1999 Ford Explorer Sport Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1999 Ford Explorer Sport most often describe broken front-seat recliner mechanisms and erratic electrical behavior — wipers that run on their own or stop working, doors locking and unlocking by themselves, and interior lights that stay on. A separate cluster of complaints describes unintended or surging acceleration, with several owners pointing at the cruise-control deactivation switch above the brake master cylinder. Many reports arrive well past 50,000 miles, so these are largely wear-and-aging faults rather than early-life failures.

1. 1
   Seats

   Broken front seat recliner handle, bolt or frame

   • 12 complaints (13%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2013

   Owners describe the driver or passenger seat back suddenly reclining while driving, sometimes with a loud pop, and in some cases the seat frame or the bolt at the recliner fracturing. Others report the recliner handle breaking apart or the seat back latching loose so the seat will not stay upright. Dealers replaced latches or the recall bolt, though several owners say the replacement bolt later failed or that repairs were quoted at their own cost. Reported from roughly 50,000 to 200,000 miles, mostly on vehicles well past 75,000 miles.

   What to check: Sit in both front seats and work the recline lever through its full range; look for cracks at the recliner bracket and weld, and ask whether the seat recliner bolt was replaced under the earlier campaign.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We were forced to take this vehicle from hansel Ford in santa rosa when they felt we wouldn't be able to afford the 2004 Ford f-150 we purchased they had sold my trade in hadn't made a deal with company for contract came a few day before first payment due and repoed it since we have had car nightmares the seat on driver side broke just regular time it does a lot of jerking and sputtering the light work when they want to etc..... Please get me a decent vehicle for after.”

   NHTSA complaint #10135796, filed 2005-09, 95,265 miles

   “Was driving around the city when I reach into my pocket to get my phone and hear a loud thump coming from the seat and the next thing I notice is the seat reclining all the way back. I was able to bring it back up by folding the exterior passenger seat to provide some sort of support. When I arrived home I tried inspecting what the issue was and saw a large fracture right next to the reclining mechanism. This is potentially a hazard that can one day cause a severe accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10515714, filed 2013-06, 200,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Wipers, door locks and interior lights acting on their own

   • 24 complaints (26%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2012

   Complaints describe windshield wipers that stop mid-stroke, come on with the switch off, or only move when the washer is engaged, along with doors that lock and unlock by themselves and interior lights that stay lit after the vehicle is started. Some owners also report the engine dying while driving or failing to restart, and repeated brake light bulb replacements. Several were told their vehicle was not covered by the electrical recall on fuses and circuit breakers. Spread from about 15,000 to 150,000 miles, often reported in hot weather for starting problems.

   What to check: Test the wipers at every delay setting and in the off position, cycle the door locks and watch the interior lights, and ask whether the vehicle was checked against the fuse and circuit breaker campaign.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When it is hot outside, the car will not start. It just cranks and cranks,but, will not turn over.....as if it was out of gas when it is not. There are many tricks to getting this thing to start though. If the windows are rolled up all of the way, and it has not been driven before noon, it wont start. If I drive it in the morning when it is cool outside, it will almost always start later in the day. If I don't drive it until the afternoon, and the windows have been left down and it is parked in the shade, it will almost always start. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10235583, filed 2008-07, 102,000 miles

   “I was driving down the street and the engine just died, I have a stick so I kept it in second then it started and I kept going this is the third time this has happened since I bought the truck new. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10023883, filed 2003-06
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration and cruise control switch fires

   • 12 complaints (13%)
   • median 85,527 mi at 7.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2008

   Owners report the vehicle accelerating on its own with the cruise control off, requiring hard braking, neutral or shutting the engine off to stop it. Others describe smoke or fire at the master cylinder area near the cruise control deactivation switch, sometimes after a recall repair was performed, and some say cruise control stopped working after the switch was serviced. Several note their vehicle was not included in the related throttle and speed-control campaigns. Reported from about 75,000 to 110,000 miles, with fire reports clustered at higher mileage.

   What to check: Look at the cruise control deactivation switch and connector on the master cylinder for melted plastic or brake fluid residue, confirm whether the speed-control recall work was done, and road-test the cruise control on and off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down the highway when I noticed a loss of power and the check engine light started flashing and the entire vehicle started shaking. I pulled over and exited the vehicle. I called the repair shop and they came and towed it back to their shop. The repair man told me that a fire started under the hood. It required extensive repair. Upon further examination he told me that he believed it started with the speed control deactivation switch. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10165927, filed 2006-08, 109,685 miles

   “I have a 1999 Ford explore. The problem that I had was when I was driving up a hill going below the speed limit while not using the speed control my Ford explore just started to accelerate at high speeds by it's self. I could not slow it down. I thought that it could have been the speed control but no light was on and I hit the off button several times. Finally I had to place it in neutral and the engine was still on acceleration. I called Ford and they did not help me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10204239, filed 2007-09, 126,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Rough running, rattle and stalling traced to timing chain

   • 10 complaints (11%)
   • median 70,950 mi at 6.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2009

   Owners describe a loud rattle from the engine, stalling or backfiring on takeoff, and a check engine light that stays on, with shops identifying the timing chain tensioner or cam guides as the source. Some report major engine work such as a sheared crankshaft or head replacement, and in a few cases an overheated engine and failed radiator. One service bulletin for this model year covers emission warranty refunds rather than this symptom. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 75,000 miles, though a few appear near 130,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for a cold-start rattle from the front of the engine, check whether the timing chain tensioner or guides have been replaced, and look for a check engine light or a history of coolant and head work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving home from work and a loud noise came from my engine I took it to a shop to look at it and they new what it was right away it was the timing chain tensioner and the owner of the shop told me this has been a known problem with the 4.0l engines with that sad why isn't there a recall on this part they make replacement kits just for this problem and this lead to more damage to my truck replacing the chain in all it's coasting me about 800 dollars should this be a recall because if the chain would have broke the motor would have bent …”

   NHTSA complaint #10140358, filed 2005-10

   “Poor performance/durability of the vehicle. Includes 5 recalls (to date) and the need to replace the transmission in the vehicle after only 72,000 miles of operation. Other parts not properly functioning at this time are the radio, cruise control, and brake lights.”

   NHTSA complaint #10067674, filed 2004-04, 71,900 miles
5. 5
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Crumbling step bar, liftgate and hood supports

   • 18 complaints (19%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2014

   Owners report the side step bar rusting through until it is no longer safe to stand on, and hatch lift gate brackets cracking and breaking away from rust so the gate fails. Others describe the gas struts holding the hood open losing pressure and letting the hood drop, and a hood support arm that will not stay raised. Dealers often treated the rust as normal wear and declined warranty replacement. Reported from about 22,000 to 76,000 miles, with rust-related reports tied to winter road salt.

   What to check: Inspect the step bars, rocker area and liftgate brackets for rust-through, and lift the hood to see whether the struts hold it up on their own.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1999 Ford Explorer Sport with a step bar that has completely rusted of the first year of purchase. After the winter of 2000 the bars has been rusting more and more there is nothing that I can do as a consumer. The dealership will not replace it under my warranty because they consider that wear and tear. This matter needs to be attended to as a safety issue. Stepping on a rusty bar that will give any time soon can not be good for anyone with little kids.”

   NHTSA complaint #10082728, filed 2004-07, 64,000 miles

   “Doors will not open have to climb out of car window on growing problem first passenger side know driver side a lot of embarrassing moments trying to get out of car at work.”

   NHTSA complaint #10644812, filed 2014-10

Buying note. Check the front seat recliner mechanism and the electrical items — wipers, locks and interior lights — carefully on any example, and look at the cruise control switch on the master cylinder for heat damage. Service records showing timing chain and radiator work are worth asking about, since several owners report those repairs at moderate mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.