The 1999 Ford Explorer has 10 recalls, the most serious being a brake line connection at the front ABS hydraulic control unit that can separate when the brakes are applied, reducing pressure to the front wheels and significantly extending stopping distances.
The hood secondary latch can corrode and stick open, and if the primary latch also releases, the hood can fly up and block the driver's view. On the powertrain side, the engine control module can allow the vehicle to exceed the speed rating of the installed tires, which can cause a tire to fail at high speed. Some recalls only affect certain axle ratios or specific engine configurations. On vehicles with the optional speed control system and a 4.0L engine, the cruise control cable can bind when the system is disengaged, preventing the throttle from returning to idle on its own. There is also a seat concern on vehicles with high back seats: a bolt on the driver's seat recliner can fracture, causing the seat back to fall rearward and leaving the driver unable to reach the steering wheel or pedals. Finally, the generic electronic module can lock up and leave windshield wipers, interior lights, and the four-wheel drive system either stuck on or unresponsive, with wipers that cannot be turned on in rain being the primary safety concern.
