Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1,348
Latest Nov 3, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
158
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Mar 11, 1999
What this page shows
Our database holds 1,348 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Ford Explorer. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 1,348 · page 1 of 54
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 3, 2023
Gas pedal bracket fell off the firewall of the vehicle.jamming up under the brake pedal almost caused and accident. I got the vehicle stopped by using the Emergency brake did a temporary repair to get my vehicle to a shop to see about having repair done. After the vehicle was at the shop and repair was done the garage had informed me of the pour weld condition from the the gas pedal bracket was installed. Said repair was in deed done by the shop with all new weld being done and adjusted. After looking online for gas pedal problems for these vehicles Ford needs to have a nationwide recall to repair or replace these before someone gets serious injury or even death from a accident
NHTSA ID
11553341
Incident
Nov 2, 2023
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 25, 2022
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.
NHTSA ID
11462156
Incident
Apr 25, 2022
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 29, 2022
The transmission stopped going in reverse for no apparent reason. All other gears work fine. There’s no lagging when driving and no other signs. I went to put it in reverse to back out of my driveway and when I pushed the gas it just reved the engine up and floated backwards causing me to apply the brakes quickly so I wouldn’t hit my house. There was smoke coming up from the transmission fluid container.The smoke continues to this day and there’s the proper amount/ plenty of transmission fluid in the transmission container.
NHTSA ID
11458793
Incident
Mar 21, 2022
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jan 5, 2021
THEY FIX THE CABLE FOR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND IS SAID THEY SHOULD CHECK ABS MODULE AND FIX AS NECESSARY THEY NEVER DID JUST SWITCH CABLE THAT'S ALL
NHTSA ID
11386554
Incident
Nov 21, 2020
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 31, 2020
I NEED TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE ELECTRIC TO GO HAYWIRE. THE OVERHEAD LAMP CLICKS ON AND OFF THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK DOESN'T WORK COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. SOME OF MY GAUGES WILL DECIDE NOT TO WORK SOMETIMES AND THEN OTHER TIMES WE'LL BE FINE. MY RADIO CLOCK DOES NOT WORK. ALL HAPPENS THE SAME WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR NOT WHETHER I'M PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING OR NOT. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT ANYTHING IT'S CAUSING THIS
NHTSA ID
11385724
Incident
Oct 24, 2020
Mileage
210,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 16, 2019
Crash reported
ACCELERATION ( GAS STUCK OPEN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT TO BE CONTROLLED AND THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A CAR IN OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY). 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT
NHTSA ID
11280507
Incident
Oct 16, 2019
Mileage
130,000 mi
Filed Jul 13, 2019
MY VIN WAS GOOD YESTERDAY, IT IS NOT IN YOUR OR FORD'S, COMPUTER TODAY...PROBABLY BECAUSE RECALLS FOR EXTREMELY DANGEROUS VEHICLES, SUCH AS THIS ONE, ARE VOLUNTARY AND TO BE ENFORCED BY THE CONSUMER AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. YESTERDAY, THE FORD RECALL NOTICE ON MY VIN SHOWED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS TO BE REPAIRED BY MY FORD DEALER ONLY IF FORD INTENDED TO CONTINUE TO MANUFACTURE PARTS AS WELL AS PROVIDE THE PARTS AND SERVICE ...IF FORD WAS NOT WILLING TO PROVIDE THEM THEY HAD TH OPTION OF PURCHASING THE AUTOMOBILE BACK. YESTERDAY, I POINTED OUT THAT FORD NEVER PROVIDED THE CORRECT PART, THEY INSTEAD RECALLED FOR THE WRONG PART.(THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO EXPLODE AND BURN WHILE SAFELY PARKED IN THE GARAGE OR DRIVEWAY) THE PART WHICH IS ACTUALLY DEFECTIVE IS THE DESIGN OF THE ENTIRE SERIES OF VEHICLES WHICH FORD NO LONGER PROVIDES PARTS FOR ONLY WAIVERS OF LIABILITY. WHAT IS ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE DESIGN IS THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM IS CONSTANTLY MAINTAINED UNDER PRESSURE BY THE FUEL PUMP, REGARDLESS IF THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING OR NOT. (MY CRIPPLED VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO FUEL IN IT'S TANK AND THE BATTERY TERMINAL DISCONNECTED.) I BELIEVE THIS INVOLVES ALL FORD VEHICLES OF THIS CHASSIS THAT WERE SUPPOSEDLY REDESIGNED, AT US GOVERNMENT EXPENSE, FOR E10 FUEL AND WERE NOT DESIGNED BY A FACTORY TEAM FOR PROFESSIONAL ALCOHOL FUEL RACING. DANGEROUS CONDITION: ALL AND ANY SERIES OF VEHICLES OF THIS DESIGN WILL EVENTUALLY SPRING A LEAK, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS AT FAULT AND WITH NO WAY OF STEMMING FUEL FLOW IT WILL PUMP THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE FUEL TANK UNDER THE DRIVERS/PASSENGERS SEAT. THIS DESIGN CONDITION IS SO DANGEROUS THAT SUCH DESIGNS ARE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS IN ALCOHOL FUEL RACING; WITH NO WAY OF STEMMING THE FUEL SYSTEM POWER AND/OR THE FUEL FLOW THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON ANY RACE TRACK OR GARAGE TO WHICH I AM AWARE.
NHTSA ID
11231523
Incident
Jul 13, 2019
Mileage
1 mi
Driver assistanceInterior & seats
Filed May 28, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE HOOD OPENED AND CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TIED THE HOOD DOWN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT, WHILE DRIVING, THE SPEED CONTROL WOULD ENGAGE OR NOT ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ID
11210309
Incident
May 20, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Nov 13, 2018
DRIVER SIDE DOOR KEEPS OPENING UP WHILE WHICLE IS MOVING. THE DOOR IS CLOSED AND LOCKED PRIOR TO THE TRAVEL. BIG SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ID
11151292
Incident
Nov 13, 2018
Mileage
135,000 mi
Filed Jul 8, 2018
FOR YEARS NOW, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING. IT CAN HAPPEN IN TOWN OR ON HIGHWAYS. AT TIMES IT WILL START RIGHT BACK UP AND IS DRIVABLE. OTHER TIMES IT NEEDS TO SIT FOR 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE BEING ABLE TO START AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES IT WILL START AFTER A SHORT TIME, BUT SPUTTER AND STALL AGAIN WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 10-YEARS AGO, AND ALL THE LIKELY CAUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED OR FIXED (I.E FUEL FILTER REPLACED). IT SEEMS TO USUALLY, IF NOT ALWAYS, HAPPEN DURING SPRING/SUMMER MONTHS WHEN IT IS WARM. NO MECHANIC, INCLUDING AT FORD DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEMS. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT WILL STALL ON BUSY INTERSTATES AT SPEED LIMITS. THIE DATE AND INFO I USED FOR THIS POSTS WAS SIMPLY THE MOST CURRENT EVENT, BUT THE SAME EVENTS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY FOR MANY YEARS.
NHTSA ID
11110128
Incident
Jul 8, 2018
Mileage
120,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 6, 2018
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE REQUIRING ME TO HEAVILY BRAKE AND SHARPLY SWERVE TO AVERT COLLISION. BECAME IMMEDIATELY AWARE THAT HEADRESTS OF FRONT SEATS PROVIDED ABSOLUTELY NO (REPEAT NO) INJURY (E,G. WHIPLASH) PROTECTION. WHEN SITTING IN FRONT SEATS THE HEADRESTS CANNOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE POSITIONED CLOSE TO THE HEAD OF THE OCCUPANT. THIS, IN TURN, PROVIDES THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR SEVERE INJURY SUCH AS "WHIPLASH" TO OCCUR. ATTEMPTS TO PURCHASE SAFER REPLACEMENT HEADRESTS FROM FORD AND OTHER AUTOMOTIVE PARTS STORES WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AS THEY WERE REPORTEDLY NEVER MANUFACTURED.
NHTSA ID
11109902
Incident
Jun 25, 2018
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 19, 2017
Crash reported2 injuries reported1 death reported
I WAS IN A REALLY HAD CAR ACCIDENT N,MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY N
NHTSA ID
11055595
Incident
Jun 20, 2013
Mileage
220,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 5, 2017
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN DOORS FROM OUTSIDE IT IS VERY DIFFICULT. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN AN ACCIDENT IF ATTEMPTING TO GET SOMEONE OUT. ALSO THE LATCH FOR THE HOOD HAS THE SAME PROBLEM
NHTSA ID
11052434
Incident
Jan 1, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 21, 2017
THE GEARSHIFT ON THE COLUMN IS LOOSE AND DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH THE GEAR INDICATOR. WHEN ITS IN PARK IT STILL DRIFTS FORWARD UNLESS THE GEAR SHIFT IS PUSHED UP PASS PARK. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR SOME TIME IN THESE YEAR FORD EXPLORERS.
NHTSA ID
11047804
Incident
Nov 13, 2017
Mileage
130,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 14, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING ALONG A MAIN STREET I WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT THEREFORE, MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND AS A RESULT MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSE A BROKEN JAW AND CRACKED TEETH VEHICLE WAS MOVING FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS RUSHED TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE.
NHTSA ID
10972368
Incident
Feb 11, 1999
Mileage
200,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 13, 2017
1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED VARIOUS INJURIES TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BODY. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 193,338.
NHTSA ID
10954298
Incident
Feb 12, 2017
Mileage
193,338 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 14, 2016
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.
NHTSA ID
10925918
Incident
May 15, 2010
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Sep 15, 2016
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. NEUTRAL IS ACTUALLY REVERSE OVER DRIVE IS NEUTRAL 2ND IS OD 1ST IS 2ND PAST 1ST IS 1ST GEAR. WHEN I MOVE POWER LAMP TO OFF MY HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF. ALL OF THIS HAOPENED WHEN I TURNED MY VEHICLE ON OR WHEN I WAS DRIVING.
NHTSA ID
10906779
Incident
Jul 6, 2016
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 12, 2016
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
NHTSA ID
10884377
Incident
Apr 2, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Jun 10, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE TURN SIGNAL ENGAGED, A PUFF OF SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,200.
NHTSA ID
10873567
Incident
May 14, 2016
Mileage
186,200 mi
ElectricalFuel systemExterior lighting
Filed May 26, 2016
THE ELECTRICAL ON MY VEHICLE IS BAD. MY RADIO LIGHTS FLASH, NONE OF MY DOORS OPEN FROM TE INSIDE AND ONLY ROLL DOWN WINDOWS FROM DIVER SWITCTH; GAS GAYGE ONLY READS EMPRY ALTHOUGH I J UST PUT 30 DOLLARS IN THE TANK.
NHTSA ID
10870925
Incident
May 25, 2016
Mileage
280,000 mi
Filed Mar 4, 2016
ALL THE DOORS I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH, I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT DOOR KNOBS HOWEVER I KEEP HAVING PROBLEMS WITH DOOR NOT OPENING FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. MY TWO BACK DOORS DO NOT OPEN INSIDE OR OUTSIDE AT ALL. SOMETIMES IT WORKS BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT DOES NOT AND RIGHT NOW IT DOES NOT OPEN AT ALL. IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT HOW ARE WE SUPPOSE TO GET OUT.
NHTSA ID
10839815
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 30, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT PREMATURELY DETERIORATED AND THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FRACTURE CAUSING THE SEAT TO BE STRUCTURALLY UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V281000 (SEATS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ID
10817050
Incident
Aug 3, 2015
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 8, 2015
OUR AIR BAG LIGHT WENT TOTALLY OUT AND THEN THEIRS A BEEPING SOUND AND WHEN WE WENT TO GET CAR INSPECTED, IT FAILED INSPECTION AS THE AIRBAG LIGHT DIDNT COME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
NHTSA ID
10780748
Incident
Sep 23, 2015
Mileage
148 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 27, 2015
STARTED DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND NOTICED HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM HAZORD SWITCH, STOPPED TO CHECK ONCE TRUCK WAS TURNED OFF SMOKE STOPPED STARTED TRUCK UP AGAIN AND WENT ON MY WAY SEVREL MILES FROM HOME SMOKE STARTED AGAIN, COULD NOT LOSE ANY MORE TIME SO I KEPT ON GOING WATCHING FOR ANY FIRE OR SPARKS. MADE IT TO WORK, AT END OF DAY GOT HOME WITH NO ISSUES, MY WIFE DROVE THE TRUCK ( EXPLORER ) LATER THAT EVNING AND SHE ALSO NOTICE SMOKE, WITH IN A FEW DAYS AFTER THIS HAPPEND I NOTICED IT AGIAN AND SOME OF THE DASH LIGHTS STARTED FLIKERING, THE ISSUE OF SMOKE HAS BEEN AN ON GOING THING BUT HAVE NOT SEEN ANY FIRE SO I KEEP DRIVING IT AND LET MY WIFE DRIVE THE NEW CAR FOR HER SAFTY, MY CONSERNS ARE, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID FOR FRON WINDOW STOPPED WORKING FROM THE FIRST SMOKEING ISSUE AND THEN DASH LIGHTS STARTED SHOTLY AFTER AND NOW I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIR BAG IS STILL WORKING AND THAT SEEMS TO BE A SAFTY ISSUE TO ME, I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THIS TRUCK UNTIL AFTER THE SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUM, AFTER THAT I AM HAVE NUTHING BUT ELICTICAL ISSUES.
NHTSA ID
10777956
Incident
Oct 18, 2006
Mileage
65,247 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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