1999 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,115 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
82,201 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 303 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 195 of 1,115 complaints (17.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 89 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 73 | 6.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 60 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 41 | 3.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 36 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 195 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 155 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 68 |
| Air Bags | 51 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 50 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 36 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 35 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 35 |
Tires: 195; Tires:Tread/Belt: 155; Vehicle Speed Control: 68; Air Bags: 51; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 50; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 36; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 35; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 35
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 30 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 82 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 52 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 77 |
| 150,000 and above | 42 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 30; 50,000 to 74,999: 82; 75,000 to 99,999: 52; 100,000 to 149,999: 77; 150,000 and above: 42
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (82). 812 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 | 436 |
| 2001 | 131 |
| 2002 | 91 |
| 2003 | 134 |
| 2004 | 70 |
| 2005 | 47 |
| 2006 | 34 |
| 2007 | 34 |
| 2008 | 43 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 436; 2001: 131; 2002: 91; 2003: 134; 2004: 70; 2005: 47; 2006: 34; 2007: 34; 2008: 43; 2009: 16; 2010: 22; 2011: 10; 2012: 6; 2013: 7; 2014: 8; 2015: 4; 2016: 6; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 89 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 73 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 60 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 10006032 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
TRANSMISSION IS NOT ACTING LIKE IT IS SUPPOSE TO. EVERY TIMEE CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES PASSENGER SIDE WILL MAKE A REAL HARD NOISE. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FIXED FIVE TIMES, AND IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT BRAKE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011788 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE SHORTED OUT, THE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS, FRONT AXLE SEALS, BRAKE CALIPER PADS, BRAKE LINE, POWER DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY AND MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH ASSEMBLY WERE ALL REPLACED. *TS THE TIMING CHAIN, TENSIONER, IDLE AIR CONTROL, VALVE INTAKE GASKETS AND THE SEATS WHICH RIPPED WERE ALSO REPLACED. * JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017802 · 2003-06-09 (June 9, 2003)
THE ABS HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FROM L/H FENDER ABS COMPONENT TO R/H FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH CAUSED IT TO WEAR. *NLM STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 51,373 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017802 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024806 · 2003-06-20 (June 20, 2003)
COMPLAINT AGAINST FORD MOTOR COMPANY DEFECTIVE PARTS AND REFUSAL OF A REFUND EVEN AFTER RECALL. *MR THE STEERING HAD BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE VEHICLE DIED OUT. THE PCM HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED ALONG WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE IAC VALVE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE CONSUMER'S BROTHER'S SUV AS WELL. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007447 · 2002-10-02 (October 2, 2002)
HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS OVER APPROX 3 WEEK PERIOD. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER WHO INSPECTED CAR AND SAID PROBLEM IS PROBABLY A GASKET IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH FAILED. ALSO SAID THIS IS KNOWN TO HAPPEN IN THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND THAT HE COULD PROBABLY GET FORD TO PAY ABOUT 70% OF REPAIR COST, LEAVING ME TO PAY ABOUT $125. IF THIS IS A COMMONLY OCCURRING SAFETY PROBLEM, THEN FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND PAY FOR COMPLETE REPAIR COSTS. MY CAR WENT FROM HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS TO FINALLY HAVING THE MOTOR DIE AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN STOPPIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002494 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002494 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002819 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
SPARK PLUG WIRES FAILING. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 35000 MILES. RESULTED IN SEVERE VEHICLE BUCKING, MISFIRING, STALLING, LOSS OF ACCELERATION, AND UNPREDICTABLE ENGINE PERFORMANCE. 3 OCCURRENCES TO THREE DIFFERENT PLUG WIRES WITHIN 300 MILES
Owner-reported narrative. 35,684 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000593 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
1999 FORD EXPLORER - AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS ON; WILL NOT DEPLOY AIRBAGS. FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS IT NEEDS A "CLOCK SPRING" A COIL OF WIRE LIKE A STATOR WHICH BURNED AND CAUSED A SHORT IN THE AIRBAG WIRING. ACCORDING TO FORD, THIS WILL ALSO CAUSE THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL TO MALFUNCTION. FORD WANTS $300 TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEVICE IN WHICH THERE ARE NO WEARABLE PARTS. IT IS A MIS-ENGINEERED COMPONENT THAT SHOULD REQUIRE A RECALL TO FIX. THIS COULD VERY WELL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO SOMEONE BY NOT D…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007401 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030917 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)
I HAVE A EDDIE BAUER 199 FORD EXPLORER, AND THE AUTOMATIC FUEL PUMP SWITCH WILL JUST SWITCH OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER BEING PARKED. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURED AS OF YET, BUT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103663 · 2004-12-13 (December 13, 2004)
THE FUEL TANK WAS LOOSE AND WAS CAUSING THE FUEL SENDING UNIT TO FAIL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. *AK....THE FUEL TANK WA SNOT LOOSE. THE BAFFLE PLATE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK BECAME UNATTACHED, SLIDING BACK AND FORTH, WHICH IN TURN ALSO RUINED THE GAS TANK FUEL SENDING UNIT. AFTER INQUIRING OF FOR DEALERSHIP, THEY ADMITTED THAT THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF THE SLIDING BAFFLE PLATE SEVERED THE ELECTRICAL WIRES TO THE FUEL TANK GAUGE SENDING UNIT. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10103663 at NHTSA ↗