VehicleVerdict

1999 Ford Explorer transmission problems

The 1999 Ford Explorer has 120 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 7% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

120

Transmission complaints

7%

Share of year

5

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Related recalls

00V395000TransmissionNovember 28, 2000 · 100,500 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.27 OR 3.55 AXLE RATION. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE THAT COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO EXCEED THE DESIGN INTENT TOP SPEED. AT THESE EXTREME SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE COULD BE CAPABLE OF EXCEEDING THE SPEED RATING OF THE TIRE.

Consequence

OPERATING THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE MAXIMUM SPEED RATING COULD LEAD TO A TIRE FAILURE WHICH AT THESE SPEEDS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE.

What owners report

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

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · October 31, 2007 · fire

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1999 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA has 120 complaints about the 1999 Ford Explorer transmission — 7% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1999 Ford Explorer transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 00V395000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.