There are 42 stored owner reports matching the steering leading-label group for the 1999 Ford Explorer in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 42 of 42 matching reports. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)THE GEARSHIFT ON THE COLUMN IS LOOSE AND DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH THE GEAR INDICATOR. WHEN ITS IN PARK IT STILL DRIFTS FORWARD UNLESS THE GEAR SHIFT IS PUSHED UP PASS PARK. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SOME TIME IN THESE YEAR FORD EXPLORERS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL ENGAGED, A PUFF OF SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,200.
SON WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL. MANEUVERED TO AVOID CONTACT WITH A DEER AND HE LOST CONTROL. TIRE BURST AND FRONT END COLLAPSED. HE DIDN'T MAKE CONTACT WITH ANY OBJECT. CALLED TRIPLE A TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. TOW DRIVER IMMEDIATELY NOTICED AFTER PLACING VEHICLE ON HIS TRUCK THAT PART OF THE INNER OPERATIONS OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING CONTROL ARM ON ONE SIDE HAD CORRODED AND BROKE. HE STATED THAT THIS IS WHY OUR SON WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. HE SUGGESTED FOR US TO CALL THE MAKER OF THE VEHICLE AND SEE IF THE PART IS ON RECALL AND TO TAKE PICTURES BECAUSE THIS WAS A COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE BAD. THE STEERING AND BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY SEVERED WHEN THIS PART OF THE STEERING CORRODED AND SNAPPED UPON A SIMPLE MANUEVER. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS IS A PRODUCT LIABILITY SITUATION BY AN ATTORNEY. OUR SON WAS NOT INJURED. AND ALL OF THE DAMAGE IS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THIS IN OUR OPINION IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF HE HAD BEEN GOING ANY FASTER ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THIS CORROSION OF THE INNER AREA OF THIS PART OF THE STEERING MECHANISM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PROCEEDING FROM A COMPLETE STOP AT 10 MPH SMOKE BEGAN EMANATING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL FOR A VERY BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. HE CONTINUED VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. UPDATED 12/08/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/10/09.*JB
SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY,ALSO WHEN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED . THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME. HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RECALLS OF THIS MATTER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO THE LEFT LANE THEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. THE TOW TRUCK TOWED THE VEHICLE HOME BECAUSE THE CRASH DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. AS OF DECEMBER 5, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS ROLL OVER CRASH HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN FUMED. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE COMBINATION SWITCH LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,975 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,776. *UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO 3/2/07, HE NOTICED AN ODOR SIMILAR TO BURNING TRASH. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS SMOKING AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CONSUMER STATED THE COST OF REPAIRS WAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $212.54. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN INSIDE VEHICLE. CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF PART OF RECALL TO SPEED SENSOR SWITCH. FORD MOTOR CO. STATES VEHICLE NOT PART OF RECALL, DID NOT RECOMMEND ANYTHING. NO RESPONSE TO STEERING COLUMN SMOKING OR SMELLING OF BURNING ELECTRICAL WIRES. *JB
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SMOKING WHILE DRIVING, AND SHE KEPT ON DRIVING AND IT STOPPED. IT HAPPENED NC EBEFORE ABOUT A MONTH AGO. CONSUMER WAS WORRIED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL EXPLODE ON HER.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENED, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL TO THE VEHICLE, AND IT CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL, ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STOPPING. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED THIRD DEGREE ROAD RASH BURN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THEIR BODY WHICH STARTED FROM THEIR SHOULDER TO THE THIGH AREA. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH STEERING WHEEL SWAYED AWAY FROM THE CONSUMER. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
SMOKE COMING OUT OF STEERIING COLUMN. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. DON'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND POLICE REPORT. *NLM
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.
WHEN THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN, SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATION. *AK FORD RECALLED TWO COMPONENTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *SCC *JB
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
FAILURE OF RACK AND PINION AND STEERING SHAFT ON 4-3-03; SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING ON 12-12-2003.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BUTTON SNAP AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
WHILE DRIVING 15MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT TIRE COLLAPSED. MECHANIC STATED THAT UPPER BALL JOINT WAS MISSING A NUT WHICH CAUSED BRAND NEW TIRE TO COLLAPSE.*AK DEALER REPLACED BROKEN RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT, BRAKE HOSE, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND RACK/PINION UNIT. *YD
DEALER STATES " OUT OF WARRANTY" , VEHICLE ALLMOST ROLLED OVER DUE TO COMPLETS SEPARATION OF THE FRONT WHEEL AND SPINDLE FROM VEHICLE. THIS WILL MOST LIKELY BE A DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY OR POOR ENGINEERING.BOLT FOR UPPER SPINDLE TO BALL JOINT BROKEN OR MISSING AND BALL JOINT SHAFT SHEARED OFF. BRAKE LINE BROKEN OFF AND AXLE SEPERATED FROM THE HOUSING. RECOMMEND A RECALL ON THIS VERY POOR DESIGN AND OR A REPLACEMENT OF ALL THESE BALL JOINTS PRODUCED BY WHATEVER COMPANY MADE THIS BALL JOINT.
Showing 1-20 of 42 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: May 4, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.