Problems · by component
1999 Ford F-150 structure problems
99 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford F-150 cite structure, 9% of all 1,121 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
99
9% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“MY REAR DOORS ON MY FORD, F-150 CREW CAB PICKUP STOPPED OPENING. THIS IS AN ENTRAPMENT ISSUE AND A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT, PASSENGERS IN THE REAR WOULD BE TRAPPED AND UNABLE TO ESCAPE. FROM THE RESEARCH I FOUND ON THE INTERNET, THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE CABLE MECHANISM THAT OPERATES THE REAR DOOR LATCHES AND COMMON FAULT WITH THESE TYPE OF DOOR FOR THE FORD PICKUPS MANUFACTURED AROUND THIS TIME FRAME. AND IT LOOKS LIKE FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS FOR FORD TO REPAIR DUE TO THE ENTRAPMENT ISSUE.”
“VIN DOES NOT MATCH MY TRUCK, TRYING TO FIX IT BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ENGINE PARTS, ELECTRICAL,OR OTHERWISE TO PURCHASE. SUPPOSED TO BE A 1999 FORD F-150 XLT 4X4 . VIN COMES UP ASINVALID AND CHECK DIGIT IS INCORRECT. ONLINE SEARCH INDICATES 4 DIFFERENT ENGINES, TWO TRANSMISSIONS (5SPD MANUAL AND AUTO) NEITHER OF WHICH ARE THE FORD MOTOR CO. EXPERIMENTAL TRANSMISSION THAT FORD PUT IN THAT TRUCK. SOLD AS A 1999 ON FORD C.O. MINE WEIGHS 1500LBS LESS THAN WHAT IT SHOULD. ALL FAILING EXPERIMENTAL PARTS THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE, BUT DONT HAVE A CLUE WHAT TO BUY DUE TO "EXPERIMENTAL" PART #'S. EMAILED FORD MANY TIMES FOR ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING ENGINE AS THERE ARE NO BLOCK CASTINGS. NO RETUN CALL OR EMAIL. IM A SINGLE MOM OF 2. I DONT GET CHILD SUPPORT, ALIMONY, NOR DO I RECEIVE GOVERMENT ASSISTANCE. I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE MY TRUCK TORN DOWN.TO MEASURE BORE AND STROKE. I CANT AFFORD TO BRING IT TO A SHOP. IVE HAD TO LEARN TO WORK ON THIS THING. TOOK ME 8 MONTHS AND THOUSANDS SPENT HERE ND THERE JUST TO GET IT TO PASS EMISSIONS BECAUSE I COULDNT FIND THE RIGHT PARTS! $600 IN INSPECTION STICKER VIOLATIONS LATER HERE I AM, BARELY HANGING IN HOPING IT GETS ME TO WORK ONE…”
“MY VEHICLE FAILED PA STATE INSPECTION DUE TO ROTTED OUT CORNERS OF THE FENDERS & RADIATOR SUPPORT ASSY. AND IS DEEMED UN-DRIVABLE AND UN-USABLE EVEN THOUGH THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION . THIS ASSY GOES ACROSS THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, HOLDS THE RADIATOR & AID COND CORES IN THE MIDDLE, AND ATTACHES TO BOTH FRONT BENDERS VIA SPOT WELDS AND IT'S LOWER CORNERS ATTACH TO THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK VIA SHOCK MOUNTS AND 2 LARGE BOLTS THUS ALSO SUPPORTING THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE TRUCK ATTACHING IT TO THE FRAME . WITH BOTH LOWER CORNERS OF THIS ASSY ROTTED AWAY THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK IS NOW FLOATING & SUSPENDED AND IS NOW NOT ATTACHED TO THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK THUS THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD AND ESPECIALLY ON IMPACT IF IN A FRONTAL ACCIDENT . THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLINE ON F150'S ALL THE WAY UP TO 2006 . THE "CAUSE" OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PLASTIC FENDER WELLS DO NOT COME DOWN FAR ENOUGH IN THE FRONT SO WATER, SNOW, SLUSH, AND SALT ARE FLUNG FORWARD BY THE FRONT TIRES AND HIT THE BACK SIDE OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND THEN ARE DIRECTED BACK INTO THE FENDERS & RADIATOR SUPPORT ASSY WHICH IS AN OPEN-TOP BOX CHANNEL ON THE BOTTOM…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRAP DANGLING FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.”
“THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS ON THIS MODEL STYLE AND THE WATER RUNS DOWN TO THE GEM MODULE AND FUSE BOX CAUSING THE GEM MODULE TO SHORT OUT AND THE ELECTRONICS DO WHAT EVER THEY WANT TO. THE TRUCK WILL START ON ITS OWN EVEN IF OFF OR RUNNING AND DRIVING WITH THE STARTER ENGAGING. WINDOWS ROLL DOWN THE ALARM ACTIVATES RADIO COMES ON ALL THE ELECTRONICS COME ON AT THERE OWN EVEN WHEN PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FROM MY RESEARCH TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE TRUCKS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE CAR CAN EVEN ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL AS IT CAN CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AS IT HAS WITH MYSELF. THIS PART IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND THE LEAK IS VERY COMMON. *TR”
Showing 6 of 99 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.