NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Ford Explorer. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND BLEW OUT, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND INJURY TO THE CONSUMER. DELTA SIERRA RADIAL, 2,387 MILES ON TIRE .FIRESTONE RECALL REPLACEMENT TIRE. *AK
THE CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND ATTEMPTED TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR. (THROTTLE BODY STICKAGE) THE THROTTLE BODY AND GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB
REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED. CAUSED LOSS OF VISIBILITY THROUGH BACK WINDOW. REAR POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. ACCELERATOR PEDAL VIBRATES ON ACCELERATION. (USUALLY WHILE MERGING ON TO HIGHWAYS) PARKING BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT ALWAYS LIGHT WHEN PARKING BRAKE IS ACTIVE. RATTLE AND VIBRATION FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER COVER. *JB
THE REAR TAIL GATE WILL NOT OPEN, WHEN THE DOORS ARE LOCKED THE GLASS IS STILL UNLOCKED. THE REAR WIPER WILL NOT WORK EITHER. WHEN THE GLASS IS OPEN THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON. SINCE I CAN'T TELL WEATHER IT IS LATCHED SECURELY OR NOT, I AM AFRAID THAT IF EVER IN AN ACCIDENT IT MAY OPEN ON ITS OWN. THE DEALERS WANT A LARGE PAYMENT JUST TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT AND THEN MORE TO FIX IT. FORD HASN'T GIVEN ME ANY GUESS AS TO WHAT THE ISSUE IS OR WHAT CAUSED IT. IT JUST HAPPENED ONE DAY I WENT TO OPEN THE GATE AND IT WILL NOT OPEN. *NM
@ 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
ON SATURDAY MAY 31, 2003, MY WIFE AND I WERE ON OUR WAY TO TUCSON, AZ FROM SAN DIEGO, CA IN SEPARATE VEHICLES. WE WERE IN ARIZONA ON INTERSTATE 8 TRAVELLING EASTBOUND, 23 MILES WEST OF CASA GRANDE. THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 75 AND THAT IS WHAT MY WIFE WAS DOING. THE AIR TEMPERATUREOUND 100 DEGREES. ALL FOUR MICHELIN LTXAMS 255 70 R 16 TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW OUT. THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AT THE SHOULDER. THESE TIRES ARE TWO YEARS OLD AND HADLESS THAN 20000 MILES ON THEM. *AK
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
NAR 06/19/2003. *MR AFTER FOLLOWING THE OWNERS MANUAL GUIDELINES IN TRANSPORTING TRAILERS ON FORD VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER TOWED THE TRAILER, AND THE VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONSUMERS WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION HAD BURNED OUT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OVERDRIVE. *JB
THE VEHICLES TIRES SEPARATED. *NLM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER STATES VEHICLE NEEDS NEW ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLES TIRE BLEW OUT. *NLM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE TWICE. *JB
I PURCHASED MY EXPLORER ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. JUST IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT HOMETOWN MOTORS AT LEAST 4 OR 5 TIMES. AND EVERYTIME THEY GET IT IN THEY CHARGE ME A HUNDRED DOLLAR DEDUCTABLE PLUS WHAT THE WARRANTY WON'T COVER. I HAD TO PAY 1300.OO FOR MY WARRANTY AND I HAVE HAD TO PAY ALMOST 700.00 SINCE THEN ON THE WORK FOR EVERYTHING GOING WRONG WITH THE EXPLORER. I HAVE ALL OF MY RECEIPTS BEING GATHERED . WHO CAN I GET AHOLD OF TO TELL THEM ABOUT THIS LEMON THAT I BOUGHT. I CANNOT AFFORD FOR THIS TO KEEP GOING ON.I STILL OWE THE CAR COMPANY ALMOST 300 DOLLARS FROM LAST WEEK WHEN MY EXPLORER WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST 2 WEEKS. PLEASE EMAIL ME BACK AND TELL ME EVERYTHING I SHOULD DO TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES A CODE OF 2 FLASHES AND THEN 6 FLASHES AND THEN REMAINS ON UNTIL YOU TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN AT THE NEAREST FORD DEALER TO WHERE IT FIRST HAPPENED SAYS THE FAILURE IS IN THE HARNESS. HE SAID THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A SAFETY WARRANTY. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AT MY LOCAL DEALER AND HE IS DENYING WARRANTY FOR THE REPAIR. GOING TO BE STUCK WITH A $450.00 BILL UNLESS YOU CAN PROVE OTHERWISE. *JB
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *NLM
IN RE TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT: THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN SHE ASKED TO PLACE THE SEAT IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION AS IT WAS LYING AGAINST HER KNEES. THE CONSUMER FOUND A SINGLE BOLT WHICH HAD SNAPPED OFF AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO REMAIN IN THE DOWN POSITION. (THE METAL LOOKED AS IF IT WERE DEFECTIVE) *AK *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. *JB
WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED IT BECAME STUCK. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. *JB
FAILURE OF LEFT REAR BRAKE HOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. THE BRAKE HOSE RUPTURED BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN RUBBING AGAINST THE VENT LINE ON THE REAR AXLE. *NLM
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 50,000 MILES. *TT
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
AFTER SITTING IN A TURN LANE FOR 2-3 MINUTES WITH TURN SIGNAL ON, WISPS OF SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. UPON REPEATING THE SCENARIO IN DRIVEWAY SAME WISPS OF SMOKE WERE OBSERVED, AND ORANGE GLOW COULD BE SEEN INSIDE STEERING COLUMN WHEN LOOKING THROUGH CRACKS AROUND HAZARD WARNING FLASHER BUTTON. IN BOTH INSTANCES, TURN SIGNALS BEING TURNED OFF STOPPED THE SMOKE BEFORE ANY DAMAGE COULD BE DONE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, AND TURN SIGNAL MODULE WAS REPLACED. OLD PART WAS NOT RETURNED TO ME. DEALER SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE MODULE HAD SHORTED OUT.*AK
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
SERVICE BULLETIN OOM 12 FROM FORD WAS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CAMSHAFT TENSIONER IN MY 1999 EXPLORER. IT WAS REPLACED ON 11/27/01 AND NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE FORD SERVICE CENTER REFUSES TO SEE THE SAME COMPONET CONTINUES TO FAIL AGAIN AND AGAIN AS THEIR PROBLEM. *JB
CROSSBAR UNDER FRONT OF POWER SEAT BROKE I WAS TOLD THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED NOT JUST THE BAR. IT IS LIKE DRIVING ON WATER(FLOATING AROUND). THE WARRANTY WOULD COVER IF THE MOTOR FAILED OR IF IT WAS A NONPOWERED SEAT. THIS IS HAZARDOUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED AS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
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
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, WITH THE GEAR IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
THE BUMPER COLLAPSED WHEN IT WAS HIT. *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVER VIBRATION DUE TOT HE VEHICLES FAULTY TIRES (SIZE#P23575R15) PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT #. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING ON 2 LANE ROAD (PUDDLES OF WATER, A LITTLE HILLY) BOTH THE 4 WD LOW AND 4 WD HIGH INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASH TOGETHER THREE TIMES FOR A SECOND OR TWO AT TWO SEPARATE TIMES. SHORTLY AFTER, THE FRONT END DIPPED DOWN AND THE BACK END CAME FORWARD AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION AND TOOK A BIT OF MANEUVERING TO GET THE TRUCK STRAIGHT DUE TO THE WET AREAS OF THE ROAD. I CALLED FORD THAT NIGHT AND THEY AGREED THAT IF THE 4 WD "KICKED" IN IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE LOSS OF CONTROL. TOOK IT TO THE TOWSON FORD THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THEY DID A TEST DRIVE AND CHECK FOR CODES - NOTHING SHOWED UP. THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE - BUT I AM STILL HESITANT BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NOW. *NLM
1999 FORD EXPLORER- AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, TOOK TO DEALER AND RESPONSE WAS THE CONNECTION FOR SIDE AIR BAG, VEHICLE HAS NONE, NEEDS REPLACED, APPROXIMATELY $400 JOB. TO MANY COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS TO BE A COINCIDENCE. WILL AIR BAGS DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED? *NLM
FAILURE OF RACK AND PINION AND STEERING SHAFT ON 4-3-03; SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING ON 12-12-2003.*AK
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR SHIFTING (IT IS A AUTOMATIC) BETWEEN 2000 AND 3000 RPM'S. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING STUCK AND REVVING HARD. I WAS TOLD THE VALVE BODY GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 45, 000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAS DISCOVERED THE FABRIC FILTER WASN'T WORKING AND THERE IS A NEW METAL SHIELD.*JB
THE THROTTLE CONTINUED TO STICK, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. *JB THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGES MUST BE REPLACED. FORD WILL NOT COVER THE PART UNLESS THE PART IS BROKEN. THE THROTTLE WOULD STICK GOING FORWARD AND BACKWARD FROM THE STOPPED POSITION. SCC
THE VEHICLES CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. *NLM
AIR BAGS DID NOT OPEN I WAS INVOLVED IN 2 MAJOR ACCIDENTS IN MY FORD EXPLORE 1999 BOTH ACCIDENTS WERE FRONT IMPACT AND NOW I HAVE TO GET SURGERY IN MY BACK. *NLM
LTR FM JOHN MURPHY OWNER OF A 1999 FORD EXPLORER REPORTING SPARE TIRE DROPPED FROM VEHICLE. WRITER CONCERNED WITH POSITION OF SPARE TIRES AND VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER'S SON HAD GONE TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART (FMC# F7721A480AB) WHICH WAS IN STOCK. THE PART WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO FAIL PER PARTS DEPARTMENT. *SCC *JB *CB *JB
THE FRONT ROW ELECTRIC BUCKET SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD WITHOUT WARNING. *JB THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SEAT, HAD CRYSTALLIZED AND BROKE. SCC
THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINER BOLT. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE IN 3 DIFFERENT TIMES TO GET RECALL WORK DONE, AFTER IT WAS COMPLETED, THE SEAT IS STILL MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO DAMAGE DONE IN THE INTERIM BETWEEN THE MALFUNCTION AND A YEAR LATER GETTING THE RECALL BOLT FIXED. THE DIFFERENT BRACKETS AND BOLTS THAT SUPPORT THE SEAT BROKEN. DRIVER IS RELYING ON STEERING COLUMN FOR SUPPORT WHILE DRIVING, AND ALSO HAS BACK PAIN DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORT. THE SEAT RECLINER LEVER IS BENT AND EXPOSED, WHICH IS TEARING THE FABRIC OF THE SEAT AND ALSO SCRAPES AGAINST THE DRIVER WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, CAUSING BRUISES AND PAIN ON THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S LEG. ATTEMPTS TO WORK WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, AND THE DEALER HAVE PROVED FUTILE.*AK
MY AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND UPON A FORD CERTIFIED DIAGNOSTIC I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. IN THIS CASE, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS CALLED A DEFECTIVE OVERLAY HARNESS THAT CONTROLS THE VOLTAGE OF THE SYSTEM. *JB
ON 17 FEBRUARY 2003, MY HUSBAND LEFT OUR RESIDENCE IN THE FORD EXPLORER. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY, HE STARTED TO HEAR STRANGE NOISES. THE AUTOMOBILE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND WHEN MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE GAS PEDAL, THE AUTOMOBILE JUST STOPPED. THE CAR WAS THEN PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO EXPRESS AUTO SERVICE ON 18 FEBRUARY 2003 DUE TO THE SNOW CONDITIONS. EXPRESS AUTO SERVICE CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FOR PROPER OPERATION AND IT WAS DETERMINED AFTER A SECOND VISIT TO EXPRESS AUTO THAT THE 'TRANSFER CASE" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE COULD NOT DRIVE THE AUTOMOBILE UNLESS THIS GETS REPAIRED BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT MADE THE CAR DRIVE! THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER WE ENGAGED THE 4WD FROM LOW TO HIGH DUE TO DRIVING IN THE SNOW. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH THIS AUTOMOBILE BEING FAIRLY NEW AND PURCHASE FROM PURVIS FORD IN FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA. A NEW TRANSFER CASE WOULD HAVE COSTS APPROXIMATELY $2100.00. DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS WE RECEIVED A USED TRANSFER CASE FOR APPROXIMATELY $1439.00. I AM REQUESTING A FULL INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS MAJOR MALFUNCTION WITH MY AUTOMOBILE AND A FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF THE COSTS TO REPAIR THE SERVICES DONE TO THE AUTOMOBILE. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. *JB
THE TURN SIGNAL SHIFT POPPED UP WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL WAS USED. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSIDE OF THE CONTACT'S MOTHERS GARAGE THE NIGHT THAT MOTHER'S HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. THIS OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 14, 2003. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED BECAUSE THE HOUSE BURNED DOWN, AND WAS CURRENTLY DOING AN INVESTIGATION ON THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE INSURANCE COMPANY ALSO DID AN INVESTIGATION , BUT IT WAS LEFT UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED. COULD NOT EVEN TELL WHAT COLOR THE VEHICLE WAS. THERE WHERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON PRIOR TO THIS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVING UNUSUALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED ABOUT THREE TO FOUR HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WHERE TWO DEATHS IN THIS FIRE AND ONE PERSON INJURED. THE FIRE WAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED IN THE BACK PART OF THE HOUSE. IT HAS BEEN UNDETERMINED OF WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE KITCHEN APPLIANCES WERE INSPECTED AND NOT FOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK
ON 2/14/03, I WOKE UP SCREAMING THAT I SMELL SMOKE. MY FIANCE JUMPED UP, AND WE SCREAMED FOR EVERYONE TO GET OUT- BECAUSE THE HOUSE WAS ON FIRE. THE HOUSE BURNED DOWN WITH ME BREAKING BOTH ANKLES AND MY 2 OLDEST CHILDREN DYING. FOR TWO YEARS I NEVER KNEW WHAT HAPPENED. THE CAUSE WAS LEFT UNDETERMINED. THERE WERE SO MANY HOLES INTO WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT. EVERYTHING WAS INVESTIGATED, EVEN THE STOVE. NOTHING LEADS TO THE FIRE, EXCEPT FOR THE 1999 FORD EXPLORE TRUCK THAT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. NO ONE INSPECTED THE TRUCK BECAUSE THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH RECALL. I FEEL THAT HAD WE KNOWN ABOUT THE FORD CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, WE WOULDN'T HAVE PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE THOROUGHLY LOOKED INTO, BECAUSE THE PLACE OF ORIGIN WAS IN THE AREA OF THE GARAGE.
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.*JB
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER ABOUT A TEMPORARY FIX THAT WOULDN'T LAST LONG.*JB
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THE TIRES WERE TOO BIG FOR THE VEHICLE.*JB
THE VEHICLE SLID ON BLACK ICE AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWO TIMES. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT CAME UNBUCKLED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BE THROWN FROM THE SEAT. NLM