1996 Ford Explorer

WHEN DRIVING THIS FALL I FOUND THAT WHEN USING THE VENT I GOT NOTHING BUT HOT AIR, THEN THE AUTOMATIC SETTING ON THE HEAT/AIR TEMPERATURE CONTROL WOULD NOT REGULATE PROPERLY. IT WOULD GO TO EXTREMES TO 85+ DEGREES, THEN DROP OFF AND BLOW UNTIL IT WAS DOWN TO 60 AND THEN BACK UP TO 85 CONTINUOUSLY. I WENT ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, WHICH STATED I NEEDED TO HAVE IT PUT ON THE COMPUTER AND CHECKED AT THE DEALER. AFTER THEY KEPT MY CAR 2 X AS LONG AS PROMISED AND CHARGING ME $100 TO CALL THE ENGINEERS AT FORD ITSELF, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE BLEND DOOR IN THE HEATER PLENUM. THIS DOOR IS APPARENTLY MADE OF PLASTIC AND BREAKS. IN MY CASE IT WORKED FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT VERY SLOWLY, AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BREAKING. IT CURRENTLY DOES NOT WORK AND IS STUCK IN THE AIR CONDITIONING SIDE. I GET NO HEAT AND CAN'T DEFROST MY WINDOWS. I LIVE IN WISCONSIN AND WE ARE EXPECTING FREEZING RAIN TODAY, NOT TO MENTION SNOW LATER THIS WEEK. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINEER THEY TALKED TO SAID THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. IF IT IS A BAD DESIGN, BUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT OFFICIALLY A DEFECTIVE PART ON THEIR LIST, THEY COULD NOT FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME ANOTHER $700 ON TOP OF THE $100 ALREADY SPENT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAPPENED TO (SEE MIGHTYAUTOPARTS.COM, ON THE LINE WITH LARRY HAMMER - EXPLORING THE LIMITS OF PATIENCE). THE NEWLY DESIGNED DOOR IS MADE OF NYLON THAT IS STRONGER AND LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKING. WHEN CONTACTING FORD CUSTOMER 1ST TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT MY VISIT, THEY SAID AN ADVISOR WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO ME AND WOULD CONTACT ME THE NEXT DAY, THAT WAS 2 WEEKS AGO. I FEEL I AM BEING GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND. I AM DRIVING IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. FORD WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BAD DESIGN. I FULLY APPRECIATE AND ACCEPT THAT THINGS WEAR OUT ON VEHICLES AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DEFECTIVE DESIGN SHOULDN'T BE AT MY EXPENSE, IN DOLLARS OR SAFETY.

TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. LOST POWER UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. SAME PROBLEM BOTH TIMES. ENGINE SEIZED WHEN VEHICLE HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER AT LOW SPEED. AIR INTAKE IS MOUNTED UNUSALLY LOW ON THIS EXPLORER ALLOWING WATER INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND CAUSING HYDROSTATIC LOCK. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND READS A SCRIPTED RESPONSE WHEN I HAVE TRIED TO GET ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT I CONSIDER A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE FIRESTONE ATX RADIAL TIRES (P235/75R15) REPLACED, FIRESTONE'S REASON FOR DENYING CLAIM WAS THAT THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM A COMPETITIVE RETAILER PRIOR TO AUGUST 9, 2000, CONSUMER'S TIRES DEVELOPED A HIGHLY UNUSUAL WEAR PATTERN AND THE STEEL BELT WAS BEGINNING TO PROTRUDE FROM ONE TIRE, A THUMPING SOUND WAS ALSO HEARD AND FELT DUE TO THE FAULTY TIRES. *SLC

INCIDENT OCCURRED IN FEBRUARY, 2000, PRIOR TO INFORMATION IN THE PRESS ABOUT TIRE FAILURE. MY SON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN THEY ACCELERATED THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO HANDLE AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED FOR HELP. THEY REPORTED THAT THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED AND THAT ALL THAT WAS LEFT WERE A FEW PIECES. THERE WAS A DRIVING RAIN STORM AT THE TIME,AND THEY HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING HELP THAT NIGHT. WE DID NOT LINK THIS PROBLEM WITH TIRE FAILURE UNTIL WE STARTED TO HEAR ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON THE NEWS. WE WERE GRATEFUL THAT THE BLOWOUT HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS AT A STOP, AND NOT WHILE OUR SON WAS DRIVING . HE HAD BEEN ON A ROAD WITH A STEEP INCLINE, AND HAD TURNED ON TO A ROAD THAT PARALLELED THE OCEAN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WAS DRIVING AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED. BEEN TO DEALER. HAD SENSORS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM CAME BACK. TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD FAILED TO REGISTER. FUEL GUAGE WAS NOT WORKING, AND STABLIZER BAR HAD BROKEN AND WAS REPLACED. ALSO, POWER LOCKS FAILED TO RELEASE. *AK THE SENSORS WERE BEING REPLACED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. *YH