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
WHEN TURNING ON THE IGNITION, WARNING LIGHTS ARE SUPPOSED TO COME ON AND GO OFF. HOWEVER, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE, AND THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. ALSO, AUTOMATIC DOORS LOCKS DO NOT LOCK WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT INTO DRIVE, BUT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS TRAVELED 2-3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. *AK *ML
WITHOUT WARNING THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT SIZE P235/75R155L). NLM
CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FIRESTONE TIRES. HAD THEM REPLACED WITH GOODYEAR TIRES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID JUST TO BRING TIRES IN.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD OPERATE WHILE SWITCH IS OFF, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN AUTOMOBILE CRASH. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN IN USE. WOULD COME ON/OFF BY THEMSELVES. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. *AK
BRAKE LIGHTS ARE UNRELIABLE AND COULD LEAD TO A COLLISION. IN PARTICULAR, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY NOT WORK DURING GENTLE BRAKING OR WHEN STOPPED WITH FOOT STILL ON BRAKE PEDAL. FREE PEDAL HEIGHT IS 4.75 INCHES, BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AT 4.625 INCHES, GO OFF WHEN ANY PRESSURE IS RELEASED ABOVE 4 INCHES. AS YOU CAN SEE, ANYTIME THE BRAKE PEDAL COMES UP BETWEEN 4 AND 4.625 INCHES, SUCH AS WHEN LETTING UP SLIGHTLY TO MAKE A SMOOTH STOP, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE OFF. I OFTEN FIND MYSELF SITTING AT STOPS WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NO BRAKE LIGHTS, A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION. DEALER HAS REPLACED SWITCH TWICE, ALL THREE SWITCHES EXHIBIT SAME BEHAVIOR. ON LAST REPLACEMENT, DEALER SAID THEY CHECKED SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORERS, THEY ALL DO THE SAME.
TIRES POSSIBLY FELL APART/TREAD PEELED - RESULTING IN A CRASH - VEHICLE WAS TOTALED( DOT NUMBER: )
I PURCHASED THIS 99 EXPLORER IN FEBRUARY AND ALREADY IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIFFERENT DEFECTS INCLUDING ON THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND TOOK IN HOME WITH 6 MILES ON IT THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND EVENTUALLY WENT OUT ON THE TRUCK. SINCE IT WAS A SATURDAY THAT THIS HAPPENED THE TRUCK SAT TILL MONDAY WHEN THE DEALER HAD IT TOWED BACK (I DID NOTICE TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GROUND).THE DEALER SAID THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A CONNECTOR ON THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LINE NOT BEING SEALED OR TIGHTENED. I ASKED IF THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH THEY SAID IT WOULDN'T BE BUT THIS LEADS ME TO MY NEXT PROBLEM. THE TRUCK DOES NOT ACCELERATE THROUGH THE GEARS PROPERLY BUT FORD SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH AFTER LOOKING AT IT AGAIN. NEXT IT WAS IN FOR THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE WHICH THEY SENT A LETTER TO ME FOR BUT DID NOT HAVE THE CABLE IN STOCK AND WERE SUPPOSE TO DISABLE THE SPEED CONTROL UNTIL ONE CAME IN. THEY DID NOT DISABLE IT WHICH WAS VERY HAZARDOUS SAFETY WISE. NEXT THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN BECAUSE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS WAS BLOWN AND IN FACT AFTER GETTING THAT ONE REPLACED THE OTHERS SOUND JUST AS BAD AS THE BLOWN ONE AND THE RADIO HAS NEVER BEEN TURNED PAST HALFWAY. MY LATEST PROBLEM IS THAT MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON SPORACTICALLY AT ANY TIME AND STAY ON FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND I CANNOT TURN THEM OFF SEEING AS I DIDN'T TURN THEM ON. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR. I HAVE NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT THIS BECAUSE ONE I AM VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THE VEHICLE AND AM TIRED OF FINDING ANOTHER MEANS FOR TRANSPORTATION WHILE THEY FIX MY TRUCK. I EVEN ASKED FOR ANOTHER TRUCK BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE MOE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK, THIS WAS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WENT ON THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT. *AK
FRONT SEAT HINGE MADE OF 3 STEEL SLOTTED PLATES, THE MIDDLE PLATE SLIDES W/MOVEMENT OF SEAT. WITH SEATBACK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION ALL THREE SLOTS LINE UP, ALLOWING CHILD TO EASILY INSERT FINGER THROUGH HOLE. UPON MOVING SEATBACK FORWARD, MIDDLE PLATE SLID, AMPUTATING CHILDS INDEX FINGER.
THE AIR BAG SENSORS FOR SIDE AIR BAG WAS MISSING. THIS CAUSED FRONTAL AIRBAGS NOT WORK LIKE THEY SHOULD. THE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR ON INSTRUMENT PANEL CAME ON. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM COULD NOT BE LOCATED. *AK
FIRST OCCURRENCE 2/17/1999 WHEN SHAKING AND VIBRATION OCCURRED WHEN YOU WERE ABOVE 45 MILES PER HOUR AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKES. MY FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED THREE TIRES AND TURNED THE ROTORS. (DOES NOT STATE HOW MANY TRUED) SECOND OCCURRENCE 04/22/2000, WHEN THE SHAKING AND VIBRATION RETURNED. SINCE MY DEALERESHIP IS NOT OPENED ON SATURDAY'S, I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP. AGAIN THEY TURNED THE ROTORS AND GAVE NO EXPLAINATION TO WHY WE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNCED OF THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? DO I NEED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE TO GET THIS CORRECTED FOR GOOD?
INSTRUMENTS PANEL LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN, CONSUMER BEGAN HEARING AN ODD N OISE IN AUGUST 2000, AND IN APRIL 2001, AT THAT TIME DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP HOWEVER DID REPLACE THE DRIVESHAFT ASSEMBLY, AND THE JOINT ASSEMBLY SPINDLE-ARM, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE OUTER TIE-ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED, LOWER STEERING SHAFT WHICH WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK AND PINION, ALSO PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT RELEASE, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS REPLACED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED.*AK *SLC
WHILE DRIVING ALONG A MAIN STREET I WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT THEREFORE, MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND AS A RESULT MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSE A BROKEN JAW AND CRACKED TEETH VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS RUSHED TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE ERRATICALLY, AND UNRELIABLY.......TURNING ON BY THEMSELVES AND WHEN TURN SIGNALS ACTIVATED, TURNING OFF/CHANGING SPEEDS BY THEMSELVES WHEN TURNED ON.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAY ON. CONSUMER HAS THE SWITCH SET AT OFF, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STILL COME ON. *YC
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD GO ON OR OFF ON BY THEMSELVES. WOULD SOMETIMES STOP IN MIDDLE OF OPERATION. VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START IF STEERING WHEEL IS NOT IN CORRECT POSITION. THE SIGNAL LEVER WILL NOT OPERATE PROPERLY IF THE WHEELS ARE SLIGHTLY TURNED. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE WHILE IN A OFF MODE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE PARTS. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON WHILE IN OFF MODE. ALSO, WIPERS WOULD WORK ONLY IN A SLOW SPEED OR INTERMITTENTLY WORK. *AK
THE STEERING RATIO IS MUCH TOO QUICK ON MY 1999 FORD EXPLORER. OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE VOICED THE SAME CONCERN TO ME. IE: ON THE THE HIWAY JUST A VERY SLIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL TRANSLATES INTO A LURCH OF THE VEHICLE IN THAT DIRECTION. VERY DANGEROUS! *TR
MY THROTTLE BODY LINKAGE DOES EXACTLY WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN RECALL #00V422000, BUT MY YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK
TRANSMISSION WOULD START TO SLIP WHEN TRAVELING JUST 10MPH. THE RPMS WOULD BE OVER 3 THOUSAND. HAD VEHICLE CHECKED AT DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK & THAT IT'S A FACTORY DEFECT, ALMOST BLEW UP. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT KEEP ACCURATE SPEEDS. IF SPEED IS INCREASED,IT WOULD FAIL TO WORK. THIS WAS REFERRED TO MECHANIC BY MANUFACTURER. *AK
WHEN STARTING UP THE CAR, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER. *AK *MJS
AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND HAD TO BE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES BEFORE IT WAS EFFECTIVELY REPAIRED
I HAD CALLED EARLIER TODAY TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT BUT I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE QUICKER. I AM WRITING TO YOU IN REGUARDS TO THE FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2 DOOR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. FORD HAS REPLACED THE STANDARD 4 STEEL LEAF SPRINGS WITH 1 CARBON FIBER LEAF SPRING AND USED 4 SPACERS TO RAISE UP THE VEHICLE SO IT WON'T BE NOTICABLE. UNFORTUNATLY THIS SYSTEM WILL NOT WITHSTAND ANY WEIGHT. THE MAXIMUM TONGUE WEIGHT IS 540 POUNDS. FORD STATES AND FALSELY ADVERTISES THAT THIS VEHICLE WILL TOW 4,880 POUNDS. IF ONE WERE TO ATTEMPT TO TOW THIS AMOUNT OF WEIGHT THE REAR END WOULD ALMOST BE TOUCHING THE GROUND. THIS VEHICLES DESIGN IS INADEQUATE FOR A 4X4 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE AND TECHNICALLY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UNSAFE. WHEN ONE TRANSPORTS 4 PERSONS AND GEAR THE VEHICLE SAGS TO TREMENDOUSLY AT NIGHT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BLIND ONCOMMING TRAFFIC. ALSO, WITH THAT AMOUNT OF WEIGHT THE VEHICLE BECOMES UNSTEADY AND IS HARD TO CONTROL. ONE LEAF SPRING SUPPORTING THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH SUPPORT WHICH IN PART WILL CAUSE THE SHOCKS TO WORK JUST THAT MUCH HARDER AND WEAR OUT MUCH FASTER. I WENT TO A DISPUTE BOARD ON THE 2ND OF MARCH TO PLEAD MY CASE. I MADE SURE TO CALL THEM AHEAD OF TIME TO LET THEM KNOW THAT I WAS BRINGING DOWN THE VEHICLE SO THEY COULD SEE JUST EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. WHEN I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD BROUGHT THE VEHICLE THEY STATED THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT. WITHOUT ACTUALLY VIEWING THE VEHICLE THEY COULDEN'T HAVE POSSIBLY MADE A VALID DECISION (IN WHICH THEY TURNED DOWN MY CASE) AND I BELIEVE THEY WEREN'T THERE FOR THE CONSUMER, BUT THE MANUFATURER. FORD HAS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS INADEQUATE AND TECHNICALLY UNSAFE. AT NIGHT AND WITH A MINIMUL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT THIS VEHICLE SAGE SO MUCH THAT IT BLINDS ONCOMMING TRAFFIC. CUTTING CORNERS ON A $22,000 + VEHICLE OBSERD!!!!
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITH WEIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, REAR END IS LOWER THAN THE REST OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH BLINDS DRIVER WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT NIGHT. CAN CAUSE A HANDLING PROBLEM. *AK
ACCELERATOR STICKS. ALSO, WENT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL AND VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, JUST KEPT GOING. THROTTLE REPLACED TWO TIMES. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH WON'T DEPLOY IN EVENT OF A CRASH SO IT WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER MALFUNCTION WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFCULTY AND CRASH. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MJS
REPORTING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SUN ROOF LEAKING INSIDE VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEMS STILL UNRESOLVED. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMAYION ON THIS MATTER. *AK
SEAT BELT LATCH ON REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT GO INTO BUCLKLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS. WHEN MAKING ANY TYPE OF LEFT TURN, VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, AND CONSUMER HAS TO RESTART VEHICLE. *AK
THE VEHICLE'S SEAT BACK GAVE WAY WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE CONSUMER EXITED THE PARKING LOT. HE SUSTAINED MINOR NECK AND LOWER BACK INJURIES. THE DEALER STATED A BOLT HAD BROKEN/SHEARED OFF LEAVING THE SEAT UNSUPPORTED. *PH *JB *CB
DRIVER'S SEAT SUDDENLY RECLINED AND COULD NOT RETURN BACK TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION.*MR DEALER NOTIFIED. *CB
1999 FORD EXPLORER FUEL LINE LEAKING.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE FUEL LINES THAT EXTENDS OVER THE VALVE COVER AND INTO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM IS LEAKING FUEL. CONSUMER COULD SMELL THE GAS ODOR AND PULLED OVER TO STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. *TT *NM
CONSUMER REPLACED FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT (BOTTOM FRAME) 3 TIMES. EACH TIME THE SEAT FRAME HAS BROKEN IN THE SAME MANNER. *BF THE FRAME METAL RIPPED/TORE AT THE LOCATION OF THE MOUNTING BOLT FOR THE RECLINER LEVER. THE TEARING CAUSED THE SEAT BACK TO RECLINE WITHOUT WARNING ON THE LEFT SIDE. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER FELL BACKWARDS AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM
1998 FORD EXPLORER DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL # 03V281000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SEAT HAS NOT FAILED, HOWEVER THE PASSENGER SEAT DID. *JB
CONSUMER REQUESTING INFORMATION ON ANY RECALL ON THE 19999 FORD EXPLORER XLT. *TS *NM
1999 EXPLORER HOOD DOES NOT REMAIN OPEN DUE TO SUDDEN GAS LIFT SUPPORT FAILURE. *TS THE HOOD CAME CRASHING DOWN ON THE CONSUMER'S HEAD RESULTING IN A GASH AND SWELLING ON HER FORHEAD. *NM
1999 EXPLORER HOOD DOES NOT STAY OPEN WHEN LIFTED. *TS THE GAS LIFT SUPPORTS FAILED AND CAUSED THE HOOD TO COME CRASHING DOWN ON THE CONSUMER'S HEAD. THE HOOD CAUSED A GASH AND SWELLING ON THE CONSUMER'S FOREHEAD. *NM
1999 FORD EXPLORER WITH RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THE RECALL PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY 2008. DEALER DID NOT DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL AND TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL. *KB THE CONSUMER HAD SOME BRAKE WORK DONE AND HE SOON DISCOVERED THE CALIPER MOUNTING BRACKET BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND ONE OF THE BOLTS WAS MISSING. *JB
1999 FORD EXPLORER WITH RECALL FOR THE SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE SPEED CONTROL BUT DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. HE STATES THAT THE DEALER IS STILL TRYING TO GET THE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *KB
1999 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE ON HIS VEHICLE. *TGW RECALL # 06E056000. *JB
THE LOCATION OF THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IS TOO HIGH, AND DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME VISUAL IMPACT AS A MORE EYE LEVEL LOCATION WOULD HAVE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING EVERYTHING THAT WAS ELECTRICAL STOPPED WORKING, INCLUDING STEERING/LIGHTS/WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS, ALSO, ENGINE SHUTDOWN, ALMOST CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
UNABLE TO HAVE AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH INSTALLED, PART NOT AVAILABLE.
CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING HEAVY VIBRATIONS FROM ENGINE AREA WHEN SITTING STILL VEHICLE IS IDLING VERY HIGH. *AK
PASSENGER SIDE WINSHIELD ARM BROKEN. NLM
ENTIRE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES ARE BENT INWARD TOWARDS THE FRONT FENDER. ALSO, TIRES ARE EXPOSED TO RUBBING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
CONSUMER HAS HAD A RECALL LETTER SINCE MARCH OF 1999 FOR THE SPEED CONTROL. MANUFACTURER RECALL 99S09/NHTSA: RECALL 99V062001. THE DEALER HAS NOT COMPLIED WITH THE LETTER YET. *AK