1999 Ford EXPLORER SPORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
93 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 93 complaints (11.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 10.8% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 9.7% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 9.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 11 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Seats | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 11; Electrical System: 10; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 5; Air Bags: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Seats: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 41 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 13; 2003: 15; 2004: 14; 2005: 14; 2006: 7; 2007: 8; 2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 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 10030739 · 2003-08-04 (August 4, 2003)
BYPASS WIRING HARNESS FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 63,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046573 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE SHUTTERED FOR 10 SECONDS AND THEN IT SHUT OFF. MOST OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS DO NOT WORK AFTER THE INITIAL START UP.*AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046573 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033642 · 2003-08-11 (August 11, 2003)
ALL FOUR ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUTTER WHEN BRAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED AT NO COST. CURRENTLY AT 40,000 MILES THE ROTORS AND THE CALIPERS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, CAUSING A GRINDING SOUND WHEN BRAKING.*AK VEHICLE AT THE DEALER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040114 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, BRAKE LIGHTS, SEAT HANDLES, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DOOR LOCKS.*MR REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. BOTH SEAT HANDLES BROKE OFF. INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAIN ON, BRAKE LIGHTS ARE REPLACED TWICE A WEEK. DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK PROPERLY.*TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040810 · 2003-09-26 (September 26, 2003)
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, MAKING DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE. VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL RECALL REPAIRS DONE, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040961 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, PASSANGE SIDE SPINDLE AT THE POINT OF STEERING CONNECTION TO IT, BROKE CAUSING VEHICLE TO POOL AND PUSH ALL OVER THE ROAD OUT OF CONTROL. DEALER SAW NO PRIOR DAMAGE TO IT OR OTHER PART (TIRE, RIM, EXT.) AND STILL REFUSE TO COVER UNDER BUMPER-TO-BUMPER COVERAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067674 · 2004-04-22 (April 22, 2004)
POOR PERFORMANCE/DURABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. INCLUDES 5 RECALLS (TO DATE) AND THE NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE AFTER ONLY 72,000 MILES OF OPERATION. OTHER PARTS NOT PROPERLY FUNCTIONING AT THIS TIME ARE THE RADIO, CRUISE CONTROL, AND BRAKE LIGHTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 71,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114413 · 2005-03-21 (March 21, 2005)
@ 50,000 MILES RADIATOR WENT OUT AND WE REPLACED W/ NEW RADIATOR/ HEADS IN THE MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED / ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS / RE-BUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN / DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINER FAILURE . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165927 · 2006-08-18 (August 18, 2006)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED A LOSS OF POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. I PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. I CALLED THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY CAME AND TOWED IT BACK TO THEIR SHOP. THE REPAIR MAN TOLD ME THAT A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. IT REQUIRED EXTENSIVE REPAIR. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION HE TOLD ME THAT HE BELIEVED IT STARTED WITH THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I WAS TALKING TO MY BOSS ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THAT AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE 1998 EXPLORERS …
Owner-reported narrative. 109,685 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 561134 · 2001-05-10 (May 10, 2001)
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 561134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 767829 · 2002-09-27 (September 27, 2002)
FUEL PUMP IS ALLOWING VEHICLE TO DIE, BACK FIRE, AND/OR STALL WHILE TAKING OFF. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THE LAST TIME THEY DECIDED THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP NEEDING AN UPDATE INSTEAD OF THE PROBLEM BEING DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AS THEY SAID THE FIRST TWO TIMES. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 767829 at NHTSA ↗