1999 FORD EXPLORER Electrical System Problems

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE ELECTRIC TO GO HAYWIRE. THE OVERHEAD LAMP CLICKS ON AND OFF THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK DOESN'T WORK COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. SOME OF MY GAUGES WILL DECIDE NOT TO WORK SOMETIMES AND THEN OTHER TIMES WE'LL BE FINE. MY RADIO CLOCK DOES NOT WORK. ALL HAPPENS THE SAME WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR NOT WHETHER I'M PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING OR NOT. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT ANYTHING IT'S CAUSING THIS

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.

STARTED DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND NOTICED HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM HAZORD SWITCH, STOPPED TO CHECK ONCE TRUCK WAS TURNED OFF SMOKE STOPPED STARTED TRUCK UP AGAIN AND WENT ON MY WAY SEVREL MILES FROM HOME SMOKE STARTED AGAIN, COULD NOT LOSE ANY MORE TIME SO I KEPT ON GOING WATCHING FOR ANY FIRE OR SPARKS. MADE IT TO WORK, AT END OF DAY GOT HOME WITH NO ISSUES, MY WIFE DROVE THE TRUCK ( EXPLORER ) LATER THAT EVNING AND SHE ALSO NOTICE SMOKE, WITH IN A FEW DAYS AFTER THIS HAPPEND I NOTICED IT AGIAN AND SOME OF THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED FLIKERING, THE ISSUE OF SMOKE HAS BEEN AN ON GOING THING BUT HAVE NOT SEEN ANY FIRE SO I KEEP DRIVING IT AND LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE NEW CAR FOR HER SAFTY, MY CONSERNS ARE, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID FOR FRON WINDOW STOPPED WORKING FROM...

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...

AFTER MAKING RIGHT TURN, ABS LIGHT CAME ON. INSTRUMENT DIALS STARTED JUMPING. VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT START AFTERWARDS. *TR

THE POWER LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK ALL THE DOORS. THE ONLY DOOR THAT WILL UNLOCK IS THE FRONT PASSENGER. IF THE DRIVER DOOR SHUTS HARD IT WILL NOT OPEN BY THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE HANDLE. HAVE TO ENTER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BUT IT WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V072000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND COULD NOT FIND ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PLACING A NEW BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIS KEYS. HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE UP; THE KEYS WOULD TURN BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING ELECTRICAL WAS BURNING. I PULLED OVER INTO A STORE PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. I OPENED THE HOOD AND BLACK SMOKE WAS POURING OUT. I ALSO SAW A SMALL RED FLAM SO I RAN INTO A DENTIST OFFICE THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE PARKING LOT TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. WHEN I REOPENED THE HOOD THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE CAR AND FLAMES WERE ABOUT 2 FEET HIGH. I USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER UNTIL AN OFFICER CAME AND THEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THEY THEN RAN THERE HOSE ON THE ENGINE A TO ENSURE THE FIRE WAS OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PROCEEDING FROM A COMPLETE STOP AT 10 MPH SMOKE BEGAN EMANATING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. HE CONTINUED VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. UPDATED 12/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09.*JB

I DRIVE IN THE AFTERNOON TO THE STORE. THEN I PARK MY CAR IN THE STORE PARKING. 30 MINUTES BEFORE I ARRIVED, HEARD IN THE STORE, THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THE OWNER OF A FORD EXPLORER. WHEN I CAME, MY CAR WAS IN FIRE. THE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVES AND FINISH THE FIRE. THE CAR LOST IN ALL THE PARTS. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN ARRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE FIRE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. TWO EXPLOSIONS OCCURRED BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHAL ADVISED THAT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,999, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL REMAINED LIT SOLID ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SMOKE POURED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. SMOKE CONTINUED AFTER KEY WAS REMOVED IN "OFF" POSITION. WAS CONCERNED THAT FIRE WOULD START. DISCONNECTED BATTERY CABLE AND TOWED TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER INSPECTED AND REPLACED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS. DEALER SAID HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS CRACKED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL BLINKED FOUR TIMES AND THEN BECAME STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUMES COMING FROM THE HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,475 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,455.

WHEN I USE MY TURN SIGNAL WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN OUT OF THE HOLE FOR THE HAZARD BUTTON. I CALLED MY DEALER WHICH INFORMED ME NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND AGREED MOST LIKELY IT IS THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. I CALLED THE FORD HOTLINE LISTED ON CAMPAIGN ID 00V07200 AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON ALSO STATED THIS VEHICLE HAS NO RECALL. WHAT IS FORD GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? SO IF THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT WILL COST $500 FOR A DEFECTIVE PARTS & LABOR THAT WAS RECALLED FROM A SPECIFIC BATCH BUT NOT FROM MY BATCH AND IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM IS THAT FAIR? WHAT IS MY RECOURSE? *NM

GEM MODULE (VEHICLE GETS LOCKED INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR WILL NOT EXIT 4 WHEEL DRIVE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V06200. *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: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSIDE OF THE CONTACT'S MOTHERS GARAGE THE NIGHT THAT MOTHER'S HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. THIS OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 14, 2003. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED BECAUSE THE HOUSE BURNED DOWN, AND WAS CURRENTLY DOING AN INVESTIGATION ON THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE INSURANCE COMPANY ALSO DID AN INVESTIGATION , BUT IT WAS LEFT UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED. COULD NOT EVEN TELL WHAT COLOR THE VEHICLE WAS. THERE WHERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON PRIOR TO THIS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING UNUSUALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED ABOUT THREE TO FOUR HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WHERE TWO DEATHS IN THIS FIRE AND ONE PERSON INJURED. THE FIRE WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED...

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. HE STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING HE NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. THIS DID HAPPENED THREE OR FOUR TIMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (TURN SIGNALS, WINDSHIELD WIPER, AND HEADLIGHT DIMMER MODULE). HE HAS FOUND COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE.*AK THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH BURNT AND WAS REPLACED. *TT *NM

CONSUMER NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHENEVER THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS USED. CONSUMER ANTICIPATES A FIRE IF THIS ISSUE CONTINUED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *JB *BF *NM

MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER WAS PARKED, LOCKED, WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. IN MY GARAGE ON JANUARY 30, 2005. WHEN WE SMELLED SMOKE, LOOKED IN THE GARAGE, AND FOUND EXTREME SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR... I PHONED 911, AND THE OPERATOR ADVISED US TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. WE WENT OUTSIDE AND WAITED FOR THE FIRE DEPT. 5 FIRE TRUCKS CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE..... BUT THE CAR WAS BURNED COMPLETELY, AND ALSO THE GARAGE AND ALL OF IT'S CONTENTS ARE A TOTAL LOSS.... MY HOUSE IS ALSO DAMAGED, DUE TO SOOT, AND SMOKE.... I AM 65 YEARS OLD, LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY, I AM A 44 YEAR TYPE 1 DIABETIC... THIS HAS CAUSED ME IMMENSE PROBLEMS.... I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU MAY AFFORD ME..*JB

MULT-IFUNCTION SWITCH MALFUNCTION. WHEN I USE THE BLINKER IT WILL PAUSE MOMENTARILY AND THEN IT WILL SMOKE. THIS IS A PROBLEM FORD KNOWS ABOUT AND HAS RECALLED ON 3 MANUFACTURED LINES OF 99 EXPLORERS BUT NOT MINE. SO THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. *JB

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

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

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

WHEN I ATTEMPT TO USE MY TURN SIGNAL, SMOKE BEGINS TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH. I THEN HAVE TO BLOW IT OUT. *JB

1999 FORD EXPLORER. TURN SIGNAL "MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH" SHORTS OUT, CAUSING SMOKE TO POUR OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD REGARDING THIS $300.00 REPAIR, THE SERVICE TECH SAID HE HAS SEEN IT BEFORE AND KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG.*AK THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND WE ARE NOW SCHEDULED TO GO IN FOR REPAIRS.

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

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.*JB

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS W/ THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH. FIRST, MY WIPERS WOULD RANDOMLY TURN ON. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM. NEXT, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN ON WHEN IT WAS REALLY COLD. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT REPLICATE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. NEXT, THE WIPERS COULD NOT REACH FULL SPEED. AT 35,000 MILES, WE FORCED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE MFS UNDER WARRANTY. FINALLY, AT 59,000 MILES, WHITE SMOKE STARTED SPEWING FROM THE MFS. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP, I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THE MFS REPLACED. WHEN I COMPLAINED, THE DEALERSHIP REFERRED ME TO THE FORD COMPLAINT LINE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS UNACCEPTABLE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE DASH LIGHT ILLUMINATES ALL LIGHT ACTIVATED. THE LIGHTS BLINK ON AND OFF, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING, THE TURN SIGNALS ARE ERRATIC. NLM

WHILE MERGING VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION. TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH VEHICLE EXIBITED A SLUGGISH ACCELERATION, AND THEN A SOUND THAT RESEMBLED A STICK SHIFT NOT CHANGING GEARS. PULLED OFF ROAD, TURNED OFF VEHICLE, AND RESTARTED AND PROCEEDED HOME. DROVE TO DEALER FOLLOWING DAY, AND DEALER SAID VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. HAS NOT SHUT OFF, BUT ONE TIME. HOWEVER, HAS SHOWN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. RECALLS # 00V72000/ ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS99V062001/ CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FAILURE. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V072000. CONTACTED DEALER WHO REFUSED TO CORRECT PROBLEM .*AK DOT# VDHL. CONSUMER IS HAVING DIFFICULTY OBTAINING RECALL REPAIR FOR THE FIRESTONE TIRES. *SLC

THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS SHUT DOWN DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. THIS FAILURE MAY BE THE CAUSE OF OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. THE AIRBAG CONNECTORS WERE CRACKED UNDER PASSENGER SEAT CAUSING FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 4-5 TIMES. *YC

ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS & WINDOWS INOPERABLE, ON ONE INCIDENT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED ALMOST RESULTING IN COLLISION IN BAD WEATHER CONDITION. *YC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING UNKNOWN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. MJS

WHILE DRIVING EVERYTHING THAT WAS ELECTRICAL STOPPED WORKING, INCLUDING STEERING/LIGHTS/WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS, ALSO, ENGINE SHUTDOWN, ALMOST CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML