What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

1999 Ford Explorer

No clear pattern

20.5% of complaints about the 1999 Ford Explorer arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 1999 vehicle, but with only 1,354 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is tires (288 complaints), typically at 1.9 yr or about 105,000 miles.

Complaints
1,354
Median age at failure
2.3 yr
Median mileage
82,000 n=358
Crash / fire / tow
15.1% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Tires
288 reports · 105,000 mi
1.9 yr
18.8%
Visibility
153 reports · 83,000 mi
1.0 yr
3.3%
Speed control
126 reports · 100,000 mi
4.3 yr
19%
Power train
104 reports · 95,000 mi
4.5 yr
6.7%
Engine cooling
89 reports · 61,000 mi
3.0 yr
7.9%
Air bags
84 reports · 75,000 mi
4.0 yr
34.5%
Electrical system
80 reports · 75,000 mi
4.3 yr
21.2%
Service brakes, hydraulic
68 reports · 67,000 mi
2.4 yr
17.6%
Seats
55 reports · 71,200 mi
4.8 yr
12.7%
Suspension
49 reports · 113,850 mi
1.9 yr
14.3%
Structure
45 reports · 100,000 mi
3.2 yr
15.6%
Exterior lighting
41 reports · 99,300 mi
2.8 yr
17.1%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09V399000 2009-10-13
Speed control

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

09E025000 2009-05-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07V336000 2007-08-03
Speed control

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

06E056000 2006-06-13
Fuel system

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.

FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

03V280000 2003-08-05
Vehicle speed control:cables

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL AND 4.0L SOHC ENGINES, IF THE STRAND COVER ON THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE BECOMES FLARED AT THE END, THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE MAY BIND WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS ACTIVATED.

THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING FORCE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE BINDING CONDITION WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS DISENGAGED. BRAKING FUNCTION WOULD BE MAINTAINED THOUGH STOPPING DISTANCES MAY BE INCREASED.

03V281000 2003-08-05
Seats:front assembly:recliner

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.

THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

01X001000 2001-05-22
Tires:tread/belt

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRE

SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

00V395000 2000-11-28
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.27 OR 3.55 AXLE RATION. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE THAT COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO EXCEED THE DESIGN INTENT TOP SPEED. AT THESE EXTREME SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE COULD BE CAPABLE OF EXCEEDING THE SPEED RATING OF THE TIRE.

OPERATING THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE MAXIMUM SPEED RATING COULD LEAD TO A TIRE FAILURE WHICH AT THESE SPEEDS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Suspension mileage not reported 3 mo in service
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
Suspension mileage not reported 11 mo in service crash / fire / tow
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE COLLISION AT 30MPH. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR DOORS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 40 FEET, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
Suspension mileage not reported 6 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 TO 70MPH FRONT WHEELS SHAKE AND VIBRATE. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS OUT OF THE DRIVER'S HANDS. DLR HAS SEEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES, AND CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Air bags mileage not reported 6 mo in service
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES 2 TIMES THEN 9 TIMES FOR FIVE SEQUENCES AND THEN REMAINS ON. THIS USUALLY OCCURS ON FIRST START IN THE MORNING BUT MAY NOT OCCUR ON SUBEQUENT STARTS. DEALER SERVICE RESET COMPUTER AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK REPLACED THE AIRBAG MODULE. IT HELPED FOR ALMOST A DAY BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK . I DON'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAG WILL WORK IF NEEDED.

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