1999 Ford Explorer Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 1999 Ford Explorer, 7% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 64,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “timing chain” (5% of reports).
- 100engine and engine cooling complaints
- 64,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 57%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Timing chain: mentioned in 5 of 100 complaints (5%)
- Service bulletin: mentioned in 5 of 100 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 24 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 100 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 5 a fire.
Ford Explorer engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Explorer | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2023 Explorer | 1 | 1% | 35,682 |
| 2022 Explorer | 2 | 1% | 88,689 |
| 2021 Explorer | 10 | 2% | 60,000 |
| 2020 Explorer | 21 | 2% | 51,250 |
| 2019 Explorer | 6 | 2% | 63,000 |
| 2018 Explorer | 29 | 4% | 71,699 |
| 2017 Explorer | 77 | 5% | 89,600 |
| 2016 Explorer | 114 | 5% | 75,650 |
| 2015 Explorer | 66 | 4% | 59,220 |
| 2014 Explorer | 67 | 4% | 27,950 |
| 2013 Explorer | 67 | 3% | 61,151 |
| 2012 Explorer | 14 | 2% | 56,734 |
| 2011 Explorer | 21 | 2% | 85,000 |
| 2010 Explorer | 3 | 3% | 14,000 |
| 2009 Explorer | 1 | 3% | 88,350 |
| 2008 Explorer | 4 | 3% | 67,000 |
| 2007 Explorer | 10 | 5% | 53,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 164 | 26% | 45,776 |
| 2005 Explorer | 29 | 6% | 44,113 |
| 2004 Explorer | 71 | 5% | 55,000 |
| 2003 Explorer | 69 | 6% | 50,000 |
| 2002 Explorer | 163 | 5% | 74,000 |
| 2001 Explorer | 39 | 10% | 86,000 |
| 2000 Explorer | 90 | 9% | 56,700 |
| 1999 Explorer | 100 | 7% | 64,000 |
| 1998 Explorer | 189 | 10% | 100,000 |
| 1997 Explorer | 198 | 11% | 98,000 |
| 1996 Explorer | 81 | 6% | 78,000 |
| 1995 Explorer | 45 | 5% | 139,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the 1999 Ford Explorer. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My vehicle was parked in the parking lot at 8:30 a.m. On february 7, 2012. Approximately 2:30 p.m., the entire front end of the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames the parking lot, just sitting there burning, without any prior warning. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire while in the contact's driveway with the engine turned off. The fire department was called and advised that the fire originated from the battery compartment. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. While driving approximately 20 mph, a fire ignited under the hood. The contact moved the vehicle off the roadway and shut off the engine. The contact was able to exit the vehicle before it exploded. The fire department was called to assist. The vehicle was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1999 Ford Explorers have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 100 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 1999 Ford Explorer (7% of the 1,348 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Ford Explorer engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 64,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 1999 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “timing chain”, in 5 of 100 complaints, followed by “service bulletin” (5).
Other 1999 Ford Explorer problems
- Tires problems (370)
- Visibility problems (216)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (148)
- Power Train problems (115)
- Air Bags problems (97)
- Electrical System problems (92)
- Seats problems (68)
- Suspension problems (65)
See all 1999 Ford Explorer problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Explorer years.