Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
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).
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Explorer equipped with good year wrangler tires, tire size 235-75-r15. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the rear passenger's side tire exploded due to tread separation. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and entered into oncoming traffic, crashing into a concrete barrier. The contact suffered injuries to the wrist, lower back, and neck. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The current and failure mileage of the vehicle was 180,000. The dot number was not available. The failure mileage of the tire was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Explorer with wilderness tires, size p255/70/r16. He stated that while driving 70 MPH the driver side rear tire blew out. As a consequence the vehicle rolled over and was completely destroyed. He was taken to the hospital and sustained severe injuries. The tire that failed was the spare tire installed by the dealer. A police report was filed. The failure and current mileages were 105,000.
My 4dr 1999 Explorer rolled over one time due to a possible defective Goodyear wrangler p235/75r 15 on right rear when it lost tire pressure when I made a left hand turn on a dirt road causing minor injuries and totaled it. I was charged with endangering the welfare of a child which is my three yr old nephew because this tire caused me to roll my truck - it was a accident by dunklin county in kennett, mo.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Explorer equipped with Firestone wilderness at tires, size: p235/75/r15 (na). While driving approximately 60 MPH, the rear passenger tire blew out. The vehicle was taken to a tire shop, where it was diagnosed that the tire needed to be replaced. The tire was replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate vehicle and tire failure mileage was 150,000.
On 10/06/2006 my daughter was driving her 1999 Ford Explorer on I-35 at approx 70 MPH when her right rear tire blew out. On 10/19/2006 she was driving on the same stretch of road and her left rear tire blew out. Both tires were Goodyear wrangler ht with approx 21K miles on them and were inflated to 35 psi. She was extrememly fortunate in both cases and did not roll the SUV however, she did total the SUV.
As I was driving 45 MPH the front tire blew out and taking the car out of control these tires has a recall by Ford and these were changed by Firestone in sept 2000..my wipes neck has been injured..the tread is great but the bet inside let loose.
Front right replacement tire for the Firestone recall 01 x 001 000, experienced tread separation. This occurred while driving at 56 MPH, which caused loss of control. The vehicle impacted the medium.
I have detailed documentation regarding the 8/7/99 accident involving the wilderness xt tire and now with the recent recall, having the second set of wilderness xt tires replaced at the scarsdale Ford dealership, who confirmed that on both ocassions, my Ford Explorer contained said tires. All correspondence and documentation was provided to Ford motor company's office of the general counsel in dearnborn, mi, with no response, (including but not limited to receipts, police report and out of pocket expenses due to the delay in Ford's response to my written and telephone inquires ($6,000), in addition to the cost of repairs which was covered under my auto insurance. I can and will provide all the corresponding documentation to obtain the appropriate renumeration. The Ford scarsdale dealership has also maintained copies of my documenation which they are also ready to provide upon request. …
I was going to work at 0500 in the morning, south bound on interstate 5 at a speed of around 68 MPH. I was traveling next to a concrete divider and in the middle of completing a curve in the freeway when my right front tire blew out from under me. Being in a turn the force from th blowout rendered my vehicle uncontrolable enough that I couldnt pull away from the wall in time. The front of the vehicle impacted first as soon as this happened the right rear tire also blew out. My vehicle was then riding on the two right rims until I came to a halt. When I tried to make a claim to Firestone they refused my inquery saying I had hit a road hazzard causing both tires to blow out. It wasnt until my dad sent the report about the investigation from khou in houston, tx that I realized I wasnt the only one involed. …
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 1999 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 376 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 1999 Ford Explorer, 28% of the model year's 1,348 complaints. The component named most often is tread/belt (166 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Explorer wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires 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 wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 46 crashes, 2 fires and 63 injuries and 1 death to wheels & tires 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.