This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I am having problems with my 1999 Ford Explorer drivers side door. It worked fine up until a few months ago. It stopped unlocking with the remote then it eventually stopped unlocking with the key. I have to now reach through my passenger door to open my drivers door. I am afraid of getting into an accident and the only way to get rescued is for someone to open my drivers door to get me out. If it is locked, and it normally is because it locks automatically when start to drive, no one would be able to get me out. This is a very serious problem if this were to happen. I have looked it up online and have found that quite a few people have had the same problem. To make things worse my back door has done the same thing except I can not get it to open at all. I have two very young kids and I would hate for them to get trapped inside. I can't open it from the inside because the child safety lock is on. Another safety issue I am having is being scared that I will be on the passengers side when unlocking the drivers side and maybe having someone else get into the car before I can get in and leave. I have purchased the part to get it fixed but I can't afford to pay the dealership to fix it for me. It has yet to get fixed but I do plan on getting it done soon. Please help with this problem.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear passenger doors will not open. When the failure began, she was able to open the door from the inside or from the outside by rolling down the window. The dealer has not diagnosed the failure. There were no warning indicator lights present. The contact will follow up with the manufacturer on NHTSA campaign notice number 03V280000 (vehicle speed control:cables) she received. The failure mileage was 100,000 and current mileage was 170,000.
The passenger door lock stopped popping up on the first press of the unlock button on the door. This began almost 2 years ago. It required multiple presses on the unlock button to get the door to unlock. The problem has now occurred on the driver' S side door. Only this time it required many more depresses to unlock. I have to physically pull the handle and pull up on the door lock knob to force it to open if it will open. My fear now is if I am in an accident or the truck catches on fire I may not be able to unlock either door.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Explorer. While driving 50 mph the vehicle stalled. There was a recall for the fuel system. However, the dealer stated that this vehicle was not included due to the VIN. Also, the hood on the vehicle will not open. The failure has not been diagnosed. The driver's door will not open with the key. The failure and current mileage was 190,000.
1) 1999 Ford Explorer 2 door (mine) and 2000 Ford Explorer 4 door (my brother's). Both vehicles are operated as normal daily driver vehicles. There was no known event leading to the failure in either vehicle (not operated under harsh conditions/gravel roads, etc.). 2) both vehicles within a few month period began experiencing problems with the door latch mechanism -- passenger door on my Explorer, and both driver's side doors on my brothers. When locked, the door would not unlock. The power lock cylinder was actuating, but not disengaging the lock. The door could not be unlocked with the key from the outside nor the fob/key chain. Also, the real concern - the door could not be opened from the inside by pulling the door handle (which normally would unlock and open the door). In each of the three doors, a small retracting spring inside the door latch was broken. Had the vehicle been in an accident or some other situation requiring an emergency exit from the vehicle, the occupant sitting by the affected door possibly could not exit the vehicle without moving to another door of the vehicle. 3) I repaired these latches myself, using springs purchased from a local hardware store, as the latches are not available aftermarket in stores such as auto zone or Napa (Ford dealer may have them but have not checked). The small spring appears to keep the lock mechanism pulled off unless the lock is engaged, without the spring, the lock would not disengage under normal operation. The only way the door would unlock was to push the unlock button numerous times (sometimes 30 + times) and it would eventually unlock. Removal of the door panel and latch assembly was required to fix the broken spring. We do have at least one of the broken springs (about 1 1/2 inches long).
- Jefferson City, MO, USA
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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. The driver's side power door lock does not lock. The rear passenger side door cannot be opened from the inside.
The door locks on the drivers side(both front and rear) will for a period of days not unlock with the power lock or the key on the front door. This leaves the person sitting on that side having to crawl to the other side of the vehicle to get out. Then after a period of days seems that it will start working again for no apparent reason. There is a spring in each of the latching mechanisms that was found to have broken.
After having parked my car I could not open the door for my child to get out--neither from the inside nor the outside and pull mechanism disappeared in between car door.
Two weeks ago I went to get out of my SUV and the door would not open. I finally got it to work after pulling on the handle and pushing lock/unlock about 20 times. This happens daily.
The consumer could not unlock the front driver's side doors, from the inside or the outside of the vehicle. The consumer contacted the dealership and they indicated that this was not a safety issue.
When traveling under any normal braking conditions, consumer noticed vehicle was pulling to the right. Also, doors locked without operating the door locks. Consumer has contacted dealer.
This truck has overdrive problems. When you put it in rev and then drive most times it will cut the overdrive off, but not all the time. Rear passenger door will not open from inside. Airbag light goes on and starts blinking then goes off for a while then back on. The power steering makes noise on a hard right or left turn.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hertford, NC, USA