"How reliable is the 1999 Ford Explorer?"

"Based on 1737 NHTSA complaints, the 1999 Ford Explorer has a median complaint mileage of 80000 miles. The most common issue is Tires."

"What are common problems with the 1999 Ford Explorer?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1999 Ford Explorer is Tires, accounting for a significant portion of the 1737 total complaints filed."

1999 Ford Explorer: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1737 complaints

1737

Total Complaints

80,000mi

Median Mileage

Tires

Top Issue

143

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

55,000 25th Percentile

80,000 Median Mileage

117,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Tires

212

Tread/Belt

166

Windshield Wiper/Washer

106

Vehicle Speed Control

Air Bags

Automatic Transmission

Motor

Gasoline

Recliner

Accelerator Pedal

Severity Assessment

143

Crashes

Fires

141

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"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 ..."

"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 PR..."

"DURING DECELARATION AT AN INTERSECTION, THE REAR WINDSHIELD EXPLODED. UPON INSPECTION DRIVER FOUND GLASS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AREA. WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WAS NOT ENGAGED AT THE TIME. OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE @70 DEGREES. SOME BURN MARKS FOUND ON SURROUNDING FRAME AREA AFTER ARRIVAL AT DE..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Tires 212 complaints

25th: 83,775 mi Median: 108,000 mi 75th: 144,000 mi

Tread/Belt 166 complaints

25th: 59,000 mi Median: 63,000 mi 75th: 63,802 mi

Windshield Wiper/Washer 106 complaints

Median: 37,000 mi

Vehicle Speed Control 92 complaints

25th: 79,625 mi Median: 119,300 mi 75th: 130,750 mi

Air Bags 63 complaints

25th: 58,177 mi Median: 102,500 mi 75th: 183,050 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 175 FL: 125 NY: 112 TX: 106 NC: 75 NJ: 74 VA: 72 PA: 68 MI: 67 GA: 61

Who Files Complaints?

51.8%

Original Owners

48.2%

Second+ Owners

Ford Explorer — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1991	764	113,804	Tread/Belt	70
1992	848	125,000	Tread/Belt	54
1993	1151	107,248	Tread/Belt	98
1994	1531	97,541	Tread/Belt	124
1995	1048	125,000	Tread/Belt	107
1996	1818	127,000	Tread/Belt	248
1997	2149	100,000	Tread/Belt	180
1998	2374	100,000	Tread/Belt	219
2000	1203	77,938	Tires	115
2001	500	90,500	Tires	82
2002	4095	79,000	Automatic Transmission	178
2003	1368	74,000	Automatic Transmission	70
2004	1647	65,000	Automatic Transmission	69
2005	604	70,000	Body	30
2006	788	60,000	Power Train	18
2007	271	69,000	Power Train	14
2008	215	78,000	Electrical System	8
2009	49	67,000	Vehicle Speed Control	8
2010	155	48,000	Power Train	13
2011	1481	65,000	Steering	48
2012	1013	62,000	Steering	14
2013	2757	74,000	Steering	61
2014	2011	64,000	Steering	48
2015	2138	54,600	Unknown Or Other	52
2016	2940	45,647	Steering	56
2017	1927	45,000	Structure	53
2018	819	42,000	Structure	23
2019	306	50,000	Structure	2
2020	1544	12,600	Power Train	50
2021	492	38,400	Power Train	21
2022	308	28,000	Power Train	25
2023	126	8,500	Unknown Or Other	11
2024	21	5,080	Unknown Or Other	0
2025	111	2,289	Electrical System	11

Active Recalls (15)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Headlights

Campaign 09E025000 | 11/05/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Fuel System, Gasoline

Campaign 06E056000 | 13/06/2006

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

UFI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UFI FILTERS USA AT 800-230-5876.

Vehicle Speed Control

Campaign 09V399000 | 13/10/2009

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

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN

Exterior Lighting

Campaign 09E012000 | 07/04/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Vehicle Speed Control

Campaign 07V336000 | 03/08/2007

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER

Fuses And Circuit Breakers

Campaign 00V072000 | 07/03/2000

AN INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR IN THE GEM CIRCUIT.

Exterior Lighting

Campaign 06E026000 | 23/03/2006

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

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)

Campaign 00V395000 | 28/11/2000

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

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE.

Cables

Campaign 03V280000 | 05/08/2003

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.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Tread/Belt

Campaign 00T005000 | 21/08/2000

IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.

THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

Recliner

Campaign 03V281000 | 05/08/2003

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

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT UPPER BOLT WITH A METAL SPACER AND BOLT. IN ADDITION, SEATS WITH TUBULAR BACK FRAMES WILL HAVE THE FULLY THREADED LOWER RECLINER BOLT REPLACED WITH A PARTIALLY THREADED BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-39

Tread/Belt

Campaign 01X001000 | 22/05/2001

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

THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Campaign 99V123000 | 18/05/1999

THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE TO THE FRONT WHEELS, INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLARE NUT ON THE BRAKE LINE.

Latch

Campaign 99V164000 | 29/06/1999

IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH IS EITHER NOT ENGAGED OR IS RELEASED, A HOOD FLY-UP COULD OCCUR.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY HOOD LATCH WITH COMPONENTS THAT ARE COATED PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY FOR IMPROVED LATCH PIVOT CORROSION PROTECTION.

Vehicle Speed Control

Campaign 99V062001 | 30/03/1999

IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.

Extend Your Tire Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

Check tire pressure monthly — underinflation is the #1 tire killer
Rotate tires every 5,000-7,500 miles
Get an alignment check annually
Inspect for uneven wear patterns which indicate alignment or suspension issues
Replace tires when tread reaches 4/32 inch — don't wait for 2/32

Compare Ford Explorer

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28