Problems · by component

1999 Ford Explorer suspension problems

70 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Explorer cite suspension, 5% of all 1,465 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
70
5% of all complaints
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. NEUTRAL IS ACTUALLY REVERSE OVER DRIVE IS NEUTRAL 2ND IS OD 1ST IS 2ND PAST 1ST IS 1ST GEAR. WHEN I MOVE POWER LAMP TO OFF MY HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF. ALL OF THIS HAOPENED WHEN I TURNED MY VEHICLE ON OR WHEN I WAS DRIVING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2016Suspension, Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10906779
“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. 113850 MILES ON IT AND THEY FOUND MULTIPLE SAFETY FAILURES AND VIOLATIONS SUCH AS BAD BAD BALL JOINTS, EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS INOPERABLE, BRAKE LINE LEAKS AND WORN BRAKES THAT COULD NOT HAVE PAST INSPECTION AMOUNG OTHER SAFETY INSPECTION ISSUES. IT ENDED UP COSTING ME ABOUT $2700.00FOR MOSTLY SAFETY REPAIRS.HOW CAN A SAFETY INSPECTOR ISSUE A SAFETY STICKER WITH THESE PROBLEMS? DO I HAVE ANY KIND OF RECOURSE AND IF SO TO WHOM OR TO WHAT AGENCY COULD I CONTACT? THANK YOU FOR ANY AND ALL HELP [XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2010Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10352600
“I HAVE A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR AND IT HAS ABOUT 155,000 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE WAS COMING HOME WITH FIVE OF MY SIX KIDS AND TURNED OFF OF THE 4-LANE HIGHWAY ONTO OUR EXIT FOR OUR HOUSE AND THE REAR AXLE BROKE..IF SHE HAD STAYED ON THE 4-LANE AT 65 M.P.H. WE COULD'VE HAD MULTIPLE INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS !! I HAVE REVIEWED ALL KINDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM...WHY HAVEN'T THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2010SuspensionODI 10335736
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OR GREATER, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE FRONT TIRES ON THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN CUPPING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 114,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2007SuspensionODI 10205422
“I NOTICED A HANDLING PROBLEM ON MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. INSPECTION REVEALED BROKEN SWAY BAR LINKS ON BOTH SIDES. I READ ABOUT THE RECALLS PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM STATING FORD ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND WOULD REPLACE THE ORIGINAL LINKS WITH A STRONGER LINK. I JUST HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED AT BUTTERFIELD FORD IN SANDY, UTAH AND POINTED OUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT UNDER ANY OBLIGATION TO REPLACE THE LINKS. IRONICALLY, THEY DID NOT EVEN ASK ME IF I WANTED THEM REPLACED AND THEY RELEASED MY VEHICLE WITHOUT REPLACING THEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS VEHICLE OFF ROAD NOR HAS IT EVER HIT A CURB, CHUCKHOLE, BUMP ETC. WITH ANY ABNORMAL FORCE. THESE LINKS ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, IF THEY ARE NOT. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2005SuspensionODI 10136775
“COMPLAINED OF LOUS RATTLING NOISE IN ENGINE ON 7/07/03, AND AGAIN ON 09/29/04 AT A DIFFERENT FORD DEALER. THERE ARE MAJOR MECHINICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE IN CONCERN TO THE ENGINE CAM GUIDES, REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND LOWER BASLL JOINTS WORN, WHY WASN'T MY FORD EXPLORER SPORT RECALLED FOR THESE PROBLEMS OR GIVEN THE SAME TSB AS THE 1999 FORD EXPLORER?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2005Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10129939

Showing 6 of 70 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.