Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Dt: the contact stated while driving vehicle caught on fire. The fire started in the brake reservoir. The driver was able to pull the vehicle off the road before it became engulfed in flames. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. No police or fire department was contacted.
1999 Ford Explorer eddie bauer edition... We had gone out to dinner and when leaving the parking space it sounded as if we ran over a glass bottle. My husband looked around the vehicle and could not find anything. I got in the drivers seat and it felt as if the emergency brake was on (was not) and was very hard to move. We returned to the parking space, turned off the vehicle getting ready to call aaa for services. We both heard a "release" sound. He turned on the vehicle, backed up and we drove home very carefully. The next morning the vehicle was at the dealership to look into this mystery. The brakes were fine; however, they found the following to repair: *seals to brakes *rear axle pinion seal *both lower ball joints on the front end I was told the front right tire ball joints were completely worn down and the tire was just wobbly held on by the lug bolts. …
Hi,I'm not sure if this is the correct site for me to be writing but I bought a 1999 Ford Explorer from a dealer in new boston on or around 7/23/2010 it had 113,027 miles on it, I was told it was fully inspected with no issues and they put a safety inspection sticker on it. On 8/13/2010 I droped said Ford off at auto fair Ford in manchester, n.h. To have the vehicle checked out with appr. 113850 miles on it and they found multiple safety failures and violations such as bad bad ball joints, emergency brake was inoperable, brake line leaks and worn brakes that could not have past inspection amoung other safety inspection issues. It ended up costing me about $2700.00for mostly safety repairs.how can a safety inspector issue a safety sticker with these problems? Do I have any kind of recourse and if so to whom or to what agency could I contact? Thank you for any and all help [redacted]
I purchased my Explorer about 1 year ago. I have had nothing but problems with it since I bought it. Just in the last 3 months it has been in the shop at hometown motors at least 4 or 5 times. And everytime they get it in they charge me a hundred dollar deductable plus what the warranty won't cover. I had to pay 1300.oo for my warranty and I have had to pay almost 700.00 since then on the work for everything going wrong with the Explorer. I have all of my receipts being gathered . Who can I get ahold of to tell them about this lemon that I bought. I cannot afford for this to keep going on.I still owe the car company almost 300 dollars from last week when my Explorer was in the shop for almost 2 weeks. Please email me back and tell me everything I should do to get this problem fixed. I really appreciate it.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Explorer. While driving 25 MPH on a sunny day heard and felt a bump. She observed from the rearview mirror that there was a tire in the road and realized it was the emergency spare tire. There was a broken bolt found with the tire in the street. The consumer stated the bolt, cable, and suspension mechanism was apparently rusty and worn. The number of cylinders were unavailable. The failure was 82,185 ,and the current mileage is 82,189. The consumer provided the repair invoice. The dealer stated replaced front and rear brakes, rotors and serviced caliper. The dealer also replaced the spare tire. Updated 05/23/07
Rollover almost occurred from blown tire/excessive play in steering-bad service-no one wants to take responsibility. Vehicle frame is bent and a lot of damage to vehicle-I feel that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. Insurance does not want to cover costs on tires because tire was brand new was replaced by drew Ford on 7-2-01 and blew out on 7-6-01. They said something about it being caused by low inflation and the tire was just replaced on 7-2-01. The service men should have checked the pressure at that time of replacing the tire. (dot number: m6hltb2r21 tiresize: p235/75r15)
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.
Normal, light usage (11,000mi/y); scheduled maintenances performed. 1. Rear axle seal(s) leaking. 2. Front pinion gear seal leaking. 3. Parking brake flooded with fluid from 1 or 2, not sure. 4. Evaporative unit for ac defective, needs replacement. 5. Lcd for clock/audio system defective. 6. Rear window wiper motor failed twice. ------- manufacturer admits not usual wear/tear, but won't cover any portion of approx. $2000.00+ repair cost, nor even provide "loaner".
Coming to stop , pulling into parking space, and about to apply brakes when vehicle accelerated/ surged foward at a high rate speed, causing vehicle to go over concrete porch ,knocked over 6*6 pole, and hit wall of restaurant. During acceleration consumer slammed on brakes, but vehicle would not stop until 5-6 feet later. Firestone wilderness at tires caused trauble to the consumer and had to be replaced by bf good rich tires.
This vehicle was purchased for $24,000 at ray anderson, huntington Ford, two weeks prior to the accident. While en route to texas, in mississippi, the lights came on the dash panel and the brakes failed. The driver tried to exit applying brake pressure, but there wer not brakes. The vehicle plummeted down an embankment into a ditch. Injuries included a broken back/ broken arm/ 2 broken legs, and severe facial lacerations.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The right front brake line to the hydraulic control unit (hcu) connection could separate causing the line to leak when the brake pedal is applied.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the flare nut on the brake line.
Brake complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1999 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 69 complaints about the brakes of the 1999 Ford Explorer, 5% of the model year's 1,348 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (33 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Explorer brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 99V-123 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, May 18, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Explorer brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 1 fire and 7 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.