Problems · by component

1999 Ford Explorer engine and engine cooling problems

112 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Explorer cite engine and engine cooling, 8% of all 1,465 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
112
8% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 6, 2012Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10450544
“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 DESTROYED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 212,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 10, 2012Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10443279
“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 DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A JUNK LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST UNLESS THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2010Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10349955
“I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH FORD BECAUSE I HAVE 1 1999 FORD EXPLORER XLT AND THE TIMING GUIDE IS GOING OUT AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS...I KNOW PEOPLE THAT NEVER HAVE TO REPLACE THEIR TIMING CHAIN GUIDES AND IM REPLACING MINE FOR THE THIRD TIME... *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10288879
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE RPM'S INCREASED TO OVER 3,000 RPM'S. THE RPM'S WOULD NOT DECREASE UNTIL HE ARRIVED AT THE DEALER. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REDUCE THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IAC VALVE, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, HOUSING, AND THROTTLE PLATE. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR AND RESET THE COMPUTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,554.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 9, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10254375
“1999 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ABOUT 5 TO 6 WEEKS GETTING A NEW ENGINE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR, AND RECALL REPAIR DONE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE A MONTH AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2008Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Vehicle speed controlFire reportedODI 10213904

Showing 6 of 112 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.