1999 Ford EXPLORER SPORT: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007875 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
I WAS IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT AND MY CAR ALMOST ROLLED OVER. I HIT THE HIGHWAY RAILING AND MY CAR WAS DAMAGED PRETTY BADLY IN THE FRONT AND SIDE. THE CAR WAS NOT IN DRIVABLE CONDITION HOWEVER, NO AIRBAG CAME OUT. THREE MONTHS LATER MY AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY TURNED ON. THE LIGHT REMAINS ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020489 · 2003-05-23 (May 23, 2003)
THE VEHICLES TIRES SEPARATED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023192 · 2003-06-16 (June 16, 2003)
WHEN I WAS DRIVING ALONG, MY SEAT RECLINED. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT RECLINE TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION FOR SAFE DRIVING. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023651 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)
MY DRIVER'S SEAT MADE A LOUD "POP" AND PROCEEDED TO RECLINE. THE PLASTIC SHIELD LATER FELL OFF THE RECLINING MECHANISM, REVEALING THAT THE FRAME FOR THE SEAT HAD FAILED AT THE WELD AND BUCKLED. THE SEAT WILL NOT SIT UPRIGHT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023883 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED, I HAVE A STICK SO I KEPT IT IN SECOND THEN IT STARTED AND I KEPT GOING THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW. MY OTHER PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL FLICK BACK AND FORTH ONCE OR TWICE AND STOP AND THEY ARE OFF THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT TEN TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK ,THE NEXT THING IS DURING HOT WEATHER WHEN YOU START THE TRUCK THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON FOR THREE OR FOUR MINUTES AFTER YOU START TO DRIVE EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS ARE CLOSED …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023883 at NHTSA ↗
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 10030949 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)
AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, AND DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH A COMMON PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. ON MORE THAN ONE OCASSION, THE MOTORS STOPPED WORKING, WORK INCORRECTLY, OR WORK ONE MINUTE AND FAIL TO FUNCTION THE NEXT. THIS LEADS TO THE LACK OF VISIBILITY TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE SOME SAFETY CONCERNS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030949 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 ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.