1999 Ford E-150 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
81 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
96,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 43 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 81 complaints (9.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 16 | 19.8% |
| Braking behavior | 15 | 18.5% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 16.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 4 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Steering: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 4; Tires: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Air Bags: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 38 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 15; 2001: 10; 2002: 5; 2003: 11; 2004: 5; 2005: 3; 2006: 5; 2007: 7; 2008: 1; 2009: 4; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 16 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10086528 · 2004-08-10 (August 10, 2004)
THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING SUBMITTED ON 8/10/2004. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 1999 FORD E-150 VAN WITH A 5.4L ENGINE. OVER THE PAST 6 WEEKS WE HAVE HAD THREE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES. THE MOST RECENT AND SEVERE CONSEQUENCE OF THE FAILURE IS THAT THE VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS (ONE IN MARYLAND AND THE OTHER IN OKLAHOMA) HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS AND HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP THREE TIMES BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE UNDERLYING ROOT CAUSE FOR THE FUEL SYSTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108068 · 2005-01-27 (January 27, 2005)
1999 FORD E150 CONVERSION VAN [XXX] GAS TANK IS LEAKING. THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL FOR 1996-2000 MODEL YEARS BUILT AT THE LORAIN ASSEMBLY PLANT, HOWEVER, IT IS LISTED AGAINST E150 WAGONS, NOT VANS. I CHECKED MY VIN AGAINST THE RECALL AND IT WAS NOT LISTED. ACCORDING TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, WAGONS COME WITH SEATS AND VANS DO NOT. SINCE MY VEHICLE WENT DIRECTLY FROM THE PLANT TO AN AFTERMARKET CONVERSION COMPANY, I DOUBT IT HAD SEATS. BUT, IT CERTAINLY WASN'T MANUFACTURED AS A CARGO VAN. I BELIEVE MY VAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,999 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011887 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE PEDAL HARDER BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE TOTALLY AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE PITTED AND RUSTED AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE WORN. THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX LEAKED. *NLM *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011887 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020292 · 2003-05-21 (May 21, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE BRAKE PAD WEAR. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007983 · 2003-02-22 (February 22, 2003)
E-150 VAN STEERING COLUMN "CLUNKS" DURING TURNS. IDENTIFIED PROBLEM WHEN VAN WAS NEW. TOLD THAT IT WAN'T DANGEROUS. SOUND IS INCREASING WITH AGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177827 · 2007-01-04 (January 4, 2007)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. FAILURE LED TO VEHICLE DISABLEMENT DURING TRAVEL ON PUBLIC ROADWAY IN TRAFFIC, IN BAD NEIGHBORHOOD. TRANSMISSION REPLACED @ COST OF $2700.00. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 64,755 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 730336 · 2000-09-05 (September 5, 2000)
BRAKES HAVE FAILED BEFORE BUT WERE CHECKED BY DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH BRAKE LITE HAD COME ON AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WE HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE WITH THE DEALERS SERVICE SHOP AS TOOK VEHICLE IN IN THE AM WITH DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT WERE TOLD BY DEALER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH BELT YET A DIFFERENT DEALER WITHIN 2 HOURS SAID THE BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION HAD A PROBLEM AND THE DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM DIFFERENT DEALER THEN REBUILT TRANS DUE TO BURNT OVERDRIVE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162568 · 2006-07-17 (July 17, 2006)
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT THEY TOLD ME THAT WATER WAS GETTING IN BEHIND THE WINDSHIELD AND SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THEY STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 129,560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 764190 · 2002-07-13 (July 13, 2002)
THE VEHICLE IS AN ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE . THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS CHAFFED AND SHORTED OUT WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF SERVICE . THE LIFT SYSTEM HAS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM , FREQUENTLY WILL BLOW RESETABLE BREAKER .WHEN IT RAINS THE SYSTEM GETS WET BECAUSE THE DOOR DOESNT CLOSE PROPERLY,WHEN THE FLOOR WAS DROPPED FOR THE MODIFICATIONS IT WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. BECAUSE OF THIS THE DOOR LEAKS ,CAUSES THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO GET WET . THE VAN FOR SALE , THE ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT WILL BE REMOVED FIRST THOUGH , I ASSURE YOU ! I HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT AND STU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 764190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210033 · 2007-11-27 (November 27, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD E-150. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THEN EXPERIENCED SOME LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SPARK PLUG BLEW OFF. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THERE IS AN OPENED AND CLOSED INVESTIGATION (DP05005) REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 137,800.
Owner-reported narrative. 137,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210033 at NHTSA ↗