The single overhead camshaft (sohc) v6 engine may have as many as four timing chains with associated tensioners and guides. I have been receiving a rattling sound from my engine for years and it use to come and go, but now it has gotten worst. I had notified ford motors corp., about this problem back on 6-30-10 and didn't get any help on this matter, the person I spoke with told me that my VIN# wasn't covered. I recently found three documents on this problem, with a the federal safety agency # on each document. Item number #630022, #620173 and article # 02-7-6. I have also been by a local dealership and was told the same. I would like to know if the ford dealership is responsible for fixing this problem. I would like to have my vehicle fixed, and is hoping to can help.
1999 Ford Explorer engine problems
103 complaints (8% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 69,950. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 103
- of this car's complaints
- 8%
- typical mileage
- 69,950
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Engine: gasoline39
- Engine23
- Exhaust system7
- Exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe4
- Exhaust system: emission control4
- Exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)3
- Cooling system3
- Engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys2
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Ford Explorer engine problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Ford Explorer engine
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Stalling 44Check engine light 15Won't start 10Engine failure 6Misfire 5
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
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 the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency?s safety mission, the petition is denied.
DP05005
What 1999 Ford Explorer owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle had to constantly shift the vehicle for it to be operated properly. The contact stated that the anti lock brake warning indicator and 4 wheel drive warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the vehicle speed control deactivation switch failed. The vehicle was not repaired. Prior to these failures, the brakes, transmission, and oil were changed. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000
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 amount of people it's happened to the more upset I get, I've had nightmares since friday since my house would have burned if I had parked it 1 foot closer to the garage -- which I usually do, I had planned to give it to my stepson on saturday who was coming to visit from ny and it would have been his first car -- my fiance' is stressed out and upset beyond words I can write here. No excuse ford...shame on you!!!!!!
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.
My vehicle was parked in the parking lot at 8:30 a.m. On february 7, 2012. Approximately 2:30 p.m., the entire front end of the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames the parking lot, just sitting there burning, without any prior warning.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire while in the contact's driveway with the engine turned off. The fire department was called and advised that the fire originated from the battery compartment. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure and the current mileage was 212,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. While driving approximately 20 MPH, a fire ignited under the hood. The contact moved the vehicle off the roadway and shut off the engine. The contact was able to exit the vehicle before it exploded. The fire department was called to assist. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a junk lot. The vehicle was never examined for the cause of failure. The manufacturer advised that they would not assist unless the contact was able to provide proof that the fire was caused by a manufacturer's defect. The failure and current mileage was unknown.
I want to file a complaint with ford because I have 1 1999 ford explorer xlt and the timing guide is going out again for the third time. I think that ford should do something about this...I know people that never have to replace their timing chain guides and im replacing mine for the third time...
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. While driving 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal became stuck and the RPM's increased to over 3,000 RPM's. The RPM's would not decrease until he arrived at the dealer. While driving and attempting to control the vehicle, he depressed the brake pedal to reduce the speed of the vehicle. The dealer stated that he needed to replace the iac valve, throttle body assembly, housing, and throttle plate. They also replaced the check engine warning indicator and reset the computer. The failure mileage was 124,554.
1999 ford explorer caught fire. Consumer states that his vehicle was in the shop for about 5 to 6 weeks getting a new engine transmission and radiator, and recall repair done. The vehicle caught fire a month after the repairs were made.
Questions about the 1999 Ford Explorer engine
Does the 1999 Ford Explorer have engine problems?
Owners have filed 103 complaints about the engine of the 1999 Ford Explorer, 8% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Explorer engine problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 69,950 miles.
Is there a recall for the 1999 Ford Explorer engine?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
Other 1999 Ford Explorer problems
Tires 370Visibility 216Acceleration 148Transmission 115Airbags 97Electrical 92Brakes 69Seats 67Suspension 65Lights 49Body 46Steering 38Fuel system 33Locks 33Seat belts 21Wheels 6Driver assistance 2
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