1999 Ford Explorer Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 69about this part
- Share
- 5%of 1,348 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 66,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 69 complaints about the brakes of the 1999 Ford Explorer, 5% of the 1,348 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 66,000 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Hi,I'm not sure if this is the correct site for me to be writing but I bought a 1999 Ford Explorer from a dealer in new boston on or around 7/23/2010 it had 113,027 miles on it, I was told it was fully inspected with no issues and they put a safety inspection sticker on it. On 8/13/2010 I droped said Ford off at auto fair Ford in manchester, n.h. To have the vehicle checked out with appr. …”
NHTSA complaint #10352600, filed 2010-08, 113,850 miles“1999 Ford Explorer eddie bauer edition... We had gone out to dinner and when leaving the parking space it sounded as if we ran over a glass bottle. My husband looked around the vehicle and could not find anything. I got in the drivers seat and it felt as if the emergency brake was on (was not) and was very hard to move. We returned to the parking space, turned off the vehicle getting ready to call aaa for services. We both heard a release sound. He turned on the vehicle, backed up and we drove home very carefully. The next morning the vehicle was at the dealership to look into this mystery. …”
NHTSA complaint #10073308, filed 2004-08, 115,889 miles“Brake fluid level drop in reservoir corresponding to brake pad wear, will result in air entering brake system and resulting in loss of brake pedal efficiency, prior to fluid level in reservoir reaching the min. Level when vehicle is on level ground. Fluid was flushed/bled but anti-lock light remains on and brake efficiency is noticeably deteriorated.”
NHTSA complaint #10156741, filed 2006-05, 135,000 miles“Rear windshield wiper motor failed. Caused loss of visibility through back window. Rear power window motor failed. Accelerator pedal vibrates on acceleration. (usually while merging on to highways) parking brake indicator light does not always light when parking brake is active. Rattle and vibration from catalytic converter cover.”
NHTSA complaint #10023696, filed 2003-06, 72,586 miles“Brake rotors warped and required replacement 2 months after brake service which included machining rotors in (4-24-04). Follow up service (8-16-04) for problem found warped rotors on left side, in which Ford dealer service charged for replacement. (10-15-04) right side rotor now exhibiting same defect.”
NHTSA complaint #10095814, filed 2004-10, 62,792 milesRelated recalls
- 99V123000May 18, 1999Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The right front brake line to the hydraulic control unit (hcu) connection could separate causing the line to leak…Covers: Ford Explorer 1999, Mercury Mountaineer 1999
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 5% |
| 2025 | 19 | 18% |
| 2023 | 6 | 5% |
| 2022 | 13 | 5% |
| 2021 | 24 | 5% |
| 2020 | 88 | 7% |
| 2019 | 4 | 1% |
| 2018 | 11 | 2% |
| 2017 | 22 | 1% |
| 2016 | 19 | 1% |
| 2015 | 34 | 2% |
| 2014 | 27 | 2% |
| 2013 | 40 | 2% |
| 2012 | 21 | 3% |
| 2011 | 28 | 2% |
| 2010 | 15 | 13% |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% |
| 2008 | 8 | 5% |
| 2007 | 12 | 6% |
| 2006 | 41 | 7% |
| 2005 | 18 | 4% |
| 2004 | 53 | 4% |
| 2003 | 45 | 4% |
| 2002 | 132 | 4% |
| 2001 | 33 | 9% |
| 2000 | 64 | 7% |
| 1999 | 69 | 5% |
| 1998 | 94 | 5% |
| 1997 | 96 | 6% |
| 1996 | 132 | 9% |
| 1995 | 80 | 9% |
| 1994 | 261 | 22% |
| 1993 | 244 | 26% |
| 1992 | 99 | 16% |
| 1991 | 123 | 20% |
| 1990 | 2 | 17% |
Other parts of the 1999 Ford Explorer
370 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
217 complaintsVehicle speed control
148 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
115 complaintsEngine cooling
100 complaintsAir bags
97 complaintsElectrical system
92 complaintsSeats
68 complaintsSuspension
65 complaintsBody and structure
47 complaintsExterior lighting
46 complaintsSteering
38 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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