NHTSA Defect Investigation #SQ99026

AIRBAG SYSTEM'S LIGHT DYSFUNCTIONAL: Air Bags

CLOSED

no recall issued

1999 FORD EXPLORER -- Alleged that the airbag warning light illuminates, indicating possible airbag system failure. Investigation was initiated on November 19 1999. Closed on May 23 2000. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #SQ99026 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #DP05005

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline**

CLOSED

no recall issued

** This defect investigation is filed under 3 related vehicle components.
1999 FORD EXPLORER -- On September 6, 2005, ODI received a petition requesting that the Agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with Triton V-8 and V-10 engines.ODI received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of December 8, 2005, ODI is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, ODI is aware of only two incidents where the vehicle stalled without restart.information contained in the ODI consumer complaints and obtained from 72 telephone interviews with complainants showed the following:(1) 99% of the complaints were on MY 1997 to 2002 subject vehicles.(2) most the complainants reported hearing a loud pop while driving or upon starting up the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound.(3) many of the complainants reported that the popping sound was accompanied by some loss of vehicle power; however, in 99% of the incidents reported, the vehicle did not stall.in the very few incidents where the vehicle did stall, most vehicles could be restarted.(4) only a small percentage of the complainants cited that they smelled gas or a slight burning smell when the incident occurred.(5) in all but a very few incidents, vehicle damage was limited to the engine.in one incident, the complaint reported that the fuel rail was damaged and replaced after one of the spark plugs ejected from the engine; however, the complainant reported that the damage did not result in any type of fuel leak or fire.in another incident, the only incident where a fire was alleged, the complainant reported that no fluid leak was observed, but that a fire resulted after the spark plug had ejected from the engine and he had restarted the vehicle and driven to another location.none of the complainants reported any damage to the vehicle hood.(6) only two complainants reported that they observed what appeared to be some drops of fuel coming from the cylinder where the spark plug had failed or on the spark plug itself; however, each of these complainants reported that there was no smoke or flames as a result of his incident.as the petitioner noted, and ODI¿S analysis showed, it is possible for a spark plug to detach from the engine cylinder threads in the subject vehicles.however, ODI¿S analysis of 474 complaints describing such incidents found only a very few alleged any safety-related consequences.none of these showed any evidence of a serious safety consequence.given the large population and relatively long exposure time of the subject vehicles, the complaint analysis indicates that the risk to motor vehicle safety from the alleged defect is very low.in view of the foregoing, it is unlikely that NHTSA would issue an order for the notification and remedy of the alleged defect at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the petition.therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA¿S limited resources to best accomplish the Agency¿S safety mission, the petition is denied. Investigation was initiated on September 22 2005. Closed on January 04 2006. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #DP05005 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #SQ99017

VEHICLE HESITATION/STALLING: Power Train

CLOSED

no recall issued

1999 FORD EXPLORER -- Ford has issued a technical service bulletin, article no. 99-8-7, pertaining to the powertrain control module (pcm) of the Explorers, which may be related to this issue.the service bulletin addressed the issues of Explorers and Mountaineer's harsh downs Investigation was initiated on June 09 1999. Closed on February 22 2000. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #SQ99017 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA01008

SEAT BELT WEBBING: Seat Belts:Front:Webbing

CLOSED

no recall issued

1999 FORD EXPLORER -- Alleged that the seat belt webbing Investigation was initiated on February 26 2001. Closed on April 25 2002. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA01008 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE03020

FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER ATTACHMENT: Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner

RECALL »

Recall #03V281000

1999 FORD EXPLORER -- By letter dated August 4, 2003, Ford notified the Agency that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 03V281) involving certain model year (MY) 1998-2001 Ford Explorer / Mercury Mountaineer 4-door, MY 1998-2000 Ford Explorer 2-door and MY 2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport and Sport Trac vehicles equipped with high back seats.complaints allege that the driver's seat back reclined without warning.a bolt between the upper seat recliner attachment and the seat back frame may fracture.Ford will replace the bolt that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame on the driver side seat.based on Ford's safety recall action, this investigation is closed. Investigation was initiated on May 21 2003. Closed on September 05 2003. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE03020 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE99049

WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTION: Visibility

RECALL »

Recall #00V072000

1999 FORD EXPLORER -- ODI has received 35 complaints alleging malfunction of the windshield wipers on certain 1997-1999 Ford Explorers and Mercury Mountaineers.the complainants allege that the wiper system is prone to erratic operation including failure to operate consistently during precipitiation as well as inadvertent operation when the control switch is disengaged.of the 35 complaints received,11 allege that the wipers stopped sweeping the windshield without warning, 16 allege inadvertent operation, and 8 allege to have experience both conditions.wipers are a critical automotive safety system without which a vehicle operator is unable to adequately see the road surface and other vehicles during precipitation.this inability to see could result in a crash.a preliminary evaluation is warranted to invetigate the alleged problem. Investigation was initiated on July 28 1999. Closed on April 24 2000. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE99049 »