Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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).
I was at work on Friday afternoon, 5/16 and received a voicemail at 3:50 pm from the fire marshall stating my 1999 Ford Explorer xlt burned in my driveway and was totaled. I had not driven the Explorer since approximately 7 pm the night before and had taken my other car to work. The Explorer was just sitting in the driveway, outside the garage and started burning. A neighbor 2 houses over smelled the smoke and saw the flames and called the fire department. The fire marshall stated he had seen this type of fire before due to the Ford cruise control recall problems, based on the burn pattern. I was not the original owner and bought it about 8 years ago and have never received any kind of recall notice. …
I was at my office working when my 5 year old daughter came to me saying "mommy it's an emergency, your truck is smoking!" (I had been at the office working for an hour and a half after picking my children up from school.) I opened the back door to see what she was talking about and saw my truck engulfed in flames. I ran back inside the to call 911. A man had come inside the office to tell us a truck was on fire, he was already on the phone with 911. I moved my children to the front of the office, yelled for everyone parked by my truck to move their vehicles, and went outside in a panic. …
The single overhead camshaft (sohc) v6 engine May have as many as four timing chains with associated tensioners and guides. I have been receiving a rattling sound from my engine for years and it use to come and go, but now it has gotten worst. I had notified Ford motors corp., about this problem back on 6-30-10 and didn't get any help on this matter, the person I spoke with told me that my VIN# wasn't covered. I recently found three documents on this problem, with a NHTSA # on each document. Item number #630022, #620173 and article # 02-7-6. I have also been by a local dealership and was told the same. I would like to know if the Ford dealership is responsible for fixing this problem. I would like to have my vehicle fixed, and is hoping to can help.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle had to constantly shift the vehicle for it to be operated properly. The contact stated that the anti lock brake warning indicator and 4 wheel drive warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the vehicle speed control deactivation switch failed. The vehicle was not repaired. Prior to these failures, the brakes, transmission, and oil were changed. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 09V399000 (vehicle speed control); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire while in the contact's driveway with the engine turned off. The fire department was called and advised that the fire originated from the battery compartment. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure and the current mileage was 212,000.
I have a 1999 Ford Explorer xlt with a v-6 sohc 4 liter engine. The car has not properly accelerated since purchase in 2000, it has constantly stalled while driving and the dealer could not determine the problem because the check engine light was not on. I found out February 16, 2005 that I have a broken intake manifold gasket and it cost over $1,000 to fix. I have searched the internet related to this problem and found there are eight Ford models manufactured from 1996 through 2001 with this problem. Ford refuses to acknowledge this defect to consumers but according to the article inthe attached link, they have extended their warranty on this part to the police department and taxi companies that have purchased the affected cars. Please visit the website for more info.http://www.GM-v6lemons.com/mediaattn.htm thank you for any help you can provide peter delvecchia.
Service bulletin 00m12 from Ford called for replacement of timing chain tensioner. Tensioner was replaced but did not solve problem. Returned to Ford and was confirmed to be coming from tensioner. Was directed by dealer that ther was no other fix for problem but would not cause damage. Was told that if part failed Ford would warranty for 5 yrs or 75,000 miles. Part failed causing timing chain to slip and break, causing #6 cylinder piston to strike valve and put hole in piston. Ford now states that they are not responsable and will provide no relief for repair. Ford dealer advises that should have been covered but Ford makes final decision. Ford's final position is that age/mileage of vehicle problem is now my problem. Vehicle is 1999 Explorer with 60,000 miles which meets both of their cryteria in their service bulletin. Now Ford wants me to pay $4500 for new motor.
Ford Explorer 1999 with 70,000 miles has burning of anti-freeze. When brought to dealer need new long engine block and radiator. This car has had all routine maintenance and had complete tune up, hoses and belts and fluids changed at recommended intervals including 60,000 miles. Has never overheated nor broken down prior to this leak. When originally brought to dealer, was told problem were new hoses were leaking. This "problem" was adjusted by my mechanic and it still continued to leak antifreeze. In addition, car was fine until brought to dealer for recall work on on 10/1/03. Once taken out of service, that's when I noticed the smell of antifreeze.
When driving on the freeway, the vehicle accelerated, causing the consumer to pull out of traffic. The consumer put the vehicle in neutral before putting the vehicle in park. The consumer shut the vehicle off before restarting the vehicle. The consumer made contact with the dealership. The vehicle accelerated up to 85 MPH and did not respond to the consumers attempt to slow down. The vehicle had taken 1/4 miles to stop even when the vehicle was placed in neutral. The vehicle made a bad acceleration noise then shut off. The throttle was replaced. The temperature gauge fluctuated. The dealer replaced the thermostat.
When the automobile(Ford Explorer 1999 sohc v6) is in cold weather and you start it it seems to misfire or act like there is an air leak. I have read several post on the internet and people seem to see this problem alot on certain year Ford explorers. The have said that it is caused by an air leak around the exhaust manafold that only shows up when the engine is cold because the part is shrunk and does not fit but once the car warms up the part expands and acts as if there is no problems. When starting the car in warm weather you never see this problem. I have not had this fixed on my car since I park in a garage I rarely see this.
NHTSA investigations
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
Engine complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1999 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 104 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1999 Ford Explorer, 8% of the model year's 1,348 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline (43 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Explorer engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1999 Ford Explorer, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Explorer engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 6 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.