1999 Ford Explorer Powertrain (other) Problems

The transmission stopped going in reverse for no apparent reason. All other gears work fine. There’s no lagging when driving and no other signs. I went to put it in reverse to back out of my driveway and when I pushed the gas it just reved the engine up and floated backwards causing me to apply the brakes quickly so I wouldn’t hit my house. There was smoke coming up from the transmission fluid container.The smoke continues to this day and there’s the proper amount/ plenty of transmission fluid in the transmission container.

NHTSA ID

11458793

Incident

Mar 21, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

10906779

Incident

Jul 6, 2016

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

NHTSA ID

10643968

Incident

Oct 10, 2014

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

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

NHTSA ID

10547831

Incident

Oct 13, 2013

Mileage

160,021 mi

FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS FREEZING UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10291939

Incident

Mar 10, 2009

Mileage

137,124 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10167112

Incident

Jul 9, 2006

Mileage

109,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10133733

Incident

Aug 21, 2005

Mileage

45,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10131744

Incident

Aug 5, 2005

Mileage

65,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10104901

Incident

Dec 27, 2004

Mileage

75,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10073308

Incident

May 10, 2004

Mileage

115,889 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10074894

Incident

Mar 22, 2004

Mileage

43,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10070715

Incident

Jun 15, 2002

Mileage

38,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10069634

Incident

May 15, 2003

Mileage

67,000 mi

THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SHORTED OUT, THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS, FRONT AXLE SEALS, BRAKE CALIPER PADS, BRAKE LINE, POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY AND MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH ASSEMBLY WERE ALL REPLACED. *TS THE TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER, IDLE AIR CONTROL, VALVE INTAKE GASKETS AND THE SEATS WHICH RIPPED WERE ALSO REPLACED. * JB

NHTSA ID

10011788

Incident

Apr 27, 2000

Mileage

8,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10014905

Incident

Apr 1, 2003

THE GEAR SHIFT MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A WINDOW.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008948

Incident

Feb 1, 2003

HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS OVER APPROX 3 WEEK PERIOD. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER WHO INSPECTED CAR AND SAID PROBLEM IS PROBABLY A GASKET IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH FAILED. ALSO SAID THIS IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT HE COULD PROBABLY GET FORD TO PAY ABOUT 70% OF REPAIR COST, LEAVING ME TO PAY ABOUT $125. IF THIS IS A COMMONLY OCCURRING SAFETY PROBLEM, THEN FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND PAY FOR COMPLETE REPAIR COSTS. MY CAR WENT FROM HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS TO FINALLY HAVING THE MOTOR DIE AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN STOPPING, DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILING. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768032

NHTSA ID

10007447

Mileage

24,600 mi

NOISE IS COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. THE UNIT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED SO EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND AFTER BEING USED ONLY SPARINGLY. THE NOISE STILL CAN BE HEARD EVEN AFTER THE REPAIRS. *SCC

NHTSA ID

8005624

Incident

Feb 7, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN, CONSUMER BEGAN HEARING AN ODD N OISE IN AUGUST 2000, AND IN APRIL 2001, AT THAT TIME DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP HOWEVER DID REPLACE THE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY, AND THE JOINT ASSEMBLY SPINDLE-ARM, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE OUTER TIE-ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED, LOWER STEERING SHAFT WHICH WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK AND PINION, ALSO PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT RELEASE, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS REPLACED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

8003482

Incident

Feb 14, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH VEHICLE WAS MAKING A RUMBLING NOISE, AND VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED TO RIGHT. CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BLOWN APART, AND AXLE POPPED WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

889196

Incident

May 24, 2001

WE HAVE HAD A HOOD LATCH RECALL, CRUISE CONTROL RECALL, QUESTIONS ABOUT A TIRE RECALL (FIRESTONE), POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, CV BOOT RIP, WIPERS TURNING ON WITH THE TURN SIGNAL, 1 ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO 0 PSI OIL AT IDLE (DID THEY REALLY REPLACE IT OR JUST SAY THEY DID?) SEVERAL INDEPENDENT RE-EVALUATIONS AFTER THE "NEW" ENGINE HAD EVEN MORE NOISES, FUEL INJECTORS REPLACED, A MYSTERIOUS CLUNKING SOUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE DURING LEFT TURNS, ~5000MI AFTER 1ST ENGINE "REPLACEMENT" ANOTHER FORD REPAIR CENTER IS NOW SAYING THAT THE ENGINE HAS 0PSI AT AND WE NEED ANOTHER ENGINE. WE FEEL LIKE THIS 99 EXPLORER (WITH CURRENTLY <35,000MI)IS A LEMON AND WE ARE TIRED OF RECALLS, REPAIRS, WAITING FOR ENGINES. WE WANT A DEPENDABLE CAR! WE HAVE TAKEN IMMACULATE CARE OF THE CAR, HAVE HAD PROFESSIONALS DO THE WORK ON IT (USUALLY FORD DEALERSHIPS) AND YET WE ARE AFRAID THAT THE WARRENTEE WILL RUN OUT AND WE WILL HAVE AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM OR, WORSE, THE CAR WILL FAIL AND SOMEONE WILL GET HURT! DOES THIS CAR QUALIFY AS A "LEMON." IF NOT WHAT DOES? IF SO, WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS? P.S. ALL OF THE MENTIONED PROBLEMS ARE DOCUMENTED BY FORD DEALERSHIP RECORDS THAT ARE IN OUR POSSESSION.

NHTSA ID

744286

Incident

May 1, 2000

THE DRIVELINE OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AT 60-70 MPH, CONSUMER PUT ON 15" WHEELS AND NEW TIRES WHICH STOPPED SOME OF THE VIBRATION, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SOME OF THE VIBRATION WAS CAUSED BY THE TIRES AND SOME IS CAUSED BY THE DRIVELINE (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AP P-255-70R-16). NLM

NHTSA ID

559373

THERES A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE, IF YOU LOODK UNDER THE VEHICLE YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE AXLE AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN RUBBING TOGETHER. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP THE NOISE SEEMS TO GO AWAY I SPOKE WITH ANOTHER EXPLORER OWNER WHO SAID HE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN TAKEN TO THE SHOP, THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

738262

THE PLANETARY GEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, TWO SEPARATE REPAIRS OF THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE OVERDRIVE UNIT. *MJS

NHTSA ID

554235

Incident

Aug 25, 2000