1999 Ford Explorer Seats Problems
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about seats problems on the 1999 Ford Explorer, 5% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 70,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “driver seat” (32% of reports).
- 68seats complaints
- 70,000median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 8mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 42%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.
- Driver seat: mentioned in 22 of 68 complaints (32%)
- Recliner mechanism: mentioned in 5 of 68 complaints (7%)
- Upright position: mentioned in 5 of 68 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do seats problems happen?
Based on 32 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 68 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 8 an injury.
Ford Explorer seats complaints by model year
| Model year | Seats complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 7 | 17% | 2,600 |
| 2025 Explorer | 3 | 3% | — |
| 2024 Explorer | 2 | 10% | — |
| 2023 Explorer | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2022 Explorer | 5 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Explorer | 17 | 4% | 77,000 |
| 2020 Explorer | 40 | 3% | 35,000 |
| 2019 Explorer | 3 | 1% | 13,000 |
| 2018 Explorer | 7 | 1% | 5,600 |
| 2017 Explorer | 16 | 1% | 40,311 |
| 2016 Explorer | 32 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2015 Explorer | 16 | 1% | 49,451 |
| 2014 Explorer | 7 | 0% | 62,670 |
| 2013 Explorer | 10 | 0% | 50,500 |
| 2012 Explorer | 2 | 0% | 40,000 |
| 2011 Explorer | 7 | 1% | 20,236 |
| 2010 Explorer | 20 | 17% | 2,500 |
| 2009 Explorer | 3 | 9% | 70,030 |
| 2008 Explorer | 27 | 18% | 71,000 |
| 2007 Explorer | 24 | 12% | 77,500 |
| 2006 Explorer | 11 | 2% | 22,549 |
| 2005 Explorer | 3 | 1% | 36,000 |
| 2004 Explorer | 6 | 0% | 15,500 |
| 2003 Explorer | 12 | 1% | 51,677 |
| 2002 Explorer | 30 | 1% | 53,400 |
| 2001 Explorer | 24 | 6% | 81,500 |
| 2000 Explorer | 39 | 4% | 60,535 |
| 1999 Explorer | 68 | 5% | 70,000 |
| 1998 Explorer | 70 | 4% | 85,056 |
| 1997 Explorer | 38 | 2% | 95,000 |
| 1996 Explorer | 29 | 2% | 130,000 |
| 1995 Explorer | 19 | 2% | 137,315 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Seats:front assembly:recliner
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with high back seats, the upper bolt on the driver's side high back seat, that attaches the seat recliner mechanism to the seat back frame, could fracture. If the bolt fractures and does not jam in the seat back frame, the seat back may recline until it makes contact with an object behind the seat, such as the second row seat cushion.
Risk: The driver could potentially lose contact with the steering wheel or foot pedals during such an event, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver seat upper bolt with a metal spacer and bolt. In addition, seats with tubular back frames will have the fully threaded lower recliner bolt replaced with a partially threaded bolt. Owner notification began on august 29, 2003. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
While traveling on highway was cut off by another vehicle requiring me to heavily brake and sharply swerve to avert collision. Became immediately aware that headrests of front seats provided absolutely no (repeat no) injury (e,g. Whiplash) protection. When sitting in front seats the headrests…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. The contact stated that the drivers side seat prematurely deteriorated and that there was an internal fracture causing the seat to be structurally unstable. The vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 03v281000 (seats). The vehicle was not…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford explorer. The contact stated that the driver's seat reclined farther than normal. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the reclining bolt was separated from the metal track. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer advised the contact…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1999 Ford Explorers have seats problems?
No. NHTSA has 68 owner complaints about seats for the 1999 Ford Explorer (5% 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 seats?
Yes: 1 safety recall list seats. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do seats problems start?
The median reported mileage is 70,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about seats problems on the 1999 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “driver seat”, in 22 of 68 complaints, followed by “recliner mechanism” (5).
Other 1999 Ford Explorer problems
- Tires problems (370)
- Visibility problems (216)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (148)
- Power Train problems (115)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (100)
- Air Bags problems (97)
- Electrical System problems (92)
- Suspension problems (65)
See all 1999 Ford Explorer problems or seats problems across all Explorer years.