AGAIN. NOT CONVINCED WHAT THE PROBLEM IS! I AM CERTAIN THAT WATER IN THE FUEL IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT A NEW FUEL PUMP IS NEEDED.*AK
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN MOTION. *AK
CONSUMER STATES OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND.*JB
I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWO TIMES. THE FIRST WAS AT 8000. THE FIRST SYMPTOM WAS TRYING TO DIE AFTER BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THE SECOND FAILURE JUST OCCURRED WITH THE SYMPTOM BEING DIFFICULT STARTS.*AK
FUEL PUMP FAILED. YH
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
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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