Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Ford F-150 problems
Owners filed 1,121 complaints about the 1999 Ford F-150 with NHTSA between Jan 1999 and Jul 2023. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (240).
Complaints
1,121
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
89
Reported by owners
Fires
76
Reported by owners
Injuries
84
People reported injured
Deaths
11
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
94
137
101
112
96
94
106
51
32
27
22
50
97
24
16
16
19
10
7
3
3
2
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 94 |
| 2000 | 137 |
| 2001 | 101 |
| 2002 | 112 |
| 2003 | 96 |
| 2004 | 94 |
| 2005 | 106 |
| 2006 | 51 |
| 2007 | 32 |
| 2008 | 27 |
| 2009 | 22 |
| 2010 | 50 |
| 2011 | 97 |
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
240 reports11 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD STARTED BREAKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE MANIFOLD IN PLACE HAD RUSTED AND BROKEN OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 291,000.”
Fuel system, gasoline
115 reports3 fires3 related recalls
“I TOOK MY F-150 IN FOR A RECALL ON THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RUSTING, THE DEALERSHIP WAS NICK NICHOLAS FORD IN INVERNESS, FLORIDA. THEY TOLD ME MY FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING FROM RUST. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FIXING IT. MY COMPLAINT IS IF THE STRAPS RUSTED AND CAUSED THE TANK TO RUST AND LEAK AT THE AREA WHERE THE STRAPS TOUCH THE TANK. WHY ISN'T THE TANK INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? THE RUSTED TANK LEAKING IS A CLEAR DANGER TO ME, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND OTHER DRIVERS. THE GAS NEVER DRIPPED ON THE GROUND SO I NEVER KNEW IT WAS LEAKING UNTIL I TOOK IT IN. *TR”
Structure
99 reports2 fires
“AROUND 1:30AM ON THURSDAY NOV. 24TH, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY NEIGHBOR SAYING MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THAT IT LOOKED LIKE IT STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN DRIVEN TO THE STORE THE MORNING BEFORE THE FIRE, AND WAS PARKED AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
97 reports9 crashes3 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINES AS A RESULT OF CORROSION OF THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ”
Electrical system
92 reports1 crash29 fires
“1999 FORD F150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE WHILE PARKED. *LD CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SENDING IN EXTRA INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR CASE. *AS *TR”
Visibility
86 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE HEATER WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO UNABLE TO USE THE DEFROSTER SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE FLAPPER THAT WAS INSIDE THE HEATER BLOWER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 146,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.