Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accessories, trailer hitches and other equipment).
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 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.
Dt: the contact has a 2005 chalet, when going on vacation yes the axle broke. The trailer was being towed at 55-60 MPH. When the axle broke it caused damage to several parts of the travel trailer and tire. There was smoke damage from the tire and structural damage to the cabinets and under carriage. The rear axle that broke was the only axle on the trailer. There was no damage to the vehicle that was towing the trailer. The trailer was towed to the dealer, and there has not yet been a determination about the repairs. Upon the vehicle owners inspection, they discovered that the axle was covered with rust and had many cracks. The police were called, but no police report was filed since there was no accident.
My vehicles' OEM radio display has shorted out after only 4 years of light use. I know this has been an ongoing problem with the particular radios in 1997-2001 models of the Explorer. The unit also heats cd's to high temperatures, making me think that it either will catch the vehicle on fire, or melt a cd. I have tried contacting my dealer for a solution, Ford for a solution, and even pioneer electronics, the manufacturer of the unit for a solution. None of these entities were able to find an acceptable solution to the problem. They all stated it was the other's issue. I am actually considering a class-action lawsuit against Ford regarding this issue.
The biggest problem I have now is my transmission, on August 1st, my Explorer lost its reverse, it is now August 25, and I still do not have my car, they fixed it on aug 20, it broke that night, took it back aug 22, broke again and then took it back that night and now they still have it and dont know what is wrong with it. I told them all I want is a car, but they say they cannot give me one. Why? I dont have a car, I lease the one I have, cant drive it, still have to pay for it, and they wont give me a loaner.
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".
Service bulletin oom 12 from Ford was for the replacement of the camshaft tensioner in my 1999 Explorer. It was replaced on 11/27/01 and now needs to be replaced again. The Ford service center refuses to see the same componet continues to fail again and again as their problem.
Brake lights do not stay on when brakes are applied. Lights come on, but go back out while brakes are still being applied. Dealer has seen vehicle, and said that it is normal. Brake switch has been replaced 6 times and power booster has been replaced with no remedies, brake pedal makes a popping noise when released. Message center, miles per gallon, is inaccurate and has been replaced, however consumer states it still does not work. Rear suspension squeaks and groans over bumps, consumer states there is too much roll stiffness built into suspension, alignment checked and toe set due to vehicle wandering. Water leaks inside door frames. Automatic transmission is reluctant to downshift unless the accelerator is pressed flat to the floor. Inside rear view mirrow mounted too low. …
Pe00020, orginial equipment with 1999 Ford Explorer, tire size p23575r15. While driving the front end shakes very hard, and on all tires there are lumps forming and making a whistling noise. There was a constant noise in the front of the vehicle, dealer has replaced the following to remedy the problem: drivesahft, lower control arms, left upper ball joint, lower steering shaft on two occasions, front shaft, lower ball joints, outer tie rod ends, power steering pump and rack, left upper ball joint and finally the arm bushing that was hitting the frame. Brakes were pulsating, dealer machined the front rotors. There was a delay in starting the vehicle, dealer stated this was normal. Radio had no display lights, dealer installed a new radio. The rear brake light burnt out, dealer replaced the bulb. The parking brake sometimes would not release, dealer could not duplicate the problem. …
I own two fords; a 1999 ranger xlt ext. Cab and a 1999 Explorer - eddie bauer. Both are equipped with a cd/cassette/am-fm radio combination. The display lights on both radios units do not work. The internet is full of other owners with the same complaint. My mechanic said it was a manufacturer defect. I called a Ford dealer and was told that when these units were produced, the defect existed. It is in the way the wiring was soldered in. Why has this not been recalled? Ford will fix it for 400.00!! They should have never sold this item as an option and certainly should be held accountable. Strict liability! They knew the problem existed yet continued to install these defective units.
The radio display has gone out on my 1999 Ford Explorer mach stereo system. (it's been out for about a year.) the radio still plays but the display is unreadable. This is a known issue and very common problem that has been reported at the internet newsgroup rec.autos.makers.Ford.Explorer. Ford claims the fix is replacing the radio at a cost of $600. The radio works fine except for the display therefore an entire radio replacement at $600 is needless and wasteful. As a known defect, shouldn't this be covered above and beyond the warranty period?
Equipment complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are equipment problems on the 1999 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the equipment & accessories of the 1999 Ford Explorer, 2% of the model year's 1,348 complaints. The component named most often is electrical › radio/tape deck/cd etc. (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Explorer equipment problems?
No. NHTSA lists no equipment & accessories 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 equipment problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles.
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.