Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 217 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 217, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SPORADICALLY OPERATE WITHOUT ACTIVATION AND WHEN ACTIVATED, WOULD NOT OPERATE AT ALL. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED UNTIL THE WIPERS WERE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT'S PERSONAL MECHANIC INSPECTED VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING HAD FAILED AND WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO OPERATE INVOLUNTARILY TWO OR THREE TIMES. DURING THE FAILURES, SMOKE WOULD BEGIN TO RISE FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WOULD ONLY DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH IN INTENSE RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, POWER LOCKS AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE REAR HATCH, THE GLASS SUDDENLY EXPLODED EVERYWHERE. THERE WERE PIECES OF GLASS THAT WERE EIGHT INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE GLASS SHATTERED WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE THAT SOME OF THE PIECES STRUCK AND CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED POWDER BURNS TO THE FACE AND SHOULDERS, AS WELL AS SMALL CUTS. SHE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR A MECHANIC, BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,077.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD NOT BE TURNED ON. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 FORD EXPLORER. HIS REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING AND HIS FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEM MODULE AND THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS; HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A FORD DEALER. THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHEN HE WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR GLASS SUDDENLY SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,726. UPDATED 06/02/08 *BF UPDATED 06/02/08 *TR UPDATED 06/03/08
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL START ON THEIR OWN. WHEN IT HAPPENS, THEY WILL CONTINUE INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL I TURN THE WIPERS ON HIGH THEN TURN THEM BACK OFF. IT IS EXTREMELY INTERMITTENT, SOMETIMES GOING MONTHS BEFORE IT WILL DO IT. HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT A YEAR. *TR
THE REAR WINDOW WIPER ON MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER FAILS TO WORK. I'VE REPLACED THE MOTOR, AND THERE IS POWER TO THE MOTOR ITSELF. IF I TURN THE WIPER ON AND GET OUT AND FORCE THE WIPER UP, IT WILL BEGIN TO WORK. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT AN OPTION WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT BEGINS TO RAIN. WITH THE WIPER NOT WORKING, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE BACK. *JB
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
DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE PLASTIC VENT INSIDE THE HEATER CONTROL ASSEMBLY BROKE. THIS PLASTIC VENT REGULATES WHERE THE AIR WILL CIRCULATE THROUGH OUT THE VEHICLE. ALSO, IT CONTROLS THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO SEE WITHOUT THE WINDSHIELD BEING DEFROSTED. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED WHY THE COMPONENT BROKE. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND NOT DO ANYTHING. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. *AK
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
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
BLEND DOOR ON THE HEAT AND AC BROKEN, CANNOT WARM UP INTERIOR OF VEHICLE TO DEFROST WINDOWS, IT JUST BLOWS COLD AIR(MAYBE OUTSIDE AIR). HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET.
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
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
WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ,AND DROVE IT TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT A GEM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE'S POWER WINDOWS, 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND DOME LIGHT HAVE ALSO STOPPED WORKING. *NM
THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGE WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED TO DO SO AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDOW BROKE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A NEW WINDOW WOULD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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
THE WINDSHIELD IN MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER CAME LOOSE. ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT COME COMPLETELY OUT, IT WOULD NOT HAVE REMAINED INTACT IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. I HADS TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *AK
SIDE VIEW MIRROR FILM IS WARPED CAUSING IT HARD TO SEE OUT OF SIDE VIEW MIRROR EQUIPMENT.*MR CONSUMER COULD NO LONGER USE THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. SHE HAD TO RESULT TO LOOKING BEHIND HER AND DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DOING THIS. ONE GUY SHE SPOKE WITH AT A FORD BODY SHOP HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS EXPLORER. CONSUMER THOUGHT THE REPAIR WOULD BE APPROX. $200. DOLLARS BUT HE INFORMED HER IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE $250. DOLLARS. CONSUMER NOTED SHE WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BUT FEEL SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *PH
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, MAKING IT HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING RAINY WEATHER. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER OPERATED POORLY AFTER A PART WAS REPLACED.*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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