1999 Ford Explorer Sport Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 11%of 93 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 57,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1999 Ford Explorer Sport, 11% of the 93 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 57,500 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Engine check light stays on all the time, and the steering wheel locks, making driving impossible. Vehicle had several recall repairs done, but the problem persists. Dealer and the manufacturer had been informed of the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10040810, filed 2003-09, 57,000 miles“The crankshaft sheared off directly behind the harmonic balancer, the truck has only 70,000 miles, will require major engine work to fix. It broke under normal acceleration conditions.”
NHTSA complaint #10116650, filed 2005-04, 70,000 miles“While starting vehicle shuttered for 10 seconds and then it shut off. Most of the vehicle's electrical systems do not work after the initial start up.”
NHTSA complaint #10046573, filed 2004-02, 58,000 miles“I bought a 1999 Ford explorer in 02 for 17,292.44 in 05 we had to put a new motor in for 5,502.47 now here we are in 06 and the transmission went out to replace will cost us another 2,900.00 so here we have a Ford that is only 5 years old with 22,794.91 in it and still not running I can not find the right person to talk to cause the dealership went out of business.”
NHTSA complaint #10155707, filed 2006-04“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 the rods in the engine and who knows what could of…”
NHTSA complaint #10140358, filed 2005-10Related service bulletins
- 10026389May 16, 2008Ford: certain 1999-2001 model year vehicles up to 6000 lb gvwr registered in new york and certain 2001 vehicles up to 6000 lb gvwr registered in the state of maine, certified for…
Engine cooling: other model years
Other parts of the 1999 Ford Explorer Sport
14 complaintsSeats
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
7 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsTires
5 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Ford Explorer Sport
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology