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 F-250 SD owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
My 1999 Ford f-250 SD. Blew a spark plug out of the number four cylinder and a gasoline vapor fire started. I got the fire out and discovered the problem. The spark plug was laying on top of the engine with approximately four threads of aluminum attached to its threads. How can Ford have sooooo many of this exact issue and not have a recall?please help us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Driving down the interstate at posted speed limit (65-70 MPH) the truck shut-off with no warning loosing all power including power brakes and power steering. Pulled over to the side of the road, attempted to restart truck and it did. Pulled back out onto the interstate and after a few hundred yards it shut-off again. Truck then would not start for 10-15 minutes, finally started and I made it about 1/2 mile to next exit. Truck shut-off again in parking lot of a truck stop and would not start. After using a hand held scanner to check engine codes, problem was identified as a failed cps (cam position sensor). New part was purchased from parts house (~$150) and I installed in the parking lot. Truck started back up and continued on a several hour trip. …
I currently own a 1999 Ford f250 super duty pickup with the v10 engine in it. I have had a spark plug come out of the head before and it was one of the original factory spark plugs at that time. At that time Ford would not fix the problem without charging me for the repair stating that the vehicle was out of warranty. I took my pickup to the local mechanic who put in a spark plug insert and charged me $250.00. I was more than OK with the repair and I thanked him for his trouble. Last night I was coming home with my pickup when it blew out the same plug. This time I believe it will cost me thousands of dollars to repair this vehicle and I don't see why a company like Ford won't face up to their mistake of poor engineering and fix the problem. I paid $20,000.00 for this truck used. It had 60,000 miles on it when I bought it. …
I purchased a new 1999 f250 SD 4x4 on 4/2000. At about 11-5 -2006 with only 116,000 miles on the speedo, I noticed 9 exhaust manifold studs broken off .took to dealer and authorized them to replace 20 studs and 20 nuts ,with genuine Ford parts. Repair cost me $833.00. Came with 12 mo/12,000 mile warranty. On 10-5-2009 noticed 2 studs were broken again, 25,000 miles later. Took to dealer, they stated could not find the cause and would deduct 10% off the bill if I get it repaired. Told me OK to drive it, not leaking. For one thing, if bolts are missing it will leak raw exhaust into the atmosphere and potentially into the passenger compartment causing the driver to fall asleep and crash. Not to mention polluting the environment. The epa would like to know about it I'm sure. So basically, the factory installed studs lasted 116,000 miles, and 2 of the replacements lasted only 25,000 miles. …
This is the second issue that I have had with my Ford 5.4 liter truck. The first was a famous Firestone tire blowout in rush hour traffic that could have easily killed me and several others, as I was traveling 60 MPH across a bridge. It caused about $3500 damage to the bed of my truck. Today, a spark plug blew out. The threads are gone. I am the only owner of the truck, so I know nothing has been damaged before. I have smelled fuel for the past two days and couldn't come up with an answer. I had scheduled to take it in to the shop tomorrow, but it didn't make it that long. There seems to be many people with the same issue. Will Ford stand up to the plate and remedy the issue, please? In calling the dealer today, their comment was "wow, we've never seen that before." that really infuriates me, as I know they have dealt with many of them. …
I have 99 Ford f-250 super duty with the 5.4 I had the third spark plug on the passenger blow out on me. The truck only has 140,000 miles on it was regularly serviced. What happened was I picked up my daughter from the baby sitter and when I got her in the truck I started it and ejected the plug out of the head the engine wasn't under ant type of load it just ejected the plug I called the Ford dealer they said it was not there fault it was serviced some time before it ejected the plug we had to retap and put a steel insert into the head which I was not happy with because I did not because the problem and Ford should fix this problem I would not have bought the truck if I new the 5.4 had this type of problem in the beginning. …
(1999 fords super duty extended cab 4x4 with 5.4) driving home from work on the freeway and bang so pulled over to discover a blown spark plug and broken coil, had car towed home for $200 and taking it in to have automotive shop fix the blown-out spark plug and check all other plugs , wires, coils, estimated around $560 plus parts. The second blown-out spark plug happened 47 days later and had to tow it again now just sitting in the driveway. Can't afford to have it fixed. Ford should have recalled this design defect on the heads. I have read thousands of articles that this has happened too.been a real expensive for someone that doe not have money for these kind of repairs and Ford just does not care, they would rather you take itto there shop and charge you $2,000 or more to have it fixed. Bs. …
Ford 1999 f250 5.4l triton v-8 blew spark plug. Lost power, created road hazard and scared the crap outta me when it blew. Made it to side of road safely and got towed. Went online to find out this is a huge problem with this engine as well as other tritons. Spark plug threads are very short length. Not just poorly engineered but engineered to fail. Have read posts saying fires were caused by this problem when fuel mixture ejected from hole caught fire from arcing blown plug. Others claim the plug blew a dent into hood. Cannot imagine the damage to an eye or other if mechanic or other person is looking down into engine looking for reason for ticking noise, when bam, the plug blows out. Ford will fight this tooth and nail because it is an expensive fix. They make tons of money by having their shops pull the engine and replace the head. Please help us.
Related recalls
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 investigations
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.
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 F-250 SD years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1999 Ford F-250 SD?
NHTSA has 97 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1999 Ford F-250 SD, 39% of the model year's 249 complaints. The component named most often is engine (32 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford F-250 SD engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 07V-553 (diesel, Dec 5, 2007). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford F-250 SD engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 116,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 4 fires and 1 injury 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.