1999 Ford Explorer transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

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 complaint #11458793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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 complaint #10906779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10643968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10553116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10547831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM,FAILURE AND SLIPING,OF MY FORD EXPLORER 1999...

NHTSA complaint #10404515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY FORD EXPLORER "O/D OFF" LIGHT FLASHES AND IT HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 5TH GEAR. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND MY TRANSMISSION COULD GO OUT AT ANY MINUTE, COSTING THOUSANDS TO REPAIR. IF I AM DRIVING ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY OR MERGING THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ON OTHER WEBSITES. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED

NHTSA complaint #10383020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE OWNED MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A DELAY WITH THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGING WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO IT STARTED HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AND VERY SOON AFTER THAT MY OVER DRIVE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND BLINKS WHICH MAKES THE VEHICLE SLUGGISH LIKE I AM TOWING SOMETHING. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM ONLY ONE OF THOUSANDS OR MORE THAT HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1995 - 2004. ALSO FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS ANYWHERE FROM A $2000 - $5000 FIX. FROM MY RESEARCH AND I DON'T SEEM TO BE ALONE. THIS SHOULD BE A FORD RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10376413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE REVERSE IN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. PROBABLY IS NOT WORTH IT. PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO GET ANOTHER CAR. AT LEAST FOR NOW. I PRETTY MUCH USE THE CAR ONLY AFTER WORK NOW SINCE I STARTED TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS. CAME HOME, DROVE THE CAR FROM THE TRAIN STATION, (ABOUT 1/4 OF A MILE) WENT INTO THE HOUSE TO DROP OFF MY WORKBAGS, CAME BACK OUT, STARTED THE CAR, PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND HEARD A LOUD PING. PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND TRIED REVERSE AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. GO FIGURE. TRIED GOING FORWARD AND THE CAR MOVED. NEIGHBOR CAME OUT AND SAID THAT HE HEARD THE PING AND THAT THE PIN BROKE WHEN I TRIED REVERSE. ADVISED THAT I WOULD NEED TO GET EITHER A NEW CAR OR A NEW TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE CORRECTED OTHERWISE. NEEDED TO GET ANOTHER CAR FOR NOW, BECAUSE NOT SURE IF IT MAY BE WORTH IT TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR AN 11 YR OLD VEHICLE. JUST REPLACED A TIMING BELT, TENSIONER AND PULLEY JUST 2 1/2 MONTHS BEFORE THAT. NOW REPAIRS ARE STARTING TO ADD UP JUST TO KEEP IT RUNNING AND THE CAR LOOKS VIRTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IT IS ONLY ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD. WOULD UNDERSTAND BETTER IF IT WAS SLIPPING, BUT AGAIN, NO PRIOR WARNING. ONE DAY IT WORKED FINE AND THE NEXT DAY IT WAS NOT.

NHTSA complaint #10365676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE REVERSE GEAR AT 115K MILES IN JULY 2010.

NHTSA complaint #10346962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1999 FORD EXPLORER- REVERSE WENT OUT IN TRANSMISSION, THEN AFTER SPENDING 1500. TO GET THAT FIXED , WORKED GOOD FOR AWHILE, NOW THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES AND WON'T KICK INTO OVERDRIVE, NOW I AM TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 110,000 MILES SHOULD NOT BE ON IT'S 3RD TRANSMISSION FIX.. VERY DISAPPOINTED !

NHTSA complaint #10311945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING WHILE TRYING TO ENTER ON RAMP ON BUSY HIGHWAY SOUNDS TRIVIAL HOWEVER ENDANGERING LIVES OF OCCUPANTS OF MANY VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10299741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS FREEZING UP.

NHTSA complaint #10291939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 112,750 MILES. CAR FINE TUESDAY NIGHT. UPON LEAVING DRIVEWAY WEDNESDAY MORNING, REVERSE WAS GONE, BUT FORWARD GEARS FINE--NO NOISE, NO LEAKS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED. UPON LEAVING TO DRIVE TO GET IT DIAGNOSED FOR REPAIR, NOISES OCCURRED, THEN FLUID LEAKED. A COMPONENT BLEW A HOLE IN TRANSMISSION CASE. TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THIS VEHICLE--MOSTLY 2002 MODELS, THOUGH ALL YEARS WERE REPRESENTED. MANY EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS PRIOR TO 50,000 MILES OF USE. APPARENTLY THIS VEHICLE IS CALLED "EXPLODER" BY REPAIR SHOPS AND FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. A PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE CLEARLY NEEDS ADDRESSING,, AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE FORD MOTOR CO. WILL NOT DO IT, AS THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING--IT SEEMS THAT THEY SIMPLY DO NOT CARE TO TAKE THE TIME, MONEY AND EFFORT [MOSTLY THE MONEY, I'M SURE] TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM--THEY JUST WILL NOT CARE UNLESS FORCED TO--AND YOU ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN FORCE THEM TO DO SOMETHING. I AM LOOKING INTO STARTING A CLASS-ACTION SUIT PRESENTLY. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE IT NECESSARY TO CONTINUE....

NHTSA complaint #10274374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FORD EXPLORER 1999... O/D BLINKING, TRANSMISSION MISSED 2ND OR 3RD GEARS, FIXED COUPLE TIMES INCLUDING SWITCHES, SOLENOID,ETC. THE MECHANIC SUGGEST TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION, BUT NOT GUARANTEE THAT WILL FIX IT.

NHTSA complaint #10249395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT FUNCTIONS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,204.

NHTSA complaint #10243230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE CONSTANTLY ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT FAILED TO PROPERLY SHIFT INTO GEAR. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE VEHICLE DRIFTS INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA complaint #10243231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHENEVER SHE PLACES THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT FUNCTIONS AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT OPERATE WHILE IN THE NORMAL DRIVING GEAR. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08.

NHTSA complaint #10243222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

O/D LIGHT STARED FLASHING AND IT WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF THE LOWER GEAR. PAID AROUND $1400 TO HAVE SOME BANDS REPLACED IN THE TRANS AND THE COMPUTER FLASHED. NOW HAS A HESITATION BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. TRANSMISSION ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10236555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY TRUCK BEGAN REVVING FOR NO REASON, IT ONLY HAPPENS BELOW 40 MPH. IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN AND HAPPENS MORE WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. A FEW WEEKS BACK, I COULDN'T DRIVE FORWARD, I HAD TO BACK UP AND THEN IT FINALLY DECIDED TO GO FORWARD. I JUST TOOK THE TRUCK IN AND HAD A NUMBER OF THINGS CHECKED AND REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING AND IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. I DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO THROW AWAY ON A NEW TRANSMISSION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PRICE OF GAS. PLEASE FIX THESE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10231354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

A FEW MONTHS A AGO MY SUV STARTED TO MAKE A TAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS COLD. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND IS NOW ALL THE TIME. I HAD THE SUV CHECKED BY A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. AND HE WOULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS TOO INVOLVED AND WAS NOT WORTH IT. PLUS IT WOULD COST ME $1500+. HE EVEN CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A 'PROBLEM' AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WON'T EVEN TOUCH IT! I WAS TOLD BY A FORD REPRESENTATIVE TO 'DRIVE IT TIL IT DIES' AND I GOT MY MONEY OUT OF IT. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH MY SUV, NOT EVEN RUST. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FORD KNOWS THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IN THIS VEHICLE IS A PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. PLEASE HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10229154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SAME 2-3 SHIFT PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD...GAS IT ON THE ON-RAMP, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT "POPS" OUT OF GEAR AND YOU'RE HOPING SOMEONE DOESN'T SLAM INTO THE SIDE OF YOUR VEHICLE. AFTER MY LAST NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS A VALVE BODY GASKET THAT WAS MISSING? (WHERE DID IT GO?) THEY SAID THEY INSTALLED THE UPGRADE KIT AND PUT IN A NEW GASKET, SAID IT WORKED BETTER. ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER (WHEN IT GOT COLD), IT STARTED AGAIN. WORK & PARTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALER "THINKS" IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE. MY COMPLAINT IS, 4 MONTHS AGO I PAID $900 FOR THEM TO FIX WHAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEIR PRODUCT, THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET MORE MONEY OUT OF ME, OR WORM THEIR WAY OUT OF FIXING WHAT I'VE ALREADY PAID THEM TO FIX. THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED IT MIGHT BE AN INTERNAL LEAK, THE TORQUE CONVERTER, THEN SUGGESTED I MIGHT WANT TO REPLACE THE TRANNY. MY RESPONSE WAS YOU HAD IT TORN APART LAST TIME, YOU DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, WHY SHOULD I TRUST YOU NOW? I DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THE THEOLOGY OF "REPAIR THROUGH ATTRITION". THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD ADDRESS OR BE SUED FOR.

NHTSA complaint #10222156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TWICE. FIRST @ 90,000 MILES, SECOND @ 115,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10219080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1999 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION O/D LIGHT FLASHING. TRANSMISSION HAS NOT FAILED YET, BUT IT WON'T BE LONG. I AM WRITING TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE TEN'S OF THOUSANDS OF UNHAPPY FORD CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM FOR A DECADE OF FORD TRANSMISSIONS THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO HEAR ABOUT OR HELP US WITH.

NHTSA complaint #10218484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE 1999 FORD EXPLORER 1. TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, AFTER A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AT THE VALVOLINE OIL CHANGE COMPANY. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE APPROX 75000 MILES WHEN SERVICE WAS COMPLETED. 2. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD AT COST OF $3000.00.

NHTSA complaint #10216605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER(104,510) BEGAN FLASHING TODAY AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #10179402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT IN MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER (105,000 MILES) BEGAN FLASHING TODAY & THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #10172175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10167112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

GEM MODULE (VEHICLE GETS LOCKED INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR WILL NOT EXIT 4 WHEEL DRIVE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V06200.

NHTSA complaint #10151136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.