FORD EXPLORER · model year

1999 FORD EXPLORER

1737 NHTSA complaints, 143 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999FORDEXPLORER carries 1737 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 143 crashes, 54 fires, 141 injuries, and 4 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 EXPLORER is tires with 212 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (166) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer (106). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 13 investigation files overlapping the 1999 EXPLORER, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

1737
Complaints
143
Crashes
54
Fires
141
Injuries
4
Deaths

Total Complaints

1737 filings

Crashes Reported

143 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
TIRES212
TIRES:TREAD/BELT166
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER106
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL92
AIR BAGS63
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION61
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR55
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE43
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM37
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL37
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER37
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP33
SUSPENSION32
SEATS29
UNKNOWN OR OTHER25

Recent Complaints

20231103UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Gas pedal bracket fell off the firewall of the vehicle.jamming up under the brake pedal almost caused and accident. I got the vehicle stopped by using the Emergency brake did a temporary repair to get my vehicle to a shop to see about having repair done. After the vehicle was at the shop and repair was done the garage had informed me of the pour weld condition from the the gas pedal bracket was installed. Said repair was in deed done by the shop with all new weld being done and adjusted. After looking online for gas pedal problems for these vehicles Ford needs to have a nationwide recall to repair or replace these before someone gets serious injury or even death from a accident

20231103VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Gas pedal bracket fell off the firewall of the vehicle.jamming up under the brake pedal almost caused and accident. I got the vehicle stopped by using the Emergency brake did a temporary repair to get my vehicle to a shop to see about having repair done. After the vehicle was at the shop and repair was done the garage had informed me of the pour weld condition from the the gas pedal bracket was installed. Said repair was in deed done by the shop with all new weld being done and adjusted. After looking online for gas pedal problems for these vehicles Ford needs to have a nationwide recall to repair or replace these before someone gets serious injury or even death from a accident

20220425WHEELS

Was driving under 20mph on my way home about 5 minutes away no warning no sounds nothing warned us that our tire was going to fall off the drivers side while driving with other vehicles on the road behind us and in passing us all 5 studs that hold the lugnuts on so tire stays on but all 5 studs broke and tire just fell off thank god no one got hurt. Just caused a anxiety attack I was scared that bad and that's bad enough. Plus had to have it towed costing $60.00 less than 5 mins. Away to get it home now it's sitting on a Jack with scotches and now I have to hope I can get help with getting my son to elementary school. My only car not now.

20220329POWER TRAIN

The transmission stopped going in reverse for no apparent reason. All other gears work fine. There’s no lagging when driving and no other signs. I went to put it in reverse to back out of my driveway and when I pushed the gas it just reved the engine up and floated backwards causing me to apply the brakes quickly so I wouldn’t hit my house. There was smoke coming up from the transmission fluid container.The smoke continues to this day and there’s the proper amount/ plenty of transmission fluid in the transmission container.

20210105SERVICE BRAKES

THEY FIX THE CABLE FOR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND IS SAID THEY SHOULD CHECK ABS MODULE AND FIX AS NECESSARY THEY NEVER DID JUST SWITCH CABLE THAT'S ALL

20210105VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THEY FIX THE CABLE FOR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND IS SAID THEY SHOULD CHECK ABS MODULE AND FIX AS NECESSARY THEY NEVER DID JUST SWITCH CABLE THAT'S ALL

20201231ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE ELECTRIC TO GO HAYWIRE. THE OVERHEAD LAMP CLICKS ON AND OFF THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK DOESN'T WORK COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. SOME OF MY GAUGES WILL DECIDE NOT TO WORK SOMETIMES AND THEN OTHER TIMES WE'LL BE FINE. MY RADIO CLOCK DOES NOT WORK. ALL HAPPENS THE SAME WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR NOT WHETHER I'M PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING OR NOT. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT ANYTHING IT'S CAUSING THIS

Mileage: 210,000

20201231EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE ELECTRIC TO GO HAYWIRE. THE OVERHEAD LAMP CLICKS ON AND OFF THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK DOESN'T WORK COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. SOME OF MY GAUGES WILL DECIDE NOT TO WORK SOMETIMES AND THEN OTHER TIMES WE'LL BE FINE. MY RADIO CLOCK DOES NOT WORK. ALL HAPPENS THE SAME WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR NOT WHETHER I'M PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING OR NOT. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT ANYTHING IT'S CAUSING THIS

Mileage: 210,000

20201231UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE ELECTRIC TO GO HAYWIRE. THE OVERHEAD LAMP CLICKS ON AND OFF THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK DOESN'T WORK COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. SOME OF MY GAUGES WILL DECIDE NOT TO WORK SOMETIMES AND THEN OTHER TIMES WE'LL BE FINE. MY RADIO CLOCK DOES NOT WORK. ALL HAPPENS THE SAME WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR NOT WHETHER I'M PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING OR NOT. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT ANYTHING IT'S CAUSING THIS

Mileage: 210,000

20191116CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ACCELERATION ( GAS STUCK OPEN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT TO BE CONTROLLED AND THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A CAR IN OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY). 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT

Mileage: 130,000

20190713UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY VIN WAS GOOD YESTERDAY, IT IS NOT IN YOUR OR FORD'S, COMPUTER TODAY...PROBABLY BECAUSE RECALLS FOR EXTREMELY DANGEROUS VEHICLES, SUCH AS THIS ONE, ARE VOLUNTARY AND TO BE ENFORCED BY THE CONSUMER AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. YESTERDAY, THE FORD RECALL NOTICE ON MY VIN SHOWED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS TO BE REPAIRED BY MY FORD DEALER ONLY IF FORD INTENDED TO CONTINUE TO MANUFACTURE PARTS AS WELL AS PROVIDE THE PARTS AND SERVICE ...IF FORD WAS NOT WILLING TO PROVIDE THEM THEY HAD TH OPTION OF PURCHASING THE AUTOMOBILE BACK. YESTERDAY, I POINTED OUT THAT FORD NEVER PROVIDED THE CORRECT PART, THEY INSTEAD RECALLED FOR THE WRONG PART.(THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO EXPLODE AND BURN WHILE SAFELY PARKED IN THE GARAGE OR DRIVEWAY) THE PART WHICH IS ACTUALLY DEFECTIVE IS THE DESIGN OF THE ENTIRE SERIES OF VEHICLES WHICH FORD NO LONGER PROVIDES PARTS FOR ONLY WAIVERS OF LIABILITY. WHAT IS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE DESIGN IS THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM IS CONSTANTLY MAINTAINED UNDER PRESSURE B

Mileage: 1

20190528VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE HOOD OPENED AND CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TIED THE HOOD DOWN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT, WHILE DRIVING, THE SPEED CONTROL WOULD ENGAGE OR NOT ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20190528LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE HOOD OPENED AND CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TIED THE HOOD DOWN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT, WHILE DRIVING, THE SPEED CONTROL WOULD ENGAGE OR NOT ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20181113STRUCTURE:BODY

DRIVER SIDE DOOR KEEPS OPENING UP WHILE WHICLE IS MOVING. THE DOOR IS CLOSED AND LOCKED PRIOR TO THE TRAVEL. BIG SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 135,000

20180708UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FOR YEARS NOW, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING. IT CAN HAPPEN IN TOWN OR ON HIGHWAYS. AT TIMES IT WILL START RIGHT BACK UP AND IS DRIVABLE. OTHER TIMES IT NEEDS TO SIT FOR 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE BEING ABLE TO START AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES IT WILL START AFTER A SHORT TIME, BUT SPUTTER AND STALL AGAIN WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 10-YEARS AGO, AND ALL THE LIKELY CAUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED OR FIXED (I.E FUEL FILTER REPLACED). IT SEEMS TO USUALLY, IF NOT ALWAYS, HAPPEN DURING SPRING/SUMMER MONTHS WHEN IT IS WARM. NO MECHANIC, INCLUDING AT FORD DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEMS. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT WILL STALL ON BUSY INTERSTATES AT SPEED LIMITS. THIE DATE AND INFO I USED FOR THIS POSTS WAS SIMPLY THE MOST CURRENT EVENT, BUT THE SAME EVENTS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY FOR MANY YEARS.

Mileage: 120,000

20180706SEATS

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE REQUIRING ME TO HEAVILY BRAKE AND SHARPLY SWERVE TO AVERT COLLISION. BECAME IMMEDIATELY AWARE THAT HEADRESTS OF FRONT SEATS PROVIDED ABSOLUTELY NO (REPEAT NO) INJURY (E,G. WHIPLASH) PROTECTION. WHEN SITTING IN FRONT SEATS THE HEADRESTS CANNOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE POSITIONED CLOSE TO THE HEAD OF THE OCCUPANT. THIS, IN TURN, PROVIDES THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR SEVERE INJURY SUCH AS "WHIPLASH" TO OCCUR. ATTEMPTS TO PURCHASE SAFER REPLACEMENT HEADRESTS FROM FORD AND OTHER AUTOMOTIVE PARTS STORES WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AS THEY WERE REPORTEDLY NEVER MANUFACTURED.

Mileage: 120,000

20171219CrashFatalAIR BAGS

I WAS IN A REALLY HAD CAR ACCIDENT N,MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY N

Mileage: 220,000

20171205STRUCTURE:BODY

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN DOORS FROM OUTSIDE IT IS VERY DIFFICULT. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN AN ACCIDENT IF ATTEMPTING TO GET SOMEONE OUT. ALSO THE LATCH FOR THE HOOD HAS THE SAME PROBLEM

Mileage: 100,000

20171121STEERING

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.

Mileage: 130,000

20170414CrashAIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 200,000

Compare 1999FORDEXPLORER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 FORD EXPLORER have?
The 1999 FORD EXPLORER has 1737 NHTSA complaints, 143 crashes, 54 fires, 141 injuries, and 4 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 FORD EXPLORER?
The most-complained component for the 1999 FORD EXPLORER is TIRES with 212 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER.
Is the 1999 FORD EXPLORER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.