1999 Ford Explorer visibility problems

“FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE:FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO WORK CONSISTENTLY. WIPERS COME ON EVEN THOUGH IT IS SET TO THE OFF POSITION. SOMETIMES WIPERS DO NOT COME ON WHEN THEY ARE TURNED TO THE ON POSITION. IN ORDER FOR WIPERS TO WORK CONSISTENTLY THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE MANUALLY ENGAGE WITH HAND AND HAND HAS TO BE KEPT ON THE WIPER CONTROL SWITCH SWITCHING IT ON AND OFF TO MOVE THE WIPER BLADES. WIPERS WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. WIPERS WOULD ACT ERRATICALLY AND FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY 90% OF THE TIME. WIPERS SOMETIMES WOULD COME ON AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP. WIPERS CAN COME ON ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING. FAULTY HOOD/WEAK HYDRAULIC ARMS: THE HOOD CANNOT SAFELY STAY UP BECAUSE THE HYDRAULIC ARM SUPPORTS ARE TOO WEAK TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE HOOD. THE HOOD SUPPORT DOES NOT LOCK INTO PLACE SO THAT THE HOOD WOULD STAY UP SAFELY. NO SAFETY BAR WAS INSTALLED ON THIS VEHICLE TO SAFELY HOLD UP/PROP UP THE HOOD IN CASE OF HYDRAULIC ARM/SUPPORT FAILURE. IF THE VEHICLE GETS BUMPED WHILE THE HOOD IS UP THE HOOD WOULD FALL AND CLOSE SHUT. BECAUSE THE HOOD WILL NOT STAY UP IT REQUIRES TWO PEOPLE WHEN CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD. ONE PERSON TO HOLD THE HOOD…”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE DURING ACTIVATION. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD OPERATE WHENEVER THE WINDSHIELD WASHER CONTROL DEVICE WAS ENGAGED. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED WHEN MANUALLY TURNING THE CONTROL LEVER. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED WHILE IN THE OFF MODE. IN ADDITION, THE HOOD SUPPORT ARM WOULD NOT REMAIN IN AN UPWARD POSITION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,500. UPDATED 02/22/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WIPERS WOULD ACTIVATE, WHEN THE DEFROSTER WAS ON. UPDATED 03/01/12”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD SPORADICALLY OPERATE WITHOUT ACTIVATION AND WHEN ACTIVATED, WOULD NOT OPERATE AT ALL. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED UNTIL THE WIPERS WERE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT'S PERSONAL MECHANIC INSPECTED VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING HAD FAILED AND WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO OPERATE INVOLUNTARILY TWO OR THREE TIMES. DURING THE FAILURES, SMOKE WOULD BEGIN TO RISE FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WOULD ONLY DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH IN INTENSE RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, POWER LOCKS AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE REAR HATCH, THE GLASS SUDDENLY EXPLODED EVERYWHERE. THERE WERE PIECES OF GLASS THAT WERE EIGHT INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE GLASS SHATTERED WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE THAT SOME OF THE PIECES STRUCK AND CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED POWDER BURNS TO THE FACE AND SHOULDERS, AS WELL AS SMALL CUTS. SHE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR A MECHANIC, BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,077.”