Ford Explorer Windshield Wipers

isn't singing in the rain

I have a new 1999 Ford Explorer XLT, less than

four months old. From day one, the windshield wipers have not functioned properly. I have had the truck in for service three times over the past three months. Last night I was trapped in my car with my three year old child on the side of a major highway for an extended period of time during a violent rain and thunderstorm because the wipers - both front and rear - stopped working.

I am getting the run-around from Ford Customer Service. I have been waiting over three weeks for the part necessary to correct this

problem, and am now being told that the part is on back order because there are more than

6,000 requests in for the same part. This means that more than 6,000 drivers are at risk for accident or injury if the wipers malfunction in the rain.

I am still without functioning wipers.

Ford is not trying to provide me with any alternative form of transportation. I need my

car to get to and from work, as well as transport my daughter to and from daycare.

I have 3 1999 Ford Explorers. Each one of them has the same problem -- the windshield wipers

do not work properly.

When I received the recall notices for the cruise

control and the hood latch repairs, I scheduled to have my vehicles repaired by making a

reservation for each of them. I have now been to the dealership to have the warranty

recall work repairs completed but continue to get the run around on the windshield wiper

problems.

Because of the workload at the dealership where I purchased these vehicles, it is necessary for me to make a reservation to bring the

vehicles in and the earliest that I have received a reservation has been three weeks.

On July 22nd, three weeks after I made a reservation to get my windshield wipers repaired, I arrived at the dealership at 7:30 AM. After waiting for almost an hour, I was informed that the parts were on order but none were on hand.

I went to the service department cashier and requested another reservation to have the work completed when the part was to come in. I was given a reservation of August 16th and was at the dealership at 7:30 AM with my vehicle.

After argueing with Mr. Leon Childers, who was insistent that I leave the vehicle (I live 20 miles from the dealership), I waited in the

waiting room.

At about 9 AM, Mr. Childers came to get me from the waiting room and again informed me that the dealership had no parts. He could not tell me when the parts would arrive, or if there was actually a fix for the problem. I have been patient up to this point but having to drive out to the dealership and being told that there are no parts when a simple telephone call would have prevented the trip is unreasonable. My windshield wipers are not working properly, turning on frequently by themselves or not turning on at all.

My wife's vehicle is the same way as is my son's vehicle. I presently have a reservation to bring in my wife's vehicle and a reservation to bring in my son's vehicle. I have traveled 40 miles round trip on 2 separate occassions to have this problem resolved. Both trips with reservations to have this problem repaired and both times with no result. I still have 2 other vehicles with the same problem that need to be repaired as well.

I own a '97 Ford Explorer that has had problem with the engine (i.e. the ";CHECK ENGINE" light keeps coming on.) Last time I brought into the dealer, at no request of mine, Ford Motor stated they were going to put a "REMANUFACTURED" engine in my truck.. They would not put a new one in even though it was still under manufacter's warranty.

I will not settle for less than a new engine... not a remanufactured one! I feel that I'm getting the corporate shaft.... I would like someone to call me so I can tell the whole story.

G.B. needs to read his warranty to

determine whether Ford is in compliance. However, mechanics tell us a remanufactured engine is, for all practical purposes, a new engine and there is no reason to think you won't get good service from it. G.B. needs to keep all of his service records and copies of all your correspondence, just in case he has ttrouble later.