Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 85 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 85, in the owner's own words
1999 FORD F150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE WHILE PARKED. *LD CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SENDING IN EXTRA INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR CASE. *AS *TR
AROUND 1:30AM ON THURSDAY NOV. 24TH, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY NEIGHBOR SAYING MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THAT IT LOOKED LIKE IT STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN DRIVEN TO THE STORE THE MORNING BEFORE THE FIRE, AND WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED TO THE FIRE BY NEIGHBORS. THE SECURITY VIDEO FOOTAGE SHOWED THAT SMOKE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO (10/2014) I NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 1999 FORD F-150 WERE NOT WORKING. A FEW TIMES ONCE I RETURNED TO HOME I NOTICED THAT WHEN I SHIFTED THE TRUCK INTO PARK, THE HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. IT DID NOT APPEAR TO MATTER IF THE HIGH BEAM OR LOW BEAM LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED. I STARTED TO INSPECT THE HEADLIGHT OPERATION AND NOTICED THAT WHEN I TILTED THE STEERING WHEEL TO IT'S LOWEST POSITION, TYPICALLY IT'S OPERATING POSITION, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF. WHEN I TILTED THE WHEEL UP SLIGHTLY TO THE NEXT POSITION, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON. TODAY, 10/19/2014 I REMOVED THE TRIM AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE TWO WIRES THAT HAVE BROKEN AND SEPARATED FROM THE WIRING HARNESSES THAT ATTACH TO THE TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY AND SEVERAL CONTACTS THAT ARE LOOSE IN THE UPPER HARNESS. I HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS AND A VIDEO SHOWING THE PARTS THAT ARE LOOSE AND OR BROKEN. BECAUSE THESE BROKEN WIRES AND CONTACTS ARE LOOSE AND AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISK OF A SHORT OR SPARKS THAT THEY COULD CREATE AND WITHOUT FULLY OPERATIONAL HEADLIGHTS, THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE TRUCK AND PURCHASED IT AT AROUND 11,000 MILES. THE STEERING COLUMN HAS NEVER BEEN TAKEN APART NOR HAS THE TRIM AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN BEEN REMOVED. THESE WIRES COULD BE SEEN MOVING AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TILTED UP AND DOWN PRIOR TO THE SIGNAL ASSEMBLY BEING REMOVED AS THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON AND OFF WITH THE LIGHT SWITCH LEFT IN THE ON POSITION. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS FORD F150 1999 ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO. I HAVE NOTICED FROM THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT, WHEN I FIRST START IT UP I HEAR A SERIES OF DINGS (LIKE ONES YOU WOULD HEAR FOR SEAT BELT NOT FASTENED), BUT THE SEAT BELTS ARE FASTENED. MY RADIO SOMETIMES HAS POWER AND WORKS, OTHER TIMES IT HAS NO POWER TO COME ON. SOMETIMES MY ODOMETER IS ON AND I CAN READ MY MILEAGE, MOST OF THE TIME ITS OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN THE BLOWER FAN IS BEING USED IT DOES NOT GO OF WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED OFF AND REMOVED, THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS PROBLEM IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I HAVE HEARD ON OCCASIONS, A CLICKING SOUND BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AREA, AGAIN THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THIS PROBLEM STOP WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY CONNECTIONS. I FEAR IT MAY LEAD TO, OR CAUSE A FIRE SOMEHOW. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN LEAVE MY TRUCK PARKED, AND START IT UP THE NEXT DAY, SOMETIMES AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT THE BATTERY IS MYSTERIOUSLY DRAINED DEAD THE NEXT MORNING. I HAVE BEEN DILIGENT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE LEFT NOTHING ON THAT COULD IN ANY WAY DRAIN THE BATTERY. I FEAR THESE ARE MANUFACTURER PROBLEMS, DO I HAVE ANY OPTIONS TO GET THESE ISSUES REPAIRED? *TR
THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN OCTOBER 1998. THE FIRST INSTANCE WAS WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCE OVER A HOLIDAY WEEK. INITIALLY IT WAS ONLY THE WIPERS THAT WOULD TURN ON THEN OFF WITHOUT MANUALLY DOING SO. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR NEARLY 15YRS. MOST RECENTLY, THE WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF AND ACTUALLY NOW TURN ON AT A FASTER RATE ON THEIR OWN, WINDOW WASHER FLUID CONTROL IS VERY SENSITIVE AND WILL TURN ON WITH A LIGHT TOUCH TO THE TURN INDICATOR AND WON'T TURN OFF, THE DASH DISPLAY WILL TURN OFF, AND THE RADIO DISPLAY IS NOT WORKING (RADIO WORKS). WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE SET AT THE TOP POSITION IN ORDER FOR THE WIPERS TO NOT TURN ON AS MUCH (IT IS VERY FREQUENT NOW). WE HAD THE TRUCK LOOKED AT WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP BY THE FORD DEALER FOR THE WIPER ISSUE, AND NOTHING WAS FOUND TO RESOLVE. AFTER READING THROUGH OTHER FILED COMPLAINTS, I AM HOPING THAT THE TRUCK WILL NOT BURST INTO FLAMES DUE TO THE FAULTY ELECTRICAL GOING ON IN THE PANEL AND STEERING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ODOMETER READING WOULD NOT DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE REAR SLIDING WINDOW ALLOWED PRECIPITATION TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS ON THIS MODEL STYLE AND THE WATER RUNS DOWN TO THE GEM MODULE AND FUSE BOX CAUSING THE GEM MODULE TO SHORT OUT AND THE ELECTRONICS DO WHAT EVER THEY WANT TO. THE TRUCK WILL START ON ITS OWN EVEN IF OFF OR RUNNING AND DRIVING WITH THE STARTER ENGAGING. WINDOWS ROLL DOWN THE ALARM ACTIVATES RADIO COMES ON ALL THE ELECTRONICS COME ON AT THERE OWN EVEN WHEN PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FROM MY RESEARCH TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE TRUCKS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE CAR CAN EVEN ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS IT CAN CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AS IT HAS WITH MYSELF. THIS PART IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND THE LEAK IS VERY COMMON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IGNITED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN EARLIER THAT DAY BUT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WAS A FIRE REPORT FILED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 243,000.
STARTED THE TRUCK UP AN BLAST OFF! DONT KNOW WHERE THE PLUG WENT BUT IT WAS GONE AFTER I HEARD A LOUD BANG. *KB *TR
THE ENGINE SURGES OR QUITS AS I AM DRIVING. THIS HAPPENS EVERY 8 TO 10 MILES. I CAN BE GOING 75 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT QUITS AND I HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE IGNITION TO RESTART IT. THIS IS AT LEAST THE NINTH TIME THIS TRUCK HAS DONE THIS SINCE IT WAS NEW. I THINK YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE GOING 75 MILES PER HOUR AND YOUR ENGINE QUITS AND YOU ARE LEFT WITH NO POWER STEERING, OR BRAKES. THIS WILL BE THE NINTH COIL I HAVE REPLACED ON THIS MOTOR. FORD IS COMPLETELY AWARE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS WITH THIS SIZE MOTOR. I CAN'T BELIEVE AN ENGINE THAT SHUTS OFF AT 75 MILES PER HOUR HAS NOT BEEN CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN BEFORE. *TR
I OWN A 1999 FORD F-150 WITH THE 5.4 LITER TRITON ENGINE AND IT HAS BLOWN OUT 2 DIFFERENT SPARK PLUGS IN THE LAST YEAR. THE FIRST ONE HAPPENED TRAVELING DOWN I-95 AND THE SECOND ONE HAPPENED IN A 35 MPH ZONE. *TR
MY 1999 FORD F150 TRUCK WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR OVER TWO DAYS. THE ECU MODULE SHORTED OUT AND STARTED TO BURN LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE BILLOWED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF TRUCK. TRUCK WAS REPAIRED WITH A USED PART SINCE FORD NO LONGER MANUFACTURES THE ECU MODULE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING 1/4 MILE AND THEN PARKING THE VEHICLE NEAR THE GARAGE THE TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS TURNED OFF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. FORD HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 09/16-10 *BF UPDATED 09/20/10*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 09/20/10.*JB UPDATED 08/01/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPT. DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. SIX DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE. UPDATED 08/02/11
HVAC INTERIOR FAN BEGINS TO BE INTERMEDIATE AT ALL SETTING BUT HIGHEST SETTING. THE RESISTOR FAILS ON ALL BUT HIGHEST SETTING. SHORT IN WIRE HARNESS STARTED A SMOLDERING FIRE AT CONNECTOR. ALL RESISTORS ARE OPEN AIR AND RUSTED ASSUMED DO TO ITS PROXIMITY TO THE EVAPORATOR. FAILURE EXACTLY LIKE THIS ONE EXPERIENCED BY OTHER OWNERS. HTTP://WWW.F150ONLINE.COM/FORUMS/ARTICLES-HOW-TOS/378955-HEATER-BLOWER-FAN-FIX-ONLY-HIGH-SPEED.HTML. *TR
MY HUSBAND WENT TO THE STORE AND WHEN HE CAME OUT, OUR TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT. SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER INVESTIGATED THE FAILURE AND CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 112,000. UPDATED 09/04/08 *BF UPDATED 09/09/08. *JB
THE DIGITAL ODOMETER BLANKS OUT, OR SCRAMBLES ITS DISPLAY. THE DEALERS SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS THE SOLDERED CONNECTIONS ARE "BAD". THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MUST BE REPLACED. @ COST $600.00. FURTHER INQUIRIES FIND THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER F-150 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. VERY DISTRACTING IN TRAFFIC WHEN IT BLANKS OUT! *TR
'99 F-150, MANUAL TRANS., 4.2L V6 ODOMETER BACKLIGHT FADES IN & OUT. UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE AT THIS TIME. FAILURE STARTED @ ABOUT 138K MILES. ODOMETER HOWEVER REMAINS ACCURATE. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F150. HE STATED THAT THE ODOMETER WOULD FADE IN AND OUT AND SOMETIMES WOULD REMAIN OFF FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. HE FELT THAT THE FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A SHORT AND FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB
TL*- THE CONTACT OWES A 1999 F150 FORD PICKUP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MARCH 14,2007 WHILE DRIVING IN SUNNY CONDITIONS, AND WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT FLASHE. , AFTER THAT ALL EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE SHOULDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, UNPLUGED THE BATTERY, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THIS SAME EVENT OCCURRED REPEATEDLY SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,909.*AK
1999 FORD F-150 WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY, WHEN A FIRE STARTED UNDER HOOD. ORIGIN SEEMS TO BE AT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. ALL PLASTIC COMPONENTS UNDER HOOD MELTED AND WIRING WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. *JB
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 01/27/2007 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE STREET, WHEN A NEIGHBOR ALERTED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WORKING ANY DIFFERENTLY PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES, WHEN IT BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK MADE 3RD ATTEMPT 10/16/07 LEFT MESSAGE. *LJ
ELECTRICAL FAILURE, MALFUNCTION, FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK EXPLOSION DESTROYED TWO OF MY VEHICLES. *NM
VARIOUS SWITCHES ARE FAILING, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH, ELECTRIC MIRROR ADJUST SWITCH, FAN SWITCH FOR HEATER/AC AND THE MOST ANNOYING IS THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WHICH CAUSES THE WIPERS TO COME ONE WHEN EVER THEY FEEL LIKE IT. I ALSO PERSONALLY KNOW OF TWO OTHER FORD F150 OWNERS SUFFERING FROM SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I THINK ITS TIME THAT FORD STOPS USING INFERIOR PARTS BEFORE WE ALL START BUYING DODGE. *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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