1999 Ford Explorer Suspension Problems
- Complaints
- 65about this part
- Share
- 5%of 1,348 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 113,850miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 65 complaints about the suspension of the 1999 Ford Explorer, 5% of the 1,348 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 113,850 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
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“I own a 1999 Explorer with 60000 miles on it. I have been told that the front upper ball joints were bad, and had to be replaced with the control arm since it was one unit. Why were sealed ball joints that were part of the control arm being used, unless it was to raise the frequency and cost of repairs at the expense of public safety . A ball joint failure at any speed could potentially have grave consequences. Consumer had vehicles routinely go well over 100,000 miles with non sealed ball joints, and had no problems. …”
NHTSA complaint #10032912, filed 2003-08, 60,000 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“While driving front hub came off the vehicle, side unknown. This caused the consumer to lose steering control. Consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10108900, filed 2005-01, 160,000 miles“While traveling downhill, the vehicle began to swing violently when the brakes were applied. At the time of the incident, the consumer was pulling a 5x 10 single axle trailer on the back of the vehicle”
NHTSA complaint #10059681, filed 2004-02, 58,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10014096Dec 13, 2004Revised procedure for adjusting alignment on all suspensions - new right hand upper control arm design for torsion bar front suspensions.
Suspension: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 3% |
| 2024 | 3 | 14% |
| 2023 | 14 | 12% |
| 2022 | 13 | 5% |
| 2021 | 15 | 3% |
| 2020 | 36 | 3% |
| 2019 | 11 | 4% |
| 2018 | 23 | 3% |
| 2017 | 58 | 3% |
| 2016 | 73 | 3% |
| 2015 | 83 | 5% |
| 2014 | 103 | 6% |
| 2013 | 79 | 4% |
| 2012 | 22 | 3% |
| 2011 | 24 | 2% |
| 2010 | 4 | 3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% |
| 2008 | 3 | 2% |
| 2007 | 6 | 3% |
| 2006 | 5 | 1% |
| 2005 | 15 | 3% |
| 2004 | 37 | 3% |
| 2003 | 63 | 6% |
| 2002 | 422 | 13% |
| 2001 | 43 | 11% |
| 2000 | 62 | 7% |
| 1999 | 65 | 5% |
| 1998 | 111 | 6% |
| 1997 | 105 | 6% |
| 1996 | 97 | 7% |
| 1995 | 93 | 11% |
| 1994 | 65 | 5% |
| 1993 | 59 | 6% |
| 1992 | 60 | 9% |
| 1991 | 33 | 5% |
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 complaintsBrakes
69 complaintsSeats
68 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 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