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Research · Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD · 2 NHTSA variants

1999 Ford F-250Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 24 safety recalls and 830 owner complaints for the 1999 Ford F-250. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (159) and tires (136). The EPA rates it 12–14 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
12–14mpg
EPA · 7 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
24campaigns
Latest Jul 2011
Owner complaints
830
Top: engine and engine cooling
Fuel cost / yr
$3,850est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

24 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Fuel system

Remedy pending

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2003 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150, 2004 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150 HERITAGE, 1997 THROUGH 1999 MODEL YEAR F-250 LESS THAN 8,500 LBS. GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR), AND 2002 AND 2003 LINCOLN BLACKWOOD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 20, 1995, THROUGH AUGUST 4, 2004, ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD DEICING CHEMICALS MAY CAUSE SEVERE CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH SECURE THE TANK TO THE VEHICLE.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jul 29, 2011NHTSA 11V385000

Vehicle speed control

Free remedy

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Vehicle speed controlReported Oct 13, 2009NHTSA 09V399000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported May 11, 2009NHTSA 09E025000
See all 24 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

830 complaints filed with NHTSA · May 1998 – Sep 2023
  1. Engine and engine cooling159
  2. Tires136
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic121
  4. Power train83
  5. Steering63
  6. Electrical system59
  7. Air bags46
  8. Vehicle speed control39
  9. Suspension38

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

By model year

Complaints for each F-250 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996187
1997343
199857
1999830
Crashes reported
70
Fires reported
26
Injuries reported
48
Deaths reported
2
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine and engine cooling

159 reports4 fires
“SPARK PLUG "BLEW OUT"OF ITS HOLE CAUSING LOSS OF POWER AND SUDDEN CONSTERNATION. WAS PULLING AN LIGHT EMPTY TRAILER AND FORTUNATELY DRIVING WITH NO OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND. 5.4L TRITON V8 ENGINE, MANUAL TRANSMISSION. FACTORY TUNE-UP AND PLUG REPLACEMENT DONE ABOUT 20K MILES EARLIER, 5 YEARS AGO. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10453985

Tires

136 reports9 crashes
“The Belt in the tire separated while driving. This caused a "Bubble" to form causing my truck to shake violently and required changing to the spare tire. If this happened on the highway I could have lost control and caused an accident. I took my truck to a tire installer who documented the above finding and noted the tire was properly inflated and there were no impact marks on the tread or sidewalls. I am currently working with the supplier but they are being unreasonable with the requirements to have it inspected. No other reps have been contacted at this time. No ( its a 24 year old truck, I don't have any tire related warning lamps) LT235/85 R16”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2022TiresODI 11492314

Service brakes, hydraulic

121 reports7 crashes2 fires
“WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY SANK TO THE FLOOR. I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED AN EXPANDING POOL OF HYDRAULIC FLUID FORMING UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK, JUST FORWARD OF THE REAR, DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE HAD CHAFFED A HOLE ON THE FRAME RAIL RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKES. HAD THIS BRAKE LINE FAILED AT ANY OTHER TIME, RATHER JUST BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DIRE CONSEQUENCES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2013Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10523391
All 1999 F-250 problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

7 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engines
4.6L 8-cyl · 5.4L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Natural Gas

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
F250 Pickup 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
121714$4,600635
F250 Pickup 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
121614$4,600635
F250 Pickup 2WD
Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
131714$4,600635
F250 Pickup 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
121513$4,950684
F250 Pickup 4WD
Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
121613$4,950684
F250 Pickup 2WD CNG
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
101412$3,850586
F250 Pickup 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
111412$5,350741
  • F250 Pickup 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    12 city · 17 hwy · $4,600/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    12 city · 16 hwy · $4,600/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    13 city · 17 hwy · $4,600/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    12 city · 15 hwy · $4,950/yr
    13
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    12 city · 16 hwy · $4,950/yr
    13
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 2WD CNG
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    10 city · 14 hwy · $3,850/yr
    12
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    11 city · 14 hwy · $5,350/yr
    12
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1999 Ford F-250 as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1999 F-250 questions

How many recalls does the 1999 Ford F-250 have?

24 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1999 Ford F-250 problems?

Owners filed 830 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (159), tires (136), service brakes, hydraulic (121). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1999 Ford F-250 get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Ford F-250 at 12–14 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (7 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026