Most common 1999 Ford F-250 SD problems
Share of the 249 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-250 SD complaints by model year
Best F-250 SD years: 2013, 2014, 2012. Years to avoid: 2019, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2016. Compare all years →
1999 Ford F-250 SD recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 Mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control…
Remedy: 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…
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with 7.3l diesel engines, the camshaft position sensor located on the engine of the vehicle May function intermittently, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sensor and replace it with an improved camshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on December 29, 2007. Owners May contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1999 Ford F-250 SD:
Engine stalling
The cam position sensor (cps) provides a critical signal to the subject vehicle (sv) engine management system, the loss of which results in an engine stall.during pe06-011, Ford stated in their response to odi that it is continuing to investigate allegations of cps related engine stall and further advised that an update will be provided upon completion of the investigation.Ford data shows that 20% of the 716,000 svs…
Engine stalling
In a December 3, 2007 letter, Ford advised NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall to replace the cam position sensor (cps) in approximately 1.2 million subject vehicles to address reports of engine stalling.a new design cps with improved performance and durability will be installed as a remedy.owner notifications will begin in December 2007.
Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of…
Sector shaft fractures
This ea was opened based on a response received from Ford motor company to an information request (ir) submitted during sq00-018.Ford stated in an internal service message that it had changed the steering gear sector shafts and pitman arms installed 1999 model year f-series super duty vehicles on March 22, 1999.Ford stated that these design changes were implemented to make improvements in vehicle steering and…
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…
What 1999 Ford F-250 SD owners say
Engine & cooling all 97 →
I have a 1999 Ford super duty pickup. I was driving home after my sons baseball practice and the unthinkable happened. My truck made a loud bang and noticed a burning smell. I stopped to see what the problem with my truck. As I opened the hood I saw a flash of light and saw the engine on fire. I immediately shut the truck off and grabbed my sons water bottle to try to stop the fire. Luckily I was able to smother the fire out with a baseball glove. My son and I waited for over an hour for the tow truck. The vehicle was towed to a local garage. I was shocked to find out the repair bill of $2700!!!!!! The shop said the spark plug blew out of the engine and caused a fire. And to make matters worse they said this was a known problem with the Ford v8 engine!!! I am so upset! …
Upon starting my 1999 Ford f-250 super duty, with the 5.4 triton engine, I heard a loud noise from under the hood. Turned the truck off and popped the hood. The passenger side of the engine was on fire. Extinguished fire with garden hose, and found the 3rd spark plug from the front on the passenger side of the engine had blown out of the cylinder head, driving the ignition coil into the fuel rail repeatedly. The fuel rail ruptured, and the gasoline ignited. Less than 12 months after repairing the truck, the 2nd spark plug on the passenger side was ejected from the cylinder head exactly as before, but without a fire this time. …
Electrical system all 34 →
I have a 1999 f250 super duty pickup 7.3 diesel. As I was driving it one evening I smelled smoke and saw smoke coming from under the dash and up in the defroster area at the windshield. It then began to flame up from those areas and I slowed the vehicle down and jumped out,fearing I was going to get burned. It was late at night on a country road at 2 am. And the truck burned for almost a half hour before anyone drove by me to call 911. By the time the f.d. Got there the vehicle was totaled destroyed and totaled engulfed in flames. I had a small one gallon gas/oil mixture container( for my chain saw on the floor of the vehicle) which had less than half a gallon in it. I told my insurance co. Of that fact. The insurance co. Now wants me to be deposed under oath. I have nothing to hide and will allow that. …
I have a 1999 Ford super duty pickup. I was driving home after my sons baseball practice and the unthinkable happened. My truck made a loud bang and noticed a burning smell. I stopped to see what the problem with my truck. As I opened the hood I saw a flash of light and saw the engine on fire. I immediately shut the truck off and grabbed my sons water bottle to try to stop the fire. Luckily I was able to smother the fire out with a baseball glove. My son and I waited for over an hour for the tow truck. The vehicle was towed to a local garage. I was shocked to find out the repair bill of $2700!!!!!! The shop said the spark plug blew out of the engine and caused a fire. And to make matters worse they said this was a known problem with the Ford v8 engine!!! I am so upset! …
Brakes all 33 →
The vehicle rolled off hill after being parked 60 minutes. Truck was in first gear with emergency brake on! This happened in November of 2001. Received recall notice from Ford motor company during May of 2002 and had service completed May 29th of 2002. On February 28th 2003 the same truck rolled off another hill while in first gear with the emergency brake on, after being parked over 45 minutes! There seems to be a design problem with the emergency brakes and/or transmissions/gear ratio in this model truck***recall did not work!!!!. A person should be able to put this truck in either first gear or reverse with the emergency brake on and come back and find your truck parked in the same place, not two blocks away on top of another car! Especially after a recall for this problem!!!! Absolutely ridiculous. How else is the general public to park these vehicles? …
Approaching intersection applied brakes and brake pressure failed. Rear impacted another vehicle and pushed them into another vehicle. Upon inspection after accident passenger side brake line was hanging and leaking fluid. Had truck towed back to my shop and removed all 3 lines to have replaced with stainless braided lines. Upon intersection of the driver and passenger side brake lines the crimp clamps located under the rubber covering on rubber line before it turns into steel and goes into caliper. Spoke with brake line builder and states that it is an everyday occurrence. Replace front and rear lines on vehicle. The rubber stores all the moisture,salt,sand and other elements. I was ticketed with careless driving from rear ending the truck in front of me. I have pictures of the line for visual inspection.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Ford F-250 SD a good car?
Based on 249 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 F-250 SD rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the F-250 SD at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Ford F-250 SD?
The engine & cooling — 97 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the electrical system (34) and brakes (33).
How many recalls does the 1999 Ford F-250 SD have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1999 Ford F-250 SD, the most recent from October 13, 2009 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford F-250 SD?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 2014 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2016. See the full Ford F-250 SD years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford F-250 SD problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 14% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.