Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 65 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 65, in the owner's own words
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.
HI,I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE CORRECT SITE FOR ME TO BE WRITING BUT I BOUGHT A 1999 FORD EXPLORER FROM A DEALER IN NEW BOSTON ON OR AROUND 7/23/2010 IT HAD 113,027 MILES ON IT, I WAS TOLD IT WAS FULLY INSPECTED WITH NO ISSUES AND THEY PUT A SAFETY INSPECTION STICKER ON IT. ON 8/13/2010 I DROPED SAID FORD OFF AT AUTO FAIR FORD IN MANCHESTER, N.H. TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT WITH APPR. 113850 MILES ON IT AND THEY FOUND MULTIPLE SAFETY FAILURES AND VIOLATIONS SUCH AS BAD BAD BALL JOINTS, EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INOPERABLE, BRAKE LINE LEAKS AND WORN BRAKES THAT COULD NOT HAVE PAST INSPECTION AMOUNG OTHER SAFETY INSPECTION ISSUES. IT ENDED UP COSTING ME ABOUT $2700.00FOR MOSTLY SAFETY REPAIRS.HOW CAN A SAFETY INSPECTOR ISSUE A SAFETY STICKER WITH THESE PROBLEMS? DO I HAVE ANY KIND OF RECOURSE AND IF SO TO WHOM OR TO WHAT AGENCY COULD I CONTACT? THANK YOU FOR ANY AND ALL HELP [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
FRONT AND REAR BALL JOINTS WENT BAD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OR GREATER, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE FRONT TIRES ON THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN CUPPING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114,000.
DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF THE WORN OUT LOWER FRONT BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING FRONT HUB CAME OFF THE VEHICLE, SIDE UNKNOWN. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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
WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWING VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *PH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING A 5X 10 SINGLE AXLE TRAILER ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE *JB
SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH 1999 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. *MR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED RIGHT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD BLOWN, THERE WAS A WHINE NOISE, A LEAKING ON THE GARAGE FLOOR ALONG WITH A BURNING SMELL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUTOFF, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE FRONT AXLE SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE HEAT GAUGE SHOWED HOT, THE DEALER DETERMINED IT WAS THE THERMOSTAT. THE ENGINE SURGED, THE LIGHT EMITTING THE DISPLAY HAD GONE OUT, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY/AXLE SEAL. *SCC *JB
I OWN A 1999 EXPLORER WITH 60000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE BAD, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH THE CONTROL ARM SINCE IT WAS ONE UNIT. WHY WERE SEALED BALL JOINTS THAT WERE PART OF THE CONTROL ARM BEING USED, UNLESS IT WAS TO RAISE THE FREQUENCY AND COST OF REPAIRS AT THE EXPENSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY . A BALL JOINT FAILURE AT ANY SPEED COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLES ROUTINELY GO WELL OVER 100,000 MILES WITH NON SEALED BALL JOINTS, AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. THIS WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION, ESPECIALLY SINCE CONSUMER BECAME AWARE THAT HIS PROBLEM IS BY NO MEANS AN ISOLATED CASE. HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THE LOCAL DEALER WAS DOING A LOT OF THOSE, AND THAT THEY WERE AWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM.*AK
I WAS TOLD BY ALDERMAN FORD THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON MY FORD EXPLORER WERE IN A FAILURE CONDITION AT 53000 MILES--"UNSAFE TO DRIVE". THIS CAR HAS HAD NORMAL DRIVING USE. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD'S CHOICE OF "SEALED BALL JOINTS" WAS THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE-PRONE BALL JOINTS, AND THAT THIS IS "NORMAL". ARE ALL EXPLORERE USERS IN THIS ENDANGERED POSITION? IF SO, IS A RECALL NECESSARY? IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN CHECK HOW MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE BAD JOINTS? MY 91 EXPLORER WENT 135000 MILES WITHOUT BALL JOINT PROBLEMS. BALL JOINT FAILURE AT SPEED IS DANGEROUS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
I WAS ON THE MOTERWAY {UK} TOWING A CARAVAN I WAS DOING 45/50 MPH TRUCK PAST ME BY AND MADE US SWAY I GAINED CONTROL AND THEN THE CAR&CARAVAN STARTED BOUNCING. CARAVAN PARTED FROM THE CAR AND THEN WE FLIPPED OVER ON TO THE PASSINGER SIDE AND THEN ROLLED ONTO THE ROOF ACROSS 3 LANES. *AK
TRUCK IS SUBJECT TO VIBRATION WHEN DRIVEN HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SEVERAL COMPONENTS THAT RELATE TO CONTROL AND STABILITY WERE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP WITH NO CHANGE INCONDITION. OWNER IS CONCERNED ABOUT LOSING CONTROL WITH NO WARNING.*JB
WHILE DRIVING IN OVERDRIVE AT 50 MPH AND GOING UP AN INCLINE, VEHICLE VIBRATES ERRATICALLY. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. *AK O2 SENSOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER CAN NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.*YH *SLC
WHEN GOING UP A HILL AT 55-60 MPH IN OVERDRIVE THERE IS A VIBRATION SENSATION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED IT WAS NORMAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 15MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT TIRE COLLAPSED. MECHANIC STATED THAT UPPER BALL JOINT WAS MISSING A NUT WHICH CAUSED BRAND NEW TIRE TO COLLAPSE.*AK DEALER REPLACED BROKEN RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT, BRAKE HOSE, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND RACK/PINION UNIT. *YD
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION. *JG
WHILE DRIVING, THROTTLE/ AIR BYPASS VALVE MALFUNCTIONS WHICH CAUSES ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK, AND PEDAL GOES NEARLY TO THE FLOOR. ALSO PEDAL HAS TO BE PUMPED BEFORE IT RELEASES. *AK THE DEALER SAID THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL HESITATES AND THERE IS ROUGH IDLE, THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED, AND WERE REPLACED.*YH
WHILE DRIVING, UPPER CONTROL ARM DISENGAGED FROM VEHICLE AND WHEEL CAME OFF *AK CONSUMER HAD STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND WENT TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE PAVEMENT, CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THIS VEHICLE. *JB
WHEN WE TOOK DELIVERY OF THE 2000 EXPLORER, THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE INFLATED TO 20PSI. WE DISCOVERED THIS AFTER AN 800 MILE TRIP. WHEN INFLATED TO 30 PSI, THE RIDE IS TERRBLE! WHEN WE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE RIDE ON THE NEXT SERVICE TRIP, THEY GAVE US PAPER WORK STATING THE TIRE PRESSURE HAD BEEN ADJUSTED TO 30 PSI. THE RIDE WAS BETTTER ON THE 10 MILE TRIP HOME. CHECKING THE TIRE PRESSURE WHEN WE ARIVED HOME SHOWED THEM TO BE INFLATED TO 20 PSI. REINFLATING TO 30 PSI CAUSED THE BONE JARRING RIDE TO REOCCUR. BOTTOM LINE: FORD HAS A SUSPENSION PROBLEM THAT THEIR DEALERS ARE FIXING BY LOWERING TIRE PRESSURE TO 20 PSI. HOW MUCH OF THE FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEM HAVE THE DEALERS CREATED TRYING TO SOVE CUSTOME RIDE COMPLAINTS?*AK
CONSUMER STATES OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND.*JB
CONSUMER HAD FIRESTONE TIRE REPLACED WITH GOODYEAR , WHICH IS NOW SHOWING EVIDENCE OF WEAR. CONSUMER FEELS ITS THE SUSPENSION THAT IS CAUSING TIRE TO PREMATURELY WEAR OUT, AND IT IS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT HAS REAR SUSPENSION LOWER THAN FRONT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND ABOVE VEHICLE WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THIS WANDERING IS WORSE UNDER WINDY CONDITIONS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE' HANDLING IS TYPICAL OF SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
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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